A New Year

The Christmas trees are down (yes, we had 2 "real" ones this year, we just had to put a smaller one upstairs in the "bump"), the pine needles are mostly gone, though I find they tend to appear in odd places for a few months. A new year is upon us and for us it is going to be exciting. Lots of decisions to make, a new kitchen to design and install and to somehow work around 7 doors and a window (we can eliminate 2 doors and will make the window a bit smaller). I have been having fun dreaming through hundreds of pictures on Pinterest. Our goal is to start the demo mid February. Wish us luck!

As I have written before, I am thrilled with my new sewing room and now that I have had both cataracts surgery, which were a huge success, I am busy at work. It works really well and Peter just installed my new sewing machine lift (Lee Valley) like I had in my old sewing room. It really is worth it to be able to have the bed of my sewing machine level with the table top. So there is no excuse now, I am all set up and ready to go. I am so thrilled to have a high table for cutting, it is the perfect height and I can walk around it. The challenge will be to keep it organized and clutter free!

I finished my "Fireside Log Cabin" that I started in Heather Stewart's workshop last November. It was machine quilted by Lynn Jones who has a wonderful quilt studio outside of Bridgewater. She did a super job quilting it. Now I need to take some pictures. At our old house I had the weathered old barn out back to pin my quilts on to take pictures. Time to get creative and see where I can take pictures.

A new project in the works, a "disppearing nine patch" which will be soon on its way to Tasmania.

A wonderful housewarming gift from a wonderful old friend. Patty hooked this from a Christine Little pattern, Christine's delightful rug hooking shop Encompassing Designs is right at the end of our street. I am so tempted to take a rug hooking course - do I dare? Not only does Mahone Bay have a rug hooking shop (there are 2 - Spruce Top Rug Hooking is the other one) but we have one of the best yarn stores Have a Yarn and of course there is Suttles and Seawinds - I think we moved to a fibre lover's town!

Tomorrow the Quilt Mafia is gathering at Linda's house in Bear Cove, just outside Halifax at the mouth of the harbour. I can't wait to see her house on the edge of the ocean and to see everyone. It has been awhile since we last got together and with the weather forecast (which is good) we are hoping many will be able to get there.

Collections

I have just read a post written by fellow Canadian quilter Gail Hunt about her collection of miniature/toy/small sewing machines. It reminded me that I too have a "collection" though small of miniature/toy/small sewing machines. Just three, but it is a start!

My daughter was given this one by her Grandmother. I seem to recall it sort of worked but it hasn't seen thread for well over 30 years. It is a Kay an El Sew Master. I am not sure where it came from but probably a yard sale or flea market knowing my Mother-in-Law!

Then I found this one at an antique store in Berwick, NS. The paint is in rough shape, it must have been really quite pretty when it was new. It is a Gold Medal Sewing Machine probably made in the late 1800's. The company was in Orange, Massachusetts, it was established in 1860 by Johnson, Clark & Co. to manufacture sewing machines. The company introduced it's Home Shuttle machine in 1870 which was subsequently redesigned and improved. In 1882 the firm was reorganised and became the New Home Sewing Machine Co. In 1927 the company was taken over by the Free Sewing Machine Co. who continued to use the New Home brand name but Free itself was taken over by the National Sewing Machine Co. in 1953.

The third one came from the estate of a quilt friend, it is a Casige brand which was made in Berlin, Germany probably soon after WWll.

I found this "dreamy" picture ages ago while browsing on Google. I have no idea who the woman in the picture is or where I found the picture (my apologies to whoever originally posted it) but she sure looks like my Mother-in-Law and I just had to save it. From the looks of it that is a Singer Sewing Machine, maybe a Featherweight? I must go and look at the back of mine and see if it is.

It has been interesting to Google these sewing machines and learn more about them but also I am amazed by the huge number of miniature/toy/small sewing machines there are out there. Now, I need to stop in to a few antique stores and see what I can find to add to my collection, 3 just doesn't seem like enough! Thanks Gail!