Friday, June 10, 2016

New to Me

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My middle child, Justin (25yrs), finally moved out to his own apartment a few months ago.  Since then, he comes over just about every weekend to wash clothes and conserve his electricity. I don't usually mind but sometimes he wears out his welcome.  I realize this may sound selfish to some, but I've been a single mom since I was 16 yrs old and I'm super excited about finally being an empty-nester and I like having my house to myself.

Anyway, he was going to take me to lunch and a movie for Mother's Day but for whatever reason we didn't go.  We've talked about going but still haven't gotten around to it. But this week, he surprised me w/a wonderful gift!  A sewing machine!
He made friends w/a neighbor at his new complex and during one of their conversations, he told him that I sew/quilt. After his friend found out about me sewing he tried to give Justin the sewing machine and Justin turned it down! But YAY for me, the next time he offered, Justin said why not? And now it's mine! I'm thinking of a name for her. Maybe this one will be a him.

It came in this black case. With the words Peau Soin D'Amour on the case, I figured it wasn't a true sewing machine case. Especially since the machine itself is a Riccar.  Google later confirmed Peau Soin D'Amour is a brand of cosmetics.

It also came w/a vinyl dust cover that is in perfect condition, the instruction manual and extension table.
From what I've read, which isn't much, Riccar was once a major Japanese producer of sewing machines but today the company mostly manufactures vacuum cleaners.  I know for sure the machine is at least 31 years old because the sales receipt that is stapled to the back cover of the instruction manual and it was purchased for $199 cash on March 27, 1985.

It's a clean and solid machine and I'm thrilled it now belongs to me!  Thanks Justin!
My only other sewing machine is my straight stitchin' Babylock Quilters Choice Professional (Wilma) so I'm super excited about the zig-zag stitch and the free arm on the Riccar 8400.
In quilty news, I haven't gotten as far as I thought I would on Scrappy Litter Blox, but I have made progress! This is a Lillyella pattern and will be available in this month's Stash Builder Box on June 14, 2016.
I did manage to finally finish these cute scrap busting bibs and get them listed in my Etsy Shop!

If you haven't already heard, the amazing Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is coordinating a blog hop! It's called 12 Days of Christmas in July and yours truly will be part of it! Hope to see you there!
Confessions Of A Fabric Addict

Another news flash...
For four days only, you can get any and all classes for 50% off, and that means sunny, inspired afternoons doing exactly what you love. Expires 6/13 @11:59pm MDT. 


A Thread for Life
When we no longer seek God for His blessings, we have time to seek Him for Himself.  - The Moral Foundations of Life, 728 L Oswald Chambers

 Linking up at:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!


Until next time, God Bless and Happy Stitchin'!

P.S. My baby boy Joshua, turns 21yrs tomorrow! Happy Birthday son!

Friday, June 3, 2016

WHOOMP There IT Is! #30 - It's Been A While

Long time, no see. I've missed you. I honestly can't believe it's been almost a month. When I decided to start doing my WHOOMP There IT Is! linky party 1x/mo (first Fridays), I didn't intend to only blog 1x/mo!  But that's about where I am. I do plan to blog at least twice a month though.

The month flew by and even though I had a few finishes, I don't feel like I've accomplished much. Maybe because the last couple of quilts were very simple patterns? Who knows. Truth be told, I've been in some kind of mood lately and I really hope it passes soon because I don't like feeling this way.

I finished the commission for 2 baby quilts. A friend/coworker ordered a quilt for each of her grandsons who will both be turning a year old in August. She got the quilts on Tuesday and is very pleased and excited to present them in August.


And here's my other finish.
When I get to the end of a piece of fabric, 7" or less, I usually strip it down into strings ranging from 2.5" - 1".  Well one day, a long, long time ago, I got a wild hair and decided to sew all my 1" strings together (in jellyroll race fashion) and this is what it yielded. Too thin to be a lap quilt, and too wide to be a table runner, I'm calling it a bed runner. It sat as a flimsy until last month when #4 was chosen in our UFO Challenge 2016, and now it's finished!

One last thing I want to share before the party is a pattern test I'm working on. It's a pattern called Scrappy Litter Blox by Lillyella. The pattern will be included in the June Stash Builder Box.  I usually like to get all the cutting out of the way first, but not this time. I had to put at least one block together to show you.
I've quite a bit more cutting to do but the block goes together rather quickly.  I'll finish cutting tonight and hopefully get most of the quilt together this weekend. And speaking of this weekend, it's supposed to get upwards of 117° here in Phoenix! So yeah, I'll be indoors ALL weekend stitchin'!

Eeek! It's going to be a long summer. =( Maybe I can come visit one of you this summer. Anywhere is cooler than here!

So what have you been stitchin' on?  I'd love to see it!
A Quilted Passion
Thank the Host
Everyone likes to hear "thank you" and know their effort is appreciated.
Spread the Love
The more love you give, the more you get. Pick a number (mine is 5) and commit to visiting and commenting on that many link-ups. Let them know where you're visiting from and ask them to visit you. (This works well for me!)
Direct Link
Use a direct link to a specific post, not your main blog.
Link Back
In your blog post, include a link back to my post/blog and/or grab the WHOOMP There IT Is! button above and put in your post or sidebar. Thanks for spreading the love.
Follow Me ;)
Of course I would love for all you linky-uppers to be followers, but it's NOT required.











Linking up at Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?


A Thread for Life
Make Your ways known to me, 
Lord; teach me Your paths. 
Guide me in Your truth and teach me, 
for You are the God of my salvation; 
I wait for You all day long.