"Domestic" treadle

This was the treadle I got from my mom.  This was posted 3/11/2014.

I received my Domestic Treadle from my mother.  It had been stored in her silo for about 15 years.  Prior to that in storage elsewhere.  I never knew she had one until we were talking one day about me buying a sewing machine so I could start teaching beginning sewing.  I wanted my student/s to be able to have a machine to sew on in order to determine whether they were really interested in sewing.  With the knowledge of a sewing machine, they could then have a bit more knowledge when purchasing one for themselves.  In this conversation, she told me of her grandmother's treadle machine.  She said she had it and it was in the silo.  At that point I confiscated it and took it home with me to Oregon.  It was a couple of years later that I began reading a blog from Bonnie Hunter and saw all her vintage sewing machines. That was the fire that got me thinking of having my treadle serviced.

I've named her Belle after my great grandmother.  Mom told me that she received this machine as a gift from her husband shortly after they were married.  I looked up in our family history and they married in 1891.  This machine is at least 123 year old.

My service technician was having a hard time getting the screws to come loose that he said "We may just have to let this one go".  I said "Really"  Then he asked me what the story was and I told him.  I think at that point he tried very hard to get "Belle" working for me.  He did it and I'm so happy this machine can be kept for my second granddaughter.  She has a real passion for sewing so I think this has her name on it.

What's Been Happening in My Realm

Since I posted last, I have had foot surgery and hired a website designer.  She has been developing a website for me for my longarm quilting business.  I never realized what a long road this is.  We started in January.


In July, I got a new do, retired and moved back  to Montana, my homestate.  I am now in the same state as most of my relatives, Mom, Brother, Daughter and her family (4 grandkids), uncles and aunts. So far I am enjoying it.  I am also looking for a place to live that can house my longarm.  Seems that with all the Balkin activity the housing is a premium here.  I have a few people looking for just the right place.

I hope to be blogging more now that I am more or less settled.  Packing a household took me 5 weeks along with working.  That is something I had said I never wanted to do was move.  It's so painful.

I said goodbye to some friends.

Also in July, we had a family reunion.  My daughter and her husband helped me to pull it off.  It had been in the planning stages for a year.  We had 60 people show up for the weekend.  It had been ten years since I had seen everyone.  New additions, husbands, wives and children had grown up.

My second granddaughter putting chalkboard fabric name tags on some aprons.

My oldest granddaughter tyedying a couple of t-shirts for our white elephant exchange at the reunion.

On my last drive to Montana in July, I took the scenic route, took my time.  I wasn't in a hurry.

I followed part of the Lewis and Clark trail out of Kennewick, WA, heading toward Lewiston, ID.  This trail was also labelled Nez Perce Trail.  The scenery was wonderful.  Such a contrast to I-90 through Washington.
   
I headed to Kamiah and on up thru Lolo, Montana.  This was a great drive.  I've only taken it one other time in the winter.  It was night and I didn't appreciate any of it.

Well that's the last few months in a nutshell.  I hope to be posting more often.

Thanks for visiting.

The Blue Heron and Celtic Soltice and Miscellany

Christmas is over and we are awaiting the New Year.  I've been slowly recovering from my foot surgery.  I'm not having to rely on crutches or my knee wheeler.  I still have some swelling and need to keep it elevated.  I'm seeing the doctor on the 5th and I want him to see some progress.  My boot hopefully will come off around the 17th, then I'll be able to drive.  I'm just not use to relying on others for help.  I guess this is a lesson on humility.  I'm learning.

Sunday the chickens were free ranging and making a ruckus in the front yard. I went out there and I think they were worried about this:

This picture is a little blurry because I blew it up to see it.

Here's one as it was flying off

Pretty aren't they?

Celtic Soltice.  What can I say.  We are on Clue 5 of possibly 6-8 clues.  We're not sure, Bonnie's not spilling the beans. After all, she says it's a mystery. I have all of Clues 1,3,4, and 5 completed. I'm still working on Clue 2.

I've been using my Scrappy Triple Irish Chain as my Leader and Ender.  I like the idea of a Leader and Ender and eventually that becomes your main project.  I am working on my sister's quilt and have to put the borders on and sew the appliques on. I should be able to get that done by July, when I see her.

Here's the border design.  I cut them out on day a few months ago when we had a power outage.   This one is from the Fons and Porter magazine.

 Last of all but definately not least.  I won this Japanese clone on ebay last night.  I just not sure which Singer model it is a clone of.  I need to find out so I can get a manual and learn some about it.  I'm excited to get it.  I did send the Seller a link on how to package a machine for shipping.  She's mailed a couple but I just wanted to make sure this arrives in one piece.

This post is being linked to Celtic Soltice Mystery and Judy's Design Wall.  Check out the links to see what others are doing.

My Design Wall- 9/9/2013

Wow.  I've been fascinated by this pattern.  I just kept making more and more blocks to see more of the secondary pattern.  I love it.  I think Liz Porter's quilt was out of repro 30's fabric.  This is batiks.  I've been trying to only use my stash and so far with the exception of larger yardages, I have been able to make quilts for the last couple of years with it.

Since this photo was taken, I only have two blocks to go and the top is done except sewing the rows together.

I'm going to have to take a break from this and finish one of my Get'rDone projects done.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall

Beautiful Day!

I've been in work mode for months now.  I haven't had any gumption to blog or post on Facebook.  Today is my day off, it's beautiful, sunny and promises to be warm.   I have put off buying some shoes for months.  I hate shopping, any kind, except maybe fabric.  Even then, I shop online.

I found my clothespins and have laundry on the line.  I love looking at it in the sunshine.  I have a chance to talk to my girls when I'm hanging laundry.

They are so happy to see me,  Probably more so if I had a bowl in my hand,  They usually ignore me after a bit.
The babies are doing fine.  They are thriving under their adopted mother's care. The other hens leave them alone, or else Mama will school them.

Just home from the store.

 Second day at our place.  Mama and babies are doing great.

I think this was their first day out.  They loved it. Now they only go in at night.

These pictures aren't too good.  The fencing is in the way and the light is too bright.  But the chicks are doing great.
Oh ya, I remember where I was going with this - - -

My clothes!  Funny how I pin them but it so I don't have any pin marks after they've dried.

Well I guess I need to get ready to leave the house.  I have some grocery shopping and shoe shopping to do.

I hope to get back so I can do some sewing.  I've cut out a couple a tanks for Doug but have to get some clear elastic tape for the neck.  I bought some but I can't find it.  I also have a quilt on the longarm that I hope to work on some.

Have a wonderful day everyone!  Drop in and let me know how your day is shaping up.

My Design Wall 10-29-12

The only thing on my design wall was posted on September 9.  It's still there.  But I have been working on some projects.  I am making a couple more boy scout vests for my grandson's pak.  I attended MQX West and took some classes.  Here are some of the designs I have been practicing on my longarm.

Not all of them but a few.  I'm thinking some of these will become my favorites.

I also took some time on Sunday to put in a new zipper on a favorite jacket.  Then discovered that my new (month-old) purse had a hole in it.  I had to fix it becuase that was where I put my keys.  What a disaster that would be.

We had some homemade meals this weekend.  Chicken Pot Pie and Chili with cornbread.  Something about fall that makes me want comfort food. 

Thanks for visiting and please visit Judy's blog and Homestead Revival's Barn Hop this week.

This is being posted on Judy's Design Wall and Homestead Revival Barn Hop__

MQX

I have proof that I was at MQX.  See me on the left.  I was taking Angela Walter's “Techniques for Quilting Negative Space”

This was a great class.  You CAN quilt on a domestic sewing machine.  

I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday taking classes.  Boy that was a lot.  All I could do was fall into bed each night.  Friday was the Banquet.  Kimmy Brunner was the guest speaker.  She talked about all the quilters in her family in Michigan growing up.  She was interesting and funny.  If you ever get to take a class from either Angela or Kimmy, do it.

Saturday at My Place

Last week gave us 4 new chicks.  Mom and the chickies are doing great.  She's teaching them how to scratch for food.  She's very protective of them and when she and the little ones are in the coop, no one dares enter.  That makes for 15 other hungry chickens.  So we've been letting them out of the coop so everyone can have a bite.

I've been saving my feed bags or rather retrieving them from the trash.  Doug thinks I'm a real hick to keep them.  Well I've made one tote bag (tutorial) so far.  I even used it at the grocery yesterday and it held up.  I have a few more to make.

It's not fantastic, but I like it.  I did notice while the clerk was bagging yesterday that I did put my handles on wrong.  Not a big enough mistake for me to fix.  I'll just remember on my next bag.

Flowers: rather Hydrangeas.  One of my all time favorites.  My daughter got me a Hydrangea potted plant one year for Mother's Day.  I fell in love.

Since then, I put them in every garden I have.  Take a look

I love the colors!

This post is being linked to Homestead Revival Barn Hop

Past Week

I went to the coast this last week for work with a coworker and we zoomed past several barns and businesses toting quilt squares.  If you zoom in on this one you can see the square. I thought it was so cool to see so many of them.  Next trip I'm going to slow down and get some better pictures.

Next to the walkway in front of our house is this knarly ornamental hazelnut tree (tall bush).  It's not even 5 feet tall but an American Robin chose it for her nest.

Inside it, as far as I could see were 4 of the most beautifully colored eggs.  They should be hatching in a couple of weeks.

And today, I finally got to do some sewing.  I mended Doug's work jeans for about the tenth time.  Just trying to get some more wear out of them.

This fabric has been sitting around for a year.  I bought it at a clearance sale at Hancocks in Billings, MT last year on vacation.  It was meant for my kitchen valance.  Today, I finally got it made.  I don't know what took me so long to do it.  

I hope to be able to talk a bit more tomorrow about some more sewing I got done.  I hope to get to quilt a couple of rows on Jan's quilt.  That is also my UFO for June.  I'm not sure I'll get it completed.  We have a busy week next week getting ready for a trip to eastern Oregon for Doug's brother's birthday party.

My Design Wall 6-4-2012

I got a couple of good days in of sewing this weekend.  I finished up the borders Sunday.  This was a Color Palette Challenge put on by Vicki at Field Trips in Fiber coordinated with Judy who designed the quilt top using EQ7.  I used only my stash to construct the top.  Judy called hers Sweet Tart and I'm calling my Skittles.  I'm thinking this will go to my nephew once it's quilted.

My broody hen's due date was yesterday.  Are they ever overdue?  We candled one last week and it looked viable.  I wish she would hurry. I know this can't be good on her. 
This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall

My Design Wall 5-28-2012

I was able to sew most of Saturday.  Doug had to work so I took advantage of it.  I got the top pretty near finished except the last border.

I haven't decided what to use for the last border.  I guess it will depend on how much fabric I have or how much of several fabrics I have.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall

UFO List 2012

Edit:

Somehow I forgot to post my UFO list in January.  I've finished 5 of them so far. I'm a little behind but hope to catch up by the end of the year. 

I had compiled my list with pictures of my UFOs (unfinished objects) for Judy's challenge way back in January.  I forgot to post it.  So before any more time flys by here's my list.

Judy at Patchwork Times is have a UFO Challenge for 2012.  I've thought about entering it but wasn't sure if I could keep on task to complete one UFO a month.  But if the challenge helps to motivate me to accomplish any, then I'll have succeeded.  Here's my list:

1.   Small charity quilt.  Needs binding

2.   Jessee's quilt.  Only top is completed

3.   St. Paul Parochial School charity auction quilt.  Top completed

4.   Jan's quilt.  Top completed

5.   Jana's quilt. Top completed

6.   Springtime Churndash quilt.  Top completed

7.   Applique wallhanging.  Binding needed

8.   Louise's batik stars quilt.  Binding needed

9.   BOM Star quilt.  Piecing, quilting and binding needed

10.  BOM quilt as you go.  Piecing, quilting and binding needed

11.  Boy Scout vests.

12.  Blue tablerunner.  Binding needed

.
Well, seeing it written down is reality.  I am going to make a concerted effort to get all these done by December 31, 2012