Wednesday, January 28, 2015

So, ok, what's one more machine?

EBay is the Devil! There I said it, and I'm not taking it back! Yet, I have to say I'm more than a little excited about what I came across and won today! Won is a misnomer, of course, for now I have to pay to get what I Won to me! But it's so cute! Darn Cute! Dang cute! Dagnabit cute! Now, for the most important part...I gotta find a name for her! I'm thinking Galloping Gertie...she'll be a little unwieldy to use, and a little slow... And if you remember that Galloping Gertie was a bridge that swayed way more than was comfortable for the people driving across her... Then when you see this girl, you'll know 
How she'll fit her name...
Yep... She's a hand crank Singer 99, which is a 3/4 size machine.
But just look at the decals!
Her end plate and her...
Crank!
I'm already in love with Gertie!
And check out her case top!
Too fun!






Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Latest quilt block

From the March-April 2015 Quiltmaker magazine, Bonnie Hunter's scrap quilt block...she used her pink/neutral HSTs from her GIMQ... I used my black/neutral bonus blocks....

Friday, January 23, 2015

Got the top together!

Finally, I have used most of my pink and neutral bonus HSTs from Bonnie's Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt. I added purple and brown in the sashings, then... Well, a pic is worth a whole bunch of words...
Truly inspired by Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville Quips and Snips!
Now, to get it quilted and ready for CPS... I wonder now if pink Minky would be good on the back...hmmm... And what to do with my black and neutral bonus HSTs?


Thursday, January 22, 2015

Brrr!

Its turned cold and rainy again...so today was spent in the sewing room working on a baby quilt for CPS...I started with a regular 8 pointed star block and incorporated more of them into the cornerstone and sash setup...I don't have enough put together to really let you see what I mean, yet.. Maybe tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Pink Japanese Clone

Well, today was DH's birthday, so we went to eat at Owl Drug for breakfast, then made a quick trip to the bank in Santa Anna before I headed to my Tuesday quilting group. Hubby had taken the day off for his birthday, but wanted me to go to quilting group anyway... When I got back, he was in the garden. He had re- tilled it and was starting to plant the bunches of onions we had bought at the grocery store on Sunday. It was such a beautiful day and in the low 70's, that Lil Bit and I joined him in finishing the planting, then we ate the last of his birthday cake from Sunday with him for a snack...fudge cake...yum!
Now for the pink Singer clone part of the story! A couple years ago, we had bought a pink Singer clone at a garage sale, in a pretty nice wooden cabinet for I believe $5.00... Well, the machine had some issues with wiring, etc., so I decided it was time for me to check it out and maybe work at restoring it to working condition. It was in bad need of wiring, and truly needs a new paint job...so guess I have another project going.
I took lots of pics while disassembling to start the paint stripping process, and cleaned the yucky parts with carb cleaner then oiled it heavy... Ran out of time before I got too far, but here's the pics of the order I've gone in so far...
Thread holder and right hood /top screw.

Left hood/top  screw.
Nose removed.
Motor mount just hung back incorrectly after motor removal.
The back...also shows the cam cover.

This is the tiny screw holding the light to its bracket.

This is the black stitch cam stack.


This is behind the stitch selector knob.
These are the screws holding the stationary tension rod.
This is the stitch length regulator taken off... Note there is a shaft and spring involved with the knob.
This screws out...I think it's the reverse button...
Feed dog drop buttons...
Teeny tiny itsy bitsy cotter pin holding feed dog assembly 
Onto feed dog arm.
Stuck the pin back in to help remind me...
There was a tiny screw holding the chrome back portion of 
The stitch width knob as well.
Then it was time to go to Brownwood to Chili's for fajitas
For supper...pretty productive, and very enjoyable day!
Tomorrow we're supposed to have 100% chance of rain...
And much colder temps... Bring it on... But today was gorgeous!





Saturday, January 17, 2015

1912 Singer 127

DH went by the Thrift Shop this morning and brought home this sweet little machine!
It came in a nice cabinet, and has been motorized with a knee pedal...
I checked her number out and she's a little over 100 years old... Dated from November 26, 1912.
I have another 127 that's still in its treadle cabinet... It was dated March 30, 1926 and still runs great, so when I saw this one was missing the shuttle, bobbin, and front slide, I wondered if it would run or not... No worry there...a good oiling and some parts borrowed from my 1926 one, and she was off and running! She still stitches pretty good, don't you think?
I think both of my 127s are amazing!
We also got the new foot pedal in for my white featherweight yesterday, and now Gracie is up and running smooth as silk! Her original toe button pedal was doing jack rabbit starts and stops and was full out in the middle! apparently those old pedals have a carbon buffer type setup and the carbon breaks down with age, making it an all or nothing sewing speed which breaks the thread... A lot! So I'm feeling pretty fortunate! thank you, Lord!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The New Hexagon


Just got another quilting book, and it's truly Awesome! 
It's written by Katja Marek and I believe That Patchwork Place and Martingale Press put the book on the market. As you can see in the pic, I bought this as a digital download, through Amazon, which I'm getting more fond of doing all the time. I can't say enough good things about the whole book. Content is not only great, but Useful! And I've already begun some things I'll have to share with you next time.


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Singer 503A Rocketeer

I'm sure I must have shown a picture of my Singer 503A Rocketeer before, but I know I mentioned a few posts ago that I have moved it into my sewing room from storage, along with my Singer 127 treadle machine. Since we did that, I've sewn on her nearly every day, and all I can say about her is... WOW!
She is the smoothest, most quiet m achine I own...even better than my 15 year old Bernina and my one year old Baby Lock! I can't remember how I came across her, but it must have been a garage sale that was actually an estate sale, because anyone that had ever actually used her would have never gotten rid of her! I can't even remember how much I paid for her... But for sure, it was a bargain!
And what are all those little snippets of material making?
A Scrap Crystal quilt, designed by Bonnie Hunter!
This is the base unit....I love it already!


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Potato chip....

I like potato chips as well as anyone...so when my quilting group decided to do potato chip bags, I decided to give it a try. One of my friends had made one out of some really cute material and she had some of it left. She didn't think she wanted to make the other one she had material for, and gave it to me to make mine from! Thank you, Jan!!!!
I told you the material was cute, didn't I?
I also was gifted some BOM kits from another friend if mine that I had done a favor for.... thank you, Shirley!!!!
Churn Dash
Log Cabin.... Pretty nifty, huh?
Keep on stitching!
 


Sunday, January 4, 2015

It's quilted!

Now to hand stitch the binding then she'll be finished! I longarm free motion quilted leaves all over. It didn't need any fancy quilting... And it looks great, IMHO! 😋
And here's a close up of the stitching front and back, while still on the frame...


Saturday, January 3, 2015

Grand Illusion Top Complete!

And Hubby has already said, "You're not giving this one away, are you??" Nope, this will be one for me...
I needed more light...but this was the only floor big enough to fit it. 
I love it! Thank you, Bonnie! Now, to get it onto the longarm!


Friday, January 2, 2015

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Grand Illusion Reveal!

Yay! It's gorgeous!!! At least Bonnie's is! Can't wait to get mine together and see how it looks!
Awesome eh? Can't believe I'm actually getting this close! All my parts are made...just got to assemble it!

Happy New Year!!!

    My theme for for 2015? FLEXIBLE!!! Well, we went from icy overpasses, to thick ice everywhere!!! This being stuck at home is NOT helping me eat right! Marvin seems a bit better this morning...his fever is down right now...I'm sure he will be stuffy and will run down easily--- another day on the couch for him... Quilting for me...
    Sewing Goals for 2015? Charity quilts for Child and Adult Protective Services...sooo needed in our area... Quilting organization using  Bonnie Hunter's Scrap Users System.... And using my vintage machines lots more!!! We moved my treadle 1926 Singer #127 machine and my Singer 503A Rocketeer into my sewing room along side with Mom's mid 1960's Emdeko that's already in use...it's a great Rush to use these vintage machines and think about the ones that used them new and what wonders they must have been to them... They've truly survived the test of time!
    UFO's as of today? Roll Roll Cotton Boll...center complete, starting border piecing....Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt...Completed through Clue 5... Anxiously awaiting Clue 6! ... Scrap Crystals...still in beginning stages....projects in queue? Texas Tumbleweeds, Celtic Solstice.... Hunter's Star...etc...etc...
   The main theme here is Bonnie Hunter is my Quilting Hero... Wonder Woman is her name in my book! I can't for the life of me figure out how she gets so much done! Does she sleep? If I did all she does, I wouldn't have time to go potty, much less, blog and write books!!! So here's to you, Bonnie, and to my exciting Quilty New Year!!!