Saturday, March 28, 2009

The "OLD" machine works.

Thanks to many of you who gave me links and such and great information to get my "old" Singer Spartan working.  I downloaded a FREE manual from Singer online.  The problem was as I said.........I had the thing threaded wrong.  What a difference that makes.  Then I tighten some tension and a little this and a little that.  It works like NEW.  Thanks again to all who gave me information.  WOOHOO.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Look what I got for $20.00...and HELP!!

Yep, that's right...got that cute little sewing machine for $20.00  It's a Singer Spartan.  And, that's all I know about it.  
Now comes the help part.  I've never sewed on a machine like this before, or ever had one.  I'm not even sure I've threaded it right.  The top stitch looks great, and then you flip the fabric over (see below) and that's what the bottom stitch looks like.  It seems as simple as I just don't have it threaded right, but I'm not sure what I'm missing.  Anyone have any ideas for me?

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Scrubs anyone?

I decided to try my hand at clothes.  How about that?  This is some fabric I got from the huge Wal-Mart sale.  My mom is a nurse and I thought of her once I saw the fabric, thinking I would make her a small quilt to hang or something like that.  Then it hit me........I can make a simple scrub shirt, I know I can.  (haha)  So yesterday I cut it out and started sewing and before I knew it, it was a shirt.  I finished it and I thought.........Yeah, that looks great.  So, then I added two pockets to the bottom front of the shirt.  I also added one of my "personal name tags" onto the shirt where a normal tag would go. ;)  Mom hasn't seen it yet.  I hope she likes.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

"Husband" Made Quilt Hanger

Instead of hand made, I call this "Husband Made".  We saw these quilt hangers at our local quilt shop over the weekend selling for prices unheard of.  My husband took a good look at it and said "I can make these".  And I was like........."OK, I'll take one in every size".  We came back home, I headed into the house with my new "fat boys" and he headed to his building in the back yard to work.  This is what he came up with.  I love it.  I think he did a wonderful job.  Me on the other hand, didn't take such a great picture of it.  You can't really see the nobs, their silver.  In the pic below you can sorta of see how this works.  As I'm sure most of you have seen these before.  You slip your quilt in between the two boards and then tighten the nobs down.  I was confused at first, I thought you tighten the nobs (which have a screw attached to them) into the corners of your fabric.  However, you don't do that at all.  You fit the quilt in as close to the screws as possible and then the quilt will be pressed between the two pieces of wood.  See pic below.  How cool, right?  Or I have confused everyone?  lol

Saturday, March 7, 2009

I love Fat "Boys" Quaters

Huh?  You say.....as I've told many of you, my husband calls fat quarters "fat boys".  And now it's stuck with me.  Any who............

My local Quilt shop has fat quarters for $1.00 a piece.  Normally, it's old styles and such.  But hey......I'm not in style, never have been and never will be.  I have my own style.  And NO, I can't even tell you the name of any of these either.  That's another thing I don't go by.  I see on some blogs, they know the name of the fabric line and who made it.  I haven't a clue.   If I like the fabric, I get it.  Then again, I like all fabric.  I think I'm addicted!  Do they have a support group for that?  Anyone know? 

My MIL has a huge box of fabric for me.  Two problems....she's in California....and the box is too heavy to ship.  We were hoping for a trip out there in April.  However, my husband's truck went to he** in a hand basket.  So we had to get him another one.  Soooooo..........no trip to Cali.  I WANT THAT FABRIC........DANG IT!!  (I'm ok, really....I am)

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

My beautiful view!

CLICK ON THE PICTURE 
This is the view off my back deck.  How lucky am I??  We got a snow storm Sunday, and before the snow we got lots of rain and freezing rain.  So, as you can see the snow didn't stick to the trees as well.  We still have some laying around today, and it's a snow day today as was yesterday for the kiddies.  I assume I'll have class tonight.  The instructor hasn't called to cancel it yet.  I just wanted to share my beautiful view with everyone.

Monday, March 2, 2009

What do you think about RETRO?

3 of the 5 fabrics I'll use for his "Stars in Retro" throw.  The other two fabrics you'll see in the star.


OK, these fabrics are what I call Retro.  However, they are "newer" fabrics, I think they have the retro look.  I wondered what in the world I would do with these, because I wasn't exactly exactly fond of these.  Then.........my brother asked me to make something for the back of his couch.  Just kinda a throw.  And the color of his couch.........that old Tupperware GREEN.  Yep, so I thought I'd make him a Retro throw to go with his Retro couch.  Let me know what ya'll think of these fabrics.