hobi

Hope on the Stage in Brooklyn - a mini review

If there's one thing I know for sure after experiencing this concert it's that J-Hope of BTS shines brightest on stage. And if I'm being honest here... it has to be the best concert I've been to in a while.

Fresh off his mandatory military service in Korea, J-Hope was back in America for a solo concert and he was back and bigger than ever with the energy to prove it. Everything about this concert was perfection, the stage production, the storytelling, his dance team, live band, and Hobi himself were giving it their all. It just solidified it for me that this man is a worldwide star and an ace of KPOP.

His presence felt larger than life but still so down to earth, just close enough to reach out a hand and embrace a warm presence (metaphorically of course I was way too far for that, but his interactions with other fans were so cute and it's so nice to see the BTS members opening up more to the fans). His body movements were fluid, moving gracefully across the stage his 10 plus years in the industry was evident and shows his commitment to upholding the standard that BTS has set for themselves.

My seat was on the side of the stage, not ideal but with the demand of this show, any seat was a good one If you could find it. The great thing was that the dancing would be a highlighted feature so even though I was on the side, J-Hope and his dancers moved around so often around the stage that it felt like we were face to face.

The glow of everyones lightsticks being activated at the same time filled the room with a warm light and the buzz of a packed arena made my ears vibrate but it still felt so intimate and that's all thanks to the stage production/lighting but also Hobi too!.

I have been a fan of BTS since 2018 and while I havent been able to see them all together as a unit, Ive had the privilege of seeing 2 out of the seven members on their solo tours. Suga/Agust D was the first of the members to go on a solo tour in 2023 and this year, I got to see J-Hope and he did not dissapoint. A more thought out review will be updated here but I just wanted to say how much I loved this concert.

Singer 66 red eye threadle sewing machine c. 1910s

Restoration Status: Fully Functional (my main sewing machine)

Josephine is my first and only antique singer sewing machine I ever purchased. During the pandemic I was laid off of my corporate job as a designer and had a lot of down time much like others around the world.

One of my favorite hobbies is sewing and in 2020 I decided to create a youtube channel just to pass the time creatively. This youtube channel is my space where I teach others how to sew simple projects while also giving off cozy and ASMR-ish vibes. Most of my early projects centered around recreating historical fashion and other vintage aesthetics. I was drawn to an antique singer because it fit my style way more than any modern sewing machine could and to be honest, it works so much smoother than any previous sewing machines I've owned! In fact, I love my machine so much that after many years of holding it off, I finally donated my electric sewing machine and strictly rely on my singer!

I would stalk Ebay to find an affordble one and at long last I came across this machine and it was only $70! (the shipping was the real killer here) While it was afforable, it came without a wooden base and since it was orignally a treadle machine (the ones that come attached to a desk like structure with a foot pedal to make it sew) there was no way for it to work without a base.... UNLESS I found parts for it and that's where the fun came with restoring Josephine to her original glory (sans treadle). Luckily I found a seller on Etsy that sells notions specifically for treadle machines and I also found a lovely person that made these smaller wooden bases. The base was expensive but definitely needed and worth it.

Pros and Cons of owning an antique sewing machine:

Pros:

1. Perfect Stitching
When you have a hand crank operated machine you get to determine how fast or slow you stitch together your fabric so this allows for more control and overall the stitches come out so much cleaner than electric sewing machines, fabric rarely gets eaten up by the machine.

2. Easier to clean and troubleshoot
If you're having troubles with your sewing machcine you might have to take it in to a shop to get serviced OR you attempt to fix the issue yourself which may become a headache, but with my antique machine I've noticed how easy it is to unscrew the metal plates and see what all is going on with the mechanics, which feel simpler than my electric machine for some reason. There are also built in "oil holes" where you can insert sewing machine oil with an extended spout to lube up your machine.

3. The sound
This reason is kinda stupid but if you're someone who likes to sew at ungodly hours, the sound of a sewing machine can get pretty grating. But with an antique I think it gives off the most amazingly smooth sound, it almost reminds me of tap dancing? I don't know, I just love it ok??

4. Portable, If you're ambitious enough
Because it requires no electricity, you can literally take this thing to sew any where... it is heavy though.

Cons:

1. No backstitching.
When you're finished sewing a piece of fabric together and you want to secure the ends all you have to do on an electric machine is to hit the back stitch button, but with a hand crank operated machine... there isn't one! so you have to manually push up the presser foot, turn your piece of fabric around, and sew the other way. It doesn't take up too much time to do but it can be annoying at times.

2. Working with one hand
I've gotten used to it but since my right hand is occupied with the hand crank wheel I only have my left hand to keep the fabric steady and lined up with the needle so that could be super difficult for someone who is used to working with two hands on the fabric.

3. Replacement Parts
If you're lucky enough and have the money to spend, you'll find a machine that's fully functional with parts already refurbished but if not, finding particular parts could prove to be difficult and maybe even costly...Ebay. is. your. friend. in these cases.

Antique Sewing Machine Resources:

For sewing machine supplies and notions: TreadleLady on Etsy

To determine when your antique machine was made International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society

Wooden Bases: Steven Knodl Design

Ebay for other supplies and notions!

gibbs

Willcox & Gibbs chainstitch sewing machine c. 1800s

Restoration Status: Still in Progress

I had been on the hunt on Ebay for an antique Willcox & Gibbs sewing machine because of how compact it is, but the prices for fully restored ones were way out of my budget so I sort of gave up. It wasn't until one weekend I went to an little antique shop in Concord, MA that I found this machine tucked away in the corner of one of the rooms. I can't remember how much it was but it had to have been at least under $200, affordable enough for me to justify taking it home. While it was cheap, I could tell right away that it would take ALOT of work and money to restore it. It was caked with old oil and the presser foot was stuck as well but I was determined to fix it up. I managed to get the gunk off the metal plate by scrubbing it with a baking soda mixture and now the presser foot can move up and down but I'm finding it difficult to locate parts to turn this into a hand crank machine that's in my price range. This one is still a work in progress but I hope I will slowly be able to find the parts for it.

gibbs *Illustration of the original*

what is a garden cemetery?

A garden cemetery, or a rural cemetery is a style of cemetery that became popular in the united states in the mid 19th century due to the overcrowding of churchyard cemeteries. These cemeteries became a place for the public to spend their day outside, looking at artwork for free, having a picnic, and just enjoying the fresh air. As the name suggests, the landscape of these cemeteries are filled with flowers, and beautiful architecture.

check back later!

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