The month of April showers hit Denver heavy this year. It has broken into the top 20 wettest Aprils with a record of 3.28 inches of precipitation. Turns out that it is well above the average of 1.68 inches. Evidently our members have been water logged as we only heard from Courtney and Janey.
Courtney
Most of my time this month has been devoted to speaking. The big one was on the 6th at the Southern Colorado Regional Quilt Show in Pueblo. I got home from Pueblo on Saturday night. I barely got my sewing machines put away before we had to pick up our daughter on Tuesday from the airport in Denver, and then the three of us took off for Portales New Mexico on Wednesday. We returned on Sunday and then had to drive down to Denver on Monday to put our daughter onto a plane home to California. Both in Pueblo and Portales, I met people who had older treadle machines that took a #20x1 needle. One was a Mason and the other a Husvennen. The Husvennen was interesting because it was a badged National machine which was sold by a Scandinavian language newspaper (The Decorah-Posten based in Decorah, Iowa). A one year subscription gave you a special discount on the sewing machine. Husvennen means “Friend of the House.” (see pictures) I did sent both owners the short explanation of how to fit a modern 15 x 1 needle in a machine that requires a 20 x 1 needle.
On the 25th I drove down to Parker and gave a short history of sewing machines and got to show off a few of my quilts to the Parker Piece Keepers Quilt Guild. I had a great time at the guild meeting everyone was quite friendly and I had several interesting conversations. It was rainy coming home Thursday night which continued through Saturday so I did not get everything brought in and put away until Sunday.
On three different occasions recently, when I have displayed some of my quilts, I have been surprised by the interest in both my Cowboy sugan and the flange binding I commonly use. I thought both the Sugan and binding were both well known.
My next quilting project is going to be a long one I am afraid. My daughter has a good friend who is an excellent quilter. About 6 or 7 years ago Cordy’s friend apparently bought a block of the month quilt kit from Craftsy (2017 Blazing Star). Unfortunately her long term partner was having some issues at this time and eventually passed. The interest in this quilt was lost and so she gave it to me. I have had it about two years now and have decided now is the time. I have been binge watching the videos on Craftsy so I will know what I should be doing. I have decided that I will at least get a start on the quilt in May.
Next week is History Fest at Centennial Village and I will be taking to mostly 4th graders about sewing machines. I also have them sign squares which I put into a small quilt. The theme for this upcoming quilt is Smokey the Bear. Smokey has been used for 80 years (since 1944) to make people aware of forest fires and how to prevent them. I was quite pleased when I found the focus fabric because I think the kids will like this theme and quilt!
My Featherweight maintenance workshops start up again on the 16th. I had quit in January so I would not have to fight bad weather but spring is here so time to get going again. I have been ordering materials so that I will have some on site and don’t have to panic ant the last minute. (Unfortunately, I always seem to forget something so there is always a small panic of some sort!)
Have a great month,
Courtney
Janey
I had a couple of sewing related events this month. I went to a shop in Denver that is called ReCreative Denver. It is a non-profit organization that according to there website "dedicated to promoting creativity, community and environmental stewardship through creative reuse & arts education." They accept donations of art supplies, including those for sewing. They had a few machines and some notions. I saw a buttonhole attachment that I hadn't seen before. I did get a few things that would fit into Singer attachment box. They had a blackside adjustable hemmer but wanted more than I wanted to pay for it.
The next day I went to visit my cousins in Loveland. They had their grandmother's machine - that had been restored - a very pretty 15 with Tiffany/Gingerbread decals . She had gotten some information from a shop that it was a 66 made in 1910. I then explained to her about the "G" serial numbers and was able to look up and it was from 1914. We were able to attach the treadle belt and I told her how to disengage the belt to put it back down in the cabinet.
In Closing
That is all for this month. We want to thank you for reading. See you next month.