Foster Fail #2 Introducing Duke!

I've been working on my laptop the last few days loading programs (EQ8 and Photoshop) and photos from my phone. It's smaller than my old laptop but I'm liking it a lot better. It also can turn into a tablet. I'm not sure why I would want it as a tablet, but I guess I'll figure that out later. Anyway I loaded the photos from my phone and now I can share our latest foster dog Hondo. We are planning on keeping him and waiting for word back about the adoption. We really don't think Hondo fits for him and have started calling him Duke. Duke is an Akbash. They are from Turkey and are similar to Great Pyrenees in many ways. They tend to be taller and leaner than Great Pyrenees and have shorter hair. But both are guardian dogs that are independent and have a tendency to bark a lot. So here's Duke!

<---This is Duke on his way home with us on July 30, the day before hubby and my 27th Anniversary. He was looking rough and was so underweight! He weighed in at 88.5 lbs and he should be 115 at least! ^ The photo above was the first couple of days. He pretty much stayed near me so he could keep an eye on me. He bonded with me on the car ride home, but was afraid of everyone else. He wasn't socialized and everything frightened him. He would get scared and unable to move so I would go to him and say "walk with me" and he would follow. It took him 2 1/2 weeks to get use to hubby and he's still having a hard time taking to Timmy. 

 

It was 8-9-20 when he first started to play. Gracie was trying to get him to play with her since day one. He would watch her play with toys and finally he picked up the toy and made it squeak. He liked it so much he kept squeaking it. Pretty soon most of the toys were around our dining room table since that was his safe place to go. He learned a lot from just watching Gracie. He watches Timmy and Gracie interact and we're hoping that will help him come out of his shell and trust Timmy.

As you can see Duke is the larger dog. Also Gracie who is a Great Pyrenees has the longer hair.

 

 

 

Poor Duke doesn't like thunderstorms and will squeeze between my chair and the ottoman. Especially when I'm sitting there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gracie and Duke, they are so sweet together!

  

 

 

Duke likes going wherever I go, but usually gets car sick, poor puppy.

 

Gracie and Duke, partners in crime.
 

 

 

 

 

 I think he looks stunning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and letting me tell you about Duke!

Sheila

End Of Summer

Where did the summer go!

As for my OMG from August I'm still working on it. Yes I know it's almost the end of September! I had some issues, besides having my son always in my studio doing his school work I had issues with skipped stitches. Of course when you put things off there will be problems! I'm not sure if it was me, my machine, batting or the backing I was using. The batting is a less expensive muslin I bought online from Marshall Dry Goods, it's good for trying out patterns for clothes without using your expensive fabric. The batting I'm using is a thin batting and the thread is Aurifil, but in a 40 weight for the top thread. With all these things it's why I have a headache from the skipped stitches. But as far as the muslin, I'm happy with it. I used it to make the pillow, the back of the quilted top and the back of the pillowcase, all for the dog so I don't want to use expensive fabric. I'm also going to use it on the back of two wall hangings that I'll share later.

 

I'm not too crazy how I quilted this, but I had to stitch close since it's for Gracie our dog and I want to make sure it stays secure. It gave me ideas how I will quilt my bed quilt that has the same material from Tula Pink in it. It's huge and heavy and I'm having a hard time spray basting it since I hang them on the wall to do that. I may have to lay it on the floor and spray baste it like that, but my knees are already crying about the thought of that!

I have some happy news on Tuesday my new laptop will be here. My other laptop died on me in February and then March brought Covid-19 (son home daily and using my studio for school) so it's been hard for me to get on my computer that is in my studio to do much blogging. I tried doing as much as I could on my phone then get on the computer and polish it up, but that got old very quick! I thought about getting my laptop fixed and I still might, but I'm thinking it's the motherboard and I'm not sure they can fix or replace that in the laptop...I will have to ask my computer guy. Anyway, I have Gracie's Improve Quilt to post and give you instruction on that and I'll have an update on our newest foster dog. I have a couple other quilt designs I want to work on EQ8 to finish, so a new laptop will be a lifesaver for me!

 

Here is a sneak peek at our latest foster...though it looks like we may be keeping him!

I hope your Sunday and the rest of the week will be wonderful for you. Enjoy the cooler temperatures if you got 'em! Fall never seems to last long enough does it!?

Sheila

August! Time for OMG

 WOW, did I fail keeping up my blog or what! But I have good reason, I've been fostering a Great Pyrenees puppy! I'll have to post more about him later and about our newest foster. For now I just wanted to post my OMG for this month since I've been MIA the last few months.

I haven't been able to find a pillow big enough or fluffy enough for Gracie...well at least one I wouldn't have to break the bank to afford it! My husband suggested I make her one so here is the top I came up with....

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal August Link-up

I'm calling it Gracie's Semi-improve Log Cabin Quilt. But instead of a quilt it'll be a quilted pillow top. My OMG is to finish the pillow this month! I used left over fabric from my Stay@Home QAL Pat Sloan hosted in April. But really I have so much more Tula Pink fabric left I can make another queen size quilt...OK a king size! The solid is Kona Cotton in black. I've written up some basic rules/directions that I followed so it's not completely improvised and would resemble a log cabin block. I'll post the instructions soon! Be sure to follow my blog so you won't miss out on it or if your interested in what's going on with my fostering efforts, which very well could be another foster fail!

Hope to see you again!

Sheila

What To Do When Your Heart Is Broken

March was a horrible month. The 9th was the worse day I've had since my dad pasted in 1996.  If you follow my blog you'll know that my dog Indy had hurt his knee and had to have 3 surgeries. Well, on the morning of March 9th the vet called and had to talk about Indy's progress. It sounded serious, I thought they were going to tell me they would have to take his leg. Unfortunately it was much worse. His leg wasn't healing and he was having secondary issues. To make a long story short I had to say goodbye to my best friend, my protector, my constant companion. I cried. I cried all day for days. I cried constantly. At one point I had no tears left to cry. Indy was an amazing dog, the best dog I've ever owned or known. I still picture him sitting on our hill keeping a look out and protecting every ones yard. This blog was started just before we got him and if you want to see him as a puppy and hear a bit more about him go here or check on the blog archive toward the bottom.

I decided to help me deal with his untimely passing I would do the 100 day project. Everyday I would work on a picture of Indy. Some would be quick, some would take days, some would just be line drawings and others would be colored pencil. I even plan to try a quilt art with thread painting of him. So far I've finished a few before the 100 day project started and one after...not too good so far, but that's okay.

The other thing I wanted to do to help me through this was to foster Great Pyrenees dogs through the National Great Pyrenees Rescue. That is how I heard about the breed and if it wasn't for NGPR I would never have thought to get Indy. Indy wasn't a rescue we bought him from a goat farm that breed their working dogs. I signed up and was finally given the green light.

We picked up our first foster on April 9th. Her name is Gracie and she was surrendered because of behavior problems. I'm going to say the behavior problems must have been them, because she's a sweetheart! She wasn't good with sit, down or come but after just a short time she learned them and has been a perfect lady. She has become very attached to me and has followed me everywhere. Today was the first day she went downstairs to lay, probably because it was cooler. She gets very excited when my husband comes home, which has captured my husband's heart. So much so that he doesn't want to let her go...so we adopted her! Yes a foster fail!. I know since she's been with us I'm able to talk about Indy without too many tears. Every now and than I still tear up, but not like before. She's a lot smaller than Indy, only weighing in at 80lbs. I think it's funny when people say she's a big dog. Indy weighed 135lbs, though he was overweight and definitely caused more problems with his knee.

Meet Gracie, isn't that face the sweetest! And can you see those eyelashes!

Now for my OMG for May. Since everything went bad in March and April was about adding a new friend to the family my OMG for May is completing the Cutting Corners quilt. Originally I was going to finish it and give it to the vet when we brought Indy home. Now I don't know what I'm going to do with it. I may just sell it, I know I can't keep it and I feel weird about giving it to the vet and having it be a reminder of Indy for him. All know is I need to get it completed and out of here. So my OMG is to complete my Cutting Corners quilt. I am doing a different layout than MSQC and I hope it comes out like I'm picturing it in my head. Here's a picture of what I have going on with it. You can see the center on the table and I think I have an idea of the way it will all go together...we'll see!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal May Link-up

Since I already have a long blog post I show the rest of the projects I've been working on in a couple of days. 

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and may all your UFOs be few!

Sheila

March's OMG

I'm so excited to finally get my OMG in on time!!! I love playing along because it helps me stay focused on what I need to work on. Otherwise I'm chasing squirrels!

This month I have two projects that need to get completed. The one I'll be focused on is my Cutting Corners Quilt by Missouri Star Quilt Company (Here is the video tutorial) I started about a week ago using River Valley by Island Batiks, aren't they scrumptious! The solid is Bella Solids in Prussian Blue. I'd like to have it completed and ready to give the vet when I get to bring Indy home, more on that at the end of this post. But mainly I want to have the top done. It's going pretty quickly and getting it actually quilted depends on my second project I need to complete this month, fixing up a wall in the garage to spray baste my quilts on instead of crawling around the floor. If you're one of the few that follow my blog you may remember I hurt my knee the beginning of the year and though it's feeling better I don't want to tempt fate and try to crawl on the concrete floor. Plus it's still a cold floor and the thought of being on it doesn't give me a whole lot of ambition to get my quilts basted! This project will go better if my hubby helps and since I can't guarantee he'll be able to help I won't use it as my OMG. 

Here is pictures of my Cutting Corners blocks I have done so far.

Now for the update on Indy. If you are interested in what has happen so far go here. He had to have a third surgery on his left leg because he started pulling out the inner stitches again. This time they put a rod to help hold his leg in line, because of this he will be staying at the vets for 6 weeks. It's going to be a looong time away from my fluffy baby! They got a cart for him to help him exercise his leg without putting too much weight on it. They also have a water treadmill to help in his rehab. But what is really amazing is the Doc has capped our bill from the second surgery so the third was done at no charge!

Here's a picture of Indy and me at our last visit.

I hope you're March is wonderful and you make a lot of progress on your projects!

Sheila

Me And My Dog

Today I'm thinking of my Indy. He's my Great Pyrenees and he's my buddy. He's on my mind a lot lately because he had to have knee surgery this past week, then back in because he blew all the work the vet did and have it redone along with the other knee. He weighs 135 pounds and his right knee had a partial tear so when he tried to put all his weight on the recently repaired leg it couldn't hold up. The vet said it would be better to do both knees and he would have to stay there at least 3 weeks. 

10/01/2017

Here's a picture of me and Indy, taken a few years ago. He's such a good dog, and smart! Scary smart!!!  

02/19/2020

This is him after his surgery. I love his smile! He was happy to be back home after spending two nights at the vet. I hope he's as happy with me after 3 weeks! They trimmed all he's hair, even his mane! He hasn't had that short of hair since he was a puppy!

Here are a few more pics taken 

5/7/2019

 Indy gets tired of waiting for me to go, so he picks up his leash and takes himself! hahaha

2016?

Our house is on a hill and because we are the second house we view several back yards. Indy thinks they are his to protect and he does it very well with his deep baritone bark.

Thank you for visiting and listening to me go on about my buddy. I have faith he'll be fine and home in no time. Sometimes you just need to daydream and look at old photos. 

Enjoy your day and next time I'll post the blocks I just finished up. 

Sheila

OMG! I Missed Out!

I always think I have more days than I actually do! Do you do that too?

I have a few projects I've fallen behind on so it was a toss up of what I wanted to get caught up in. I chose Seeing Stars by Butterfly Threads. I have months 1 and 2 done and a couple of month 3s blocks completed. This past Thursday she released the 6th months block.

Here is what I have so far...

Don't you love the batiks! They are by Edyta Sitar, I love everything she touches!!! 

I'm hoping to be caught up so that when next months blocks are released I'm ready! 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal February Link-up.

I love linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts! It motivates me to get my projects done!!! Check out her page and try it out!!! Hopefully I can get my blog posted in time next month.

See ya later,

Sheila

February's Monthly Color Challenge

Today is the 1st of the month and that means... Patterns By Jen's Monthly Color Challenge!!! To get the pattern for this block head over to Jen's blog.

This month's colors are Light Aqua and Dark Aqua. Don't you just love these colors! I do!!! So without further ado, here's my block...

I also picked out my Aurifil thread I'll be using when I quilt it. They are 5006 Light Turquoise and 2810 Turquoise. I love Aurifil and I should be able to match all the colors, but if not what better reason to buy more!

I finally got the rest of my fabric for my blocks. Yellow isn't my favorite color so I didn't have the right colors for January's block. Now I do and I'll be making that block very soon! I'm working in Batiks because I simply LOVE batiks and the way they blend well together.

And here is links to the rest of the participating bloggers/instagramers for February.

Jen Shaffer

Kathy Nester

Joanne Hubbard

Claudia Porter

Carolyn Braun

 So check out these wonderful ladies sites and check out their block for this month! Oh and did I mention...there are prizes!!! Check out Jen's blog for all the details!

I'll be back later to show my January block! See ya soon!

Sheila

January's OMG Finished!

Can you believe it's almost February! January just flew by!!! But I did get my OMG finished! Originally I wasn't sure I would like the lavender sashing, but after I got it all together I'm very pleased with it.

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal -January Finish Link-up

This top is from Pat Sloan's QAL called Winter Fun. Now to get the back done so I could get it quilted!

Here is another QAL I'm working on...or falling behind on! But these are small block (3") and they go together pretty quickly. Here is what I have so far.

This is Kathryn Kerr's 365 Challenge. Check out her site and the finished quilt! It's amazing!!! The finished quilt is 90" square. Most blocks are 3" or 6" and a few 12" blocks. You have to sign up and you get alerts everyday for the daily block. They are available for 3 months so if you are forgetful or are doing so many QALs you forget where you have to visit you can get your missing blocks.

So that's it for now...next up is Pattern By Jen's Color Challenge. I'm one of the blogger's participating in posting the block and February is my month!!! There is still time to get January's block, so head over to Jen's blog and check it out!

Keep stitching and see ya soon!

Sheila

New Year and New Sew Alongs!

Pat Sloan's SALs starting this month are Out West it's a monthly sew along and she posts the new blocks the 1st of the month. Her next one she's hosting is with Aurifil (I love their thread!!!) They post on the 15th of the month and feature a different designer that Pat interviews. Her regular QAL is called Childhood Games and starts the 29 of this month and runs every Wednesday until May 27. The blocks will be various sizes and will measure 60x70 approximately. I love doing a quilt with different size blocks! And finally she is doing a quick scrap buster that's running from January 1 through the 15 and it's called Traffic Jam. She has a free pattern to use up those little squares! I don't have much scraps yet so I didn't participate in this one.

But I am doing the others! And here is my first block for the Out West SAL!

I chose the Adventure Awaits bundle that was available at Fat Quarter Shop. I just love the teal and peach colors!! This block is called Movies. Some of my favorite western movies were the ones I watched with my dad... A Fist Full Of Dollars, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and pretty much any John Wayne movie!

Well that's it for today. I'll be back with some of the other Quilt A Longs I'm participating in and the fabric I picked for the Childhood Games QAL!!!

Until then, Keep Stitchin'!

Sheila

Welcome 2020

I know it's already a week into the new year, but it's been crazy busy around here. Also I hurt my knee the other day and it's been difficult getting anything done! I had it all planned to spray baste several of my quilts while we had that crazy warm weather, unfortunately I had to sprain my knee first! So no getting on the hard concrete garage floor and basting the quilts...maybe I can persuade my sweet hubby to help me. 

On to the main purpose of this post...January OMG! I'm determined to participate every month this year!

 Patty at Elm Street Quilts hosts this every month and there are wonderful prizes just for participating! 

I love playing along because it motivates me to get things finished and anything that will help finish a project is wonderful! This month I want to get Pat Sloan's QAL Winter Fun top completed. I just have to get the sashing on. I've been working on it this week and finished up the last block yesterday so it shouldn't take too long to complete.

This was the last block I finished. It's actually block #7. I thought I had it done then found out when I was ready to put the sashing on I was missing this block!

Here's a photo of the blocks and sashing...

I love the fabric! It has metallic silver and gold snowflakes and it's Batik!!!! Yum!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal January Link-up.

 

Start thinking about what you want to complete for next months OMG link up! You'll be glad you did!!!

 

I have more to chat about (2020 QALs!), but I'll save it for another day. I hope you visit again or better yet sign up and don't miss a post!

Happy New Year!

Sheila

November's OMG and another Winter Fun Block

It's amazing how fast this year is going! Can you believe it's November! The holidays are now upon us! I love this time of year! I don't know about your weather, but ours has been crazy. One minute it's in the 90's and now it's in the 40's! Our leaves are finally changing, we didn't think they would with all the hot, dry weather we were having. 

So on to my One Monthly Goal...For November I want to finish my Ultimate Beginners Quilt  that was hosted by Fat Quarter Shop. I need to do the last three blocks and put the sashing on. I'm making this for a children's charity that our guild donates to. I'm happy how it's turning out, it could be because I love the Finding Nemo and Dory movies.

 Here's my 6 finished blocks

and here is my three blocks with the fabric picked for each block. 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal November Link-up.

 On to Pat Sloan's Winter Fun QAL. I finished up on Block 4 Baking Cookies. I'm enjoying the QAL, the blocks are going together very easy. This is one of my favorite blocks....

I do love the Bear Paw! 

Well that's it for today! I hope I'll have a finished UBQ top to show you at the end of the month. But I should be posting more Winter Fun blocks and some other QAL's (I couldn't resist) in the next few weeks, so see you then!

Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

Sheila

A Good Month

I love a busy month, especially when it means getting projects done! I finished a secret sewing project earlier this month and yesterday I finished quilting a friends quilt and the Out Of This World top by Pat Sloan...

I'm thrilled with how it turned out. I used Northcott's Stonehenge in orange and yellow. I'm not sure of the color names because I've had them for awhile. I love how it picked up the colors in the Starlight fabric collection by First Blush Studios for Henry Glass & Co. I bought that bundle a while back waiting for the perfect project for my sweet boy. He's always been fascinated with space and even talked of being the first to go to Mars....eeek! Honey lets watch the Alien movies!!!

I added the constellation fabric from Hoffman called Out Of This World and half way through I found this wonderful blue fabric from QT fabrics called Intergalactic Space Time designed by Dan Morris. I think it was the perfect addition to this quilt! And last but not least, my go to for background fabric is Silver from Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman. And since this was my OMG for this month, I'm very happy to get it finished!!!
 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - October Finish Link-up

I also finished Septembers and Octobers blocks from Aurifils DOM... 

 This is Septembers block by Lissa Alexander called Inside My Window. I love the widow of color! The other one I used a bright yellow for the warm and welcoming glow of home.

This is Octobers block designed by Alyce Blyth called Advent block. I love the simplicity of this block and I used the same light color as I used in the house block. A nice neutral, but still has a design through it. Check out the Designer Of the Month for some fun blocks. You can even look at previous years for more inspiration!

Since this post has gotten wordy I'll post my friends quilt in a couple days...besides, I have a whole bunch of threads to hide!

Keep your machine humming!!! and Chat soon!

Sheila

Winter Fun Quilt A Long Blocks 2 & 3

I had a few delays the last couple weeks, but I think I'm back on track! I've actually been getting off track since my surgeries in August, but I'm feeling pretty good and things are coming together. I did some secret sewing for Jen of Patterns by Jen. Sorry I can't show you it at this time! I'm working on getting caught up on my QALs and that makes me happy! Here is Block #2 and #3 of Pat Sloan's newest QAL Winter Fun.

 Block #2 is Ice Skating.

and this is Block #3 Hot Chocolate.

I'm enjoying this QAL and it's only 9 blocks! I'm using batiks in blues and purples they also have metallic snowflakes which is hard to capture with a camera. There is still time for you to join in! These 3 blocks went together quickly so grab some fabric and sew a long! 

I'll be back in the next couple days to share more blocks!

Until then happy stitching!

Sheila

October's OMG

I can't believe it's already a week into October!!!! Little T is off school for fall break, which means a break for me getting up early! It also means my routine is a mess now! Oh well I can never have too much time for my baby. 

Now for the OMG! 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal October Link-up.

This is Pat Sloan's BOM called Out Of This World. She just posted the last block and I have a couple more still to do! After seeing my Instagram friend @amaurer65's finished flimsy, I'm eager to get mine done!! So my goal for this month is get my Out Of This World flimsy done. 

And if you don't keep up with Pat Sloan, she has a new QAL started!!! It's called Winter Fun and it runs from Oct 2 to Dec 11 and is only 9 blocks. A quick one if you would like to try one of her QALs!She also has her past QALs still available if you don't like to wait!

Here is my block #1 Building Snowmen

I fussy cut my snowman, it just seemed so appropriate! I'm using all batiks and most have snowflakes on them! They also have gold and silver stamped on them, but it's hard to see in the photo that they are metallic. I love how this turned out and can't wait for Wednesday!!! That's when block #2 is released!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

Sheila

September's OMG

Since I had some difficulty last month, you can read about it here. I'll be working on my Main Street QAL again this month. My goal is to get my top finished.

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal September Link-up.

  I wasn't able to get this linked up in time...It's been a crazy week! But for my own motivation I'm posting it anyway!!!

Have a wonderful September!

 Sheila

 

August, Not My Favorite Month!

To start off, I had 2 surgeries this month. The second was due to the results that came back from the first surgery, pre-cancer. If I did nothing it would turn into cancer, plain and simple. So as far as I was concerned, take it out and lets get on with life! So on the 28th I had a hysterectomy. The reason I'm telling everyone that reads my blog is if it helps someone else catch cancer before it has a chance to take hold then fantastic! So remember to have yourself checked, if something is wrong find out why and mainly take care of yourself! And you are worth more then money it'll cost, everything works out just trust in God!

So due to my month of operations and preparations my OMG project didn't get completed. I did work on it and have the cornerstones figured out, but I was unable to complete as much as I would have liked. I made a great start and feel confident I'll get it finished! Which is a good thing because the last block of Pat Sloan's Main Street was released today! i'm sorry to say no pictures either, but I'll be back in a day or two with some blocks I did get finished!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - August Finish Link-up

Take care of yourselves! This world is a better place because you are in it!

 Sheila

OMG For August

Wow it's August already! For this months OMG I want to get my sashing and cornerstones done on Pat Sloan's Main Street QAL. Right now I'm auditioning fabrics for the cornerstones. I doubt I'll get the border done too, but I'm hoping to at least get it going!

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal  August Link-up.

We're on block 9 in this QAL, but it wouldn't be hard to catch up! Stop by Pat's blog and download the blocks. She leaves them up for free always! 

See ya later this month, with hopefully a finished sashing and cornerstones!!!

Sheila 

Main Street's Block 8

Here's the latest block...at least as of 8/6/2019! Tomorrow is Wednesday which means Pat Sloan puts out the latest block for her QAL Main Street. But today I'm sharing Block 8 Beauty Shop/Barber Shop.

The more blocks we make the better I love this fabric bundle. It's called Evening Romance and I picked it up at Connecting Threads in the Clearance department. They no longer have the fat quarter bundle they only have yardage and a few kits available. They have some wonderful collections...check out Sea From Space! I don't know if I will be able to wait for it to go to clearance! I may have buy it much sooner!!!

Another online store I like to shop is Bear Creek Quilt Company. They have a monthly special called Aurifil Thread Gem Pack. It consists of 3 spools of that month's gem color which includes a light, medium, and dark spool. And the price is very reasonable! Even the past months are at a great discount. If you are a lover of Aurifil like me you will definitely love these gems!!! Check out my years worth!!! This months gems are in the bag.

Aren't they wonderful! I love color and I can look at them all day! I'm not sure if I'll keep them in their gem collections or put them in number or color order. I also have a bigger case I found to use with my Aurifil and I may use that instead of the little cases...decisions, decisions! How do you organize your thread? What works for you and what doesn't? Help me figure this one out!!!

Please note that I have no affiliation with the links I offer. I'm just giving you links to my favorite things and places. Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you'll come back again!

Sheila

Find And Fix Friday!

I thought it would be fun to share my machines with you. I'll show you my babies, what I'm working on with them, tell you how I came across them and what I decided to name them. I'm fairly new to collecting them and what I've learn to fix them I found online. So if you've been on the fence about getting an oldie but a goodie that needs some work I hope I'll be able to take away your fear.

So this month lets look at my first vintage machine, the one that started it all...

Meet Sigmund.

He is a Singer Model 185J circa 1954. He uses a class 66 bobbin and a standard 15 x 1 needle. I found him on Marketplace. It was about an hour away so hubby and I took a Sunday drive on January 21, 2018 to pick him up. The lady selling it wasn't sure if it worked. She was only using it as decoration because of his sea green color...hence his name Sigmund the Sea Sew Monster. Do you remember that show? It was a kids show that ran from 1973 to 1975 and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. 

We got him home and he needed a bit of a clean up. You should have seen the lint! I oiled him up and tentatively I plugged him in and tried him out and happily he ran! I use him daily now and had to fix his timing only once.

 He didn't have a case or a bottom and I didn't want to put him in a cabinet, so I made him a box to sit in. I matched up the paint the best I could, using Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Gloss Sage Green #249094. It's a tad darker, but it's pretty darn close. I may use it to paint the foot petal as you can see it's in need of a paint job. Sigmund though is looking good with only a few spots where the paint has come off and thankfully no rust. To keep him rust free I use a car polish all over his body a couple times a year.

The funny thing is I purchased him to take to sew days with my quilt guild, he was already heavy but with the  box he's a monster! I did recently purchase a Tutto large sewing cart to help get him where we need to go. 

The price I paid for this sweet machine...$27.! I've heard of people paying $25 and get the case that went with them!!! I thought I got a good price! 

Are you wondering what is under my needle? I'm tackling the curve!!! I've started an apple core quilt, more on that later.

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to hear if you have this model or the 185K and how you like it.

Until next time, give your machine some love and clean out the lint! I know I need to do mine! I'm thinking he may want a drink of some oil too.

Sheila