Come Stitch With Me

Today was the last day the kiddos.

One wedding, one bridal shower and three work days are all that stand between me and summer vacation.

Can’t wait!

Ashby’s posted an ad on FB about the new Elna Lotus sewing machine.  The earlier Swiss-made version of the Lotus (circa 1968) is found in the Museum of Modern Art.  The early Lotus was designed to be a lightweight travel machine and is becoming increasingly popular with sewers as an alternative to the beloved Singer Featherweight.

Intrigued, I did a little online research on the *new* Lotus.  $1200 is the suggested retail for this *travel* machine.  (Update 7/5/12 – the selling price is about $800.) Really?  Upon closer observation, I discovered the original Lotus holds its value pretty well.  Previously loved machines in excellent condition can go for about $600.  Even more interesting is that the successor to the original Lotus – the Stella – is in even greater demand.  Ray White, who is considered “Elna Man” by those on the Yahoo Elna Heirloom Sewing Machines list-serv, sells his Stellas in top condition for just under $1,000.

I do own a 1983 Elna Carina SU that my sewing students use – mostly due to the speed controller and the ample area under the harp.  Increasingly, I find myself taking this machine to class and sew-ins with me instead of my 1951 Singer Featherweight.  Why?  It does a zig zag and buttonhole – something my beloved FW does not unless I haul the heavy attachments for it.  Plus, there’s also the uniqueness factor.  In one of my quilt guilds, it used to be that only one or two of us had a FW, now it seems like everyone has one.  The Carina doesn’t have the visual appeal of the FW, but it is much, much quieter and has a heavy duty motor.  It also weighs less than “Old Faithful” – my Sears Kenmore 18830 – that I’ve kept as a backup machine for several years.

Vintage machines have a timeless appeal. They also last.  In addition to the Featherweight, give those European made mechanical machines from Pfaff, Elna and Bernina a second glance if you happen to see one in a sewing shop or thrift store.  Most were manufactured prior to 1990 in Germany or Switzerland.  I keep looking for a reasonably priced, not-so-pretty FW that still sews well that I can send off o become my painted turquoise beauty.  I’m going to add the Carina and Stella to my watch list as well.

This is a first.  The school board failed to pass a budget before the teacher contracts were handed out.  I watched 3-1/2 hours of the board meeting last night.  They didn’t name a new principal to my school, either.

It’s a bit unsettling to be expected to sign and return a binding employment contract when you don’t know what your salary will be, who your boss will be or what you’ll be doing for the next twelve months.  Of course the language is written so that the school board holds all the cards and can cancel the contract for any variety of reasons.  You, on the other hand, are only allowed to break the contract under a very limited set of circumstances without the fear of having your teaching license revoked.

NO FAIR!

I did sign on the dotted line because I know I’ll be in the media center next year.  That’s a given.  I can also calculate that under a worst case scenario, my salary will drop by $250/month.  Not ideal, but I can live with that.  The kicker and potential deal breaker will the person put in charge of the school next year.  I will transfer, find a new job and/or accept the consequences of a mid-year resignation if necessary.  Life is too short to continue putting up with the shenanigans going on in education today.  The kids and I deserve better than we’re getting.