Tarantula Arms Is Getting A Facelift

[gottahaveahoove]

Fred!

I didn't want to miss an opportunity to compliment you on such a great job! Things have been a little 'hectic' around HERE. That's like saying The Titanic was just a little 'boat ride'.
Really, you took an already beautiful house and brought it up to date bigtime. I'm so glad you didn't have to endure the pains of renovations that I did. Many years of fun, health, and happiness in your beautiful home.
john

 

[compactelectra]

Thanks John

Indeed - I am lucky to have such a great contractor.  He focuses on the job at hand and takes pride in his work.  Part of that is having a sixth sense and the patience to find the right one.  Having been through this before and having had a father in the building trades helps.  They came to fix the shower door and it looks like they did.  No leaking.  He'll have to adjust the shower valves - they are a bit tight.  The granite countertop went in today.  I am very pleased.  Notice how he perfectly matched up the top of the tile with the top of the granite backsplash.  I am very happy with the cabinets.  That is another thing that presented a combination of 1,000 choices.  The wood, the color, the mitering, joining and finishing.  You go through it with your fingers crossed that it will turn out all right.  Seems to have turned out fine.


 


They come to put in the finish plumbing tomorrow then fit the mirrors.  Finishing touches will be the door handles, right color towels and switch plates.  We're almost there! 


 


Next week the whole second floor gets ripped up to install new carpeting.  If you can believe it, I am having a blast!


 


 

 

[compactelectra]

YIKES!!!!

Well the carpet installers are here today and tomorrow.  The whole second floor and stairs are being recarpeted as well as my office.  I spent the weekend clearing the decks.  This is much worse than the bathroom remodels. At least it is limited to two days.  We are now at the worst.  Living room is being used as the carpet storage area.

 

[compactelectra]

The Platform Bed

In the Watrous suite was dismantled and is being stored in the hallway.  The installer said he never saw a bed like that.  He probably never will.  Definitely one of a kind custom built.  May have to think about reupholstering that with drapes to match! 

 

[compactelectra]

Helen's Dresser

Up-ended in the hallway.  I can just imagine the wigs, tube tops and other accessories all a jumble in the drawers.

 

[compactelectra]

The Sewing Room

In progress.  At least you can get a hint of the new carpeting.  An oatmeal colored berber.  We're almost there.

 

[danemodsandy]

The Sewing Room:

Looks scrumptious!

What kind of machine lurks inside that impressive cabinet?

I have a Singer Touch-Tronic 2001 in the TOL Flip 'n Sew cabinet, and it's very, very nice, but the cabinet is only four feet wide closed. Yours is HUGE.

I can't wait to see completed Mawster Bawth photos.

 

[danemodsandy]

Since You Showed Me Yours....

....I'll show you mine!

This is not my current Flip 'n Sew cabinet, but it's identical. This is the one I had in Atlanta; I had to give it up to move here. I felt very fortunate to have the same cabinet turn up here!

The double doors open, the machine flips up, and the sewing surface converts for flatbed or free-arm sewing with just a flick of the wrist.

 

[compactelectra]

Sandy

That cabinet actually holds two machines.  Both modern Pfaffs.  I also have some vintage Singers including a 500a Rocketeer in its own cabinet.  Opens to make an impressive work surface.  The machines drop at the touch of a button.  Koala.

 

[danemodsandy]

Cabinet Open:

This is the Flip 'n Sew cabinet open, and the flip-top set for free-arm sewing. Decent working room. This was the top-of-the-line cabinet Singer had at the time.

The kee-cat is my sweet little departed boy Tony, who left us last March and whom I miss every day. I have a new cat friend named Marty now. Marty likes the sewing machine too.

 

[compactelectra]

And

On the other side, a huge cutting and storage table.  I am ruined for life.  Tomorrow the final mirror is being installed in the bathroom, so I'll post pictures of the finished product.

 

[danemodsandy]

Fred:

That is impressive indeed. I've never seen a twin-machine cabinet in the flesh, only in photos. I know a bunch of quilting fanatics, and they love Pfaffs and Elnas.

My own sewing machine interest is in the early Singer electronics. I have a Touch-Tronic 2001 and an Athena 2000. That's an Athena in the cabinet you see.

 

[compactelectra]

Nice cabinet

People rave about those Touch Tronics.  Singer holds a special place in my heart, even the Touch N' Sews (which some technicians refer to as Touch and Swears!)  I still have the Singer Stylist my partner and I bought on Madison St. in Chicago in the late 70s.  Still works like a charm.

 

[danemodsandy]

The Trouble With Touch-Tronic and Athenas:

They're now thirty-five and forty years old, so if the electronic boards fail, you're up the proverbial creek; Singer stopped supporting them a few years back.

However, with common-sense care (like leaving them unplugged when not in use, and don't sew during storms), they still chug along quite nicely.

Singer warranted the boards for 25 years, so they're very high quality. NASA doesn't expect that kind of life out of electronics.

That cutting table is fabulous. I cut on the bed, using a Simplicity cutting board that folds. That's all there's room for around here. If I weren't concerned about the Singers' electronics, I'd put everything in the basement with the mighty Maytag 806s. An Ironrite is coming soon - hopefully a Model 95 like Fred Stachnik has.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.:

If you bought your Stylist new, you probably remember the Athenas and Touch-Tronics new.

No one who wasn't rich could afford one then - the Athena was $1500 when it came out, and the Flip 'n Sew cabinet was another $400. That would be almost $8000 in today's anemic currency.

In 1975, I looked at the Athena - who didn't? I oohed, I aahed, I sighed - and then bought the BOL flatbed machine. For $79.95.

Oh, well - I got my TOL machine in the end, didn't I? LOL!

 

[compactelectra]

I Have A Particular Fondness

For the older Singers.  Dan Pontow picked me up a Featherweight in Des Moines for less than $300 - a steal.  These machines were built like a Sherman tank and highly serviceable.  In very high demand by quilters.  I love this one.

 

[compactelectra]

And My Rocketeer

When my technician returned it to me he marveled at the quality.  He said that there was not one piece of plastic in that machine.  I use it for piecing half-square triangles with paper-piecing.

 

[kenkart]

Slant Needles

I have my Mothers 301, It will sew anything you can get under the presser foot, She made everything from slips to upholstering furniture, and used that straight stich Singer, She bought it new in 58.

 

[danemodsandy]

One of.....

....My dream machines would be a Singer 401, in the "Hampton Court" cabinet. That was a Chippendale kneehole desk cabinet in mahogany.

Fred, your Stylist may be the most impeccably cared-for example I've ever seen. That machine looks fresh out of the box!

If that's an example of your quilting behind the cutting table, all I can say is oh, my.

Well that and "I'll take one in green, double/queen size. Charge it and send."

Just kidding! Seriously, beautiful work and design.

 

[ralph123]

Beautiful job on your remodel.

I was surprised to see a listing locally that actually had 12 shower heads in the master shower. I wouldn't normally post a link, but this one is fairly cool.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/30-Perdido-Cir-Little-Rock-AR-72211/338660_zpid/

The former owner is a local kitchen and bath designer/remodeler, and they did some pretty nice work on this house. The master bath pictures are around #10 & 11.