Meet Mona’s new friend, Paula!
Paula walked into The Flag Store in search of Mona after reading about Mona’s surprise visit on the blog several days back. It turns out that Paula and Mona
lived literally a few houses apart from each other for many many years and
never met each other! Add quilting to the mix, and a chance reading on this
blog on where to find Mona and all kinds of things can happen!
I’m so happy that she is finding quilty friends in the area.
So....this is kind of a sneaky gift-post.
Mona has no idea that I am writing this, but as soon as I hit send, I’m
sending her a link so she can read it herself.
She has become such a dear dear friend that I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas, while she is away.
She has become such a dear dear friend that I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas, while she is away.
A few months back Mona brought home not only a second featherweight, but a
treadle machine.
I was just ecstatic for her, but there never was a time when I was at the cabin at the same time that she was here so that we could get it up and running together.
I did look it over, I told her where to order some parts -- it needed a belt and a slide cover for over the bobbin area. These things were acquired, and sat waiting.
I had planned on doing this with Mona when she gets back from Ohio in mid-January, but my travel year starts TUESDAY. I'll be hitting 2016 like nobody's business.
A plan was hatched! The Hubster and I went over there yesterday afternoon...
Oh dear, someone has motorized her!
First things first - get this off of here!
Now this was a strange case to me...because usually you can do this with ONE screw that attaches an L-shaped bracket to the motor boss on the side of the machine below the hand wheel.
Instead, someone had drilled two holes into the back of the machine to attach it to the back side of the pillar. Oh, poor machine, I'm so sorry!
The motor was quickly off of there and laid aside and the cleaning began.
Ooooh. How long has this gunk been here?
Some crud in here too!
Clean it out and oil her good!
Check out the serial number!
I made a note of the number and looked it up HERE when I got home.
*Side note -- Singer has pulled their dating charts from their website, ((WHY would they do that?!)) so I am grateful to ISMACS for posting the information to their website! I have updated the link in the Vintage Sewing Machines tab at the top of the blog to direct you there when dating Singer machines.
Mona's machine was born on May 19th, 1925 and was one of 5,000 made that day.
Getting the belt on!
It took a little doing to get the belt to the right length where it was not too loose, not too tight, and getting that staple just right. Glad I had some help for the job!
A new needle, some thread, a scrap of fabric and....
Merry Christmas, Mona!
I can't wait until we are able to sit down together and get you treadling on her!
There are some other goodies for you to discover when you get home, too.
Love you, GF!
What a great friend you are, Bonnie! She will be so surprised when she gets back home. Thanks again for all you do for us quilters!
ReplyDeleteYou truly is an inspiration. Your generosity is amazing. Friends and family are you'r priority even with the ever busy schedule you have.
ReplyDeleteEveryone needs a good friend like you! Mona will be SO HAPPY!
ReplyDeletesao in Midlothian, VA
What a wonderful gift for a wonderful friend have a happy New year.
ReplyDeleteThat was so sweet of you and hubby to do that! I am glad you put the tab on your site to date the Singers, need to look up one and tried a few weeks ago and couldn't find anything on it! Didn't you mention you told her where to order supplies for the machine, can you reveal it? Becky
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post. You really are a best friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a friend you are. You knew the right gift. Don't need money to be a giver...and a good friend!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet thing to do. You are the best!!
ReplyDeleteOh Bonnie!!!
ReplyDeleteThere aren't words to express what a wonderful gift!! You two are absolutely the dearest, sweetest, friends a gal could ask for. The tear faucet turned on as I read this post. I'm blessed beyond words with your friendship. It has been one of the most treasured gifts I've ever received! I must admit, the quilting part of our relationship has been a wonderful bonus! I'm so glad I decided to "drink the juice ". I'm looking forward to getting home & learning to treadle (when we actually will be on the mountain at the same time) Love you too GF!!
Merry Christmas Mona. What a great friend you have in Bonnie!! Enjoy your treasure both friend and machine.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, such a nice gift to give Mona. She will be so happy. Happy New Year to you
ReplyDeletePaula in KY
What a great surprise for Mona! And you...always giving ...super lady!
ReplyDeleteWow! So sweet!!
ReplyDeleteLove from the Netherlands!
Wow! So sweet!!
ReplyDeleteLove from the Netherlands!
Such a wonderful surprise, Bonnie! You are an excellent friend and the hubs is right there with you :)
ReplyDeletewelcome to people power mona! safe travels bonnie...i do not envy you at all...
ReplyDeleteThat act of love and kindness brought tears to my eyes. My friends admiRe me for loving to sew, but do not sew themselves. It would be wonderful to have a Bonnie to do things with, share ideas with. Lucky Mona.
ReplyDeleteThat act of love and kindness brought tears to my eyes. My friends admiRe me for loving to sew, but do not sew themselves. It would be wonderful to have a Bonnie to do things with, share ideas with. Lucky Mona.
ReplyDeleteGifts from the heart are THE TREASURED GIFTS in this life. So generous to give the gift of time to Mona.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gift. Now she will want to hurry home to play with it. I didn't know Singer took that off their site. Wonder what possessed them to do that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet blessing! You are a giver from the heart!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Mona!
What a wonderful gift to give Mona! I have an old treadle(the machine was missing a belt etc so has sat in a box for years) and just went to the site and found out it was made in 1903. It is so dirty and needs a good cleaning plus parts. Can you direct me where to get a belt and other items needed? Then I can display it with the stand, thankfully mine was never touched. I'd love to have it out in my sewing room and maybe try sewing on it, something I haven't done since I was a child.
ReplyDeleteNoreen
Lucky Mona!! Such a thoughtful gift to give her.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an awesome gift to your friend Mona, I have an old treadle that was in my Mom and Dad's upstairs attic for years, I brought it home, but have no idea how to get her up and running. She needs a new belt for sure and likely a few other things. I hope to be able to get it working on day.
ReplyDeleteMy old treadle is about in the same rough shape as NanaNor's. So I'd love to know where I can get a belt and other supplies for her.
GwenH
Bonnie, what an encouragement that will be for Mona when she returns home. Your are the sweetest to help a friend out. It seems like when we are the busiest we find more time to be a blessing to others.
ReplyDeleteI ordered the DVD "Still Stitching" that you recommended about vintage machines and it is wonderful. I have listened to most of it and the information is very good. The history is interesting. When things return back to normal I am looking forward to finishing it.
Now back to Part 5. Have safe travels this week.
its so nice for you both. Giving/helping is such a good feeling thing to do and receiving the gift is lovely too. You 4 are very lucky to have homes near by each other and to have found each other
ReplyDeleteYou are one special friend. On a side note how do you get these nabies home unless you have a ute.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Christmas present for Mona. So kind and thoughtful of you and your hubby to get it up and running for her.
ReplyDeleteBonnie I hope your safe I just read about the weather in Texas.
ReplyDeletehttp://interactives.dallasnews.com/2015/tornado-before-after/
amazing pictures
What an inspiration you are to us! Another grand old lady given the TLC so needed and deserved. Mona is going to be very eager to get home.
ReplyDeleteAs to where to find parts and supplies to those asking, click on Bonnie's tab for vintage machines and you will find some very helpful info. I was in need of parts and found exactly what was needed from one of the sources she has posted. Good luck.
Happy 1st Anniversary quilting Mona!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing better than quilting with a friend!
Happy Holidays Bonnie. Can't wait to start the mystery. Christmas gifts have been given. Sewing room is being cleaned and organized, fabric selected.
Happy New Year!
Aileen in FL
What a perfectly wonderful gift that is for Mona!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift. The greatest gift is that you two have been able to meet and share the gift of fabulous friendship. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you both!
What a gift for your friend. Quilting has become a huge business and did not know there was a collector's society for old machines. Sadly I think of the machines that have run through my fingers over the years. I left a turquoise colored kenmore in its own table at the Goodwill. It was filthy and $75, too much for me. And at the time, I was new to quilting and I knew my husband would flip out. Turquoise being my favorite color, I would have cherished it. Oh, well. Thank you for all you do.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, sweet surprise for your friend, Mona. She is one very blessed person.
ReplyDeleteCleared the Gunk; removed the crud, check. Love your use of highly technical terms. Also your generous gift of friendship. Mona is blessed to have you and the hubster so willing to be so giving.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you sharing your skill and knowledge with all the rest of us, too. Now if I only had a featherweight... must begin to 'haunt' some thrift stores and such... can't find something if you're not "looking"... smiles
Hope if you're ever down Carlsbad, CA way y'all come and set a spell.. <3 cwhitcher@roadrunner.com aka Cats
What a wonderful gift -- your time and your expertise. Glad to have the link. I bought a featherweight a year ago, and I will check out the date of her when I return home in a few days. My machine had been used so much that the decals are all worn off, but the stitching looked good, and the motor sounded good, so I bought her. I have named her Lela because that was my grandmother's name, and she looks like grandma's machine. It will be interesting to see when my machine was actually born. I had her serviced after I bought her, and she is good to go. Looking forward to using her when we get back home.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, what a sweet friend you are! Now that was a GREAT Christmas present!! Mona will be so happy. Everyone reading your blog is happy for Mona. Many thanks for all that you do for us quilters. I am going to do the mystery quilt, but at a very slow pace LOL! I have some grey and neutral prints cut(part 1) and have four triangles cut! Just call me turtle! LOL
ReplyDeleteLucky Mona to have you as a friend. You keep amazing us all. You truly are a very special person full of surprises and spread the love around.wishing you a early 2016 and good health with lots of quilting happy 2016 Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteYoka Bazilewich
You truly are a wonderful friend. I know you are a special generous lady and have a very big heart. I am wishing you don't get the ice storm and flooding we are getting
ReplyDeleteNo power since 7:30 a.m. and temperature at freezing mark. Brrrrr. Enjoy the time you have left with your family.
You truly are a wonderful friend. I know you are a special generous lady and have a very big heart. I am wishing you don't get the ice storm and flooding we are getting
ReplyDeleteNo power since 7:30 a.m. and temperature at freezing mark. Brrrrr. Enjoy the time you have left with your family.
What a Great Christmas Present you have given to Mona. Bonnie, You are a Great friend, indeed! I was wondering how Mona was doing, we haven't heard about her for a while.
ReplyDeleteNow, I have a question- I see this treadle has a top loading, normal looking bobbin. The treadles I am used to have the long bobbin, down on the inside. About what date did they switch to the top loading ones?
Happy New Year Bonnie, and please take time to slow down whenever you can!
You are truly a wonderful person and friend. Mona is so lucky to have you as a good friend. Your talents are many and we all appreciate you so much, even if we don't live next door and can have a cuppa with you personally at the cabin. Hope your Christmas was a good one and that 2016 will be even better than 2015. Loved seeing you again when you were in MO. Maybe one day we will meet on a cruise -- you just never know!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family.
What a wonderful gift. I am so jealous of her treadle machine. I have tried to find one for awhile but have not found one in good condition that I can afford. There do not seem to be very many in my part of the country. I find all kinds cabinets that have been destroyed. Mona was very fortunate to find one that you could fix for her. I bet she can hardly wait to get back to it.
ReplyDelete