Been gone long time but back now. New to quilting
As some may know, I am married to God's blessing in my life, Miss Penny (Country1). We share a love of many things such as family, sewing machines, gardening, rescue dogs and being together. I am the long term woodworker, shooting sports enthusiast and leather crafter (this last one for only a few years though). I am a retired RN and Journeyman toolmaker, and I love complex machinery. Electronic doodads hold no fascination for me, and as to sewing machines, my interests stop at about 1964 when my handsome New Home (Janome) 532 was born. It and our 1934 hand crank Singer 201 are my favorites, even more so than the FW given to me in 1976 when I graduated high school and moved 3 states away to begin my first apprenticeship. I was the only fella with a sewing machine, and made some "beer money" patching other fellas jeans as was the style then.
This year has been tough for both of us. Last fall I had a slip and fall at home, resulting in a badly ruptured lumbar disc that required surgery in January (when I made my last post I believe). Doing my home therapy exercises, I gave myself a double hernia that required surgical repair. Penny required urgent gallbladder surgery several months ago in addition to all this. Here I sit, unable to lift more than 10 pounds, bend at the waist, set for more than a few minutes or stand very long. An artificial right knee complicates things too, and the back brace and cane don't help matters. "Why yes! I'll have some cheese with my whine!" I say.
Anyway, I have made an active decision to get serious about my wishes to try my hand at quilting. Good therapy for the soul in and of itself, and an outlet for the inner artist in me, I want to create things of beauty and practicality using the above mentioned favorite conglomerations of mechanical wonder. I admire the Civil War era patterns and materials, but must crawl before even trying to walk. I have decided on a 9 patch pattern, and would like to create the top using the handcrank Singer, while joining top-batting-backing in a meandering style on the Janome 532, since it has the feed dogs that drop. Lofty goals for a man of my limited experience, but one I look forward to achieving with time and Penny's tutelage. Don