Monday, December 1, 2014

Oh Brother

Welp, I did it.  I caved to a "Lightning Deal" on Amazon yesterday and am now awaiting the arrival of Everett.

As in Ulysses Everett McGill, my new Brother sewing machine.

Don't be confused by the photo of Mr. Project Runway there on the front.  

Imagine instead, if you will, Everett.

I truly hope Everett is all he is cracked up to be, but honestly if he can do two things, that's all I'm asking.

(1)  Automatic buttonholes.

(2)  Blanket stitch for applique.

I have neither capability on my vintage machines or the Juki, all of which have names as well, viz:
  • Tammy, the Singer 603E Golden Touch 'N Sew.
  • Viv, the Singer 301.
  • Jane, the Juki TL98Q.
Also currently visiting are two machines of my daughter's, which I bought for her over the past few years:
  • Kenny, the Kenmore.
  • Silver,  a Singer 600 Touch 'N Sew.
For those unfamiliar with the film,"O Brother, Where Art Thou," Ulysses Everett McGill is the main character, played by George Clooney.  

"O Brother" is one of my favorite Coen Brothers flicks, in part due to the clever dialog between the characters, beginning with the first lines uttered by Everett in the movie, as he attempts to hop a box car full of hobos while still in irons from the chain gang from which he escaped (clip).

Ulysses Everett McGill:  Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

It may seem silly to have a name before I even have the machine, but I'm okay with that.  I'm looking forward to getting to know Everett in the months ahead, and putting him to work alongside the rest of the gang, no chains attached—but those buttonholes and basket stitches better be awesome.

"I've spoken my piece and counted to three."

15 comments:

Sarah Craig said...

Congratulations! I'm sure you and Everett will have a long and happy life together!! He's bona fide!!

jane said...

I usually tell myself "Do not seek the treasure.", but sometimes those Amazon deals are irresistible. Have fun with Everett.

Kevin the Quilter said...

All of my vintage machines have names as well.......and I don't think we are crazy for naming them? LOL Congrats on your new purchase......and I hope Everett "sings" for you!

Kim said...

Can't imagine anyone not having a li'l fun with Everett! Congrats on your new acquisition, 'tis a wee bit exciting for you!

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to your review of the machine. I have an older Brother that I love, love, love and a newer one that's okay. I'd love to get another second machine. Do you know what kind of bobbins it uses? My newer Brother uses different bobbins than the older one. I learned the hard way to be very careful not to confuse them!

Carol D said...

I need a new machine. Recommendations??? I want something more than just the basics, but I don't need fancy, fancy.

Hazel said...

When I saw the name Oh Brother, I immediately thought of the movie and George Clooney!

I hope your new Brother is going to be wonderful!

Elizabeth said...

If I didn't have my spiffy new laptop hooked up to the TV to enjoy 52" web browsing in one of those extremely RARE moments when no one and nothing is demanding my attention, I might pop that movie it. I absolutely LOVE it. And who knew George Clooney could act? I also think Holly Hunter is the cutest little firecracker. We need to see more of her.

Lots of people have ultra-sounds and find out what their baby is going to be and name them several months before the birth, so I don't see anything wrong with naming your machine before you get it. It is just good planning.

Also, I didn't know that your other machines had names. How clever. Mine is Grace because that's the name she came with, but you already know that. She does automatic button holes (as in, one touch and so amazing it's like magic!) and has a blanket stitch. But I'd really like to trade up for her big sister, Elizabeth. You know. Because.

I miss reading your blog. I'd love to scroll backwards and see what else I've missed, but it just occurred to me that no one and nothing is demanding my attention and I have some blogging business of my own to attend to.

Still working on the lily blocks. I wanted to get the lot of them done over Thanksgiving. And then when chores and all the other stuff I've been not doing got in the way, I hoped for 8 of the 11. And then when more chores and stuff I've been neglecting got in the way, I was hoping for 6. I got 3 done. And one of those was already about half-way put together. Mine are kind of wavy in the middle. Suggestions?

Thanks for the fun post.

xo -E

Kaja said...

What a great name for your new machine. I hope he lives up to expectations. I love that movie too.

Lara B. said...

Paulette, maybe you need to apply a new picture on the front of Everett when he arrives. Hope he is everything you dreamed he would be! LOL

Shay said...

Im sure you and Everett will have a lot of fun together. Good thing Norm isn't the jealous type...

Diane said...

Congrats! I was flirting with a new machine for a couple of weeks but decided that a sewing machine that cost the same as a recent model low mileage car might not be the best choice when I will soon have 2 kids in college.... maybe some day.

Karen said...

I adore the O Brother movie! :) I've been looking at all your blog posts I've missed and you've been buy!

patty a. said...

What a great name for your machine! George in that movie totally cracks me up! I was blown away with his acting! What a character! I'm a Dapper Dan man.

bunbear said...

omG i am lmao at your names! my husband, everett, and i love that movie - oh brother where art thou? and just fyi, my name is tammy! hahahaha i have named a few of my machines also. i named my longarm well before i got her. she is 'gemma' from a t.v. character i liked. my featherweight is 'grace' because i like the name, and my singer 15-91 that i recently acquired is 'polly' because she looks like something my maternal grandmother might have sewn on and gram's nickname was polly.