1998 Kit

While checking around the different sites, I managed to find the date of the original block-of-the-month kit. 1998

And ~ the red thimbleberries fabric that I have ~ matches the green in the kit. I laughed! I have 5 yards of it and I paid $9.33 total. So, I could do the outside borders with it also!!!

 

It just about matches the red in the top piece of fabric from the kit. This will make it a little easier to change some of the blocks as I'll be able to incorporate my red into the outside pieces and then use them elsewhere. Now....to do the math! UGH ~ my brain hurts already! ;-)

Thimbleberries Quilt Kits on the cheap!

 

Visiting your favourite thrift shop can be dangerous at times. That's if you manage to spy 7 out of 12 ~ Thimbleberries Month-by-Mouth Quilt Blocks!!!

HOLY COW BATMAN

Some poor quilter paid $14.95 per block and I nabbed them for $2.00 each at the thrift store.

Not the first time this has happened. I managed to get another set of blocks done by JoAnn Fabrics, but have yet to sew them together ( material was really crappy too)

If I play my cards right, I'll wiggle the cut fabric around and make the blocks that I like the most.

I'm missing Jan - Feb - Mar & April. Not fussy on some of the complete ones, so I'll rejig a few!

I know I have some really dark red in Thimbleberries fabric and can always pulled that out to help complete the quilt.

 

 

 Colours are rather "off' in this shot, but all-in-all ~ not a bad score!!! Like I need more fabric !!

Not the greatest shot of the bird feeders, but when I glanced out the upstairs window - two blue jays and several cardinals were at the feeders. My days of dashing down the stairs to get to the back mud room for a better picture are long over.....!!! So, I missed getting the other cardinals in this shot....but they were there!!! ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

It was going to be a quiet day just fiddling around with the new machine! Here I sit, searching the internet for information and making small repairs to the few 'opps' that the machine has.

I have it up and running but the tension is terrible....lots of top thread showing on the bottom. It was after taking the tension assembly apart that I realized it's missing the tension spring....CRAP!!!

So....the word for Wordless Wednesday is .....CRAP!!!!!

Have found a lovely vintage sewing machine group on Ravelry and had success at finding knowledgeable people who also own machines like this.....bonus for me!!! Now, to source out this part.....CRAP!!!!

DNB ~ the new hand crank!

Meet "DNB"!!! My new to me - Seamstress Rotary Hand Crank by National Sewing Machine Company of Belvidere IL.

So..........what does DNB stand for??? "Does Not Bounce"

We headed out early on Saturday to met the kids at a auction and after viewing everything, we headed out on our own to another venue. At the last booth, I spied a machine cover and went into stealth mode ~ half hiding, back turned to any onlookers ( you know, the ones that aren't interested in anything except what you're looking at....annoying) I lifted the case off and there she was!!! $30.....mine, all mine!! Checked to make sure she had all her bits & pieces, slow on the crank but that's to expect - just needs OIL!!!

Told hubs I was going to drag it to the cash as I've experience that 'oh, it will be there when I wander back in 5 minutes'......told him I was going to CARRY IT  BY THE BOTTOM as it wasn't locking properly on the one end.

Yah....you know the rest. It wasn't me that was carrying it by the handle. 30 odd pounds screaming for it's life, one very old & weak lock and.........................DNB!!! About 5 feet away from the cash....and you know....lovely to look at, lovely to hold, but if you break it.....consider it SOLD!! So, I got a good deal.....10 things for $30 bucks...LOL LOL!!!

I've taken the front light off - interesting - it's a Singer light that was screwed on & I'm wondering if the two screw holes were actually added later. God, the thought of drilling into this - ugh!!! And I've removed the motor at the back, for the time being. This machine will fit into my grandmother's treadle base that holds the Eatonia. Both are made by National and the base measurements are the same, so a score there.  Just signed onto several yahoo groups and a ravelry group that deals with these machines. A small problem with the bobbin area needs to be addressed and I'm hoping it's good to go with just a few more adjustments!

I'll post better pics in a few days, I'm still a little peeved at the lost of the base....will be looking at what repairs I can do, if any. SIGH !!!!