And the Favourite Monopoly Playing Piece is....

The Thimble!

Yes, the humble thimble is the most popular playing piece in the game of Monopoly. I would have said maybe the dog or the car, but it seems this is not the case. When Hasbro did a study to see which piece was most popular, it turned out to be the thimble, which is as it should be.

The today's game has origins in various other similar games, but one man attributed with making the version played today, Charles Darrow, envisioned a family using everyday household objects. His sister said that these objects should resemble something that would fit on a ladies charm bracelet and the rest, as they say is history.

Wouldn't it be fun for each player to just use a different thimble? My bag of ceramic thimbles (above) would give plenty of choice.

Turtleback Snaps

One thing I re-found when moving and having to re-sort one of my sewing drawers was this vintage package of snaps.

The package is so decorative and full of descriptive information about the snaps. Can you see how they are appealing to the consumer? The red colouring attracts the eye; the snaps are arranged on the picture of the turtle; they give you every reason to want to buy this brand!

Then there is the reverse side of the package.

How helpful is this to know what size snap to use on what fabric and to have a handy measuring tool  printed on the side, along with the various sizes of snaps available? 

Nothing like the boring packs we buy today!

Batiste

Batiste ,as most of us know, is a lightweight, semi-sheer cotton fabric perfect for heirloom sewing. The fabric is a favourite for heirloom garments as it is easy to machine and hand-sew, and is great for smocking and embroidery projects. I am sure everyone has some of it in their stash or has used it at some point for a sewing project. I know I have.

But have you seen and used this Batiste?

I spotted this in my local supermarket when buying some shampoo.  Like the fabric, it would appear this product has a sheen and comes in different colours!

A Little Bling.

The windows at Bergdorf Goodman this past holiday season were, to me, a little disappointing, but they were certainly full of bling. My favourite was this one 'The Crown Jewels' (I wonder why?).

The theme 2015 for the windows was Brilliant Holiday and Berdorf teamed with Swarovski crystals (who are celebrating their 120th anniversary). Each window uniquely tells a glamorous tale of fashion set in over 7 million Swarovski crystals.

The choice of pattern for the queen's robe is interesting. It is a mix of symbols from castles to crowns and everything in between. There are also quotes, one of which is "A man with a head on his shoulders is worth  a dozen without".

Vintage Pleat Maker

Another item I 'found' again when putting the sewing table drawer back to rights was this vintage pleat maker.

 

It cost 69 cents and makes pleats from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches. It is in the original packaging and unused. The back gives you directions on using the tool. I plan on trying it out sometime.

  

 

What makes it more interesting to me is that is called the Clinton Pleat Maker and was made by the Oakville Company in Connecticut- the state I call home. Connecticut used to have a huge manufacturing industry and made many household items from small pieces such as this pleat maker to tyres and factory machinery. It is sad to see how it has all disappeared and I often see the empty, old factory buildings and wonder what was made there not that long ago.

Button Hooks

No, this isn't a post about vintage button hooks used to fasten the tiny buttons on Victorian boots or gloves, but on a recent visit to The Container Store (gathering organization ideas) I saw these very cute hooks- wouldn't they be great in a sewing room?

They come in red, white or blue so very colourful. They are easy to install and I see so many uses for them.

Just thought I would share, in case one of your New Year Resolutions was to get your sewing room organised!

Happy New Year (in a New Apartment)!

Happy New Year!

We recently moved apartments (yes in December before Christmas, but it has been the mildest December on record here in Connecticut!) and now we are finally settled in! We chose to move the small items ourselves and the moving company did the heavy job (furniture, boxes of books, anything that looked awkward).  One heavy item is my sewing machine table. It doesn't come apart and is very heavy! It has a small drawer on the left side. And was the one thing I forgot to remove and take to the house myself, of course, and it became a casualty of the move (the only casualty I hasten to add), as the men didn't realise it was still full of things and it fell open! They did put everything back into the drawer, but not quite how it was meant to go!

So one morning before going back to the old apartment to load up with more sewing room items (how much can someone actually have in their sewing room?!!) I sat and put the drawer back how it was meant to be.

 

Now it is all neat again and I can see just how many tape measures I have (thank you Kerri Mecca for a lot of them are table favours from SAGA Conventions) and how many needle threaders (thank you Claudia Newton as there is always one in every class kit) and how many finger shields (thank you Lillie McAnge as again there was one in all the class kits) and how many containers of pins (and each one is for something different-lace pins; applique pins, glass headed pins, silk pins) and how many bees waxes (thank you Jeannie Baumeister for putting those in your kits) but at least I can find these items again!

I could show you photos of the new sewing  room (AKA the guest room) as it went from being neat with the bed, night table, chest of drawers and sewing machine table to a room full of boxes of ribbon, lace, knitting needles, buttons, vintage baby clothes waiting to find new homes, but I think you can all picture that yourselves!

It is back to being neat again now-thank goodness and I can't wait to get in there and start sewing again!