I fell off the wagon again.

Yes it happened again.  I now own another vintage sewing machine.  As mentioned in this post dated September 8, I really didn't think I needed another machine.

However thanks to social media (face book messenger) I got word from my friend Sue, that the local Goodwill had this old machine. 

I really knew nothing about a Willcox & Gibbs machine. I emailed my sewing machine friend/expert Phil. He told me they were a late 1800 machine and if I didn't want it he would take it. 

At 8:55 this morning, the blacksmith and I were sitting in our truck on the parking lot of the Goodwill store waiting for their 9 AM opening. 

Here it is, still in it's original floor model cabinet. According to the dating information we found on line, this one was made about 1912.  These are chain stitch machines. After oiling and very carefully/cautiously plugging it in, it was running. It is very quiet just as the book claims. It will get new electrical cords.

Alex Askaroff has a great article about these machines.

 There were 2 books inside the cabinet.

 Look at this neat foot pedal! It weighs over 6 pounds

The sewing plate is so cool too.

Look at the  Willcox and Gibbs medallion, isn't it beautiful?

A close up of the motor.

14 machines and holding.

Bye for now.  I'm climbing back onto the wagon!

What a week!

On Wednesday morning the blacksmith and I were up way early for us.  After all, he was the bus driver for 20 of my friends. We were going road tripping to Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Our first stop was our church parking lot where we picked up 12 ladies. Next we went into Jefferson City and picked up 6 at the commuter parking lot. Luckily for the blacksmith one of those was Jim, who would be the co-pilot and male company for the driver.

The final stop for passenger pick up was my friend Mara in Ashland.

Our first stop was the Ben Franklin shop in Macon, Missouri.  As you can see by the above picture, the Mizzou fabric was a real attention getter.

Moda makes this sock monkey fabric all in flannels. I liked the brown, that looked just like the socks! It made me think of my friends Margie and Bev who make hundreds of sock monkeys.

As you can tell there was a long line of customers (Ha! All from my bus.) for the cutting table.

Next stop was Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton Missouri. The intermittent rain did not dampen anyone's spirits!

While we were in town, our friends Margie and Phil met us for lunch. Margie had to hurry back to work before I could snap a picture. But here my bus driver and Phil swap a few blacksmith stories, as they both are very experienced in that field.

 I found this coffin top machine in an antique store down the street.

Before heading back on the bus, I enjoyed a little ice cream while seeing what everyone bought in the 4 or 5 shops of Missouri Star Quilt Company.

 We then found a guy from the down under to snap a group picture of us. He was teased about coming so far to shop at a quilt store. 

We then boarded the bus for home. That is until 2 of the ladies mentioned another quilt store in Brookfield that would be on our way home. So on our way, we played B-I-N-G-O. I had 4 beautiful quilters/sewing necklaces provided by my jewelry maker Angie. The one I liked best said Quilt Diva! There was also some of my home made quilters hand lotion.

This is Hueffmeier's Fine Pines Quilt shop, in Brookfield. Don't let the metal building fool you, it was gorgeous inside! The 2 ladies were so nice and we just didn't want to leave there. They even followed us to the bus and thanked us over and over for stopping by. 

We then might have opened 4 or 5 or more, bottles of wine for the trip home.

This was my first try at hosting a bus trip. Already the ladies are asking to go again. Someday that might just happen! It was so much fun. I must say the bus driver was wonderful! I love that guy.

On Thursday I had to make up for lost time. I first made drapes for Angie (I mentioned her above). There are two panels and I  lined them. I can't wait to see them on her french door.

I finished this in less than 2 weeks. It's a signature quilt for my niece Callie's wedding. The day before the wedding I will iron freezer paper on the back of the off white. That should  stabilize it for signing.

Remember the blacksmith/bus driver?  He made up for lost time too. He made his first saj. Someone customer ordered it a week ago at the Heritage Festival. It is used over an open fire,  for baking a bread similar to a pita bread, only thinner. Yes they bake the bread on the inverted side.

That's our week. It was fantastic. How was yours?

Life is Good!