Sobey's Retro Stamp Giveaway

I was happy and fortunate to earn 2 Jamie Oliver knives simply by shopping at Sobey's until mid February!  It wasn't hard to be honest.  I mostly shop there or Superstore anyways so it wasn't hard filling up a book and half of another to gain the Utility and Santoku knives.  Actually this isn't the first time we have received free items at Sobey's just for shopping there.  Dishes, cups, fruit, eggs and more were given to us at check out.  In this economy ever little bit counts in my eyes.

Sobey's also gives their customers Air Miles when they shop too.  It's a total win win situation.  I appreciate all the incentives to get us in the door, believe me.  With this crazy inflation thanks to falling oil prices and interest on interest on the country's debt imho the extras every company gives always does help!  Thanks Sobey's!  

I also have a points and card for President's Choice and that has earned me over $280 in free groceries.  We have even more points for another week of free groceries too.  Some people won't give their info for these things because they want total privacy and I do get that but I really don't mind if corps know what I am buying and where I am shopping to be honest as long as they don't hike up the prices because then I will stop using the cards and shop elsewhere.

My Love Of Sewing

I have been sewing since I was a child thanks to my father who was a tailor that trained in Italy in his brother's store that had a tailor shop.  He taught me so much and until this day too.  I remember when I was in grade 8, taking Home Ec (economics), he even showed me this awesome shop called Len's Mill where you could get a lot of great stuff at discounted prices and I still go there now by the way!

I was so fortunate to be given a vintage 70's SINGER 247 zig zag sewing machine with table from my father too!  It's a terrific little machine that I used a lot.

I also found another vintage 70's SINGER but it's a much better model from the UK.  It's the SINGER Stylist 513 sewing machine and table from Little Italy Toronto that was owned by a seamstress for only $45 Canadian this past year.  I couldn't resist because my latest was more solid and cherry and perfect for alterations, crafts and patterns but with a little more zoom!

It was missing those plastic thread holders so I just went to SewingWorld and picked them up and the felt for less than $10.00.  It's a tiny, tiny, wee, little shop but since the SINGER store shut down in Gerrard Square I kinda had to check it out.  It was okay but they don't honor refunds, only credit, so I won't be buying a brand new machine or anything major to be honest.  Walmart has some of those amazing new machines for way less and they have a terrific return policy too.

I especially love to sew miniature patterns for SKIPPER and the great thing is that it fits other 11.5" dolls too.  I found all of them on Ebay for a really great price.  Here is an example of one that I purchased:

I can't tell you how difficult it is to sew at times but I actually enjoy doing it very much and it's getting easier and easier to do so.  I am also in the process of even opening up my own Etsy shop too!

Here are my take on a couple of the Skipper inspired patterns I have made:

If and when my shop is established I might post a link to it.  

Well that's all for now.  Cheers!