In Stitches

This is me on many a weekend night. But no longer! I have decided to throw down a chunk of change and get myself a sewing machine. I've mentioned this before, and I might still mention it for a few more weeks before actually getting up the nerve to press "purchase," but my friend Lex convinced me that it's worth it by reminding me how much I'd save in tailoring costs. I translated that into "think of all those clothes sitting in your apartment unworn because you're too lazy to take them to a tailor" and realized she's right. Lex recommended a Singer, a recommendation backed by my grandmother, the quilting expert, in her most recent letter (which I carry around with me in its pale blue envelope):

The machine I mentioned is the Singer Featherweight. I bought mine for $140.00 (new) in 1941. It hasn't been in production for many years. If you happen on to one (2nd hand) it will no doubt be several hundred dollars.

So maybe not the Featherweight. Anyone else want to recommend a model?

Until I begin fashioning bedspreads out of old coats, here are some other things that have been on my mind and on my screen.

• Pre-owned bookmarks
  Continuing the theme of found items from last week. (via Design Observer)


• David Baddiel struggles with fiction in translation
  But I did at least assume that what Flaubert meant to say in French would be rendered in English. Since the Frankfurt incident, I realise that non-native readers really are in the hands of the translator: a translator who may be tempted to think, after 430 pages of hard mot-justeian slog: "You know what - I think I can rather improve on Gustave here."(via Bookninja)


• Soft Focus
  Ian Svenonius, formerly of old college favorites Nation of Ulysses and The Make-Up, interviews some amazing musicians, including Graham Coxon and Kevin Shields.


• I Don't Care What Anybody Says. There Was Something About The Nineties And One Day We'll Know What It Was.
  Young Manhattanite appreciates Mary Timony.


• Quelqu'un m'a dit
  I'm currently appreciating Sarkozy's main squeeze, Carla Bruni.


• What makes a great portrait?
  Photographers examine their favorite portraits. (via kottke)

I've been making my way through The Worst Hard Time, so you can expect some riveting thoughts on soil conservation next week. I just know you can't wait for that.

© Zan McQuade. All rights reserved.