In progress, and 'What a Find'!

Well, I've been working on a secret project.  I'll be able to show you the whole thing next month, but, until then, I can give you a 'sneak peak' of part of it.

embroidery mini quilt (covered with a doily to keep it a surprise)

backing of mini quilt

The embroidery pattern is from Jenny of ELEFANTZ.  I asked her permission to use her block, but, with different words in the middle.  I also made the block square, to fit my project.  Jenny is doing a BOM embroidery quilt.  Such cute designs she has. 

I just need to sew the hanging sleeve on the back, then put the mini quilt together and quilt it.  I made this quilt on my 1959 Singer Spartan hand crank.  I'll finish it on my Janome, since I'll need the walking foot to finish this quilt. 

I've also been working on another graduation quilt.  This young lady's nickname is 'Skittles', like the candy.  I found the perfect fabric for her quilt.  This quilt is just a wall hanging for her dorm room.

Caitlyn's wall hanging

love the 'candy' fabric

I'll just stitch in the ditch on this quilt with my Janome.  I also made this quilt top on my 1959 Singer Spartan hand crank.  Can you tell that my Spartan is my favorite machine at the moment? 

I decided to stop at a thrift store yesterday, while I was running errands.  It was warm and rainy, so, garage sales were out.  Boy, did I snag a great find!  I saw batting sticking out of material, and grabbed it.  It was a (mostly done) hand quilted Christmas tree skirt.  Whomever made it, had already done the hand quilting in the middle, and in some of the blocks, too. 

Christmas tree skirt, mostly done

hand appliqued, and partly hand quilted block

look at the embroidery in the center of the flower. 

stitches on the back of the heart block

price tag, can you believe it?

center with backing folded over

The colors are much better in real life.  My camera doesn't keep colors 'pure'.  Sorry.  This will be a fun project to finish next fall. 

I also scored a few other finds.  This little zippered pouch is handmade from Bolivia.  I took pictures of both sides.  I'll use this to store scissors, seam rippers and such for one of my vintage machines. 

I also found this cute Mary Engelbreit tin to keep pins in. 

brand new ME tin

Not bad for less than $4.  I didn't even show the other things I bought. 

Now to finally get to some sewing....  Hopefully I'll have some 'finishes' to show you soon!  Have a Great Weekend!

Hubby's Quilt

I made a quilt for hubby for our 20th Anniversary, back in 2007.  It was a total surprise to him.  I used the 'flip flop' template that I'd purchased at the International Quilt show a year before.  I'd never done curved piecing, but, I taught myself with this template, and Kathie Alyce's demo.  I purchased one of her patterns, but, as usual, I didn't use the pattern (not even sure where I put it).  I just 'winged it'.  I'd been collecting 'racing' fabrics for about a year, and decided to make a quilt.  (Hubby races 'slot cars' in the basement with his friends.)    After the quilt top was made, and the quilt was basted, I had surgery on my index finger.  The surgery turned out to be much more invasive than the doc and I had thought it would be.  After the surgery, the doc and the therapists weren't sure that I'd be able to hand quilt again.  Well,  phooey on that!  I was determined to hand quilt again.  Oldest son and I drove to a quilt store that sold pvc quilt frames, and purchased one.  Since hubby had built me a wooden frame several years before, and, since it was set up, with a quilt on it, downstairs, hubby thought that I would practice hand quilting on that quilt, never thinking that I'd purchase another frame and hide it in the guest bedroom closet.  I could set up, or take down the quilt frame in just minutes.  The kids would call their daddy on his way home from work, to see just how far away he was, so that I'd have extra time to work on the quilt without getting caught.  I would quilt, using the injured finger for a few stitches, then just use the rest of the fingers, until I could use the injured finger all the time.  I got more 'function' out of that finger using my 'quilting therapy' than the therapist could get using traditional therapy.  I didn't get the quilt finished on time, but, I was really close.  I presented it to him on our anniversary, and, boy was he surprised that I'd been able to hide it from him.

John's racing quilt

The quilt now hangs next to his slot car track in the basement.  Kathie Alyce had asked me to send her a picture of the finished quilt.  Boy was I surprised when she asked if she could include it in her book.  Kathie used this quilt as an example to show what else can be done with her template, since I 'did my own thing' with her template, instead of following any of her patterns.  Cool! 

This quilt is being entered in The Quilting Gallery's weekly quilt contest this week, since it is for 'Quilts for Dad'.  Voting doesn't start until Friday now, and doesn't end until Monday.

PS:  This is also an 'I Spy' quilt, since I quilted race cars, police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, gas pumps, racing flags, tires, and other 'racing' items in each block.  Sorry, but they don't photograph well.

*Hey, don't forget to check out Kathie Alyce's site, Waterfall Quilts.   Kathie is adding a new template soon, and is working on a new book, too. 

100th Post, New Machines & Fun Finds!

This is my 100th post!  I should probably do something special for it, but, I've been too tired to even think of what to do.  Maybe I'll have a giveaway later in the summer to celebrate. 

I have two new (to me) sewing machines.  Woohoo! 

1948 Singer 15-88 hand crank

hand crank & bobbins for Singer 15-88

1948 Singer 15-88 hand crank

If this was an original hand crank, it would be a model 15-89, not a 15-88.  I think this machine had a motor attached, then was converted to a hand crank.  There are no decals on the hand crank, so, I think it is a reproduction hand crank.  The decals are in wonderful shape.  It didn't come with any attachments other than the sewing foot and extra bobbins.  I have a 1896 Singer 15 treadle that I love to sew on.  I'm sure I'll have fun with this machine, too.  This machine has reverse, just like my Spartan hand crank.  My Singer 15 treadle doesn't have this feature (it's too old, this is a newer feature).  I love the bag that the hand crank came in.  I haven't tried to sew on it yet.  I've only had time to date her, and download the manual. 

I also got this new (to me) machine.

Super Deluxe Precision Built sewing machine

Serial #C34422, Made in Japan

Home Mark, made in Japan

Precision Sewing Machine (Home Mark) Super Deluxe

knob adjusts the height of the feed dogs

no foot, no needle, has light on back

wires to motor have been cut, plug is for light, I think

foot control needs new wiring, Accessory box only held bobbins and bobbin case

 All I know about this machine is that it was made in Japan.  I think it might be a Singer 15 'clone' machine.  I don't have a manual, and it needs either rewiring, or to be converted to a hand crank.  I didn't have a extension cord handy, so, I don't know if the light still works or not.  This machine didn't come with a needle or a foot.  I'm sure I can get both from my 'parts lady'.  I'm more interested in a manual so that I can thread the machine.  I can always 'borrow' a foot from another machine.  Good thing I have enough machines to borrow parts from ; ).  If I can figure out how to rewire this machine (and if the motor works), I'd like to keep this machine electric. 

I also found a few things at garage sales this week.  First is this cute sewing box with a Singer machine on top (looks like a 66 to me).  All the items inside are brand new. 

Singer sewing box

inside of Singer sewing box

I found an old sewing box with some great things inside it.  These are my favorite items from the box.  Of course, being a native Texan (even if I don't currently live there), I just had to have this cute thimble.

a Texas thimble shaped like a cowboy hat

pin cushion

button hole scissors

I didn't know what the scissors were for.  Hubby checked on the internet for me, and said that they are button hole scissors.  Wiki even tells how to use these scissors here.  These will go great with one of my vintage button holer's.