Latest addition to the family!

Here is the latest addition to my family!  It is a 1906 Singer with the Sphinx decals!!!  This photo was taken as soon as it was brought in the house.  I have cleaned it up since and it sews wonderful!

I have been wanting one for a while and a few weeks ago a good friend of mine was here visiting and we were talking about my other old machines.  I made mention that I would love to have a treadle, a hand crank machine, and a fiddle base machine.  She said, "I have a treadle that you can have if you want it"  Well.....hello!!!  Yes, I want it!  LOL!  She is not a quilter but had made a quilt top a few years back and wanted it quilted.  So I am quilting her quilt for her and she gave me the treadle.  She said she really didn't have room for it.  As far as the quilt top goes, she also brought the backing and batting for it so all that I will be out is thread and my time.  

As I mentioned the machine is a 1906 Singer.  It has the Sphinx decals on it but they are rather worn.  It has the shuttle bobbin and this is my first machine with that.  I was a little nervous at first but I found out quickly that it wasn't that big of a deal to figure out.  I sat down and cleaned and oiled the machine, adjusted the tension just a tiny bit and it sews perfect!  She said that someone in her family had took the front drawer and redid it with lighter stain.  I may have Richard to sand it back down so that I can stain it dark like the rest of the cabinet.

These things sure give your legs a workout.  Here is the funny thing, if you know anything about a treadle you know that if the wheel goes backward it will break the thread.  It took me a little work to get it figured out and get my "groove" going on this.  I was messing with it and Hunter came in there and said, "let me try it"  I told him that I didn't think he could do it because it was hard to figure out.  He sat down and the little jerk just started treadling away!  He was sewing like it was nothing!  I asked him how he figured it out, he just said that it was like riding a bicycle.  So I told him that if I decide to piece a quilt on it and my legs got tired that he could sit in the floor and work the treadle for me.  I don't think he liked that idea!  

So I have named him, Billie.  Yes, this one is a "he"  My grandfather was born in 1906 and he was very special to me, so this machine was also born in 1906 so I just thought it was fitting to name it after him.  

I'll post better photos of it tomorrow!
Kristie

Getting myself in trouble!

 These sleepless nights are going to get me in trouble.  LATE last night I was wide awake and started messing around in EQ.  That's were it starts...  Anyway, I played around with several blocks and layouts and then ran on to the Rocky Road to Kansas block.  I know it is an old block and I've seen it a million times but for some reason last night it really stuck out to me.  

Then I went upstairs and dug out my scrap bins.  

I kept telling myself that I could NOT start something new!  Then I also telling myself that I had been so good lately and finished several UFO's and even quilted 2 quilt tops.  Hehehehe!  

Then I thought that maybe I would just try one block....I pulled out my old Featherweight, cleaned her up and started sewing.  BTW...the old girl just turned 79 yrs old on Oct, 3rd.  She was made in 1933.  I bought her at a thrift store for $5 and she sews like a dream.  

I only ended up making one block but it sure was fun.  First, I thought I would use a single background fabric, which you can see in the top left corner, but then I decided against it because it actually has some little lines in it making it directional and I don't want to fight with that all through the quilt.  In the end I decided to just use neutral scraps for the background.  

As I said, I only made one block, but I have tons of scraps and strings pulled for more!  Oh, and I also appliqued another basket block.  

Never fear, I am still going to finish up my Green Scrappy Bargello also.  I actually pieced more blocks for it yesterday, but need to press them.  

After finishing the quilting on my two quilts I had planned on loading another one of mine, but a friend of mine called and asked about me quilting a quilt for her.  She wants to give it as a gift to her daughter.  So I loaded it on and I have started the quilting on it but it is a large quilt and the panto that I am using takes a while to quilt.   As you can see it is leaves and I thought a "leaf" quilting design would look nice with it, but she wanted the flowers.  Hey, it's not my quilt so I just quilt it how she wants.  This quilt reminds me of one that my mom made for me back around 1993/1994.  I still have it and love it.  It was this same pattern.  Speaking of mom, she got in last night around 11pm.  So I have her home for 28 days!  YAY!  

Don't you just love to watch your children sleep?  Hunter was cuddled up on the couch napping the other day and I just kept walking by stealing kisses.  

I'm off to do some housework and then back to sewing!!!
Kristie

My machine has been humming!

 I have a little more progress to show you!  First off, I got another quilt top quilted!  This was not one that I made but this quilt top was given to my by a friend of my mother's.  This was her first attempt at quilting and she said, "quilting wasn't for her"  My intentions were to quilt this and give it back to her but she doesn't want it.  LOL!  You can tell that it has been pieced several years ago, just look at the fabrics.  It is not a big quilt, only measuring 52" square.  She actually did a great job on the piecing.  

 I used a new quilting design on it that I had not tried before.  It is called, "Dazzle"  I really liked how easy that it was.  You can see the quilting on the back here.  She also sent the backing and binding fabric along with the quilt top.  

 Here are the two quilts that I have quilted over the past week or so.  I have the bindings cut for both of them and will work on getting those sewn on shortly.  I love working on binding while sitting in front of the fire on cool nights.  Speaking of fire, we have had to build a few fires over the past week, it got down pretty cool here during the nights.  We've had a warm couple of days but we are supposed to have another cool spell in the few days.  

 I also managed to finish another little basket.  I have several more prepped and ready for applique in my basket beside the sofa.  I love working on these.  I'm not sure how many of them that I have finished but I will have to check as I put this one away.  

 Thanks to Janet, I have enough green strips to finish up my Green Scrappy Bargello.  I got all of the strip sets sewn together, now to press them and subcut them.  Once this is finished it should measure out to be a large queen.  

My sewing plans for the next few day are to work on this Green Bargello, sew a few pillowcases, load another small quilt on the frame, and piece the two latest Barbara Brackman's blocks.  Wish me luck!  

Hunter and I have been making plans!  He asked if he could have a little Halloween Bash with a few of his friends.  So he is planning to invite about 6 of his closest buddies.  Can you imagine what fun I will have with about 7, 10yr old boys?  Wow!  Anyway, we have to plan his little bash on a low budget, so we are planning a few outside games, Richard is going to build a campfire so that he can sit around with them and tell some ghost stories.  Oh and he wants to stay up late and watch some scary movies.  I'll have to check and see what I can find that is scary but age appropriate.  I'll make a few snacks and I'm sure they will spend the rest of the evening playing PS3 and such.  Did I mention that all 7 of them will be spending the night?  :(  He is very excited and that makes me happy.
Kristie