Shirley Anne’s Heart

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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It has been a LONG STANDING TRADITION that when one of my grandangels has a birthday they get a GRANDMA’S DAY OUT.  They get to do whatever they choose and we usually eat somewhere and shop for a birthday present.

Cooper will be 5 on June 9th and we were left HOME ALONE today - so what better thing to do than have GRANDMA’S DAY OUT!

Cooper was so excited this morning that he did the HAPPY DANCE!  Perhaps giving him TWO pieces of cinnamon sugar toast helped the dynamic and rhymic aspects of the dance!

The KUNG FU PANDA MOVIE opened today and we decided that the movies would be our first stop.  They were EXPECTING record crowds today because the FIRST move was at 9:20 am and it played every 30 minutes all day! 

Cooper is ready to go - he is signalling CHECK - that he has the bread for feeding the ducks at Brandermill Lake after the movie!

AND….just for the record……I did not choose the outfit…….Cooper selected the red t-shirt to go UNDER his plaid short shirt and he insisted on buttoning the top button because “HE WANTED TO LOOK REALLY GOOD TODAY.”  He even brushed his teeth with SPONGEBOB toothpaste even though it does tickle his tongue.

The first order of the day was to get a little GRANDMA’S DAY OUT gift - a WEBKINZ (LILKINZ) Cocker Spaniel - Cooper named him APPLE!

The movie was pretty exciting.  There was only ONE GROWN UP MAN in the theatre besides us…..Cooper wanted to sit right in front of him….but I figured spreading out was a better idea!  Does Cooper look scared? 

(Yes, I actually took a picture in the movie theatre - remember there was only ONE other person in there and I only had to flash twice to FIND Cooper in the picture (it was dark in there!)

I won’t win any awards for modeling NUTRITIOUS EATING BEHAVIOR TODAY….two pieces of cinnamon sugar toast for breakfast and orange soda, popcorn and M & M’s for a 9:30 am snack.  SIGH……Grandma’s are supposed to be EXTRAORDINARY - aren’t they?

After the movies, we went to MICHAEL’S to look for a DOG HOUSE for APPLE.  Cooper chose a GREEN BASKET WITH A LID and I gave him lots of choices (I am so proud - I love baskets!)  Cooper also chose a red lunchbox, some PEZ for his Darth Vader PEZ MACHINE, a black ball, and a beautiful green notebook!

I still can’t BELIEVE THE NEXT PART.  We were supposed to go to BARNES AND NOBLE to play with the trains, buy birthday books, and get a book and a STARBUCK’S for Grandma Shirley.   Then we were supposed to go to the lake and feed the ducks.

COOPER WANTED TO GO HOME AND PLAY WITH HIS TOYS………HE SAID, “Grandma, that is what you do when it is your birthday….you get toys….and then you play with them.”

So Cooper got his wish.  He said that I had to pack his lunch in his lunchbox and put in a LUNCH BOX MESSAGE like I do for his sisters each day.  So here is Cooper’s Lunch Box Message:

June 6, 2008 Friday

Dear Cooper,

We saw KUNG FU PANDA

on Grandma’s Day OUT

And you got presents

Let’s clap and shout!

I love you, Grandma Shirley

We had fun - even though it turned out to be a GRANDMA’S HALF DAY OUT instead of a WHOLE DAY OUT!

THE PINEAPPLE CRUSH MYSTERY TOP

I laid out my other version of Bonnie’s ORANGE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT - I call this one the PINEAPPLE CRUSH…..and it looks like it will have a much more subtle look to it than the orange and green one.  It is amazing the difference that fabric and color can make with the SAME PATTERN.

I think that I am going to make the extra 96 half square triangle blocks for the border on this one.

Tags: Pineapple Crush Mystery Quilt, SAO's Grandangels by drsao
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Sarah (8) was so excited when she saw me making YO YO flowers for my BIRTH OF A SAMPLE QUILT (pictured above)…….that she wanted to make one too…..and so she did (and she wore it in her hair to school today.)  I had a PINK CAT BUTTON that we pinned in the middle of the yo yo flower.  Sarah was so proud! 

I am so proud that I got my vines and leaves on my BIRTH OF A SAMPLER QUILT!

Leanna (12) made a two-story house out of an orange juice container tonight.  She and her friend (and sister too) came in to SHOP for fabric to put on the outside walls of their houses!  Where else does one go on a CRAFTY AFTERNOON to get supplies but to Grandma’s stash!

On the wall of Leanna’s ORANGE JUICE HOUSE is a JONAS BROTHER’S POSTER rendering!  Nanna also sewed a sofa (with a cover that can be changed) and a pillow….and she also sewed a tiny bed and pillow.  She does a great job with my BROTHER DUETTA!  Since I was gone for the dance TECH rehearsal tonight, Leanna’s dad was in charge of standing by in case Leanna sewed her finger to something!  :) This is a fabulous testimony of the FUN that one can have with an square inch of material….or a tiny strip of fabric (note the rugs on the floors of the house!)  The bed, pillows and sofa are STUFFED with bits of leftover quilt batting!

LILIES AND BIRDS

I had to take a picture of our first lily in bloom.  THIS IS AN AMAZING STORY.  A year ago (December) our house burned to the ground.  The house rubble and surrounding ground was BULLDOZED - - and a year later the yard was landscaped. 

These lilies SURVIVED (I bought them at QVC - Roberta’s Farms - and I would say that this is an AMAZING TESTIMONY of the hardiness of these lilies!)  Look at how TALL this one is!!!! (There are 12 more on the side of the yard that will bloom this summer!)

Have I mentioned that QVC is on my LIST OF FAVORITE THINGS!  I love everything that I have ordered from QVC!  What could be better - you can lie in bed and watch tv - shop - and the UPS GUY delivers presents to your door a few days later!!!!  :):)

BIRDS

Now you may be thinking “WHERE ARE THE BIRDS?”  And no wonder because all that is in view is the BIRD HOUSE - our hanging fern.  The birds have built a nest and there are four very cute eggs inside…….and there is another nest under the mailbox!  (You can’t see it - but it is there - and it sure saves us from getting JUNK MAIL FLYERS!)

ORANGE CRUSH AND PINEAPPLE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILTS

I debated

and debated

 and debated

(it was a difficult decision) about whether or not that I should go ahead and put that orange fabric into the ORANGE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT….but today I finally decided to go ahead and move forward with the orange - it is an ORANGE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT after all.) 

I figured that even if it turned out to be an UGLY quilt that I could use it as a PRACTICE for my first quilt that I machine quilt!  I also rationalized that an ugly quilt could be used for picnics and every quilter HAS to have a picnic quilt!  Right? 

The orange is so BRIGHT that I might even be HAPPY to have it get a little bit dirty (to tone down that color!)  But after seeing Bonnie’s finished quilt (with orange in it) I think that I might end up liking it.

So here are all of my Step 5 ALBUM BLOCKS and HALF ALBUM BLOCKS for the Orange Crush Mystery Quilt - and also I have included a photo of my PINEAPPLE CRUSH MYSTERY QUILT blocks for Step 5. 

This afternoon Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville.com posted the final step - putting it all together.  THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED.  So……it is onward with these two quilts!

Dancing Fun

Tonight we had TECH REHEARSAL for ACT ONE of the Dance Recital Saturday.  Sarah is in two dances in Act One - they did a good job at rehearsal…..here are a couple of photos of Sarah!  The pictures are fuzzy - not perfect lighting in the theatre.  Sarah is the blonde with the braid in her hair.  We had lots of fun!

Tags: Birth of a Sampler Quilt, My Favorite Things, Orange Crush Quilt, Pineapple Crush Mystery Quilt, SAO's Grandangels by drsao
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It is amazing how much fun that can be squeezed into a three-day weekend! 

Here are some highlights…..

Grandangel Vincent had his 8th birthday in California (we sang to him on the telephone.)  He was SUPER-SIZED excited!

My Great Nephew and Great Niece celebrated their birthdays in Kansas….Preston is now 3 and Tara Lynn is 1.   Birthdays are so much fun!  We should all get this excited over balloons!