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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Jan 29th Quilt Cam!

This is April’s Kitty!

Here’s her story:

Hey Bonnie,

On New Year's Day I was sewing and I heard alot of meowing outside.

It was -10 below or more so I went to check and it was this very small black kitty, cold to death and so skinny she was close to death from no food.

So I picked her up and brought her inside and we’ve been trying to save her since. She is so pretty and doing better .

We named her Moony and I thought she was 4 months old cuz of how thin she was but she was 12 months old. So she likes to come by me sometimes and on top of my sewing cabinets.  Here I have her in the pic watching quilt cam!
What a rescue, April! And I don’t know who is luckier – You or Moony!  I love seeing kitties getting into the act!
I just had a very close call – and not a fun one….

I was quilting away on the quilting machine, and all of a sudden something went wrong and the cables were flagging and the machine was stitching over previous stitching and making a mess!  WAAAAAHHH!

And Quilt-Cam is about to happen.  What to do, what to do?

Leave the problem for later, I guess. There will be some picking out to do, and I hate to pick out pantographs!

mothinthewindow 001

I’m all set up to do some strip piecing on the Eatonia.

I’m not sure how long that will last – I’ve had a bit of a trouble with the belt staying put.  Remember, her mountings were for a friction motor, and that motor is shot so I popped this Singer Spartan motor on.  The groove in the balance wheel doesn’t quite line up with the motor pulley ---close, but not quite so the belt is at a slight angle.  If I get to sewing too fast, as I often do……..Wwwiiiiiiizzzz! Off goes the belt.

I figure if it gives me too much trouble, I’ve got a “stand by” machine waiting in the wings.

I am hoping that this bobbin runs out so I can test out the bobbin winder :c)

Want to come join me?  Bring a project!  I’m turning on the cam in the studio for a while!

You can leave a comment in the comment section below, or leave one in the guest book by clicking the blue guest book button in the left hand side bar, While I can't answer them all ---I do pick randomly and try to answer questions and comments as I sew!

52 comments:

  1. Hey Bonnie, Following along on the treadle tonight! Finally got it up and working :) Only took 3 hours and some major muscle from hubby to break the stitch length thingy free!

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  2. maybe the noise is from the open underside??? And your tip on scoring and cutting a CC worked great. Thanks!
    XOXOXOSubee

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  3. You amaze me with your ability to work on your machines! It scares me to do much because I'm afraid I'll get it out of whack!

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  4. Hi Bonnie, it's Mary in rainy Ontario. Tonight I am putting together an I Spy from Ami Simms book and doing a OTF border as a leader/ender. Love your new machine, but then I loved getting the Eatons catalogue especially the Christmas Wish Book.

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  5. Think I will just sit and rest! Finished several tops in the last 2 days and now have to start on the next "throw down"-Tumbleweeds is up next! Getting the webbing thing down-practiced on Easy street and have finally figured out how to do it!

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  6. Off The Floor, it is like doing crumbs

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  7. Hi Bonnie - Karen in Iowa here. I am sewing the borders on Easy Street tonight. Hoping to get it finished this week! Had an ice storm on Sunday - now snow is on the way tonight.

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  8. Hi Bonnie, assembling scrappy trips today, gorgeous art nouveau era machine!! From Stephanie in Canberra Australia.

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  9. You mentioned not knowing what you would do with these four patches. Someone was asking about quilt seeds the other day. Perhaps you could use this to explain that concept for those that are not clear.

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  10. Hand appliqué ing 1930s Dresden plates tonight. Love the new machine. Very cute. How often do you oil machines gettiing daily use (like my featherweight)? Thanks for keeping me company while the hubby travels for work.

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  11. Great to the have Quilt Cam tonight. My March/ April QM magazine just came with instructions for part 1 of your Lazy Sunday Mystery. You chose mighty bright colors!! Counting the days until the Block Party, printed all the fabric requirements today.

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  12. I went to a bike swap meet in Sunday and they had an antique bike with a playing card clipped to the spokes. Takes you back!
    Lisa in rainy Missouri

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  13. Hi Bonnie, I am from Peterborough Ontario Canada. I remember shopping at Eatons, I did not know they had a machine named for them. I really enjoy watching you live.

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  14. Hi Bonnie--here from NY I enjoy watching your quilt cam!! Its like visiting you in your sewing room!

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  15. no...I meant from the table to the bottom of the machine not in the drawer...XOXOSubee

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  16. You mentioned "spartan" machine as a donor of parts-any history on the Spartan brand? I have one coming in the end of the week-won 2 machines on E-bay yesterday-WAHHHH! Only wanted one but no one else was bidding! Have asked for the machines to be removed from the bases before shipping-2 boxes means no damage even if costs a bit more!

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  17. Hi Bonnie! Working on Easy Street putting the rows together, should be ready to put the borders on tomorrow. Ho

    pe to get my QM in the mail tomorrow!

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  18. Just joining you. Sorry to hear you have to frog the quilt on the frame. Do you have a computer on your longarn?

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  19. How about doing a kinky sometime asking people how they use your scrap savers system and talk about how they make it work for them?

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  20. hi bonnie
    vicky here from alberta Canada
    I was wondering if you could give some info about your longarm? I'm in the process of researshing them and would love your take on them.
    thanks
    Vicky

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  21. Hey Bonnie, Sherrill from Keller/FW, TX (remember when you came to Bear Creek guild and Lissa was here?). In your post about the hotel room key, you say it helps not to have the wide feed dogs to get in your way. Any ideas for a seam guide if you DO have wide feed dogs?

    Thanks so much for Easy Street..mine is done (cept for the borders) and I LOVE it! My first Bonnie mystery! YAY

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  22. Hi Bonnie-

    I am excited tomorrow I am picking up a Singer model 600E with the original carrying case, vintage electric scissors in original box, and table all for $40. I am lucky that my husband doesn't care at any sewing things I purchase, especially since this will now be my 4th sewing machine plus my FREE treadle machine I got on craigslist that was even fixed for FREE, and my New Embroidery Machine.

    Thank you for all of your great tips and motivation. Love watching you, still working on Easy Street and loving it.


    Happy Quilting,
    Michelle from Triangle, Virginia

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  23. cna you describe what perfect tension looks like? Should you be able to see the bottom thread between the stitiches on the top of the fabric? Thanks for doing quilt cam, it is wonderful.

    Maribel

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  24. Watching but not sewing along... I was amused to see you dictate your text messages...I do that, too, as I am not great on those tiny keyboards. However, I've decided I need the 'country' version of Siri, 'cuz the dictation is rarely typed as spoken!she didn't know Ricar...re-car?...but she can certainly turn the words 'two top' into TUBE TOP!

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  25. I can see those 4-patches as a center to the fabric you are yet to decide on between the Flying Geese you just made the strips of...just thinking out loud.
    The machine is not that loud...and maybe a hand powered lawn mower...grandpa had on...nice homey sound
    XOXOXOSubee

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  26. I am hand quilting while watching you sew on your awesome vintage machine. I just had a 99 hand crank singer restored. I can't wait to pick it up.
    Patti in Missouri

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  27. Bonnie, you are right on the money. Riccar is a Japanese brand and still makes them, I think, but industrial ones only. I had a home use model in the 1970s and although it was a basic model, it was very sturdy and reliable. I kept it as a backup machine and finally donated it a couple of years back to a guild member who teaches sewing and quilting in poor areas. Some lucky lady got a nice basic machine.

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  28. Toni(a) sounds moderately loud, but not hollow. Not bad! You reminded me of my first four patches. Navy with stars and a pink on pink stripe.....they looked a little like flags when done. I loved them!

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  29. My sewing machine mechanic suggested just a tiny drop every time you change a bobbin. its a sure reminder....

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  30. Hi Bonnie, I agree that your new machine sounds like a lawnmower...an old-fashioned reel type push mower! That sound brings back memories from my childhood. Enjoying QuiltCam tonight while waiting for the predicted storms.

    Myrna in KY

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  31. Hi Bonnie! QuiltCam is the only time I turn my computer speakers on! Thank you for all you do.
    Kathy in Jamestown NY, home of Lucille Ball

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  32. Hi Bonnie! QuiltCam is the only time I turn my computer speakers on! Thank you for all you do.
    Kathy in Jamestown NY, home of Lucille Ball

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  33. Would you please mention again what music channel you listen to?
    I cleaned my sewing room today so I will be ready to sew in the morning.
    Oh my did I find UFO's!!!!
    Thanks for all you do

    Chris Jensen
    Austin Mn ( where Spam is made) ;)

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  34. Wow a 301 for 40.00!!! I really want one of those. Bonnie love the new one. You said the date was up to 1935, that was the year my Mom was born. Her name was Shirley. Nancy

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    1. Machine sounds like a motorcycle too

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  35. Hi Bonnie, I adore my new 221 (Emma is her name)... MUCH easier to get a 1/4 inch seam when I don't have six feed dogs! She may be dwarfed by my Juki TL98Q and Brother QC1000 but she rocks!
    ~Christina in Cleveland

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  36. Bonnie ...how does a crank handle sewing machine operate. I have no idea....Pam from Lowell Indiana

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  37. Hi Bonnie, just wanted to ask if you made the tiny green doily that is on Toni?

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  38. Just thought I would give a big Thanks to any of the guilds in Florida that may be watching. The Sunshine State Quilt Guild members made up of many guilds, have been sending quilts to me, to be given to "Sandy" victims in the area of my New Jersey town. Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Manahawkin, Waretown, Bayville and Long Beach Island people have received the 200 quilt that have been sent. Big Thanks from Pieceful Shores Quilt Guild.

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  39. Hi Bonnie, Sandra in Miss here. So much fun to follow you on Quilt Cam. Am working on block #8 of your Random Ohio Stars quilt, our quilt bee chose this for this year. My first time to try this and it is fun. Must finish big stars by March. Mine is very scrappy. Thanks for your motivating us so much. Love your new machine too.

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  40. It doesn't matter if the camera goes crazy for you, we got a chance to see your pretty quilts.

    Chris Jensen
    Austin, Mn ( Spamtown, USA). ;)

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  41. I am so excited to see how to wind those shuttle bobbins... my brother gave me a (teens? 20?) Vickers hand crank for Christmas

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  42. that is really a great view too!!!!

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  43. Anonymous10:19 PM EST

    Hi Bonnie, I am enjoying my first quilt cam tonight!! What fun. Love seeing the old machine work!
    I am thinking of purchasing a small machine to take with me to quilt classes and such. What do you think of the Janome 3128?
    Keep up the good work :)
    Sabrina in Houston

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  44. WOW Bonnie!
    Just watched you do the shuttle and long bobbin winding. I am amazed! Was looking at a treadle to purchase a couple days ago, and one of the things I was worried about was the shuttle and long bobbin mechanism, how it works, how to wind, how to thread etc. You sure made it look alot eeasier than what wikipedia said! The machine I am looking at is a singer pheasant, treadle with cabinet. I am still hoping for a red eye as my first choice but we shall see what happens!
    Robin in Bellingham

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  45. Love the bobbin winding lesson. I've got a new to me 127/128 that will need those kinds of bobbins, which I don't even have yet. It really wound evenly. Will be fun to see if my machine will sew as well as "Toni".

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  46. You don't need a boom, you need one of those vintage pantograph lamps, ditch the lamp bit for a piece of plywood and mount the camera on it. It will work like a charm :)

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  47. I buy my needles by the 100 in NEEDLECOOP on a Yahoo group...they have many size and types of needles
    Great you got a good list of needles and machines!!

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  48. Thanks so much Bonnie! Quilt cam was fun tonight. I was making dinner tonight, but I'll be sewing on Easy Street tonight. I want to get this one done and quilted!

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  49. Hi Bonnie, I can never get the where I can post a message while you are live on Quiltcam. Really enjoyed it tonight - working on a binding while watching. Glad you discussed about the 1/4" seam markers - I tried to put them on all our machines out in the Quilt Cabin today - with partial success. Worked great on some, and not on others, found out why, wide feed dogs - these are not all straight stitch machines,just old ones, and some have zigzag so will have to try something else for those. Had ten ladies sewing scrappy trips - to show them the pattern - now they can make them at home later.
    Also rainy and stormy here today, seems like it was everywhere today, but cleared up in time to have computer on for Quiltcam! Carol

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  50. Hi, Bonnie, Having trouble catching you on quiltcam since I am in Alabama on CST. Finally figured out that if I just go to home page and click on quilt cam at 8 PM you are usually on.
    I am doing string quilt 5.5" blocks. Leaders and headers do not seem to work with this process very well. Also how do you handle moving from one strip to another without breaking thread even in chain stitching find this difficult.

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