2015 Update and start of 2016

I had difficulities with both the camera and the computer in 2015 and I didn't post very much.  So, here is a brief summary before I try to begin posting activities for 2016

Family gathered for last goodbyes to my mother-in-law in January

We survived the ice storms of February..

We redid my sewing studio and under-stair storage area after heavy rains caused water damage in April ... and reorganized my scrap stash... although it needs a lot more work!

 

 

In the spring, I wanted to plant a rose garden near where the big trees were removed in 2014... unfortunately... there were way too many roots and we began the big dig in July...

I finished the Savannah Squares quilt for Sr. Doris in September... and the niece it was gifted to was thrilled!

I finished my grandson's Big Brother quilt in October

     

It turned out totally different than the orginal plan.  I had laid the blue/white pieced blocks out on the floor for grandson to see... and his only comment was... but Nana.. there's not enough red.. red is my FAVORITE color! there has to be more red!  So I added red bandana fabric sashings and cornerstones and borders and it grew to nearly king size!  It is draped over the queen size bed he sleeps in and he pulls down one corner and snuggles in.

In September I started work on Little Monkey for a new grand-niece born in July

Activities with our grandson included a week of cabin camping with a waterslide near our cabin, a visit to dinosaurland, exploring caverns in KY, visiting several local county fairs, and a trip to Disney, SeaWorld and Sanibel Island and a trip to Nashville to see the Christmas lights and eat at the Aquarium restaurant in December.

    

 

An online friend from Alaska stopped in for a visit  ... and I met other online friends at at a retreat in Virginia Beach...

Matthew and I won ribbons at the fair....

And I had a very successful booths at Rugby and Santa's Workshop...

 

Other activities throughout the year included working the church rummage sale, working with Cookeville Jr. Women's Club at Santa's Workshop,  various activities with TTU college students, making woven placemats  and christmas trees with Matthew and his friends at Hope Academy.

 

I'm sure there is a lot I've forgotten but these are the highlights.  I hope to be better at posting, maybe monthly in 2016.

I hope you had a good 2015 and are looking forward to 2016.

Globetrotting

I finally finished my Globetrotting quilt designed by Pat Sloan.
I had 7 blocks to complete and I took it with me to Rugby to work on during slow times at the quilt show and during evening sew time at the hotel.

I completed the center while there, and just this morning I finished adding the borders.

So glad to have finally completed it.  Now it waits it's turn on the quilter this summer.

Check out Pat's blog at the link below to see other versions.

http://blog.patsloan.com/2015/04/pat-sloan-globetrotting-quilt-show-please-share-your-quilt.html?hc_location=ufi

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Projects Update

I am really enjoying working in my redone studio.
Firstly, what's not to like... it's PURPLE!  (well lavender, but close enough)

The added lighting makes it bright and easy to see what I'm doing.

Cutting board, pressing table and sewing machines are all in a nice proximity
 and my stash is beginning to be sorted and stored for maximum visibility!

My word of for the year is
ACCOMPLISH
and I believe I have accomplished quite a bit so far this year.

I've not had a lot of free time for sewing, as I've been keeping busy with the studio repair and quilting customer tops (25 so far).  I have another dozen waiting their turn.  I'm a bit behind due to the repair work but hope to be caught up in the next by month end.
Here is an update on what I have accomplished in my personal sewing this past month.

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Back in November I agreed to help Sr. Doris by making a quilt for her from a pattern that she had used in the past... Savannah Squares.  Health issues prevent her from sewing any more, but she really wanted this quilt for herself.  In the past, she sewed all the time and has given away much of her work to those in need. It is now time for her to have a quilt of her own.

  

It's not a difficult block to make, but it has 8 squares in it with that sewn-in arc.... something I'm not accustomed to making.  

So, I dug into my scraps and made a sample block to show her.  

She loved it!  

But then she wasn't happy with her fabric choices.  

So I went shopping (both in my stash and at Hobby Lobby) and I think I've found something she will be happier with.

I'm in the process of making 3 more blocks.. 

One, like that pictured above, and two with the red and green blocks swapped.

I think it will be nice to alternate them and as soon as I get those arc blocks made (it's slow going!) I'll take the results to her for approval before proceeding.

*******

Another project I have been working on is the Big Brother quilt.  

I think I finally have enough HST strips to surround my fifty-six!! 8in squares.  With his birthday fast approaching I must really get busy on this to get it done in time.

Here are the first 10 completed blocks laid out. I know for sure I am going to need more of that red bandana fabric and hope to find it this week.

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I started a place mat project back in February with the students from 

Hope Academy.  

They have done their part.... 

weaving strips of fabric through the cardboard looms I made.

Tomorrow, I plan to work with my friend Janice, 

removing them from the looms, stitching and finishing the edges.  

We plan to teach this project together during the FCE retreat the end of May,

 so this will give us an opportunity to perfect our method

and reload the looms!

*******

I have a new knitting project to work on too,

but that will wait for another post when I get some pictures taken.

2015 Ice Storm - birds

Normally, I can barely reach these branches from the porch deck and fill the bird feeders hanging on them.  But now, the recent ice storm has them bending down to the ground... some breaking from the weight.  

This has been the view from my quilting studio for the last several days.  The low branches have given me an opportunity to watch the birds and take some lovely pictures.

2015 Ice Storms

The recent ice storms in TN have our area designated as a stage 2 disaster.  Pictures and videos of the damage are all over the internet.   Trees littering the roadways,  phone/electric poles snapped in half leaving tens of thousands without power, heat and water for days to come. My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this storm.

My neighborhood has minimal damage in comparison to  areas around us... with many broken limbs and a few fallen trees and some inconvienient short-term power outages... I consider myself very lucky.  But even with damage that she has created, Mother Nature has put on a beautiful display.

Sewing Machine Collection

Some of you have asked about my collection of sewing machines.  

This Singer Sylist 533 made in 1978 was my first machine.  At that time I worked for Singer Corp. in the legal office on the 63rd floor of 20 Rockfeller Plaza... you know the place where the ice skating rink is.  Before I left the company for a job closer to home I went downstairs to the retail store and bought this showroom floor-model with my employee discount... and since the detachable table was missing I received an additional discount making this a very reasonable purchase. (nope don't remember what that was right now).  I used it on and off for years, sewing clothing for me and then my kids,  and occasionally I would take it to the local repair shop for a cleaning and tune up.  Over the years the fiberglass (?) cams that determine the stitch design have dried up and cracked and no longer work.  So this machine is relegated to the straight stitch only status as I haven't been able to find replacement cams.

 When we moved here to Tennessee in 2002, I began taking quilting classes, and I  found a wonderful repairman, Ted, who used to work for Singer.  While picking-up my machine from him I told him the story of the great deal and discount I got because the table was missing.  He looked at me funny.  Took off the case.  Reached in.. fumble fumble fumble.... and pulled out the detachable table!  It had been stored in the case the entire time and I had no idea... and apparently neither did the orginal salesperson!  

I was very frustrated being without my machine when it needed servicing and I was in the middle of a quilt project, so I began searching yard sales for a back-up machine.  Lo and behold!  I found this Singer Stylest 534.  There was no learning curve adjusting to this machine... and it has the same cam problem that my original machine does.... and yes, the detachable table is stored inside the case on this one too!

These machines aren't super heavy, but I envied those who brought Featherweights to class and began trolling yard sales and antique shops for one.

  

    I found this Free-Westing House with a shuttle bobbin (or bullet bobbin) machine made in the 1950s.   I believe the finish is called a spackle...it's a gray unpolished look.  I had heard talk about the shuttle/bullet bobbin and never seen one so this came home with me for its "novelty".... and it is a very heavy solid metal machine.

This Universal was also made in the 1950's... one of many Singer knock-off brands.  Post-war, the Japanese cranked out machines like crazy and put any name or label on it that was requested.  It too is a very heavy machine.

This Aldens Deluxe ZigZag  was also made in the 50's.  Note the funky green color! and Chrome look dials and features... reminiscent of the 1950's cars.  I now had a machine that could zigzag, but there was no way to take it, table and all, to classes.

This Brother LS-2020 was donated to our church bazzar with a note saying it needed repair.  I took it to my trusty Singer repairman to see if he could do anything with it.  Of course he could!  It's only problem was the timing was off.  This machine is machine is made with lots of plastic and is, therefore, lightweight enough to carry to class.

  I found my first treadle at the Rte 127 Yardsale that runs through several states.  It was in a very plain boxy cabinet that I did not like... with this beautiful body ... 1921 Singer 66 Red Eye G8546619.  I found a second treadle in this beautiful cabinet with a very plain and worn Singer body.  I switched bodies and cabinets and now have this beauty.  (I sold the plain one a couple years ago).  It sat on display in my quilting room for several years.  Bonnie kept talking about and sewing on her treadles during quilt cam and that inspired me to have Ted take a look at it and see if it would work.  All it needed was a good cleaning and lube and a new belt!  I have been sewing on her ever since!

This 1946 Singer 15 AG724989 was given to me by Margena when she was downsizing her home and couldn't keep her entire collection.  There is a white plastic cased electric light that has been added in the back (not shown) that I hope to maybe replace with more original looking black cased light.

and finally.....

December 2013, on the way home from the Colts-Titans game, we stopped at an antique mall and I found myself a  1948 Singer 221-1 AH435380  featherweight.  She is wonderful for travelling and sews perfectly!