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. 

Featherweights for Sale!

 As August begins, it is time for me to release some of the Featherweights I'd impulsively purchased a few months ago... a few were priced lower as they needed some T.L.C., which I was happy to learn about and provide. And a few were priced higher as they were sold by restorers like myself who enjoy bringing these vintage beauties back to life. There are wonderful vintage sewing machine pages on Facebook (I'll add the links to the bottom of this post) and at YouTube (Rick and I learned so much about treadles and handcrank restorations watching you tube videos.)

When I puchased my first Featherweights, a 1946 and 1950, they were recognized and valued for their 'portability.'  Made primarily of aluminum, they weigh only 12 pounds or so as compared to the   vintage sewing machines made of iron that easily weigh 30 to 40 pounds "naked" (meaning out of their wooden cabinets and cases.) Those Featherweights purchased in 2015 were both bought for about $300.00 each. I was contacted by eBay the next day with an ad for a celery-white 1964 Featherweight which was sold without its case, and I purchased that also, for about the same price.  Soon after, I gave the 1946 to a friend who had given me a treadle, and gave the 1950 to another friend who made quilts for charity. I kept the white one, for a few years. 

In today's world, the 1950 "Centennial" machine would probably list between $500-$600 ... and the 1946, because of its early 'scroll patterned' face plate, would sell similarly. You see, these mechanical sewing machines gain in value with their years, and will live on forever, and can be easily maintained by their owners. A drop of oil her and there, and some motor lube once a year is all the maintenance they need.

You can read more about my acquisition of vintage machines at this link: https://atquiltersquarters.blogspot.com/p/vintage-and-antique-sewing-machines.html

 I gave two more of my earlier purchases away this past spring to relatives: a very early1935 (First years of Featherweights, dated 1933 and 1934, are currently selling for over $1,000.) And my  first purchased 1964 celery/white that I finally got an original mint green and white case for. I gave another celery/white 1964 to a good friend who fell in love with her rare yellow and white case from Scotland. (All of the 1964 white Featherweights, I'm told, come from Kilbowie, Scotland, although this one for sale, dated 1968-1969, comes from Clydesbank, Scotland.)

You may want to take a look at eBay to get a sense of what these sweet little machines are selling for... often, the shipping costs add fifty to a hundred more to their listed price.

So here is a list of the Featherweights I have on hand available for money-saving LOCAL purchase now:

1947 Black Featherweight  price $500 

SOLD!!

• Serial Number AH223104
• Striated Face Plate
• One vintage box attachments (presser feet)
• Vintage manual
• Vintage buttonholer with manual and 4 templates
• Case in good condition; Side attachment holder in place.
• Three new bobbins; three vintage bobbins

But there are still two more left to buy: 

1952 Black Featherweight  price REDUCED TO $400 PLUS SHIPPING $50 in USA (BY UPS.)

SOLD!!

• 1952 Featherweight model 221 Serial # AL164899.
  Sews very well, and decals look pristine (see photos)
  Newer Singer (221 model) User Manual (blue cover dated 1955)
  Odor-free original carry case with one key, dent in top caused by unremoved spool pin during prior shipping (see photo). Both latches work, hinges and handle are secure.
  Five Original Simanco feet (see photo, including standard Singer foot on machine) plus one or two included that I can't identify...
  Five new 221 bobbins, plus one original bobbin in machine with original Simanco bobbin case (see photo)
  Small bobbin-case screwdriver
  New Electronic (for Singer three prong) foot control, power cord (see photo)
  Singer Buttonholer number 160506 with all original parts, manual and green snap case (see photo)
  • I bought more machines than I needed for friends and family gifts. This 1952 is in the best shape and condition of all. I am offering it for what I paid this past spring.
  $400.00 plus $50 shipping and packing here in the states (UPS)

1968-1969 Celery/White Featherweight $750 (plus shipping)

SOLD!!

• Serial Number FA103798
• New BobbinWinder (original plastic wheel was cracked )
• New 'Red S' Label (original was missing)
• New Clamshell Singer Foot Pedal
• Vintage White buttonnholer with manual and 4 templates

While these are not the best pictures, you are invited to call to make arrangements to come look them over and try them out. 978-352-2676. If I don't answer, please leave your name and number with a message and I will get back to you. I have been receiving a lot of scam calls and usually let voice mail answer them.

Oops: here are the Featherweight Facebook pages where I learn so much from other Featherweight Fans:

https://www.facebook.com/featherweightshop

https://www.facebook.com/groups/845924948802691

Summer is here!

 I can't believe it is already the end of June! Spring began with cold  then hot then cold  and more cold, but the heat returned this past weekend. My son installed with windows' AC units but I haven't needed to turn them on yet. Happy to have them in place when they are needed, though.

This morning I met a new group of friends, having joined a peer group of people with ms ... And I will meet a new neurologist in a few weeks. I've denied the diagnosis of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis for the past eleven years since retirement. When the medication I was taking for the first four years of the belated diagnosis ended with my early retirement with multiple sites of multiple skin cancers, I was so discouraged that I stopped the nightly injections and ignored the diagnosis. Friends have suggested that, given the changes I've made in my life this past year it may be time to ask for an update on my MRIs. So I'm jumping back into the circus ring, at least for a while.

Meanwhile, the fabric inventory in Quilters' Quarters is dwindling slowly, going out without cost to those doing charity quilts. I'm putting all the money that people wish to pay in return for the fabric into the Rick Palardy Scholarship Fund and optimistically believing we will again have enough for at least three $500 scholarships next year.

I've acquired seven Featherweight machines and am in the process of using and repairing, if needed, each of them with the intention of giving or selling five or six away, keeping only one or two here. The FEATHERWEIGHT FEVER WORKSHOPS I offered last month had only two takers, so I have discontinued that offer. If anyone wants to learn to maintain their sewing machine feel free to call me to schedule an appointment. And if anyone is looking for a local purchase of a Featherweight with all the trimmings, give me a call!