Back to Public Service comfort quilts!

 

THE TOOTSIE TOOL

 Years ago when I was buying fabric directly from manufacturers, Rick and I found a fun offer from Moda Fabrics: The Tootsie Tool. We downloaded the PDF and bought a few bags of Tootsie Roll Pops. We printed the downloaded page, punched two holes where indicated, slipped a Tootsie Pop Stick into the holes and handed them out to our customers ... they were a hit and brought many chuckles. I had a sudden memory of this when wondering what I might do next here in the blog, and was eventually able to remember the simple name and found it on the internet (after several mis-hits erroneously searching Tootsie Roll Wrapper ... but there are craft ideas for those as well!)

Enjoy the nostalgia of this memory, and the "Tasty Tool for Quilters." Here's the PDF link in print large enough to be useful AND fun. If you come up with another way to use the tool, I invite you to share it here in the comments 😊

ROTC Granddaughters

 A friend of ours has two granddaughters who are members of ROTC, and asked me to make quits for them. It was my pleasure. What made the quilts even more special is the letter he wrote to each of them to serve as the quilt labels. That he wrote his messages in cursive makes the quilt even more 'vintage' to our generation's time. 

One granddaughter plays golf and jumps out of planes as a member of the air corps.So the back of her quilt features Snoopy the Flying Ace,  The other wrestles as a member of the Army ROTC and her quilt back shows a butterfly's wide wing span!

It was an honor to make quilts for these young women!

 

Step 5: the Front is finished.

Too big to lay it out on the floor. Size is 60" square;  Now to make the back!

Step 4: ADDING THE OUTER BORDERS

I made the borders the same way I started this quilt,  using leftover 2 1/2" strips on the batting in Stitch 'n Flip style. This gave me a 10 1/2" border, but left the corners open ... so I made 10 1/2" pinwheels to complete the top. 

 

Step 3: What a lot of waste!

 I ought to have done the flip 'n stitch on 10" squares instead of doing it and later cutting the squares!

Anyway, the blocks themselves look good. Maybe I'll make a crazy quilt with the remnant pieces.

Stay tuned for step 4, with horizontal sashing and outer borders...

A different "Flip 'n Stitch"

I'm trying something different here ... doing a full lap quilt size batting covered with flip 'n stitch stripes, then cut into blocks on the bias.  Here is step one and two, with many fabric pieces left over that will be used for smaller projects.  I'll keep you posted on the way.

Back to the Books

 

Tomorrow, Saturday October 14, the Georgetown Peabody Library will be hosting four local authors who will share reading from their books. I'll be among them, sharing the prologue and a brief preview of my newest work in progress, THIRTY DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER, a school mystery. I'll also share a reading from my earlier collection of essays in TEACHING Vol 1 or 2. And slowly but surely I'm still working on book three of the Quilter's  Quarters series. To review my titles, visit this page of the blog.

Light refreshments will be served. The event is scheduled from 10 am 'til noon. See you there?

For those who remember Rick

    Today is Rick's 73rd birthday, though he will always be 66 in earth years. I will always miss him ... his smile, his gentle personality, his kindness, and generosity and sense of community service. There are so many songs that play and remind me of Rick, and with the strength he gave and continues to give me, I remember him as a blessing to all who were fortunate to know him. 

    Happy Heavenly Birthday, Rick. This song is one I found only today, and I consider it a gift from you to all of us. We will strand straight and strong as that is your legacy.

                                      ALWAYS THERE

Finally back at the blog!

 I've had computer issues, replacement issues, password issues and access issues. But here I am, able to finally post a new message to all of you. Thank you for your patience.

Terry's Thoughts and Threads continues to supply charity projects with free fabrics and notions. This past quarter (April through June )saw nearly $2,000.00 of goods go into the hands of quilters providing goods to families in need, church benefits and other charities.  The state of Massachusetts received almost $120 in 'use tax' (instead of sales tax) as that inventory was originally purchased for retail, tax-exempt. The same rate of taxation, (6.25%) was calculated and paid to the state as the inventory went out the door.

Many customers receiving the free materials chose to leave donations toward the Rick Palardy Scholarships for the 2023 graduating seniors, and those donations this    quarter resulted in seniors from Georgetown High, Whittier Vo Tech High and North Shore Essex Tech high each receiving $500.00 to help students like Rick who are pursuing a trade occupation that will benefit our communities. The shop generated over five hundred donated dollars of the fifteen hundred in scholarships awarded in Rick's memory. Thank you, all, for your generosity.  

There is still plenty of fabric in the shop waiting to be given to those working on charity projects. Rick's birthday is this month, and I ask that you continue to honor him by coming in to pick up materials you can use in your projects. I'm beginning the collections toward the scholarship funds for the classes of 2024.

I look forward to seeing you again!

Re-opening with early evening hours

 

Quilters' Quarter is no longer a retail fabric shop. The space is reverting to Terry's Thoughts and Threads, where I continue writing books, repairing old sewing machines, offering quilt lessons to those who want to learn,  and gifting fabric to those who are making items for charity. (And yes, I do consider making and giving things to family and friends your choice of charity.)

I will continue to assess the cost price of whatever you choose to take, so that I am able to accurately pay the state's 6.5% Sales Tax (entered on the quarterly tax return's line 8 under "Use Tax") as all the fabric in the shop was bought originally tax exempt. The state has okayed this. 

You can follow my charities and other projects by visiting my  Quilt Journal pages. (See table of contents on the right margin.) And if you wish to 'pay' for your fabric, I will deposit your donation to the Rick Palardy Scholarship Fund at TD Bank, to benefit students like Rick who are entering manual trades after graduation. 

I look forward to seeing you and helping you contribute the fruits of your talent and time to various charities.  Welcome back!

Having a little fun making kind little things...

Tomorrow's project at the senior center ... 

I saw this on Facebook, and while Valentine's Day went past a while ago, it seems a good 'small project' to fill hours of lingering winter days.  You can read more about it at their page; 

https://www.ifoundaquiltedheart.com/

These materials, plus scraps of fabric and batting, are all we need.

Pretty Kitty is proof reading the label.

She approves~

 

 Last Featherweight 221 for sale this year

Serial # AJ638344 Batched June 1 1950

Sale Price $450.00!

Decals and black japan finish in very good condition

Original featherweight feet and tools, 

including new LED bulb (installed)

Original motor and belt

Original 221 Manual and 3 bobbins
plus needles, Threader and Thread Snip 'n Grip

Original Simanco Bobbin Case

Original Striated Face Plate

Original Tensioner and 221 Needle Throat Plate

Wiring is good, foot pedal has been replaced.
Original case with bobbin and tool side case. 
Case handle, latches and hinges are good,
 but case top has some cosmetic damage
due to earlier packing errors.