Today was catch-up day… for Mom and I. She had edits due on her next Amish Book Fearless Hope, and I needed to take care of some much needed computer work. But the film crew waits for no man! Well, except for maybe the main character, they’re kind of crucial to the whole story thing, who knew? I can however fill everyone in on the events that did take place today. So a lot of today’s scenes revolved around Joe and Bobby driving in their truck, before it breaks down, while it breaks down, and after it breaks down. We also introduced another character to the story, Eli (Ken) As most of you already know, Eli was the Amish man who helped Joe and Bobby in their many predicaments. Today we got to film Eli picking Joe and Bobby up, a lot of dialogue between Eli and Joe, and just some general Eli driving around in a buggy. Our Eli was an actor and although I did not get to witness it first hand, many of the film crew said he played a very convincing Amish man, and was stopped by a few tourists asking if he was Amish. (I’m sure the real Old Order Amish would have been able to spot him a mile away as an imposter, but for all intents and purposes, he did his part well) So after all the filming was finished, edits were wrapped up and computer work was accomplished, we got to help fulfill a veteran-wardrobe-expert’s dream. Christine, our resident wardrobe expert and master seamstress, had never seen a treadle sewing machine in action and had been wanting to for years. Since we’re in Amish country, and since Mom has an uncanny ability to befriend anyone with ears, we just so happened to have some Amish friends near by who happen to have a couple treadle machines (if you don’t know what one is, its basically a sewing machine powered by your feet, instead of a motor) We met up with Christine after the filming was done today and took her over to our Amish friend’s house. We ended up outside on lawn chairs in the pitch black for about 45 minutes waiting for our Amish friends to return from a wedding. Now I could go into detail about why we had to wait so long and why Thursday’s are reserved for weddings, instead of the traditional English Saturdays, and why the wedding starts at 8 in the morning and why the celebration doesn’t end till… well whenever people start leaving… but that would be too interesting and you would learn too much. So instead download Mom’s first hand account of a real Amish wedding and learn it that way: An Amish Wedding Invitation; An eShort Account of a Real Amish Wedding
Anyways, our Amish friends made it home, welcomed us in, and showed Christine how a non-electric treadle sewing machine works. You would’ve thought Christine had just opened the best Christmas present she’d ever seen, and was squealing over the experience. Our Amish friends were grinning from ear to ear from seeing someone so excited over something they took for granted. All and all, a good day, and its time to get my beauty rest for tomorrow’s big baseball game scene! 🙂
Best wishes,
-Jacob
(This is a traditional treadle sewing machine if anyone was wondering, not the one Christine used)
(Christine enjoying the treadle sewing machine immensely!)
Diane Bell
September 20, 2013 @ 10:37 am
My mother had a treadle machine ever since I can remember. I didn’t much care for sewing on it when I was young..but boy, I sure wish I had that very machine now. I have two electric machines..but they sure don’t have the ‘personality’ that the old treadle machines have. And ..I love reading each account of the filming, Jacob..thank you!
Jacob
September 21, 2013 @ 3:21 pm
You’re welcome! I didn’t take their picture, but the Amish girls were absolutely loving every minute of Christine’s enjoyment. 😀
Pamela S. Meyers
September 21, 2013 @ 2:32 pm
I learned to sew my doll clothes on my grandmother’s treadle Singer. It looked just like the one in the picture and brings back memories.
Mary Ellis
September 23, 2013 @ 7:54 am
Wow, Jacob, you’re doing a fabulous job reporting. Tell your mom I’m so glad I finally got to meet her! When she told me in Indy they were making a movie from her book “LFY in Sugar Creek” I thought next year some time. I sure didn’t think NEXT WEEK! How exciting! I love this day-by-day account and can’t wait to see Serena up on the big screen. Bless you both.
Art
January 15, 2017 @ 2:27 pm
I have a singer sewing machine just like the photo above that my mom used until the day she died 3 years ago at the age of 90, I only wish my wife had someone who could teach her how to use it, living in Las Vegas.
Sharon Richards
August 10, 2017 @ 2:53 pm
I have been looking for a singer treadle sewing machine for years but they are either in bad shape or asking way to much money for it. I live in South Jersey and I’m not to far from Lancaster PA would love any help you can offer
😀