Full Moon, northern light and solar flare

I hear that tonight we can see the Northern Lights. It's suppose to be very strong due to a solar flare or something. I really, really, really hope I can see the light! Thank goodness I've been insomniac the last few weeks.

This solar activity is also suppose to interfere with electrical grids, communication, and other stuff that symbolizes modern life. So I might not be online any more than necessary until Saturday. But I'll spend my daylight hours working on the farm and the rest of the time working on goodies for my etsy shop.

Speaking of shop, don't forget the special incentive I have for you readers.

Banner done!

Well everyone, I now have a totally awesome shop banner!

In the words of my generation: I like, totally love it. (although blogger has made it look smaller than it should)

It's all thanks to Jennie. So if you get a chance, hop on over to her shop and see the stunning bags she has for sale.

And a reminder about my March Special Prize for you readers.

Seeking person with mad skills

Anyone able to make a picture for me? I made a start already.

(oh, and don't forget about the free prize with purchase)

I use to be a totally awesome computer nerd! Don't let the yarn and treadle sewing machines fool you, I was totally into digital. But that was back in the day, when the world was younger and DOS was totally awesome. Then there was QBasic, then VBasic, then plus, plus, plus language, and then HTML. But the thing that really lost me was Java. It was horrible when it first came out. But that is a story for another day.

Over time, I lost my mad computer skills. Sure I can blog, and download photos from my camra, but to be honest, I can't do much else. I don't even know which of these programs to use to edit a picture.

And I really need to edit a picture.

My etsy shop needs a new banner. It needs to be 760 x 100 pixels.

This is what I would like it to look like:

Only, I wish it could look more professional. Anyone out there smart enough to help me out?

Oh, and here are some photos of the local geese is you need reminding of what they look like. It doesn't have to be a Canadian goose, I just don't know how to draw any other kind.

Secret prize code: for your eyes only

I'm really enjoying getting my etsy shop up and running (even if no one comes to visit me - pouts).

Coming to the realization that I have way more yarn related items than I could possibly use in my lifetime, has actually given me a new lease on yarn. I'm going through some of my best fibre and hand spun and putting it up for sale. Re wind the yarn, double checking I have the correct length. Washing fibre. Making labels. All this fills me with new motivation to get spinning again!

So I'm both encouraged and sad to put my hard work up for sale. (between you and me, I think I'll cry if someone ever buys this ultra fine lace weight Sheltand 2 ply yarn. But I'll get over it - I know how to make more!)

And now for the secrete sale code I promised you about.

If you make a purchase from my etsy shop in this month (March 2012) and include in the comment field one of the magic words below, I will include one either:

IWANTYARN032012 -One random oz of hand spun yarn, natural colours - may be all the same yarn, or a variety.

OR

IWANTSURIFIBRE032012 - one oz of Suri alpaca fibre (as seen here) from my beautiful fibre boy Major Brown

This prize is only for you special blog readers (and anyone you tell end up telling about it). Only one per purchase. Expires the end of this month. Must enter code at checkout.

At the very least, I hope some of you pop by and see what I've put up for sale. Any questions, please let me know.

And now I'm off wash and pick some more suri fibre! I might even get the combs out!

My etsy destash handspun and any other key words I can fit in the title post

In order to scrounge up enough money to treat myself to some birthday presents, I am doing what knitters call a destash.

Today and for the next few days, I'm putting many of my hand spun yarns for sale on etsy. They are my prize best-spun-ever-saved-for-special-occasion yarn, but given how my hands have been lately, I don't think there will be much knitting in my future.

I will most likely put a few other objects online like vintage knitting books and perhaps some washed suri alpaca locks. But I don't want to push myself as it's difficult enough as it is to see these yarns go.

So please, tell your friends! Maybe even buy something for yourself and then let me know what you made with it. I would love to see what happens with these yarns.

And pst! just a hint, this one is my favourite. There is no photograph in the world that can do it justice.

I hope someone really nice buys it.

Sewing Machine Treadle Cabinet: Quick fix for water damage

This is by no means the 'proper' way to restore those beautiful old treadle cabinets, but it does work for minor water damage.

Most of the sewing machine treadle cabinets I've come across have a simple stain and varnish finish that is easily damaged by the slightest bit of moisture. If you set a cold glass of water on it, it's bound to leave a ring. You would be surprised how easily your beautiful cabinet top can be damaged by moisture.

But lucky for you, there is a quick-fix solution for minor water damage. Light furniture oil rubbed into the wood, quickly revives the finish. I used Walnut Oil for my cabinet. It's a sort-of food safe oil, that very slightly darkens the wood, buffs easily to a classic shine, and hardens quickly, both improving the appearance and providing a protective layer.

Since this cabinet is for my own use, I'm just going to refresh the finish and then later on, apply a couple of coats of Tried & True.

Before:

After:

Two VERY IMPORTANT THINGS to note.

First: Walnut oil should not be used by people who have nut allergies or on wood that will be used by people who have nut allergies. There is a small chance of a bad reaction. However, there are many other kinds of oil you can use for this quick fix.

Second and most important: Spontaneous Combustion! Yes, it is a real thing. To quote from this link:

Spontaneous Combustion is one of the leading causes of fires in homebrewing operations according to fire investigators. Oily rags will burst into flames without an apparent ignition source if the conditions are right. Unfortunately the right conditions are fairly easy to replicate. Just pile up some oily rags. The oil will chemically react with the air in a process called oxidation, giving off heat. The rags act like insulation holding in the heat, letting it build up to autoignition temperatures.

So please dispose of the oily rag properly. When finished with the rag, get it good and wet and then seal it up in an air-tight plastic bag which you will then not put in the garbage inside the house, but instead, you will place it directly in the outside garbage bin.

Antique Sewing Machine - Singer 115

Here are some photos of my Singer 115 sewing machine. I first thought it was a Singer 15, due to the fact that the tension spring was at the end of the faceplate, but when I looked the serial number, I found out how wrong I was.

I don't know much about the 115, and there is very little information about them online. What I do know is that it has a rotating hook (as opposed to the oscillating hook that the Singer 15 has - in case anyone cares.)

I haven't done anything to the machine yet. The decals are in near perfect condition, but have a layer of grime on them. There is no build up of lint or grease inside the works. There is very little if any evidence that this machine has been used. It was made in 1916.

There are no plans for this machine at the moment. I'm just going to put it to one side in the cupboard for now.

New Williams Sewing Machine - a bit about the history

My New Williams Sewing Machine has kindled my excitement.

I've been able to find very little information about this machine on-line and even less about the company that made it. But there are a few snip-its here and there. I've gathered together what I've found, although, I'm sorry to say that many of them contridict eachother. Hopefully this might provide a starting place for the next person to research this topic. If you have anything to add, please leave a comment. I would love to learn more.

I know, I know, this is all going to be very boring, and rather unorganized. I'm sorry. The goal is to get the history bit out of the way before focusing on the fun part: the restoration.

• The New Williams Sewing Machine was made by the Williams Manufacturing Company (W.M.F.C.Co. - as it says on my treadle base). The W.M.F.C.Co. began in 1863, but sources cite different dates when this company ended. Here we are told that the company lasted until 1899, however, I suspect that they have confused the dates. At the McCord Museum we are told that the fine fellow that did this beautiful engraving died in 1899. And here we are told that the W.M.F.C.Co. liquidated in 1929.

I'm inclined to find in favour of the later date because in earlier research I saw references to the W.M.F.C.Co. in the records of the Canadian Houses of Parliament post 1900 - mostly talking about how companies reacted to some new import/export taxation that the government imposed.

So, I'm going to (tentatively) say that The Williams Manufacturing Company lasted from 1863 - 1929.

• A list of models (and dates) made by The Williams Manufacturing Company 'borrowed' from here:

C. W. Williams Manufacturing Co. Est 1863
Became:
Williams Manufacturing Co. by 1877 1885 +
Became:
Williams Manufacturing Co. Ltd by 1893 - liquidated 1929

Factory: Plattsburgh, New York. 1878 also at 347 Notre Dame Street, Montreal, Canada. (destroyed by fire 1882)
Machine Made:

Williams' Singer

Williams' Improved Singer Family 1871 - 1877

Williams' Improved Medium

Williams' Hand machine

Williams' No. 2

Helpmate No's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1884 - 1893

New Williams 1884 - 1902

Where we also learn that the W.M.F.C.Co existed under two previous incarnations giving us a more detailed history. However, it's good to note that I haven't found any data on-line that confirms these dates.

This list here also says that the Montreal Factory burnt down in 1882 - two years before the earliest date that my machine could have been made. But my machine claims to be manufactured in Montreal. I need to do more research on the Montreal connection.

According to the above list, in 1885 the Williams Manufacturing Co became the the Williams Manufacturing Co Ltd. There is no sign of a Ltd. on any of my parts, machine, cabinet, or the tin case that came with the machine.

As I said before, the patent date on my machine is 1884 which gives us the earliest date it could have been manufactured. That there is no sign of the Ltd anywhere, gives us a good (not a perfect one mind you) change that the latest my machine could have been manufactured is 1885.

• The Williams Manufacturing Company were in direct competition with Singer, and as far as I could tell, took quite a gouge out of the market in certain parts of Canada and the US.
• Here is a nifty story about Mr Simkins who use to sell New Williams sewing machines in Canada.
• I saw at least one example on the internet of a New Williams electric machine (a clone of the Singer 15 series) from post 1940 - this conflicts with everything we've seen so far. Could this be a different incarnation of the W.M.F.C.Co? Or, could this be another company using the title New Williams for a specific line of machines?
• The Smithsonian Institute has an interesting collection relating to the Williams machines. Some of these are for the Williams Singer machines - not sure yet what that is. But it is advertised as being 100% Canadian with all the parts and materials coming from Canada or the UK - very slightly anti-US advertisement.

One of the biggest problems I had researching this is that there have been several different Williams Manufacturing Companies over the years, including one in the 1940's that made fortune telling and gaming machines. It's also possible other companies just used that title for their own machines. This just goes to show you how limited googling around the internet in search of historical data really is. A lot of forums that talk about New Williams machines appear to confuse data from other companies. I need to find a better source of information.

Hope you guys are not as confused as I am at this juncture. I'm off to get a library card and hopefully find some more solid leads.