816-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 26,1990 Octogenarian Finds Work Better Than Retirement LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff MAN HEIM (Lancaster Co.) Dressed in bib overalls, a dusty cap, and a tattered cotton sweater, 88-year-old Chester Hummer pre pared a child’s rocker for a final coat of varnish on Monday. “I don’t advertize. I just do my work,” he said. Since 1932, Hummer has been refinishing furniture in his small bam on the edge of Manheim. His finished work speaks of the skill and care that he puts into the fine antiques that set in a section of the bam waiting to be picked up by the owners. He brushes aside any praise that others say of his work with the remark: “Don’t brag. If you talk too much you’re liable to lie.” He works with fine woods that have been scratched, painted, bro- Chester enjoys a laugh with a friend who drops by to admire the work. LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff DAUPHIN (Dauphin Co.) “You don’t need patterns for everything,” Naomi Lord told par ticipants at the Home Accessory Workshop held at Berks County Agricultural Center on May 17. ‘Try making a pattern yourself and you’ll find it’s surprising what you can do.” Lord and three other clothing and textile master volunteers who work through the extension dis played pillows, pot holders, table cloths, bun warmers, appliance covers, shower curtains, and other creative accessories made without patterns. Pillows witb shirred cording Naomi Lord, laft, encouraged participants at the work- corded can madc of shop to use patterns from coloring books for appliques and matching or contrasting fabric. To stencils. Ideas For Home Accessories For applique and stencil patterns to add finishing touches to napk ins, tablecloths and other items, Lord said, “I trace pictures from kid’s coloring books.” JoAnn DeCesar showed parti cipants how easy it is to use an overlock sewing machine for edg ing on napkins and tablecloths for heirloom techniques. During the workshop, particip ants had an opportunity to examine the projects, ask questions, and trace patterns. Home accessory workshops are scheduled in other counties through the extension office. Con tact your county extension office for dates. ken, and weathered by time. Through patience and skill, he lov ingly restores wood to its original sheen. He reglues joints and if pieces are missing, he makes a new turning to match. Although he has some massive, elaborately carved pieces, he takes as much care with plain wooden boxes for he asks, “Does the better piece dim the lesser one? What I think and what another thinks is nicer will be different and who is to say which piece is the better? The time required to finish a piece is no concern to Hummer. He said, “I just keeps working no mat ter how long it takes.” But each day, he first does what he doesn’t like to do—first. Hum mer said, “I’ve learned that in school.” As his fingers run over the 1799 blanket chest, he talks about the refinished chairs setting in the cor ner that now need to be caned. He said, “I don’t do caning. I’ve got to stop somewhere.” He prefers the solitary of work ing alone. “That way there is no fighting,” he explains. Working alone also offers him the opportunity to work as he pleases. He works on the pieces according to whim not in the order they came. He takes time to watch the birds that congregate on his small farm and he reads the newspaper each day. The octogenarian gives wry smiles and quotes wise sayings as he speaks of his life. He neither worries about the past nor the changes the future may bring because, he asks, “What’s the use of worrying? Pack up your trou (Turn lq Pag* B]7) Sylvia Blomqulst, right, a clothing and textile master volunteer, answer* tlons for those interested In techniques for personalizing home decor. Shower curtain Measure width of tub. Add » l'/j inches for side hems. Measure ft desired length plus 12-inches for a 9 double 3-inch hem at top and 9 bottom. V Interface top and stitch 3-inch ■ hems at top and bottom. Sew even qj ly spaced buttonholes at top so that shower curtain hooks can be inserted. Stencil edges and hems of show er curtain or stitch on a border or applique in a contrasting color. No Item is too big or too small for Chester to do his best In restoring the fine grains of wood. “I don’t advertize. I Just do my work and that speaks for me,” the 88-year-old said. begin, measure pillow width and diameter and add an extra inch on each side for seam allowances and ease in inserting the pillow. The size of the filler cord and the seam allowances needed determine the width of the bias strip to be cut. Lay a piece of cord diagonally across a comer of the fabric. Fold the point over the cord and pin fabric together so that cord is tight ly enclosed. Measure the width of seam allowance from the pin and trim point off fabric. Cut die sec ond layer of fabric the same width. Measure the distance between the two cut edges. This measurement will be the width of the bias strip needed. Fold the crosswise grain of the fabric to the lengthwise grain; this x forms the true bias. Cut along this ' fold. Use a ruler to measure the required width from the true bias edge. Mark with tailor’s chalk. Measure and mark as many strips as you will need. Cut on the markings. Always seam a lengthwise end to another lengthwise end and a crosswise end to another crosswise end. Match any prominent weave, stripes, or design on the fabric. Lay cordon fabric bias strip and stitch with a zipper foot. Pull cord (Turn to Pago Bit) ques-