Help! and what I've been up to this week

First off, HELP!!!!!  I want to make a Disappearing 4 patch quilt, but, I'm short in one of the materials.  I need 42 blocks to make the quilt, but, I ran out of one of the fabrics after cutting only 39 blocks.  I need this Civil War reproduction fabric.

Civil War reproduction fabric that I need

I bought this a few years ago, and the selvedge doesn't list any info on it.  I only need 3 5.5" squares of this fabric to make all the blocks.  If you have any of this that you would be willing to part with, PLEASE CONTACT ME!!!!!  

Last winter, a friend of mine purchased a hand crank sewing machine, while we were picking up another hand crank for me to hold for a pony express (story here).  Well, Marilyn hasn't touched her machine since she brought it home.  Wednesday, I went over and played with this machine.

Bradbury Soeze hand crank machine

picture of the Duke of Wellington on the machine

Bradbury Sewing Machine company, early Family V.S.

interesting bobbin winder set up, I didn't figure that part out

a vibrating shuttle machine, uses long bobbins

hand crank on machine, look at the decals on it

serial #10167, we think it is from about 1905 (England)

bentwood case

This machine should also be able to be treadled, since it has holes in the base for a treadle belt, and also has the groove in the hand wheel.  She has treadle irons in her basement, and will have a special top made to fit this machine.  After some adjustments to the tension, it sews nicely.  It was purchased from a collector who had it cleaned up, and it even has extra needles. 

Thursday was the regular 'sew-in' day at my LQS.  I basted 2 quilts.  I've had these quilt tops made since March 2011!  Oh my!  I even had the backs made, and ready to baste.  NO EXCUSE!  I've been meaning to baste these for a long time, and went to the basement to find these in January.  I don't even know how many UFO's I have hiding in that basement. 

Fat Cats in the City quilt top

'Fat Cats in the City' from Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting.  It was a bonus quilt in the May/June 2010 edition.  I don't think the pattern is still available on their website.  This was the first embroidery I'd ever done.  I still don't think I'm doing embroidery correctly.  I need pictures to do it properly, but, this worked. 

Last night I finished the 3rd block(s) on my Harry Potter The Project of Doom quilt.

my 2 blocks (week #3)

up close of Week #3 block

Terri, over at QuiltNCards, and I are both working on Harry Potter paper piecing projects.  She is making some of the other paper pieced blocks.  Check out her blocks.

More sewing to come over the weekend.  What are you working on???? 

Been missing, Meeting a blogger, Sandy blocks

I've been missing lately.  I was gone 22 out of 31 days in Oct/Nov.  5 days were planned for a family reunion in Arkansas, but, the other days were a surprise.  My father-in-law had bypass surgery, and hubby and I rushed down to Texas to be there for the procedure.  We had to rush back so that hubby could be in a wedding, then, 4 days later, I was headed back down to Texas to help my in-laws.

On the way back down, I stopped by both of my son's colleges to see them.  I arrived on Halloween to spend the evening with my oldest son.  His college hosts Trick-or-Treating in the dorms.  It was fun seeing all the college students in their costumes, and the local kids and families going thru the dorms, gathering candy.  My son dressed up as a Star Wars Storm trouper going to the prom.  He got the purple leisure suit from my stepfather this summer.  Now I'm on the hunt for another leisure suit for the younger son.  He really wants one in orange, if possible (his school colors).

my son as a 'Storm Trouper going to the prom'

my oldest son

one of the college students

The next day I arrived at my youngest son's college, shortly after he got out of class.  I got to meet his girlfriend, tons of his friends (he's a very social guy) and he took me to a church service for college students at his church that evening.  Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of him.

The world is a small place.  I read a blog written by a lady from my hometown in Texas.  She moved there years after I left.  It is the same town that hubby's and my family still live in.  Well...  I got a chance to go shopping at the local Hancock's while I was in San Angelo.  It was one of the few places I got to shop at while I was in town.  Imagine my surprise when I laid my fabric bolt down on the cutting table, and recognized the lady who was going to cut it for me.  I checked her name tag, then asked if she was CollectIn Texas Gal?  She said 'Yes, I am'.  I told her that I am Cheryl's Teapots to Quilting.  What a surprise for both of us!  Sue wrote the cutest blogpost about us meeting here.  Please read it, it is sew cute!

me & Sue (CollectIn Texas Gal) at the cutting table

See, a small world.  Oh yea, Sue had been working on blocks for Erin, over at My Patchwork Life, for Sandy relief quilts.  I had already read Erin's plea for blocks, but, being out of state, I didn't have my fabric stash with me.

Yesterday, I pulled out some fabric, and made some blocks for Erin.

Disappearing 4 patch block on my Spartan

Disappearing 4 patch block for Sandy relief quilts

all 9 Disappearing 4 patch blocks for Sandy relief quilts

As you can see in the top picture, I've set up a sewing area in my youngest son's room.  He won't let me take it over until he's been gone for a whole year, but, he said I could use it until he comes home for Christmas.  I'm so far behind on projects that have deadlines, that, I really need to get working on them.  Besides these blocks,  I've basted and started hand quilting nine blocks to make nine mini quilts.  I'm quilting them during DWTS shows.

hand quilting mini quilts

On Sunday, while hubby and I watched a few movies (my down time after the trip) I was busy drawing patterns on fusible paper, then ironing it on, and cutting it out.  Here is part of what I was working on.

I don't have pictures of the other fusibles I was working on.  They aren't ironed onto backgrounds yet.  I'll show pictures of those later. 

I found lots of goodies on the trip down and back.  I haven't even had time to unpack them, so, I'll post about them later. 

Have a Great Week!

Thrift finds, block progress, etc. and a Win!

What a busy week it's been.  I still haven't finished unpacking from the quilt show last weekend.  I made lots of Disappearing 4 Patch blocks during the demo of my vintage machines.  I sewed them on two of the machines, the 1959 Singer Spartan (192K) hand crank and the 1896 Singer 15 treadle.  I didn't take pictures of all of the block.  These are just a few.  The unfinished blocks were mostly made by my friend, Marilyn, while she watched over my booth so that I could check out the quilt show.  She was having sew much fun using the hand crank, that she kept trying to find more things at the show for me to check out. 

D4P blocks

I made a block holder this week.  This was demonstrated at my small quilt guild earlier this month.  You start with a cardboard tube.  You cover the ends with fabric.

heavy cardboard tube, about 18" long

ends covered with fabric, and glued down

I did try to see if there was a pattern on the internet for this, but, other than finding one tutorial (she'd seen it before, elsewhere) I couldn't find anything.  I changed mine up from what was shown to us.  If you know of a pattern that is sold, I'd love to know so that I can give them credit for the idea, even if mine isn't like theirs.

block holder, unrolled

block holder with muslin 'covers' over the flannel

block holder all rolled up and tied

I added muslin 'covers' to my block holder.  They fold over to cover the flannel where the blocks sit.  This way I don't have to worry about anything falling out if I put too much in the block holder.  I used a fancy stitch on my Janome to sew the binding on the block holder.  I glued the end to the cardboard tube, then attached a ribbon (with a button) to the end so that I could tie it closed.  This was quick and fun to make.  I wish I knew who thought this up.  I've already used it this week.

When I pulled out my favorite rotary cutter to cut the fabric for this block holder, I found the cover was busted, and I couldn't use the rotary cutter.  Waaa!

broken rotary cutter

My friend, who bought it for me years ago, told me to contact Fiskars, and that they would replace it.  Well, I contacted them on Tuesday, and, guess what arrived in the mail on Friday????

My new rotary cutter!

Fiskars doesn't make the same rotary cutter, but, they sent me the newest version.  Wow!  They were really fast!  I can't wait to try this one out.  I'll miss my old cutter.

I got something even better in the mail on Thursday!  I won a contest over on Terri's blog, QuiltNCards.  Terri makes wonderful paper-pieced blocks.  She's been making several Harry Potter blocks.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!!  To win Terri's contest, you had to guess, by just seeing parts of the paper piecing, what the block was.  The original post is here.  Check it out and see if you can guess what the finished block is.  Terri let me try twice (she's nice like that) so, on the second guess, I figured it out.  It's 'Lily' as in Lily was Harry's mother.

Lily

Isn't it a lovely block!?!?  Well, Terri had also made another block earlier in the month, but, had made the color of the 'potion' the wrong color.  I love the block and the color, even if it isn't yellow.  Terri sent the block along with Lily.  Thanks Terri!  I love them!

Vial of Felix Felicis

Now I'll have to listen to the series again to find a 'green' potion.  Aren't these blocks great?  You can find them (and lots others) at Fandom in Stitches.  I'm going to have to learn how to paper piece so that I can make this quilt.  They are also doing a Lord of the Rings quilt, too. 

I stopped at a few thrift stores (and a garage sale) this week.  I haven't had much time to visit thrift stores lately.  SCORE!  I found FABRIC!  Lots of really good quilting fabric. 

4 different browns, about 6 yards of fabrics

The brown in the center doesn't show up, but, I have some of it in a table runner that I won last year.  It's a lovely fabric.  I loved the interesting batik, too.  These all have the selvedge on them.  I also found more Harry Potter fabric.  Yipee!  I need more so that I can finish the Harry Potter quilts one of these days.  This will help.

HP fabric and Eleanor Burns fabric

There is at least 6 yards of the Harry Potter fabric, and almost a yard of the Eleanor Burns purple fabric.  I paid less than $8 for ALL of these fabric!  I seldom see quilting fabrics at the thrift stores around here.  I collected these from 2 different stores.  I also found a pair of pinking shears that cut very nicely, too.  At a garage sale, they had these pretty 'scissor decorations'.  I broke my last one.  Now I have 3 more to decorate the scissors that I keep with each of my machines. 

scissor decorations

I have one last 'find' to show you.  I found this lovely mini quilt.  It's in wonderful condition. It even has a label on the back with the makers name, location and date made.  I can't believe that it had a price tag of 49 cents.  Now I'll have to find a place to hang it. 

Angel mini quilt

I don't know how much I'll get done this week.  Oldest son is home for Spring Break, and I have stuff scheduled almost every day.  With this great weather, I'm hoping to be able to take my hand crank out on the patio and sew.  I'm working on a new project.  I'll post about it later. 

Have a Great Weekend!

Catching up! Progress! & Squishies!

YIPEE!!!!!!!  I have FINALLY caught up on my blog post reading.  I've been behind (sometimes as much as 3+ weeks) since before Thanksgiving. I missed the December blog hops, and lots and lots of giveaways.  I also missed my One Year Blogiversary earlier this month.  My goal was to get caught up before my Birthday early next month, and I did. 

My tiny guild is having a Valentine's party next month.  Everyone is encouraged to make a 12.5" block using Valentine colors and hearts.  I used scraps and fat quarters that had been given to me long ago (thanks Ann) and came up with five of these blocks.  I still need to applique the hearts on two blocks.  I have another block planned, too.  I plan on using the extra blocks to make mini quilts, like the Christmas Santa quilts and give them as presents next year.  I'll have to find a cute backing fabric for them.  I don't have hearts  or many pinks in my stash.  I still have to trim these down to 12.5", but, I didn't want to do that until the last minute. 

string pieced hearts

I used this cute mouse to help remove the paper foundation from the strings.  I found this little guy at a garage sale last summer.  His 'tail' worked great for sliding between the paper and helping to loosen it up.

Mouse 'tool'

I received two squishies in the mail this week.  I love these vintage bow tie blocks.  I wish I had some vintage fabric that I could use for sashing and cornerstones.  Maybe something cheddar colored, or yellow or even pink (not my usual color).  Any ideas?

vintage bow tie blocks

I checked these blocks out on the back.  There is a combination of machine and hand sewing on each of these blocks.  I haven't seen that before.

vintage bow tie block

I was in a Disappearing 4 Patch (D4P) block exchange late last summer with my Treadle On group.  The blocks have to be made on a 'people powered' sewing machine (treadle or hand crank).  I received the other blocks last fall, but, this lady didn't get to participate with the group.  She and some others (me included) swapped a few more blocks so that she could get some of the blocks, too.  I just received these from her, along with some lovely Civil War reproduction fat quarters and a cute charm.

Disappearing 4 Patch (D4P) blocks & FQ's

I just realized that I haven't shown the other blocks that I received.  I'll have to post them soon.  I even received some from Belgium.

Have a Great Weekend!

Teapot Tuesday!

Giraffe teapot

 I found this giraffe teapot in Tulsa, OK at a garage sale.  It was a whopping $1, and that included a box of tea.  Isn't he cute!

I've been sewing on one of my treadles.  These blocks were made on the 1896 Singer treadle for a block exchange that is due in September.  I have more fabric cut out to sew into these blocks.  

Disappearing 4 patch block

D4P set up

 I signed up for 2 sets of the Disappearing 4 Patch (D4P) blocks for this exchange.  Sewing the first 4 patches together was fine.  My feed dogs weren't working as well when I started to sew the cut pieces together.  I don't think the feed dogs like more than 2 pieces of fabric.  I had to 'help it along' when it came to sewing over seams.  This was difficult for me.  I'm not that coordinated.  I did fine with the treadling, but, I have to start by turning the handwheel with my hand to start treadling in the proper direction. 

another D4P set up idea

D4P before cutting

 I want to turn at least one set of these blocks into a quilt top for me to keep.  I may get to show off my 'people powered' sewing machines at my guilds quilt show next March.  I'd like to have some things that I made on these machines to show off.  I'll also have the blocks from the exchange, too.  The blocks from the exchange will have the makers name, location and what machine they were made on written in the muslin area.

If I could machine quilt (no, I can't, I've tried and tried), I'd machine quilt something on one of my treadles as an example.  Free motion quilting and I just don't get along.  Stitch in the ditch is the best I can do. 

L&L TOGA block exchange

I am going to the Loosen & Lube TOGA (Treadle On Gathering and Academy) in Wisconsin this weekend.  I will (hopefully) learn lots about how to clean my machines and get them all working.  I'm also hoping that I will be able to convert a few machines and treadle heads into hand cranks.  We'll see.  The blocks on the bottom (Rail Fence) were made on the 1896 treadle for the TOBE (Treadle On Block Exchange) at the TOGA.  I still have to sign them and list what machine they were made on.  I'm getting sew excited!  I'll take pictures and blog about it when I get back.

Have a great weekend!