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-