Shirley Anne’s Heart

Virginia Scrappers

This Saturday the Virginia Scrappers met for a day full of sewing fun.

I took Bonnie (my new 221 Singer Featherweight) for her debut sew-in and she was truly a DREAM.  She is quiet, her stitches are absolutely perfect and I LOVE LOVE LOVE her.  Other than the fact that the bobbin threader fell off (human error - I put it on backwards) I can tell you that she and I are a PERFECT MATCH.  I am already thinking about how I am going to miss her if she wears out!  But then, if she is still going strong since 1951, I might not have to worry much!

Linda's Wall Hanging - with legs

Catherine’s Melons and Curves

Catherine’s Melons and Curves Quilt is so artsy and fun with her wonky borders (I believe that this was her design idea on this Melons and Curves pattern.)  This is ONE SPECIAL QUILT - it is Kathryn’s first (and perhaps ONLY) quilt.  She is so creative and artistic.  Catherine works in a number of different fibre arts categories - and I can’t wait to see some of her fabric postcards.  In fact I am plotting to figure out how to become her friend - because Halloween is coming and I SAW her making some very cute Halloween postcards! 

Catherine and Patsy are admiring Kathryn's Round Robin

Catherine uses lots of unusual fabrics - sheers, velvets, etc. - and here she is with Patsy, admiring her artsy round robin.  And speaking of Patsy, look at her quilt (she was just putting the binding on.)  I love the fabrics and the groupings of circles anchored with buttons - well, I just HAVE to make one of these (it is going on my TO DO LIST.)  I think this is so innovative to put 30’s fabric onto a black background.  I LOVE black and red together!

Patsy's Circles Quilt

Custom Quilting on Margaret's Quilt Top

 

Isn’t this absolutely amazing - Valerie, at A NEEDLE RUNS THROUGH IT, custom quilted this for Margaret.  I tried to get a picture of the entire quilt but I didn’t have my lighting correct - but the entire thing is wonderful.

Linda at our Virginia Scrappers SEW IN

I didn’t get a good picture of WHAT Linda was working on but this picture is a perfect representation of the fun that quilters have when they get together.  Linda must have been laughing at something that Catherine said.  Catherine is so entertaining - my sides were aching from laughing so much!  I seriously think that she could put on a one-woman comedy QUILT SHOW (even without any quilts!)

Before the end of the day many of us migrated to Quilter’s Corner to help celebrate the BIG NEWS.

QUILTER’S CORNER NEWS

Quilter’s Corner is featured as one of the TOP TEN quilt shops in the country in the fall issue of the QUILT SAMPLER.  This is probably one of the most prestigious quilt magazines in existence and I am so proud to know Susan and have Quilter’s Corner as my favorite quilt shop in Virginia.

Susan designed the red and white FIRST LADY QUILT featured on the magazine’s cover!  WOW.  There are kits available in the four colorways of this quilt (and it can be ordered online as well as in the shop.)  NO - I  get no proceeds and am not employed on any PR TEAM - I just love the shop and this quilt! 

Red and White and Civil War Colorways of the FIRST LADY QUILT

I didn’t get a picture of it but there is also a blue and white version of this quilt in the shop.  Honestly it is difficult to choose which one to buy - they are all so pretty.  I seem to like the one that I am looking at the best!  And then when I look at another one, I change my mind.  Here is the black and white version of the FIRST LADY.

Black and White FIRST LADY QUILT

Tags: Antiques, Future Quilt Inspiration, Quilt Shops, Quilts, Singer 221 Featherweight, Virginia Scrappers by drsao
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SINGER  221 FEATHERWEIGHT

I GOT MY SINGER 221 FEATHERWEIGHT TODAY….YEAH…..it is just TOO CUTE. I will give her a name - but I haven’t decided what it will be yet.  I do know that I am retiring my “COOPER” - my first WAL-MART Brother sewing machine that I have totally worn out - it makes an extremely loud tired groaning sound when I sew!  :) 

I have to say that the HELLO KITTY sewing machine is pretty cute as well.  Here is Patsy with hers today at our Egg Money Quilt class.  My friend Sheddy has one too…….Oh dear, this could be the start of a sewing machine collection.  (I used to wonder why people needed more than one sewing machine - I now understand this completely!) 

But collection or not my Brother Duetta has my heart and I can never imagine sewing on anyhing else when I am at home!  I love love love it.  It purrs…..seriously, it is absolutely amazing.  It is on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS - right up there with chocolate.

EGG MONEY QUILT CLASS

Susan (Quilter’s Corner) taught our Egg Money class today.  SEE SUSAN’S BLOG FOR A PICTURE OF THE ENTIRE CLASS THAT SHE TOOK TODAY.  WWW.QUILTERSCORNERVA.COM

Here is Susan with her Eleanor Burns HALLOWEEN COSTUME - isn’t this just TOO FUNNY!

We made the first two blocks of the Eleanor Burns EGG MONEY QUILT.  The first block is the Grandmother’s Flower Garden block and the second is the Road to California block.

Since I will miss class in August  I went ahead and made blocks #3 and #4 (Turkey Tracks and Rosebud.)  I would rather be ahead of things rather than to be behind…….HM…..does that make me an overachiever?  :):)   Here are all four of my blocks so far.  

This class is going to be a lot of fun!

TTFN and MY PINEAPPLE CRUSH QUILT

I will be in the Midwest (starting tomorrow) visiting my family and celebrating my mother’s birthday (July 30) so my BLOG will be “dark” for awhile.  I will be back in time for the COlONIAL PIECEMAKER’S GUILD MEETING AUG 2 - and for BONNIE K. HUNTER’S STAR STRUCK CLASS in Williamsburg, VA…..fun times ahead…..

and speaking of Bonnie K. Hunter (Quiltville.com) I have my PINEAPPLE CRUSH TOP sewn together…

…and it looks like a cat dashed into the picture at the last minute (top of the quilt!)

TTFN…..until I return!

Tags: Antiques, EGG MONEY QUILT, My Favorite Things, Pineapple Crush Mystery Quilt, Singer 221 Featherweight by drsao
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Singer Featherweight 221

I am really excited - on July 20 - I am getting a Singer Featherweight 221 - all the way from England from Graham Forsdyke (who I understand is the King of the FW and of the antique world - thank you, Peggy, for that insight!)  I have been wanting a little sewing machine to take to classes and on retreats…….and I considered a little green HELLO KITTY Janome - but then I decided that I really wanted a Singer Featherweight.  However, I was a bit reluctant to buy one on E-bay!  At the VIRGINIA SCRAPPERS Sew-In on Saturday I just happened to be sitting by Peggy (there are no accidents in this life) and Mr. Forsdyke had sent her one for someone who never claimed it.  AND…the rest is HISTORY!   I will post a picture when I get it!  TOO MUCH FUN!  Here is a little blurb from the internet.

Singer Featherweight Portables

I think it will look something like this!

by Carolyn M Ybarra
ISMACS News
Issue 27

SLEEK AND shiny with a simple, elegant, and compact design, the Singer 221 - nicknamed “Featherweight” - is the semi-precious jewel of the sewing machine world.

For those who collect toy machines, it’s too big, weighing in at 11 lbs 1 oz. (5.0 kg). For those who collect antiques, it’s too new, having been manufactured in the United States between 1933 and 1964 (with the white-colored 221K version made in Britain from 1963-68). For modern seamstresses, it’s too basic, sewing only a straight stitch without even a reverse setting on early models.

Even during the years of its manufacture it was sometimes ignored by the sewing public, as looking too much like a toy, and being too expensive for depression-era and wartime pocketbooks.

For modern-day quilters, the Singer Featherweight, like the baby bear’s bed in Goldilocks, is “just right”.

Quilt tops are pieced together from small scraps of fabric using quarter-inch seam allowances. Quilters, therefore, value a machine that can sew a straight lock stitch without the slight zig-zag that characterizes the straight stitch on most modern machines.

The featherweight, although constructed of aluminum and thus very lightweight, runs smoothly and quietly due to its well-balanced rotary-hook mechanism. This lightweight machine that comes with its own handy case (resembling and roughly the size of an old-fashioned cosmetics case or record case) is also valued for its portability, by those who attend classes and conferences with fellow quilters around the world.

Finally, its sleekness, elegance, and mechanical simplicity appeals to the design sense of women and men who appreciate the beauty of color, line, and texture in their quilts. Now collectors are starting to take notice, too.

Star Struck - GETTING READY FOR MY BONNIE HUNTER CLASS

I decided to make my Star Struck Quilt (in Bonnie Hunter’s Class August 2 in Williamsburg, VA) using my leftover stash of VINTAGE HOLIDAY fabric - and since the pattern is on the Quiltville.com website, I went ahead and made a couple of blocks.  Yes, I think I am going to like this.  I am having TOO MUCH FUN!

Rearranging Furniture

Then, I got this URGE to rearrange my sewing area - sometimes the MOVING FURNITURE BUG just bites me!  So here is my sewing and cutting area - it is almost like having a new room!  Isn’t it amazing what moving a bit of furniture around can do for your spirits!  Seriously, this really made me happy!

TOO MUCH FUN!

PINEAPPLE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT

Inspired by my “new” work area, I decided to start sewing together the blocks for my PINEAPPLE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT (my Orange Crush is at the long arm quilters already.)

And of course Cuddles tried her best to help!  She actually gets BETWEEN me and my sewing - in fact she just sits herself right smack dab on my sewing machine!  You can see how I actually accidentally sewed some of her tail fur into one of my quilt blocks!  She just APPEARS out of no where!

SHOPPING

Since I was having so much fun, I decided to expand my fun with a little shopping - so I went to The Quilter’s Corner to get my BLOCK OF THE MONTH pattern and fabric!  I will have fun making this - maybe later tonight!

ANTIQUES - ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Since I was ALREADY OUT SHOPPING and having TOO MUCH FUN I decided to stop by a cute little MIDLOTHIAN ANTIQUE MALL - very near the quilt store!  And yes, I found treasures…..a basket, refrigerator jar, and fabric! 

I just HAD to have this cute little basket to keep my bargello strips organized in (I absolutely LOVE BASKETS - it is on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS!)

And definitely on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS is old refrigerator jars.  Before Tupperware - people used to store leftovers in these.  I use them for my sewing supplies….and this latest one is to store my pincushion in (since CUDDLES takes the pins out of my pincushion and carries them all over the house - I figured that this would be the pefect solution!)

When I saw this fabric, I just had to buy it…..

I just KNEW that I would think of something to do with it!

Birth of a Sampler - LAST BORDER - Corner Pieces

My last project today was to make the four corner pieces for the final border on my BIRTH OF A SAMPLER QUILT……each block is 20″ square!

All of the excitement was just TOO MUCH FUN for Cuddles - she fell asleep on my bargello strip!  I guess I will have to work on something else!  :) 

TTFN and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA -

have a happy and safe 4th of July everyone!

Tags: Birth of a Sampler Quilt, Cats and Dogs Furry People, Furry People, My Favorite Things, Pineapple Crush Mystery Quilt, Singer 221 Featherweight, Star Struck Quilt by drsao
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