Sewing
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Most of my knowledge and skill come from years of experience,
experimenting, some training and schooling, and hours and hours of
practice, which includes many trial and error projects. I rarely
give up when I think I have a "brilliant idea". I either succeed or
after a long tortuous time come to the realization, it was not meant
to be. I have plenty of items that - well should we say - are better
left hidden in a closet. But, at least I can say I tried.
I credit my parents for my desire to create. They instilled in my
sisters and I a love for crafts and a willingness to continually
expand our creativity in sewing, painting, woodworking, etc. With
that background, each of us has explored other areas of artistic
creation.
My mother taught me to sew by hand at about four years old. I
first learned to sew on her old treadle machine before she purchased
a Kenmore sewing machine.
I loved that machine and purchased a heavy duty Kenmore when I
moved out on my own, which is now nearly four decades ago. How time
flies! I still have that machine and it still works great. I thought
the tension was going bad, but that wasn't the case. I was using
cheap thread.
My first three quilts were sewn on that machine before purchasing
a fancy computerized Bernina in 1995. That very expensive machine
didn't last even a few years. After a month it began to give me
grief. Over the first few years, that Bernina was constantly in for
repairs. It conked out for good in 2004. I'm keeping it for parts or
until I find someone who needs it for parts. After reading many
reviews, I decided to purchase a basic 1008 Bernina sewing machine.
I love it! And, so far, no trouble. I did and do love the look of
these two sewing machines. They both are very similar in style. The
unexpected bonus too was that many of my attachments from the fancy machine
work well with my current Bernina. What's interesting is the sales
people told me they weren't compatible.
At the same time I purchased the first Bernina, I purchased a
2000DE Bernina Over-Lock or otherwise known as a serger. That too was a basic machine. I had no idea
how to use it when I purchased it. I had never even seen one up
close or in action. Yet, after many mistakes and some "oops", that
machine still runs and does the job.
I guess, I'm just a basic needs person. What a machine can't do
for me, I do by hand.
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Knitting,
Crocheting, and Stitchery
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Again, my mother taught
me knitting, crocheting, and a variety of stitchery, which
included embroidery, needlepoint, and cross stitch. As I was
growing up, I seem to remember always working on one of these
types of projects.
At 17 years old, I
completed a crochet dress, top, blanket, mittens, hat,
needlepoint pillow, and knitted sweater. These were more
complicated patterns than my previous artwork.
For three or more years
I embroidered roses on white material to make a round
tablecloth. I sat in front of my mother's beautiful needlepoint
wall picture and somehow imitated it onto cloth. After I was
married, I crotched around the edge and presented it to my
mother as a gift. She used it on special occasions over the
years.
I have always felt
guilty just sitting in front of the TV without doing anything,
so this was what I did and still do. For me, handwork is
relaxing and I feel like I accomplish something useful. I once
tried beading as a relaxing hobby and while other people find it
comforting and relaxing for them, it is not for me. Not that I
don't do jewelry type projects now and then; I just can't do it
while I'm on a recliner with my feet up.
Many of my projects
require sitting in a chair with bright light overhead, bent over
a sewing machine, at a table wood burning, in front of a
computer writing, designing, creating slideshow movies or
manipulating my photos, etc. I may love doing all these
projects, but I call it work with love, not relaxation.
For five years
beginning in the early 1980's I taught stitchery through a home
party plan. I was addicted to it. I stitched morning, noon, and
night - whenever I had a chance. I can't tell you how many
projects I completed over the years. I loved the party plan,
especially when a non-stitcher came and learned how to do a type
of stitch and fell in love with it too. It was a good feeling. I
also have a completed needlepoint picture that our son made when
he was only 5 years old. He did an excellent job. Same with my
husband. He always said he couldn't hang on to a needle and sew
anything. Well, he did a beautiful job on a large needlepoint
picture. I showed both pictures to my classes just in case there
was someone there who said they couldn't do it.
Then after teaching
stitchery and after I purchased my first Bernina, I wanted to do
something that paid for the machines. All my walls and
furnishings were filled with hand crafted items, but my need to
create was still strong. So, I created sewing items to sell in
craft shows. I was very busy for many years sewing and selling my work in
craft shows. I still do every once in awhile. But, now my photos
are included.
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Photography
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I love to take
pictures! My parents gave me my first camera at Christmas when I
was around 13 years old. From that moment, pictures became my
diary and will hopefully go down as my legacy to my descendants.
I have many photo albums with all pictures in order and captions
under them when I remembered to do so. Years later, I started
doing scrap booking on the computer and became more
conscientious about dates and details.
In the 11th grade, I
won an essay contest along with other students from our school
district to Irapuato and Mexico City. I brought that camera with
me and took pictures of everything, saved all news clippings,
etc. I began a journal but didn't finish it. I remembered
everything that happened on that trip for a few years. I didn't
think I would every forget one moment of that memorable,
exciting twelve days. Unfortunately, I did forget details and my
memory of this once in a lifetime event diminished in time. I
wish now I had finished the journal and wrote captions under the
pictures of where, when, and what was happening. Of course, I
have my photo album and everything I could save in it.
Looking back at
pictures from places I've been to and celebrations I was part
of, and people I knew or know, brings back many of my memories.
I realized a long time ago, these pictures bring to mind all the
good times I had in my life.
I used that first
camera until after I was married. My husband, Mike, had a camera
too. Both were the 110 beginner cameras. We were married one
year when we went on a month trip from San Diego to Wisconsin
and back in 1978. I was never outside of California before
(except for my trip to Mexico) and always dreamed of traveling
anywhere and everywhere. Well, our month was beautiful. I tried
to take pictures of God's beautiful forests, mountains, lakes,
anything and everything. The majestic views I saw just wouldn't
transfer to the pictures I took. I was very disappointed and
from then on wished and dreamed for a better camera. During
1981, when I was pregnant, Mike presented me with a good Pentax
camera. I loved the camera and used it for many years. However,
I never became proficient with it no matter how often I re-read
my tutorial books. Once in awhile on our camping trips, there
would be photographers on hikes giving tips and ideas. Those
were my only lessons plus practice.
Of course, I did make
some beautiful pictures, but over-all I was disappointed and
becoming discouraged. My girlfriend with her point and shoot
camera and my parent's and their very old camera made so many
more outstanding pictures than I did. We would take similar
pictures and compare.
At first, I could take
better outdoor pictures, but rarely good indoor pictures. Then,
finally I was able to take wonderful pictures of my crafts and
other indoor activities, but rarely outside anymore. This
continued until around the year 1999 when I was taking pictures
at a function. I was standing next to a professional
photographer telling him about my failure to take decent photos.
He looked into my viewfinder and discovered my camera was off
balanced and that was causing the problem, not me.
I then purchased a
cheap point and shoot camera and used that. The pictures were
better but I wasn't thoroughly happy with them. They were just
acceptable.
Then, in 2001, I worked
at a homeowners association and was allowed to use their new
Canon 4.1 digital camera. Part of my job was to create their
monthly newsletter, which I designed. One of the first pictures
I took was of a swan with a drop of water dripping from its
beak. It turned out so beautiful and so clear. In that instant, I
fell in love with the brand new digital cameras. I never wanted
to go back to the old cameras. I could take a picture and see
right then how it turned out. And it was possible to take more
pictures until I was happy or until the subject went away.
How many times did a
film come back empty from the processing companies? So many -
too many! We lost an entire roll of film with important memories
when I was very pregnant and our baby's first month in the
world. Mike and I sometimes still think back of pictures we took
on that roll that would have been so precious to us. Gone! Now a
new type of camera was out that we could see right away if a
picture turned out good or not.
As soon as possible, I
purchased a 3.1 Kodak camera. I fell in love with it right away.
But I fell out of love with it when we were in a campground
looking far into the distance at Mt. St. Helen's in Washington.
The images were so small and there was nothing I could do to
enlarge it and still be clear. A man was nearby listening to me
complain. He showed me a picture of that mountain. The picture
was gorgeous and it showed a huge, clear, up close Mt. St.
Helen's. He said his friend took it from the exact spot I was
standing on using the new zoom lenses that were included with
the new digital cameras.
Now, I have a
collection of all my old cameras and even some older ones.
Currently, I use my Canon EOS 60D and Canon Rebel XTi. I am very
happy with them. I love taking pictures! I love digital cameras!
Having a camera at eye level or around my neck seems to be part
of me.
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Desktop Publishing
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What can I say about
desktop publishing? I love it and I wish I could go back in time
and take that up as my chosen career. I didn't know how gifted I
could be at that. I remember bosses taking note how nice my
layouts were when I typed anything for them. I'm talking about
the old electric typewriter machines. I didn't think much of it
at the time, but I enjoyed the compliments. I thought all
typists did the same. I guess not.
In 1995, our family
purchased a modern desktop computer, which had lots of programs
installed in it. (We already had two previous computers.) I
learned most of the programs through diligent practice. One
night our son came to me and said he needed a graph for his
homework. Neither one of us knew how to do it. I became obsessed
by learning how. I studied it until about 3 o'clock in the
morning. Suddenly the light went on in my brain and I figured it
out. Not only that, through all my trials and errors I
understood much more about the various programs. That was my
first step into learning desktop publishing.
From there, I picked up
computer skills easily. I became a newsletter editor at my son's
high school and for many years volunteered creating monthly
newsletters. I learned on the (Adobe) Aldus Pagemaker version 5.
That lead me into other areas.
In 1998, I decided to
take a course at a junior college to learn more about desktop
publishing. I had no idea how much I knew or not. I wanted to
find out. Everything I learned up to that point was on my own or
when I spoke with a computer technician. At that time,
technicians loved their jobs and wanted to share their knowledge
with anyone who would listen. I listened and learned.
What I found out in
that classroom was, I knew a lot. So much so that even the
teacher had me teaching and helping other students. Of course, I
did learn a few things. But I realized even a total beginner
taught experienced ones. Some of the tricks I learned came from
someone who barely knew how to turn on the computer. They would
press a key or do something that would lead to other ideas.
My father died during
that time and I created a memorial brochure to honor him. At
that time, the homework assignment was to create a brochure, so
I turned in my memorial brochure as homework. The teacher was so
impressed by it, she showed it to everyone. I was elated!
So now, I do
slideshows, collages, postcards, business cards, signs,
bookmarks, calendars, etc. Currently, I do our church's weekly
bulletin. I even have my pictures on the KOA website and in a
campground brochure.
My dream was to become
a professional photographer and desktop publisher. My dream has
come true! I just want to do more and more.
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Writing
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I like writing too.
When I begin writing, I have a hard time stopping, as you can
tell by my above story.
I would say, I can
write well when I am inspired and have something to say. When I
don't, well, my writing stinks and I need lots of help to pick
up the quality.
My husband proofs and
edits my writing all the time. I can usually write well, but my
grammar sometimes leaves much to be desired.
In school, our teachers
had us do term papers, essays or book reports all the time
starting in the 4th or 5th grade. For the most part, I loved
doing them and I think I made A's on all of them except one. I
wish I saved my papers, but in one move we made, I decided to be
strong and get rid of stuff. To this day, I regret getting rid
of that one box that held all my writings.
I won an essay contest to Irapuato and
Mexico City in Mexico during my junior year at high school. What
a surprise! I was on cloud nine forever. The trip was memorable.
All my life I wanted to
have a book written about our parent's life and surrounding
family. I finally began in 2009 and finished my book in 2013.
It's a book written with lots of love for my family heritage. I
have now published it. Memoirs of a Simple German Girl
can be ordered. Below are websites where you can view my book or
order one. Look for specials under Lulu.com, Amazon or other
online stores. If you
decide to read my book, I would appreciate a review from you
when you are finished.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23006546-memoirs-of-a-simple-german-girl
www.lulu.com/shop/sonya-siedschlag/memoirs-of-a-simple-german-girl-public/paperback/product-21772773.html
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/sonyasiedschlag
Look for lulu.com specials at:
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/lulu.com
www.amazon.com/Memoirs-Simple-German-Girl-Public/dp/1312311681
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/memoirs-simple-german-girl/id938981596?mt=11
For family relations, I have a complete
version in hardcover and paperback that contains our genealogy
along with miscellaneous other information under Lulu.com. If
you are interested in obtaining this complete book, please
e-mail me at mikesonya@frontier.com.
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