A fun, non-quilty day!

Back in March, we adopted an Alaskan Malamute.  This is our 2nd Malamute.  We found Ratchet thru IAMRA (Illinois Alaskan Malamute Rescue Assoc).  Today they had their annual Malwalk fundraiser.  We attended with Ratchet.

Ratchet and John

The shaved patch on Ratchet's back is from heartworm treatments.  You can read about it here.   Ratchet has had all of his treatments, and, is waiting for his last test, the end of December.

We got to meet Ratchet's daughter, Callie.

Ratchet and his daughter, Callie

There were lots of Malamutes and their owners.  They had raffles, food, and fun for everyone.  The dogs even got to 'bob for hot dogs'.  They all lined up for their turn.

Ratchet, bobbing for frozen hot dogs

I Got It!

Malamutes, all lined up, waiting for their turn to bob for hot dogs

It was fun to meet some new friends, and some old ones of Ratchets (he has been to these things in the past). 

Have a Great Weekend!

Hexie Tape Measure

I found this great pattern on quiltingAbout.com, and decided I just had to make it.  I've gotten their newsletters in my inbox for years.  Here is what I made.  (Sorry for the bad pictures, but I took these before 6am, in a dark sewing room, while my brain was still asleep).

front of tape measure

back of tape measure

what she made, with mine next to the picture

 

I decided that I'm going to demo this project at the Arkansas TOGA next month. 

I found that turning the tiny stitched hexies is not easy!  Next time, I'm going to try using some tweezers.

tiny stitched hexies with batting glued on

I also had to find a workaround for cutting the felt, since I don't own a working pair of pinking shears.  My cute craft scissors (for scrapbooking) wouldn't cut the felt.  I looked up on a fabric shelf and saw this...

Singer pinker hand crank

It worked great!  I'll be bringing this with me to the TOGA. 

*I found the tape measures for $1 at Hobby Lobby.  I used scrap fabric (it doesn't take much) and scrap batting.  I did have to buy some green felt.  I did buy the Gorilla Glue she mentioned (hubby didn't want to share his), but, I also have another project to use that glue with. 

Some Finishes!

I have gotten a few things finished in the last week or so.  First, is the baby quilt.  This is the 2nd of these baby quilts, since the first one turned pink when I washed it (red Minkee bleeds).  This is a picture of it after I washed it (yes, even though it was treated with Retayne, the color catchers still came out pink on the 2nd quilt for some reason). 

2nd baby quilt

up close of the straight line quilting

red Minkee on the back

corner showing the binding

Woohoo!  The baby shower is next Tuesday. 

I also finished the witch blocks for my little guilds challenge.  We had to make a 12.5" block with either a witch or a scarecrow.  Here is my finished block.  I have another block made, that I will turn into a wall quilt sometime.

challenge block finished

I also finished a quilt that another quilter started.  I was asked to finish it, since she got sick, and couldn't finish it.  I didn't even know her.  She passed away the end of last year.  I finished the quilt (lots of applique) and sent it off to be quilted (she had already arranged this part).  I stitched the binding on, and made a special label for the back, per her husband's request.  I delivered this quilt to him earlier this week.

Salt Box sampler

Her family has pictures of the blocks I made, so that they will know which blocks she made.  I found out when I delivered it, that one of her daughters is having a birthday this week (she wanted it finished for her daughters).  The quilt will be a great way for them to remember their mother/wife. 

I'm off to the Ottawa, IL quilt guild tonight.  My large quilt guild has a raffle quilt, and we will be taking it to their guild.  It will be a nice road trip with some of my guild friends.

Have a great weekend!

National Sewing Machine Day!

Happy National Sewing Machine Day!  There are actually 2 different National Sewing Machine Days (why not celebrate BOTH days)!

Well, I celebrated National Sewing Machine day the PROPER way, by rescuing a vintage sewing machine from the thrift store.  Here are some pictures of my newest sewing machine.

Stitch Master sewing machine (class 15)

lovely faceplate on the end

view from the back

This machine looks just like a Singer 15 sewing machine, except that it says Stitch Master on it, instead of Singer.  Check out the motor on the back.  The 2 places where it would say Singer, or have the red 'S' on the motor plate, have been cut out.

notice where the metal plate has been cut out

It also has a serial number the same place there would be a serial number on a Singer sewing machine.  I couldn't find 'Made in Japan' anywhere on this machine.  Very strange.  Singer didn't make 'badged' sewing machines (machines with someone else's name or 'badge' on the machine).

Serial # DA201062

Singer did have some serial numbers that started with DA, but, they weren't until 1962, and I don't have a list of those numbers.  Either way, I'm pretty certain that this is a Japanese class 15 machine. 

The new sewing machine came with a whole box of attachments and a small box with extra bobbins.

attachments and bobbins

It also came with a blue (not original) foot control, and some scary wiring.

scary wiring and replacement foot control

I just bought lots of wiring, so that I can learn how to re-wire a sewing machine at the Arkansas TOGA in October.  I may have to take 2 machines instead of just one (my machine is the 'example' machine for the wiring demo, woohoo!

I haven't been sewing, like I should have been.  I'm supposed to have a sample made of the tea bag holder that I'm doing a demo of at the Arkansas TOGA.  I'll get it done.  Instead, I pulled out a puzzle yesterday, and started on it.

puzzle I'm working on

what it is supposed to look like, completed

I may have to roll it up, and work on it later (gotta get that sample done soon).

I have done some stitching the past few days....

sewing machine embroidery, almost done

I need to finish the 'stitchery' under the foot of the machine, and a couple of flowers and spools. 

I purchased a different type of sewing machine this week, too.  I guess I've really been thinking about National Sewing Machine day this week.  Sorry it is dusty.  I still need to clean it off.

sewing machine box

*Update on my hand.  I saw the doctor, and, it is ligament damage.  He thinks I just need to give it more time.  I have an appt scheduled in a month, but, I'm hoping I can cancel it.  It is getting better, but, it is slow going. 

Happy Sewing Machine Day!