Andrea Cesari
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oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Andrea Cesari
@oldbluedoor.bsky.social
880 followers 860 following 2.4K posts
Living in a two loom garage with an attached house in the Cascadia bioregion. Mostly things related to textiles, and lots of photos of Victor Velluto, an elegant goofball Russian Blue cat.
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oldbluedoor.bsky.social
I mostly think of Cascadia as an interesting theoretical framework but golly, some days the West Coast Health Alliance feels essential for survival.
Excerpt from Oregon Health Department email received November 25, 2025 “ The West Coast Health Alliance Stands with Scientific Evidence: Vaccines Are Not Linked to Autism The West Coast Health Alliance continues to strongly recommend vaccines to protect our children. The Alliance is an agreement among California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii to coordinate public health guidelines. The Alliance noted rigorous research of millions of people in multiple countries over decades that provides high quality evidence that vaccines are not linked to autism. The Alliance is deeply concerned about inaccurate claims to the contrary recently posted on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with multiple contributing genetic and environmental factors. Suggesting it stems from any single cause, such as vaccination, misleads families who deserve accurate guidance. It is not only a disservice to families seeking clarity about vaccines but also potentially harmful to autistic people and their families. Vaccines are thoroughly tested and remain one of the most important tools for preventing infectious diseases. Public health guidance on immunization must be grounded in credible, evidence-based science to help parents and caregivers who may be receiving conflicting or inaccurate messages about immunization. The Alliance encourages families to seek information from trusted health care providers and reputable medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. Visit our Getting Vaccines in Oregon webpage to learn more.”
November 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
New pin cushion, made from a bit of corduroy that's been in my scraps bin for close to 30 years and a bit of ribbon left over from a length I bought one day when I was having a Horrible Day at Work and needed something to cheer me up. I find hanging pin cushions remarkably handy.
A small stuffed pillow, about 3" square, made of deep raspberry pink fine-wale corduroy. It has a hanging loop at the top made of half inch wide ribbon woven in a scrollwork and lozenge pattern in gold, white, green, red, and purple on a black background. the pin cushion has been clothes-pinned to a small basket containing weaving tools.
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
7:45 am in a heavy fog, well before the first mug of tea: Owl or owl-shaped clump of dead leaves? By 11:15 am I got a good look at this barred owl, but couldn't get a decent photo of it. The owls get very chatty at this time of year and I've been hearing them lately at night.
A thin tree canopy with a few yellow leaves remaining. In the center tree is an owl-shaped brownish blob. When I looked at it with binoculars from my bedroom window I was a little surprised to find it was looking back at me.
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Noticed a local skirmish in the #CheddarWars
Two columns of packages of cheese. On the left on red and white packaging is Cabot Creamery’s “Vermont Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese” On the right in red packaging Tillamook Sharp Cheddar
November 22, 2025 at 6:42 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Hello #DressHistory Bluesky! Can somebody explain to me the difference between womens shoes and pumps at this period? (1771) If you can point me to illustrations that would be fabulous!
Ad from The South-Carolina Gazette; and Country Journal Charleston, South Carolina · Tuesday, August 27, 1771, p. 4 "JARVEY & MILLIGAN, Have just imported in the Sloop Sally, Jssee Hunt, Master, from NEW YORK, SPERMACAETI and Tallow Candles, wax tapers, best saltpetred hams and smoaked beef, ship bread, butter and water bisket, mens and boys neat and common shoes and pumps, copper and brass chaffing dishes, iron tea kettles, rotton stone, starch, bar iron, "&c. &c. which with good old New-York Madera wine; Jamaica, West-India, and Northward rum, brandy, Holland and Northward gin, cordials of all kinds in kegs, loaf and brown sugar, bohea tea, chocolate, coffee, womens calimanco and everlasting shoes and pumps, bed cords, hand lead, deep sea and fishing lines, &c. &c. Sc. N. B. The above articles will be sold very cheap for cash or short credit; and will be much obliged to all those who please to favour them with their commands."
November 19, 2025 at 10:06 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Yes but why 32? What is the match arcana that requires 32 and not 30 or 36?
A box of Diamond Greenlight Strike Anywhere matches, with text indicating “32 count”
November 16, 2025 at 1:57 AM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
I dunno, I think he still looks like a goofball. Or a space alien. #caturday
An image of a cat, in the style of the famous Shepard Fairey Obama “Hope” poster
November 15, 2025 at 6:22 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Taking advantage of the mild weather to open the garage door and weave by natural light.
A very old cantilevered loom in an open garage. It has been set up with four shafts and is warped with a narrow warp of white cotton towels
November 14, 2025 at 2:00 AM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
I’ve cut Victor’s food back a bit so that he can keep his youthful figure and this is his “I’m so disappointed in you” look. #caturday
A gray cat sits on a white enamel top table. Behind him is an EMPTY plate, the yogurt container he prefers for his water bowl, and a small jade tree in a pot. Next to him is a 2 quart lidded container containing the kitty crunchies.
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
I am happy to report that the annual Feast of the Defrosting of the Deep Freeze has concluded successfully.
The completely empty blindingly white interior of a 19 cubic foot chest freezer. Oddly enough, crouching in the bottom of the freezer one gets a sense of how roomy it is, and then one wonders how many bodies are currently being stored in home freezers. Probably not many. The white interior of a 19 cubic foot chest freezer. Pale blue dividers have been installed, dividing the space into sixths so that there is the ghost of a chance that the chicken can be segregated from the pound cake and the pound cake from the sausage. This sort of works.
November 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Received, accepted, and counted! I love Oregon's vote by mail system
A round digital I VOTED sticker for Washington County Oregon. The white text in English and Spanish as well as the tag "#WashCoVotes" appear around the edge. The center is the WashCo logo showing a stylized image of a yellow sun in a blue sky, setting behind the coast range in two shades of green. In front of the mountains is a band of brown, representing farmland, and in front of that are two wavy bands of blue representing rivers and lakes.
November 5, 2025 at 1:43 AM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
One final update on the sewing machine, which was manufactured in 1942. The new owner repaired the base, rebuilt the motor, replaced the wiring, and has actually sewn a seam. These vibrating shuttle machines have a very distinctive sound. 🪡
November 4, 2025 at 9:12 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Victor has taught me that when he sinks his claws into my knee it’s time for me to stop whatever I’m doing and have a nap with him. He’s remarkably persistent about this.
A grey cat is fast asleep on a cream fleece blanket. He is stretched out alongside a person’s leg
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
👻 Prank "spirit" photograph. From my collection. Apparently Boston ghosts are too good for plain white sheets and wear lace curtains instead. #HappyHalloween
A photograph, probably dating to the latter part of the 19th c. The portrait-oriented image shows man wearing a hat, seated in a chair. To the left, behind him, a standing ghostly figure looms behind him, pointing his right hand to the seated man. The ghostly figure is wearing a long lace curtain or tablecloth over his clothes. Backmark for the spirit photograph. It reads: "A. N. Hardy, Photographer, 22 Winter St. Boston.
October 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Ribes aureum, also called buffalo or clove currant. I grow this for pollinators - the beautiful red leaves in autumn are a lovely bonus
From Wikipedia: “The plant is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub, 2–3 metres (6+1⁄2–10 feet) tall. The leaves are 1.5–4 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄2 in) long, green, semi-leathery, with 3 or 5 lobes; they turn red in autumn.” this close up photo shows deep red leaves scattered with raindrops.
October 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Victor missed the class in Cat School where they talked about how cats are mysterious, poised, and elegant #caturday
A gray cat lies on his back on a white fleece blanket, his hind legs spread fat apart in a most unseemly manner
October 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
I think that’s a possibility! Given how idiosyncratic the teeth are I’m inclined to think it was made by a farmer with a forge. It came off this loom, which itself is pretty idiosyncratic
A very old cantilevered loom in the process of being warped. The warp has been passed under the breast beam then back over the top of the beater, which has been lashed to the cloth beam. The warp is weighted with fitness weights. The warp is a narrow warp of white cotton with red stripes along the sides.
October 25, 2025 at 12:09 AM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Okay Blacksmiths of Bluesky, tell me more about this old piece of ironmongery. How was it made? Was this a standard item your local blacksmith knocked out all the time? What would he have charged for it? Can you tell me more about other uses for this type of ratchet? See alt text for details
An iron ratchet gear, possibly about 200 years old. It is 5 inches in diameter and has a center opening of 3 inches. It has 39 teeth that are roughly the same size.The ratchet is about 3/8 inch thick at the center, thinning to a scant 1/8 inch at the teeth. There are 4 holes in the ratchet for nails so that the ratchet can be affixed to the end of a round wood beam on a hand loom. (A small wrought iron nail rests in the center of the ratchet. This is the only one of the four that survives) There is a large crack that runs about a third of the way around the inner edge, about a quarter inch from the inside edge, and another crack under two of the teeth. This cloth beam is advanced by the weaver as the cloth is woven. The ratchet keeps the threads to be woven (the warp) under tension.
October 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
NOT TODAY, anxious Bullock's shopper! This 1930 ad made me laugh. Remember that the stock market had crashed just a few months earlier, so people were probably starting to economize in their clothing purchases. See the alt text for details #DressHistory
A display ad from the Los Angelese Evening Post-Record for TUESDAY January 14, 1930, p. 3 A display ad featuring a line drawing of a rather Leyendecker-eque chiseled jaw gentleman wearing a long sleeved shirt with a single breast pocket, with a rather short, wide tie, and rather high-waisted trousers. The details on the shirt are helpful: " -a shipment for which many have been waiting-just part of that large AMC Group purchase in which Bullock's Basement Store participated- A Purchase so large that the price concessions make it possible to feature White Broadcloth Shirts of this character at this less-than-regular price of $1 White Broadcloth Shirts made of full combed yarn-and because these Shirts are made of Broadcloth that has been combed BOTH ways -they are better looking —they feel better-they launder better-they have a better sheen and they have a greater tensile strength- These White Broadcloth Shirts at $1, Wednesday, in Bullock's Base- ment Store have much the appearance and finish of custom tailored garments— they have the - smartly styled collar with three and a half inch points and low, comfortable back - six-button front with center band extending the full length of shirt - smartly rounded cuff with extra row of stitching and welted pocket - have the same yardage as the much higher priced shirts -have full length sleeves and are cut full length and are not skimped anywhere— —Perfectly wonderful values. these White Broadcloth Shirts-collar attached and neckband styles—14 to 17 sizes- at $1—Wednesday— BULLOCK'S Basement Store
October 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
Latest lace pattern scarf to liven up the winter wardrobe 🧶
A scarf knit in red yarn in pattern called old shale, a repeat of 18 stitches using yarn overs and k2togs to create an undulating pattern. after pinning out, the scarf is about 12” wide. Knit in Knit Picks Gloss fingering with #7 needles
October 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
I’m so excited! Next spring I’m going to be an auntie to a gajillion praying mantis babies!
A praying mantis egg case is attached to a green tomato cage upright. The case looks like a bit of root beer foam that solidified
October 17, 2025 at 10:58 PM
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I used to make up excuses to walk by this army of yellow trucks
13 yellow Tonka trucks line one side of a walkway to a house. In the flower bed another yellow truck has been positioned so that it looks like it’s unloading a big sedum plant
October 17, 2025 at 1:57 AM
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Victor and the latest crop of pompoms. I have no idea where he hides them all. My job is to just keep making new ones.
A Russian Blue cat is stretched out on a wood floor. In front of him are three pompoms in different sizes and colors. Another pompom is off to his left side. He looks a little bored.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
For those of you panicking about the home sewing pattern industry in light of the purchase by a liquidator over the summer, here's a banner that appears now on the Simplicity site (which includes all the other brands) - a small ray of hope. 🪡 #SewSky
Sceen clip from the simplicity web site, showing a dark blue banner with white lettering that reads: "We're rebuilding Simplicity.com and bringing you along. Thanks for your patience as we work on rebuilding the website! It's coming together, stitch by stitch"
October 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
oldbluedoor.bsky.social
The great thing about using paper bookmarks is that you can write things on the backs of them and then forget why...
Hand written in black ink on white paper are the following two phrases: "The theatre of expertise" "Never mistake the map for the territory"
October 12, 2025 at 2:26 AM