Tag Archives: mom

Mom’s Sewing Machine Instructions

Emotions, Things, , , ,

My mom had an Elna sewing machine that ended up being sold at the estate sale. I kick myself for not taking this — even though our history was complicated. I don’t sew. I tried, I failed. I hated that sewing machine with a passion. On the other hand, it was a big part of my childhood — mom sewed often — my first pair of jeans, all of my middle school and high school dance dresses, a perfect gothic cloak for Clare.

The information plate and on/off switch
Similar model of Elna Sewing machine
Me, on the left wearing one of mom’s creations
Me on the right wearing one of mom’s creations

It came in a green metal carrying case.

Dad bought the sewing machine for mom from Hall’s in Elgin. Hall’s no longer exists, but I think the building does.

Even though I don’t have the actual machine, I do have the instruction book. And honestly, just looking through the booklet stresses me out.

Mom’s Artwork::Exhibit 11: Three color illustrations

People, Things, , , ,

I don’t remember this assignment from The Famous Artists School. I’m sure she used magazine advertisements as the models. She did that a lot.

This first one garnered many comments and suggestions:

Mom’s assignment
Evaluator’s suggestion
  • Experiment!
  • See how an imaginative sky color adds to the sunny effect? (arrow to sky)
  • Richer tan flesh colors
  • Blue and orange are complementary (contrasts) (arrow to shirt, outlined in orange)
  • Yellow is complemented by violet (arrow to ocean as contrasted to yellow sky)
  • Warm (arrow to green in pants)
  • Cool (arrow to sand?)
  • Warmest — most intense color in foreground

This one only had a couple of comments

Mom’s assignment
Evaluator’s suggestion
  • Deeper values — cooler bluer colors — think of moon as a cool light source (arrow to moon)
  • Keep shadows flat — little light is reflected at night

This last one was praised.

Mom’s assignment
Evaluator’s suggestion
  • Values quite good!
  • White stripes help to relieve intensity of background (pointing to stripes in background)