FW Club classes coming up this week

Are you ready?  The first FW club classes are scheduled for November 4th or 6th noon till 3pm and that's just days away.  If you haven't called the Quilt Patch to sign up, their phone number is 517-423-0053.  There are openings at the moment so give them a call.

I've posted what you need to bring over on the class schedule pages.  Check those out.  I'm so excited to see everyone and get things started up once again.

I made it back down to SE Michigan last weekend and I've been crazy busy getting the trailer unloaded and things put away.  I am so ready to sew something..... anything!  It's been a long drought since sewing for me.  First, it was company.  Then, it was time to pack things and load the trailer.  Then we got SNOW and had to cut up trees that had come down. Whew!  It feels good to be back home.

I'm ready to bind the little brown bird quilt to have it done and then, just maybe, I can start something new.  Imagine that!

Well, just wanted to remind everyone of our FW Club classes.  I look forward to seeing you all.  Have a good week and I hope to see you all soon.

Summer is flying past..... thinking of all

 I look at my calendar and see September coming up very quickly.  Is that possible?  Summer flies by so fast anymore.

We had a couple of awesome FW Retreat/Workshops this month.  Again, so many gorgeous quilt tops got finished and others worked on.  FWs got fixed when they needed it and as far as I can tell, everyone had a great time.  Here's a few pictures of the fun you missed if you didn't get to come.

Sign-ups have begun and 2023 FW Retreat/Workshops are already filled.  Send me an email if you'd like to be put on the waiting lists.  Check the FW Retreat/Workshops tab for more information.

Guess what?  We're going to have a couple of FW Club classes this winter, yeah!  I know everyone has been asking me when we'll start those up again.  Go over to the Class Schedule tab for dates, times, etc.

Perhaps you've heard that the Quilt Patch has been sold but I understand our FW activities will continue pretty much like before.  One thing to be aware of is that there will be a class limit to all classes. With a class limit some ladies might not be able to get into a class.  For that reason, if you don't come to class, your payment will be forfeited.   It's a store policy.  I know what we'll be doing the first class.  You're not going to want to miss it.

Okay,  I've worked on my Little Brown Bird quilt all summer and I do hope I'll have it finished so I can bring it to the 1st FW Club class in November.  If you'd like to see how it's coming, here you go!

So, if you have questions, send me an email.  I do have notes about machines waiting for me when I return this fall.  Do contact me if you don't hear from me once I return.  Happy end of summer.  Enjoy every minute of it! 

Last week of June - time for a FW SPA DAY

 It's the last week of June so you know what that means.  It's time for a featherweight spa day.  You know the routine.  So, get the oil and gear grease/motor lube out and let's just do it.  For those with a lot of machines, I guess take a day and do them.  I am only doing one at this point because I'm up in the woods using only one FW, the one that loves it up here at the lake.

Have you had a good summer so far?  It's been quiet here but we are expecting company in a couple of weeks.  You know what that means.  We're busy trying to spruce things up. I brought up a new to me display case for showing off a few quilts and some of my special FWs.  I'm loving the look.  And, we've hung new screen doors because the old ones were pretty worn out and sagging.  We re-built the dock down at the water and that is very nice.  I will do my usual wash all the windows this next week.  It's time for that.

 My flowers have been pretty this year.  I especially like this iris.  It's had a huge bloom of regal colors.  I do wish the blooms would stay longer.

As far as sewing goes, I'm hand quilting Little Brown Bird this summer.  It might take me longer than this summer because there is just a ton of stitching and I'm slow.  But, I'll get as much done as I can.  This picture is just the very beginning of the border.  I'm into the 2nd row of appliued blocks at this point.

The FW Retreat/Workshop for August 2022 is in the final planning stages at this point.  We're going to have a grand time, I'm sure.  I'm going to fly down for those so won't be bringing much to work on other than helping everyone finish up their case covers and maybe I'll try to put together a scrappy quilt during that time.

So, if you have questions, be sure to send them along.  If you just want to know what's going on class schedule wise, head on over to the schedule tab and check things out.  There won't be much happening other than retreats until we return in the fall.  Have a lovely day.  Now, go get that FWs spa day over and done with.

Hoping Spring will come!

 I do hope Spring will get here soon.  It's time to get the Easter quilt out with its bunnies, baskets and Easter eggs, and yes, the tulips and daffodils are starting to show their color.  Maybe I'm just too anxious.  For what ever reason it just seems to be taking such a long time this year.

But, the Spring retreats are over and done with now.  What fun they were.  Quilt tops got finished up.

And we had another High Tea at the later retreat this year.  Thank you so much, Deb C.  You are so wonderful to treat us to such finery.

I didn't post a picture of the potatoe leek soup but everyone wanted that recipe.  I'll put it in the recipe tab of my blog.  Check it out there.

As I wrap up the paperwork for this Spring's retreats, I'll be pulling out the August retreat information and getting started contacting people about those.  Starting in the spring of 2023, I will be holding back 2 slots for newbie FW owners at each retreat.  So many have been pretty discouraged that they can't seem to get into a slot for so much learning on FWs.  If the newbie slots don't get filled, we'll start filling in spaces with those on the waiting lists.

It's nearly time for the semi-annual move, as well.  I am anxious this year to get back to the North woods and get a chance to work on the Little Brown Bird quilt.  I'm going to hand quilt it so that's my main quilting project this summer.  I'll keep you posted.

As always, I'm working on cleaning up FWs to have them ready to sell.  Contact me if you're looking for a machine.  I acquired quite a few from an estate this spring.  I'll be cleaning and cleaning for awhile.

I have one more maintenance class set up on April 20th 2022.  If you need to take a class, just call the Quilt Patch in Tecumseh (517-423-0053) and get yourself on the list.

Okay, have a grand day..... stay in touch.  I will try to check in with some FW ideas soon.

It's time! Spa day this week!!

 

Hope you had a fabulous Christmas day and you're rested up for the next event,  SPA DAY!  Yup, the week between Christmas and New Years is the time I do the spa day for all my featherweights.  It is recommended to do the full spa day every 6 months so come the end of June (my birthday week) I'll remind you again.

I know you have been doing the every 8-10 hr oil for your machine and the daily drop of oil on the bobbin assembly race, right?  So getting those gears greased and removing the old motor lube to replace it with new motor lube and you're all set for another 6 months of wonderful sewing.  

Since I've last posted, I purchased a used embroidery machine and I'm having a ton of fun learning how to do some cute embroidery items.  I made a set of hand towels for each of my kids and their kids this year and that kept me busy before the holiday.  I made the dog a new stocking to stuff on Christmas eve and that turned out cute.  I have loved all the wonderful embroidery things that many of you  have made and gifted to me at times.  I am very excited to be able to make some things now and like I said, I'm having fun.  I thought I'd saved a couple of pictures of what I've been making but then again, maybe not.  I'll try to post something I've made next time.

Our FW retreat/workshop weekends will be here before we know it.  March is really not that far away.  So, I will be sending out the email messages to participants and those on the waiting list this week.  Be looking in your email for it.  And, if you haven't heard from me by Jan 2, 2022, please email me so I can follow up and figure out if I messed up somewhere.  There are very long waiting lists but I will send out information to every person on that list.  I never know when someone will have to drop out and I can move someone from the waiting list to the participant list. I am looking forward to getting together.  The FW retreat/workshops are just so much fun.

I will be teaching a maintenance class on Jan 8, 2022 at the Quilt Patch in Tecumseh.  Call them at 517-423-0053 to get on the list.  We can only have 8 students per class so those tend to fill up quickly.  I will be setting up more maintenace classes but don't have those dates ready just yet.  Let me know if you are looking for a class.

And, I will be speaking to the Jackson quilt guild the end of January, 2022.  I love getting to meet ladies that love to quilt, just like me.  

Every time I post I say I will try to do better and post more.  But, somehow the days get away from me and I manage to stay pretty busy.   If you have any questions about your FWs or just want to chat, email me, jdquilts123@yahoo.com.   I always love to help you out if I can. 

 

Have a glorious New Year...... eat lots of Christmas cookies because we need to get rid of them before we go on that diet, right?  And, may each new day be a great one!

The color of fall and getting back to the winter house

Hello, all.  It's been such a beautiful fall here in the north woods.  Love this view out my sewing corner window, looking out over the lake.  With temperatures warmer than I can ever remember during October, the job of moving back to the winter house just doesn't seem as urgent.  No snow in the forecast so we may delay it a few days.  Rain this week has kept us from doing some of the things that need to be done but it will all happen soon.

I did make some great progress on my sewing projects this summer though.  The biggest accomplishment was to get the Little Brown Bird quilt all put together so it's ready for quilting.  I hung it on the clothes line and that was a disaster.  It won't hang straight on the line so it looks like it's very wavy at the bottom but really it isn't.  It's pretty flat when laid out on the bed but it's bigger than the bed so wouldn't have made a good picture.  Anyway, I'm planning on getting to the hand quilting this winter.  I don't know if I can possibly get it all done before time to come back North but I'm going to try.

And, a couple of weeks ago, the Big Guy's sister came up for a visit and the two of us drove over to Minneapolis to visit a couple of fabric shops and the Mall of America.  The Mall wasn't as exciting for me as the fabric shops.  We went to the Buttermilk Basin store and if you know their designs you know they are right up my alley.  They specialize in wool applique.  I've never done much of that but I'm wanting to give it a try.  You know I bought stuff there.  And, then, we also went to a fabric warehouse that was actually a warehouse full of fabrics, all kinds of fabrics. There was more fabric than I could imagine.  Talk about being overwhelmed!  I was!!  We want to go back next year.

The featherweight machine up here has been put away.... she doesn't like going into isolation. I snapped this picture before putting her in her case for winter.  I know there are a few people waiting for me to get back in town to do some cleaning and/or repairs on their machines.  You can send me an email if you want your machine to be added to my list.

Featherweight club classes are still on hold for the time being.  I will let you all know as soon as I find that we can meet again.  Covid still creates some problems for all of us so getting together in groups greater than 6-8 isn't possible.  Well, you know we have a lot more people wanting to come to FW Club.

Also, there will be a couple of maintenance classes this fall if anyone has been waiting to get into one.  Check the class schedule tab for information about those.  I'm going to be speaking to the Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild of Jackson at the end of January as well.  I'm looking forward to that.  

So, I'm not doing any sewing until I get back to the winter house.  I've started a mystery quilt and that's very much out of my comfort zone.  I've never made a quilt before without knowing what the end product will look like.  But, I've joined in for this one this winter and here is the picture of the fabrics I've picked for it.  I really need another red, white, and blue quilt, don't you think?

I do hope you all are staying well, getting to use your sweet Featherweights, and getting lots of sewing done.  The next time I post, I will be in SE Mi, ready for the snow to fly.  I hope it holds off for quite awhile though.  Have a good sewing day, all.