What's going on around MS&R

What's going on around MS&R's headquarters:
We (I) did a quick, guerrilla style make-over of the worlds grossest bathroom (my opinion, not verified by Guinness). The post is in progress and is almost as long as War and Peace. I guess it needs some editing.

We're (I'm) selling again on Ebay. Right now I have some of my Grandpa's fishing gear, offered in lots. I managed to grab it from my Uncles' barn the last time I visited, & am selling it on his behalf. I made the fishing montage for the auction listing and is quite the timeline.

The Etsy shop should reopen soon as well.

The new season brings new routines and projects, thus the absence. In short, I'm still trying to get used to school hours-- and not too successfully. With several new ideas in the pipeline my old Singer Touch and Sew decided she was not up to the task, and quit-- no notice. Well, not exactly without notice-- she'd been to the shop twice for repairs recently and yesterday was the first use since the last visit. She worked great for all of 10 minutes, and then quit feeding the bobbin thread. So this morning I ran to the thrift store hoping to find something cheap and working. Actually, I always hope to find an amazing industrial machine with a $5 price tag, but so far, no luck. Instead, I found a very nice Touch and Sew and was tempted until I checked the gears and found they were still the original nylon. As that is the origin of most of this machines problems (being that plastic gears tend to break and wear after a few years), I kept looking. The only other machine was this pretty little green gal-- the Singer 185J-- which, according to the internet, is a simple straight stitcher, not very pricey for resale, but a real workhorse. A quick check confirmed the electrical seemed to work ok, but the belt was missing. For $19.99 which included the table, I took the chance and brought her home.

I was a bit nervous she would require some obsolete bobbin and needle size, but she likes the Singer 66, which is sold everywhere, and of which I have a few dozen. Needle size looks standard too. Best of all, I forgot I had an old non working machine in the attic which had the correct size belt. Sometimes I amaze myself. So far, everything works great, except the bobbin winder. The handwheel won't disengage and the bobbin winder doesn't turn. More research is required to figure this out, but in the meantime I can wind bobbins on the "new" Singer. New, as in bought in 1999 but not used until last year. It took me that long to figure out how to thread the bobbin, and it sews like a drunken tailor so it's only used as a last resort back-up to the back up.

in my minds eye

Sometimes I find great pieces that I just know will work in tons of outfits, but look sort of sad and lonely on their own. These pieces tend to be harder to market for me as I don't really do "outfit" posts, or show things styled on models. But I got sort of inspired this weekend when photographing this classic vintage shirt dress and now that I see how many things of mine it works with, I want to keep it. Believe me, if I can get my butt into it before it sells, this one is mine.

sneak peek

This is as far as I got before the camera demanded to be recharged:

Look what I found!

It was just hanging there in my small town thrift store, snuggled among the Vera Bradley and wally world bags. It was 1/2 price and shoppers were just walking by, ignoring the signature Sprouse graffiti.The only thing that could make this bag better would be if it were real. Yes, it's a fake, so I won't be selling it; but it will make a tres chic cosmetic bag, no? 

The only benefit (that I can see) to having big feet is the ability to wear mens shoes without them looking like clown shoes. I was so excited to find these at the thrift store, but alas, they are even too big for me...

Refugee

This was sitting by the road.
Sometimes this stuff almost jumps up and puts itself in the car...

Love the hand painted address.