A Quilter's luncheon

I invited my quilting friends from St. Margaret Church over for a luncheon. The weather didn't cooperate as the roads got slick. Thanks to a husband or two they all arrived safely. 

 I forgot to take an after picture but I made them all  spool doilies.

I had 7 decorated trees up.

I also had all 19 of my vintage sewing machines on display with their history.

 From left to right here is what's in this room:

1948 Singer 66 from a friend (who I actually dated once). His mother Ruth Ott, owned the Singer store in Jefferson City for years. This machine features what is called a Godzilla finish.

1953 Elna Supermatic. I was telling my friend I was looking for a Singer featherweight. She told me about a machine in a case her late husband had in their garage. Next thing I knew she gave it to me. In it's day, it was considered a fancy machine. According to the book with this machine it belonged to Gladys Ewing Niehaus from Lamar, Missouri. According to google she was born in 1900 and died in 1985. This machines operates with a knee bar.

1952 Singer model #301 bought at a Moffet auction for $10. It features a slant needle and will sew blue jeans with no effort at all. 

I was given a singer 1961 Singer Rocketter from Jim McCarty. You might know him as the editor of The Rural Missouri newspaper. This machine will do zig-zag by putting different cams in it.

Franklin machine treadle, bought this at Bernie's cousin’s auction in July 1994. She sewed all her dresses with this and quilt tops too.

1911 Singer 24-62 a chain stitch only machine bought at Moffet auction. Machine is working, but the cabinet needs to be restored.

1931 Singer model 99, hand crank. We had no intention of buying a sewing machine at the Gratz auction, until we saw this beauty early in the day. It wouldn't be sold until late afternoon. Being a few miles from the auction we went home to research it. We returned just shortly before bidding began. Luckily we won. It wasn't in this pristine shape. My friend Phil restored the machine. It sews beautifully.

My friend Pattie called me from Georgia, she had found this 1904 Singer 15 K in her garage and wanted to know if I wanted. The price was right, FREE. I restored the cabinet and Phil restored the machine. It features a sphinx decal. This decal isn't seen too often on the singers machines. 

1949 Featherweight 221 at Cornerstone Antiques in Fulton. My friend Sharon runs this shop. She had advertised it on craigslist. The case even had the original bill of sale. It was sold in 1949 for $145.00. That is after Mrs Snyder traded in a Franklin machine. She made a down payment of $29.00 plus $2.90 tax. Featherweights are one of the most sought after machines. Not my favorite, yet I still have 3 of them.

I saw this 1954 Featherweight 221 on Jefferson City Craigslist. I was the first to call. The young man had no clue what he was selling. It was $25 dollars. It has everything original with it, the booklet, the oil can, the grease tube and all the accessories. I didn't need it, but I would have been crazy to pass it up for this price. I could easily resell it for $300-$400.

1949 Singer Featherweight 221 at a rummage sale for $50, another bargain just too good to pass up. 

 

I found this Singer 15-91 dated 1952 (my birth year) at Missouri Blvd Antiques. The cabinet is model #56. The machine has been modified with a special foot which enables me to machine quilt. That is the only thing I use this machine for.

Maybe my most beautiful buy. It's a 1919 Singer 66 Red eye in a parlor cabinet. I found it on craigslist in Washington, Missouri. The cabinet is tiger oak and has 9 doors and 5 drawers. This machine was equipped to sew either using electricity or treadle. We did no restoration to the machine or cabinet. It sewed perfect when we got it home. In goes in the cabinet in a very different way.

My sister in law called from Truman Flea Market saying they had one of those old black machines, was I interested? They had no clue what the machine was. However when she told me it was $55, I had her buy it sight unseen. It's a Singer 99 dated 1956. It's My most used machine. I do most all of my piecing on it.

 

I got this 1912 Wilcox & Gibbs from the local Goodwill after a Facebook friend brought it to my attention. This machine only sews a chain stitch. It was $30. Check out the foot control. It's pretty neat and it weighs a ton!

I bought a White Rotary machine from Darlene Wolken. According to the book found in the Martha Washington cabinet that houses this machine, it belonged to Nora Lydia Pries, she was born in 1898. She married William Carl Brandt and had 4 sons according to the 1940 census in Illinois. At that time her boys were: Leroy 18, Floyd 8, Wayne 6, and Delmar was one year old. They lived on Second street in St. Peters, Illinois.

In my search I found that her husband died in 1952 at the Jefferson Barracks Veterans Hospital. He was born August 11, 1892, this making him only 59 when he died. She was widowed at the age of 54. Nora died on July 13, 1982, at the age of 84.

Further in my search, I am pretty sure she married some years later to a Mr. Washington. In her son Leroy's obituary in 1968, it listed his mother as Nora Washington. Leroy was injured in World War II and lost the use of both legs. I found quite a military story about Leroy on line. It's always fun to learn the history of the antiques I acquire. (Darlene is one of the ladies I quilt with and she was at the luncheon)

I wish all the quilters could have come, but illness and weather made that impossible.

Here Rita and Janet and several others of us played some card game that Darlene (a.k.a. Miss
gameoholic) brought.

Ready for lunch. (This wasn't the exact table setting but close)

This is the quilt we are working on now. Does it look familiar? Yes it's the patriotic quilt I pieced. You see I owe these ladies a meal and more for quilting it! Willie, Henrietta and Virginia are quilting away.

Yep, that's me in the back. Thank you Janet for the photos. Here Hilda and Marilyn are
helping.

The end of 2016 is here. To my quilting buddies I toast you to many more tiny stitches, lots of laughter, great fellowship and good snacks! I love you gals.

Sew on  ~ ~ ~ ~

Connor turns 4!!!

Turning 4 means Grandma and Grandpa has to take a trip to sunny Florida. I must say in the 4 years we've been traveling there, the weather was the best this time.

The family has moved to a new town, a new house, and a new neighborhood that is wonderful. 

The association park is located about 7 house away. This is the coolest swing ever. The parent and the child swing together! I might have liked it even more that Logan?!?!?

The birthday boy climbed to the top of the mountain with a little help from Grandpa. As Logan runs away in the back ground.

One night we went to eat at Servando's . Connor  played with my ipad. I later found this picture he took of us.

Winter Garden has the biggest and best farmer's market I have ever been to.

There were row and rows of tents. I saw lots of food trucks too!  Wish our town would have  food truck!

Connor got to try his hand at hula hooping.

The is this great back drop for photographs. Guess we should have tried it later in the day. The sun was just way too bright.

The birthday theme was super heroes. Captain America is his favorite.

Publix's did a great job on the cake.

Doesn't everyone wear a helmet when playing the Go Fish game?  That game was a big hit. It came from his Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Lori in Missouri.

One day we went to the historical downtown area. Grandpa and Connor posed for a picture.

We found this train that you could make it move by touching a particular spot on the window.

Another day we took the Sunrail train to Winter Park.

At Winter Park we went for a boat ride.

Connor loved the ride, it took us by beautiful mansions.

Logan on the other hand wasn't so happy. He didn't like being in the life jacket which didn't look comfortable at all, not to mention that it was hot for him. The boat captain was a complete a--. Apparently he never had children, couldn't stand children, had no patients . . . and was down right rude. After we returned from the 3 hour ride (Insert the Gilligan's Islands theme song), the captain declared everyone would be receiving a refund or reissued tickets. When we returned home we wrong a complaint letter. In the end they did refund Sarah's money ;) We will not be recommending them to anyone.

The boys always enjoy the train ride.

I made Connor a super hero quilt for his bed. That night as I laid him down, he said "Grandma, I like my new quilt!  Melt my heart son!

His Mom and Dad gave him his first big boy bicycle.

I left you with our farewell front yard picture. It's always a must!

Until next time boys!  Miss you!

What has been going on in my life since I last blogged.

August 21st , the blacksmith and his friends went on their annual muzzle loader squirrel hunt. It's been a tradition for like the last 42 years.

So while the mouse is away, the cat plays. Here I am with my BFF, shopping in a cool vintage shop. This is a swing she bought. I stripped it and she repainted it. It is a swing for her grandson, Lane. 

 August 27th, these are my 5 foot plus Zinnias. Suppose to be 24-36 inches tall!

August 30th, the ladies I quilt with every Tuesday morning had a quilter's lunch. The decorations were as adorable as these ladies are.

 September 17th, We did the Columbia Heritage Festival. 

 The grands always come by for a group photo too!

 September 29th, goodbye 2005 Jeep, you were good to us. 

 September 30th hello NEW 2016 Jeep Patriot. This is our 3rd jeep we've owned. 

October 7th, we went with friends to the Lathrop Missouri Steam engine grounds. I took this beautiful sun/church shot. It even surprised me!

 My BFF Margie tied brooms most all day Saturday. 

 October 10th, the beginnings of a new quilt.

 Another piece for the patriotic quilt. More to come. . . 

October 17th,  It was one last boat ride on the Osage river with friends Tim and Rita. 

 Sadly the last ride of the year . . . .

 October 21st, we took the grand kids to Mennonite country for apple days. 

This was not our apple wagon! I only bought a bushel and it cost $9.00 The apples, any variety were .27 cents a pound.

 Some apples went home in horse and buggies. 

 October 27th, the daughter in law took some family pictures. 

 The Missouri grand kids!

Connor, the oldest Florida grandson, proudly shows off his Captain America costume.

Logan, the other Florida grandson is praying hard that he will get some good candy. So cute for only 18 months old. 

Our son in law, Rusty, took the boys trick or treating and look who answered this door? Joey Fatone. Yes, he's their neighbor. 

Lizzie and her second cousin are BFF in school, same classroom even. They both happened top be at our house trick or treating at the same time. 

 Clark Kent, I mean Alex shows off his costume. Isn't he adorable?

Alex's dad, our silly son, shows off his costume, I think he trick or treats for beer?!?!

November 5th, we took a little trip with our friends Phil and Margie. 

 The next morning we had a nice breakfast at the "Bank" in Doniphan Missouri. 

The original vaults were still there, and in working condition. 

 The "Bank".

This says it all!

Picked these from the garden November 7th. (We didn't even turn our furnace on until November 20th!)

One day we took a 4 wheeler ride with friends through the forest. Here we are listening to Tim, the tree guy explain what we are seeing, including paw paw trees. 

 Home sweet home!

 November 12, I took 7 year old Lizzie to a Case for smiles pillowcase sew-in.

By the time it was over she was even making her own hot dog to sew (It's a pillow case term) 

 She made 16 cases. 

She did out sew everyone here. However I will say, I helped her, by pinning and ironing, when all the other ladies did their whole thing.

 I found this cute little pattern for a spool holder, on vintage Singer sewing machines. 

Speaking of vintage sewing machines,  . . . yes I broke . . I bought another one. It's a cool Singer chain stitch machine. My friend Phil, spent more hours than he will admit getting it back to working condition. Thank you Phil! 

#20, but who's counting?

 November 19, Brady gets himself a buck!

Here is the patriotic quilt, waiting to go into the frame. Yes it will be hand quilted  at St Margaret Church, Osage Bend, Missouri!

 Odelia and I pin it into the frame. 

November 21st, we pulled turnips and made 2 - 6 gallon crocks. It will take about 10-12 days to ferment. I will then can it.

November 25th, I made Lebkuchens. They really need to age, so they were iced and stored in a tin.

That folks is what I've been up to, plus a so much more. Hope everything is good with you all. Life is good here.

Patti