New coasters

 Hello, everyone.  There is a growing list of projects in process.

Today I am sharing a coaster. The ITH outline is from Sew4Home, and the center design is one of the free OESD designs that came with my Hatch3 embroidery software. 

One of my Altar Society sisters is thinking of doing the Halloween treat thing called "booing" for various folks in the parish.

This little combo is simple, but elegant, and doesn't take a lot of time. (Don't ask how many thread changes, though!)

It's fun and I got to practice combining two different patterns. 

Color Play: backing

 Hello, everyone.  Today is a day of trying out things.

For background,  I have come into possession of a vintage quilt top, twin size, and I feel the call to make it into a functional quilt.

I have batting. I have an assortment of fabrics. I have made a Courthouse Steps kind of block from Moda's little book My Favorite Color Is Moda, the 18 inch one with concentric rings of color. And I have a lot of orphan blocks in various sizes and colors. 

Today it's been lay things out, move them around, measure the length, if it may have potential take a photo.

She's ready!

 Hello, everyone. 

Yesterday I put a light coat of shellac on her to seal the bare bits where un climate controlled storage had damaged the finish on her wood. After it dried, I went over it gently with 4-ought steel wool to degliss the surface a little. Then wiped the shellac dust off with a microfiber rag.

Today I got out the Howard Restor a Finish, which is apparently a penetrating oil, applied that, let it rest a few minutes, then wiped the excess off. Let it all dry for a little while. 

Then got out the Howard Feed n Wax, which says it's orange oil and beeswax, smoothed that on, not only the shellaced places, but also exteriors of drawers, drawer rails, and so on. I didn't mess with the surfaces that had been protected by the machine being in her cabinet over time.

Put in a new needle, put on the new belt, the only things lacking are filling a bobbin and learning to operate the treadle system.

The front view of the machine I am calling Isabel, with a spool of Aurifil thread waiting to load the bobbin.

I'm so excited! 

More on the sewing machine

 Hello, everyone.  I mentioned that the sewing machine needed another small repair. The opening where the belt passes up to the front (from the treadle to the wheel) had a small break at the edge of the wood. Possibly this was a result of riding down the road while folded down into its case? Anyway, it needed some help.

A view of the glueing.

It took two of us to maneuver the protective waxed paper and supportive shims into place.

We let it cure for a day. It's now reasonably repaired, we think. Only a few more things to do before I can start working with it!

As it's a whole new way of sewing, there will probably be some little things done before attempting to quilt an entire twin sized quilt! A pincushion? Maybe the piecing on the backing for that quilt? Working with the treadle is said to require some muscle training.

I can hardly wait!

Latest on the sewing machine

Hello, everyone. I did say there would be a progress report on our reconditioning/conservation efforts.

The heavy books stayed in place for days, giving the glue plenty of time to cure.

This is how it looked when the weights and waxed paper were removed. 

The glued area. The nylon scrubby worked very well to get the squished out glue bits off.

The most promising way I found to get accumulated dirt off of the finish. It's still going to need some new shellac for a sealant and maybe some finish restorer and then wax. But the Endust softened the old grime and the 0000 steel wool got it loose and the microfiber rag both rubs Endust in and picks up the loosened dirt at the end.

 Sadly, there is a broken spot at the pass through for the belt. Veneer is peeling, too, but the thing I am worrying about is how to repair the broken bit without impeding the passage of the belt. We are going to try glueing it with the aid of a small clamp, and maybe some shims.

It's possible that this break in the edge of the pass through is related to the fact that the old belt was broken when we got it. Who can know, it probably happened a long time ago. 

It's such an adventure learning how to care for the old machine! But I want to get her in working condition and do some quilting on her.

Crinum blossoms!

 Hello, everyone. 

It's still in the 90's (F) at almost 5 pm, but my crinum lily has something to say:

This lily was here when we came. Last summer it threw a lot of bloom stalks. This summer,  with drought and a hot July, the blooms are coming later.

This is a baby crinum bulb. It's supposed to be the "milk and wine lily" type, with burgundy stripes down the middle of each petal. As I just got it this year (last bulb in the store bin) it's too young to bloom.

But I have hopes.

Coming soon, an update on the Singer 66 sewing machine reconditioning. 

Beautiful Canna Flower

 I saw a tall canna flower at DD's house that is really pretty. The last time I saw it, the plant's blooms looked malnourished,  now it's lovely.

I have hopes for my tall cannas now.

It's turned into a nice screening plant too. 

Another completed project

 Hello, everyone.  Today I am sharing with y'all the newest set of placemats from my little "studio."

This is a set of six, destined for DD1, for her family's enjoyment.

I spread them out because the set is a little bit scrappy, and the sixth one shows the back. I do love that beach-themed Chevy Bel-Air print. I fear that this has used up the last of it.

The pattern is a charm placemat, probably from Fat Quarter Shop, and I learned how to make easy four-patch squares from 2 stacked 5 inch squares. These are the squares with the brown tortoise shell print--repeated throughout the set. The other squares are a mix of various seaside or pastel prints, including a number of squares in white-on-white. I know that one of the placemats is from a Zen Chic charm pack. It's the pink center square with bubble-like circles in blues. The name of the seaside themed charm pack many of the others are from escapes me. That one contributed the corals, the whales, and the little fishes and suchlike.

It was a lot of fun using these ocean themed prints.

Beautiful nature

 Hello, everyone.  

Today I am posting a photo of a gorgeous spider that lives in DD's garden.

Isn't she colorful! I think she's an orb weaver, which likes to catch and eat various insects that fly into its web. They are said to be great for gobbling up pest flies and little moths. 

Progress report on the sewing machine

 Hello, everyone. We have moved to another step in rehabbing the Singer 66 we brought home. We have applied glue under the loose spots in the veneer.

This is the silver polish I tried with the access cover.

I found some multi surface glue that will work on glue, they say. It really isn't possible to do a test in an inconspicuous place as everyone recommends as there is only the one place with loose veneer. Right on top of the cover.

We got the Crystal Fix glue syringes, with short needle tips, and DH poured glue into the syringe. Then he very carefully sqirted the smelly glue up under the loose place in tge veneer. We closed out by wiping with a tissue and weighting it down.

The attentive reader will note that we placed waxed paper between the glue project and the volumes of history. We think that in a few days we will either have success or want to cry. The glue smells really permanent so there probably is no Plan B here, other than "learn to appreciate what you have." 

The next steps I think are to clean the side plate, which is decorated with a similar, leafy design as the access cover, to put the new treadle belt on (Thank you, Treadle Lady!) and replace the needle. There may be a need for a new rubber ring for the bobbin winder. It isn't pretty black like one would expect. 

And then I can assemble a quilt top, batting, and backing and see how she runs.

Beginning to beautify the new-old sewing machine

 Hello,  everyone.  Since we got home with the new machine...possibly to be named Isabella as she's very elegant with most of her pretty decals in good shape...we've been learning about reconditioning these old machines. 

I followed the method at the Youtube channel Vintage Sewing Machine Garage, a fellow who apparently lives near Toronto, (Ain't the internet grand?) To clean old oil from the paint of the machine. When I came to looking at the metal covers in various places, though, I thought I should maybe go slow.

The inside of the access plate before cleaning...it's nickel colored the gold is from the light bulbs.

The outside of the same access plate.

After using silver polish, most of the glop on the inside is gone.

The front is less responsive. 

I'm starting to wonder about damage to the nickel plating. The existence of brownish specks and the way parts are stubbornly staying black while other parts are shiny and bright makes me wonder if I should buff it one more time and then coat it with clear lacquer for protection. 

The gamble of that strategy is that I am hoping the rust(?) brown specks will be stuck as they are if no air and moisture can get at them. The (Craftsman era?) leafy scroll design is so pretty and I doubt I could find a new cover with that same design.

We are also trying to rehab the veneer on the top lid of the cabinet. This may be complicated by my first attempt which involved both Endust and then Liquid Gold furniture polish. (It's an oil polish we use for wood furniture. Smells like almonds.)

We're not trying to make her into an art museum piece, but I want to sew with her and make quilts.