Quilt Top...Finished!

I almost forgot! I finished the quilt top last week. I basted and pinned it this week. Now, it has to be quilted!

 

On to the next project...stay tuned!

HAPPY SEWING!

Quilt Along

My promise to myself for the new year, was to make at least one quilt and/or some quilted item/accessory per month.  I want to practice and learn new quilting skllls and needed a challenge.  I am so inspired by all of the wonderful quilting blogs.  So, I decided I would find and join a "Block Party", "Quilt-Along", or something.  While visiting blogs the other day,  I noticed that Sew Inspired was having a quilt-along...I joined!  I thought I might have been too late to join; but, I was encouraged by Vicki to come along!

I completed all of the blocks for the quilt size I chose within a couple of days!  I am now ready for sashing!

Here is my fabric choices:

...with a splash of red (not shown)!

block piecing with some 'red' (shown)!

 Here's a peek of each block style I sewed on Flickr!

I've already sought out my next quilting project! Stay tuned to see the finished quilt top.  Until next time,

HAPPY SEWING!

This Morning

This is me AFTER the children have left on the school buses and hubby flies out of the door on his way to work!  This is me BEFORE the household chores, errands, sewing, knitting, crafting or whatever my day holds.

This morning I looked through the drawers of a treadle cabinet to find 'treasures'!  Here are some things I found...

yarn darners,

vintage tin, "Three States Mixture" tobacco company which is holding vintage buttons.

Have a Great Day!  I will!

What's New! and What's This?

What's New!

This week, I drove 2 hours to the Tampa area for this beauty...

A Minnesota Model C treadle.

A really nice new friend offered this treadle to me!  My daughter and grandson came along for the drive.  She invited us to stay for homemade "beans and greens" soup and sandwiches for lunch.  Beans and Greens soup contains Great White Northern beans, sausage, collard greens, and other seasonings.  Boy, it's good and it's been cold here in Florida, lately.  Perfect and tasty!

We had great conversations on sewing, sewing machines, and our sewing-related finds!  She showed me her collection of beautiful people-powered machines.  I learned how to free-motion quilt on a treadle...what a joy!  My daughter is still talking about the soup!

Today, while hubby and I were at Lowe's getting wood to make treadle risers, I picked up another box of washers to make pretty pattern weights.  Check out what Ruth does with them on one of my fav blogs, SewChic!

In between other projects, I'm currently knitting fingerless mitts for me; and knitting a Cowl Neckwarmer!

This past Thursday, this beautiful fabric was delivered!

My next project is a baby quilt for my new grandson!  I saw this quilt and instructions in Quilt Magazine April/May 2009 #99 issue; "Love at First Sight Baby Quilt".  Featuring First Sight Collection by Michael Miller Fabrics.

So vibrant!  I love this fabric!  I can't wait to get started on this quilt!

Today  I picked this up in a thrift store.  Is it for a sewing machine or is it for a spinning wheel for yarn?

Give me your thoughts!  What is this?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing EVERYONE Love, Peace and Happiness in 2010!

Sewing Machine Salvation

I collect sewing machines!  I love sewing machines AND I love to sew!

About a week ago, I picked up a treadle sewing machine.  Unfortunately, the base was rusted and broken; and the cabinet was beyond repair.  I was able to save the machine head...

The decals are silver and some are missing.

The wheel could not/would not turn.

All I can say is...Yuck!

And, after a couple of days of cleaning, so far she looks like this...

She looks so much better!

A great site for information on your vintage sewing machine is ISMACS.  I found a little info on her:  Minnesota Model A - manufactured by Davis Sewing machines and sold thru Sears & Roebuck thru 1910.  The "Minnesota" was a vibrating shuttle model manufactured by the Goodrich Sewing Machine Co., of Chicago, Illinois.  Made at the company's Kankakee, IL plant.  This 1890s machine used a New Home type shuttle, a Domestic styled bobbin winder and resembles a National.

The wheel turns now!

With a little more cleaning and some new decals, she could look like new!  Treadle On was a great resource on how to clean and repair vintage machines!

Now, all I need is to find decals and 'how-to' put decals on a machine.  And, a treadle base and table.  I had fun learning how-to salvage a machine in 'this' condition.  This was my first attempt, to this extent...EVER!  I hope to get as good as some other vintage machine collector's who clean, repair and restore machines!

Have a Blessed New Year!

Merry Christmas...

and thank you! Blessings to you, all and your families!

Alyssa and a Handcrank

As a lot of you know, I've been teaching my 6 year-old daughter to sew.  I originally had been teaching her on my Morse and New Home electric machines.  When I purchased my first handcrank and let her give it a whirl, that's the ONLY machine she works on!  My husband purchased another handcrank for Christmas for me and Alyssa replied, "that's great!  Now, you have one to work on!"

 

She made a fabric ornament for her teacher, all by herself!  This weekend she made her first patchwork project, a pillowcase!

Keep creating, Alyssa!

The BEST Christmas Present...EVER!

My beautiful grandson, Gabriel!  Born December 15, 2009!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My Early Christmas Present

I've been wanting and waiting for this machine!  Isn't she pretty?!  She is a 1890 Frister & Rossmann, Manufactured in Germany.  A handcrank with a Transverse Shuttle.

 

It's an early Christmas present from my wonderful husband and I am so thankful and delighted!

The day she arrived, I literally jumped out of my seat when the delivery man rang my doorbell!  Just like the children on Christmas morn running to gather in the living area to open presents!  I was so excited!  She was wrapped and packaged very well!  So much so, that it maybe took me a good 20 minutes to get to her!  Really, I broke out in a sweat!

She runs like a charm!

Until next time....