Vintage Sewing Machines and Spool Pin Doilies

1904 Singer Model 27, which I bought
 twenty years ago in a local antique shop.
This is my oldest machine. 

I've begun acquiring treadle machines ... they are fun to use (especially with children) and are a practical investment, as they are nearly indestructible and will continue to gain in popularity as they age decade by decade.  Two of my machines, now more than 100 years old (1904 and 1911,) are considered antiques. Two other treadle sewing machines, called Red Eye Singers, are considered Vintage as they are between fifty and one hundred years old, (they will be 100 soon!)  Another two Vintage machines are dated between 1935 and 1947, both with electric motors, but could potentially be returned to "people-powered" by removing the motors and wires and giving them hand cranks. And there are two more are from the late nineteen sixties/early nineteen seventies, considered Retro-Vintage.

The four oldest are all working treadles and my goal is to get them all in good working order and then have a workshop on care and use for those who might have one in their attic that they are thinking of restoring one day.

Dawn's Spool Pin Doilies

What I've found recently are sweet little crocheted or tatted spool pin doilies.  There is a group of people that connect via Facebook to discuss their love of vintage sewing machines and share their tips for restoration techniques.  The spool pin doilies turned up there. I connected with one of the women sharing her patterns and offering to make them for those who could not, and then connected through a friend with another woman locally who would do the same.

Dawn makes white cotton thread doilies that are about an inch and a quarter in diameter, and are a perfect fit for my small Featherweight 1947 machine.

Margaret's Spool Pin Doilies

Margaret hadn't heard of doilies until my friend told her I was looking for some; she immediately went on line, found a few patterns and made some up for me. Hers are of varied sizes and shapes, and I've used some of them on my oldest treadles.

One of Dawn's on my little Featherweight, 

Some who "collect things" collect for the sake of collecting; I collect machines that I want to keep running and share their productivity and versatility with others who want to keep the time honored traditions of quilt making alive.

To be able to do this while protecting their treasured shiny black surfaces with delicate and beautiful lace doilies gives me a great sense of satisfaction and happiness.

Two of Margaret's on a 1911 White Rotary Treadle
given to me by a friend.

If you can crochet for yourself, you will no doubt find a wide variety of patterns for free on the internet. Happy searching! If you can't crochet, you can always reach out to those who can, like Dawn or Margaret.  People who do needlework of any sort are as happy, content, friendly and generous as quilters themselves!

You can find many of Margaret's talents at her Facebook Page.   And you can contact Dawn at her Facebook Page as well. And if you want to have one of these delightful doilies at home with you today, stop in to my shop to see if I still have one or two to spare! Some day soon, perhaps, I'll find someone who will produce another dozen or so that I can post on my web-store page

As always, if you are reading this update in your email, thank you for signing up for the newsletter. We usually publish it about twice a month, but in between editions, we also update the various pages that comprise this blog. Recent additions are the Machine Quilting Classes page,  and progress on current quilts at Terry's Quilting Journal 2014 page.  Come visit us at the blog and see what else is happening at Quilters' Quarters

Feel free to share this email or blog link with your friends and families. Thank you for sharing our pages.

Terry, web page TerryCrawfordPalardy.com, email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Rick, web page WoodenToyandGift.net, email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

A Lovely Night Celebrating Art with Friends.

Yesterday was the night we shared Rick's woodworking artwork in his first public exhibit, hosted by the Pine Grove School in Rowley. His work will be there in the school's alcoves that exist because Pat Marshall was intent on reserving space during the building's renovations just for that purpose.  One of her co-workers described Marshall in these words:

"Pat was a much loved teacher, assistant principal, and then principal at Pine Grove.  She cared deeply about her staff and students and always put them first.  Pine Grove became an award winning school under her leadership. The Gallery is named in memory of Pat Marshall (thus the Pat Marshall Link Art Gallery)  and it was originally called the Link Gallery, for the fact that that space "linked" all the wings of the school, and as a gallery, we hoped it would "link" the school and community." 

A few years ago, Rick was approached and asked if he could use some wood and Plexiglas to make some protective but see-through 'gates' for the alcoves that had been designed for the new section of the building a decade or so earlier, to prevent accidental damage from the displayed artwork. And he did.

Later, the couple who had come to Rick with that commission funding remembered his beautiful doll furniture, trucks, and other woodworking art in his shop, and came back and asked if he would lend some of his work to the school, to be displayed for about six weeks. The students and faculty and parents of that school community have enjoyed years of such changing displays thanks to the space provided by that forward-thinking educator.

Here are the photos we took of each Alcove. The display was shared with the public last night, and will remain for the students until the last week in November. As the reception was on a weeknight, none of our family were able to attend, but our artist friends who have so often shared their art with us came to the reception to celebrate Rick's beautiful work, as did other friends we have in town.

It was my honor to provide several themed quilts to be the backdrop for each of Rick's displays.  Many of these quilts will be offered for sale in Quilters' Quarters and on my webstore, and will be shipped to buyers after November 30, 2014, just in time for the Christmas, Hanukah and New Year holidays.

Remember, you can click on each photo to enlarge it and see detail clearly.

Autumn Holidays

The see through 'gate' allows small children
to see the full display -- Rick's original work.

The Halloween Quilt

Winter Holidays

The Hanukah Quilt/Table Cover

The Christmas Quilt

Construction and other Vehicles

the Under Construction Quilt

 Dollhouses

Silly Birds and Crazy Daisy Quilt 

Sewing/Knitting Plaques and Doll Furniture 

Retro Kids Needle Crafts Quilt

Public Safety Officers

First Responder Quilt

Entry Way and Stairwell Wall Displays

Linus Project Quilts

As always, if you are reading this update in your email, thank you for signing up for the newsletter. We usually publish it about twice a month, but in between editions, we also update the various pages that comprise this blog. Recent additions are the Machine Quilting Classes page,  and progress on current quilts at Terry's QuiltingJournal 2014 page.  Come visit us at the blog and see what else is happening at Quilters' Quarters

Feel free to share this email or blog link with your friends and families, and encourage the quilters among you to check out the Row by Row page of the blog as well as the website itself. We're in for a great experience this summer ~ jump in and join us!

Terry, web page TerryCrawfordPalardy.com, email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Rick, web page WoodenToyandGift.net, email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

Coming Soon to Quilters' Quarters!

The deadline is approaching! January 15th, all completed Post Card Party Swap materials will be mailed to Janet in New York for interstate distribution. Quilters' Quarters will be hosting needle-workers on Wednesdays through Saturdays January 2 through 15, 2015. Bring your own fabric or use some of ours ... maybe something in the Orphan Fabric trunk, or a small amount from various bolts in the shop.  We'll have our 1947 Featherweight set up in the shop for you to use, too.  We're open 11 am to 7  pm and look forward to helping you make your own postcard. Just 2 doors north of Perley School in Georgetown, MA.  We are the ONLY SHOP in Massachusetts where these kits can be found and completed for exchange with quilters and needle-workers in other states~ don't miss out!

The wonderful Row by Row creators have come up with a new initiative for quilters and needle-workers who visit quilt shops: The Postcard Party!

Join us:
Participating shops (of course, we are one) will be offering fabric post card kits that creative fibre-arts people can buy and use to create a unique piece.  One side of the postcard will come pre-printed with the state's design (created, of course, by Debra Gabel of Row by Row fame) and the other side will be up to the individual person making the post card! Sandwiched between the two fabric sides will be a piece of thin foam stabilizer.

Here's what we'll do:
A quilter might piece or applique a 6" square for the back; a fibre artist working with brushed felt might create a small 3-D figurine/setting, a knitter might knit mini-sweaters, socks or hats for the card ... cross stitchers could add an embroidery back, and needle-pointers could as well.  There is no restriction, no limitation on what type of back you create! The finished card will be slipped into its protective plastic sleeve.

What then?
You can purchase as many kits as you like and create as many different designs as you want. You can then keep your finished post card, or give it as a gift for someone special in your life. Or...

Or... you can continue to participate by leaving your special postcard(s) at the shop. Quilters' Quarters will collect them until the collection period ends.

Where will your card(s) go?
Cards made in Quilters' Quarters will then be sent to a Postcard Party Distribution Center (a quilt shop) in New York (yes, I believe it is the quilt shop owner who created the original Row by Row experience, Janet Lutz,) and your card(s) will be sent to quilt shops outside of Massachusetts.  And no worries - they will not be sent individually via post office mail, but rather packaged carefully and addressed to out of state quilt shops in batches sorted by the Row by Row team!

 I've ordered 100 Massachusetts kits to begin. If we send out 79, we'll receive back 79 ... it's a 1 - for 1 - exchange. Quilters' Quarters will receive postcards created in other states ... When they arrive at the Quilters' Quarters, I'll send out a "Mail Call" for you to come back to the shop and pick (one for each of those you sent out) from the out of state quilt shop postcards.  Imagine how different they all will be! Janet promises to send back an assortment from different states.

Of course, someone(s) at a shop outside of Massachusetts will be picking up the card(s) you created. No doubt, you will be in touch with each other afterward, either by post, telephone or email, whichever you chose to share on your card(s).  And who knows what you might be able to share with and learn from each other!

Here's the schedule:
Quilters' Quarters (and other participating shops) will receive the first shipment of post card kits by the end of October.  We'll start holding workshops for making the cards in November, and we can continue work-shopping them through the winter months.  By the end of winter (maybe February?) all of the cards will be finished and sent off. Sometime in March we'll receive our batch of out-of-state cards and will have a Mail Call for pick-ups.

It sounds like a lot of fun; I'll be looking for creative artists to demonstrate different types of needle work to groups that can come for the workshops. A schedule of workshops will be posted here at the blog and on Facebook by mid-November.

Stay tuned for more information about Postcard Parties at your local quilt shops! Remember, there is no limit to how many you can make, and so receive.

Anticipation!

As always, if you are reading this update in your email, thank you for signing up for the newsletter. We usually publish it about twice a month, but in between editions, we also update the various pages that comprise this blog. Recent additions are the Machine Quilting Classes page,  and progress on current quilts at Terry's QuiltingJournal 2014 page.  Come visit us at the blog and see what else is happening at Quilters' Quarters

Feel free to share this email or blog link with your friends and families, and encourage the quilters among you to check out the web store page at www.TerryCrawfordPalardy.com for fabric deals. And stay tuned for more information on the Postcard Party event!

Terry, web page TerryCrawfordPalardy.com, email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Rick, web page WoodenToyandGift.net, email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com

New for the Fall

Today is September 16th, which means that Rick will be putting a sign out front that begins counting down the days to Christmas, beginning with 100.

The summer shop hop is winding down, as quilters are busy at home finishing up their row by row quilts and looking for quilt shops that haven't yet had a winning entry for those 25 free fat quarters. Don't give up - there are many shops still waiting to showcase your quilt, as we have displayed Susan's here at Quilters' Quarters.

Fall fabrics have begun arriving here, and I'm adding them to the inventory on our web store page:
http://www.terrycrawfordpalardy.com/apps/webstore/ .

Check it out to find some of these beautiful colors, patterns, and kits.  Fun projects to make during the cooling season of autumn, with an eye toward gifts for the holidays.

We will have many spontaneous, special sales at Quilters' Quarters this fall. Each will be announced on our Facebook Page, and we invite you to stay tuned there for updates to the calendar of surprises.

Click here for webstore link

Presently, we've been offering the Linus Quilt Panel at 25% discount. Stay tuned as each week will bring a new offer.

If you can't get to the shop but want one of our sudden deals, just email me at needlesandpens@comcast.net, or phone us at 978-352-2676 and we'll be happy to fill your order through the mail. You'll also find many of the items at the webstore and can purchase there through PayPal.

The "Happy Quilter" license plates have been a big hit this summer, and we still have enough on  hand to fill those last minute orders; they are also available  at our webstore; you'll also find a pattern and kit there for our alternate Four Season Window design. (We can't fill "Beyond Winter Window" pattern requests until November 1st, per the Row by Row 2014 contest rules.)

(Four Season Tree fabric no longer available)

But, you're able to buy yardage of the special "Sew a Season" fabrics (designed by Debra Gabel of license plate fame) at our webstore or in the shop to fill out your quilts. The four season "trees" fabric is being held in reserve for the remaining four season quilt row kits, but we have extra yards of the spring, summer and fall leaves blender bolts, and the winter snowflakes.  Our space galaxy night sky fabric in back in stock as well. They will all appear on the webstore page soon, and customers can easily shop there through PayPal.

Halloween fabrics are at a special price of $5.00/yard, (posted at the 1/2 yard price of $2.50 on the web store.)  We've added reflective tape/fabric to our shopping list and plan to have that available by the beginning of October, to help make your little one's costumes more visible for Trick or Treat nights.





Our next newsletter will tell you all about our quilt shop's First Anniversary in late November, and with it will come Helen and Henry's second mystery book! Be sure to stay tuned for snippets to whet your appetite for more of their story.

As always, if you are reading this update in your email, thank you for signing up for the newsletter. We usually publish it about twice a month, but in between editions, we also update the various pages that comprise this blog. Recent additions are the Machine Quilting Classes page,  and progress on current quilts at Terry's QuiltingJournal 2014 page.  Come visit us at the blog and see what else is happening at Quilters' Quarters

Feel free to share this email or blog link with your friends and families, and encourage the quilters among you to check out the Row by Row page of the blog as well as the website itself. We're in for a great experience this summer ~ jump in and join us!

Terry, web page TerryCrawfordPalardy.com, email: needlesandpens@comcast.net
Rick, web page WoodenToyandGift.net, email: woodentoyandgift@comcast.net
Rick's blog: WTandGNews.blogspot.com