Quilters' Toys

I've always kind of wanted a white Singer Featherweight machine but wasn't really in the market for one until I saw an ad listing it at a reasonable price. So I grabbed it up. Isn't it the sweetest thing??

This little baby was made in 1964 and she's almost ready to go. I've had fun reading about featherweights on The Featherweight Shop website and learned a great deal from their wonderful tutorials. If you're looking for info, parts or accessories, this is the place.

You see a lot of vintage black Featherweights out there but Singer made many more of those. The white ones seem to be rather rare. I already have a vintage Singer machine but can't really use it because it needs a base or box to sit in since the cabinet was damaged when I bought it. After I took it out to be cleaned and serviced I never wanted to put it back inside. It does not sit flush on a table without wobbling so it needs a base. Another thing on my to-do list. 

I bought her a few years ago at a local Goodwill for $11.00  It was sitting in the closed cabinet above and apparently everyone else walked right past it. (Can't imagine why . . . . ) A hidden gem for sure. 

It's a beauty - in very good condition and made for the 1951 Singer Centennial. It sews beautifully.

Hope to start sewing on my new little sweetie soon! I like that it's portable. I ordered a 1/4" foot attachment last week and am just waiting for it to arrive.  

Book Giveaway Winner

Thanks so much for entering my recent giveaway and for all of your nice comments. The winner of my book A Prairie Journey is -

Jocelyn  - Happy Cottage Quilter  -  Congratulations, Jocelyn. Send me your mailing address and I will mail your book to you. I hope you enjoy making some of the projects.

I appreciate the time some of you put into your comments to tell me what's important to you about quilting and making small quilts. 

I hope those of you who already have the book have fun making some of the quilts.  Don't forget to join in our small quilt challenges every month in my Facebook group. We'll make one quilt at a time from the book. You can still order a signed copy on my website.

Did you also know that my publisher, Martingale, has an e-book (in .pdf format) available that you can download instantly to your computer? This might be a good option for some of you if you're outside the U.S. It's also a little cheaper than the hard copy of the book. You can just print out the pattern pages as you need them.  See details here.  

Keep on making your small quilts, my friends. In August, I will announce a new challenge project from the book in my groups so get your scraps ready . . . .

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It's been really hot here so I drove a few miles and went for a walk near Lake Michigan the other morning.  Need to make this a regular habit . . . .

Prairie Book Giveaway

I'm giving away a free copy of my new book, A Prairie Journey.

There are tons of cute little projects in it.

American Crossroads

Prairie Scraps and Barn Raising

Prairie Crossing

Prairie Window Box

Aunt Sarah's Scrap Baskets

"How much piecin' a quilt is like livin' a life! You can give the same kind of pieces to two persons, and one will make a nine-patch and one'll make a wild goose chase,  and there will be two quilts made out of the same kind of pieces, and jest as different as they can be. And that is jest the way with livin'. The Lord sends us the pieces, but we cut them out and put 'em together pretty much to suit ourselves, and there's a heap more in the cuttin' out and the sewin' than there is in the caliker."   From:  Aunt Jane of Kentucky, by Eliza Calvert Hall

Scrappy Little Log Cabin

This week I will be giving away one free copy to a lucky quilter. Please leave a comment here on my blog and tell me what it is about quilting or small quilts that inspires you the most. Make sure you leave your name and a way I can contact you to let you know you've won. I'll pick a winner at random on Friday, July 13. One entry, please!

If you don't win, you can always buy a signed copy from me here.