Hello, I’m Mike,
07-16-2020, 12:31 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 13
Hello, I’m Mike,
I retired from Biomedical Engineering in June 2012, after thirty years at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami Florida. We purchased a 21.2 acre farm with an old Florida Cracker House originally built around 1868, and 1,600 square foot concrete block building, we turned into a workshop. I’ve been accused of being a craftsman. I started playing stringed instruments in 1962, been at it continuously. Had a few accidents over the years that interrupted my ability to play but managed to come out of them better than before. I could be called a little weak in risk management skills, I still ride the old Harley.
My interest in living history has influenced much of my life. I’ve learned the skills that would have been common a century or two ago. This led me into the black hole of fiber arts over 20 years ago and I started spinning, weaving, knitting, felting. I got into leather work early on, tooling, making bags, knife sheaths which got me into metal work, I started making knives and doing other iron work.
After I retired to the farm I discovered after 30 years of working and trouble shooting “state of the art” Life Support Equipment I was missing the mental challenge. I was looking through a flea market mall one day and saw this really abused sewing machine. It looked early 20th century and reminded me of a diesel locomotive. I purchase it from the vender, who I knew from a buddies band. I got the machine for $10.00. All I knew was that it was a Singer. Once I got it home I started working on it. It made me nostalgic for a time before I was born, almost sad, that we used to build stuff like this, art and function, designed to last forever. It was a Singer 301. It loved me so much it must of started sneaking it’s buddies in while I was out riding the Harley, maybe taking a nap. Now the list is too long, I’ve given away 3, 221s that I’ve come across, to my sisters and one to my wife, who for some strange reason decided to stay in Homestead Florida. I still keep my eyes open for the early singers including 301s, 400s are not so interesting and they go down from there. I actually like the vibrating shuttles and the transverse shuttle machines the best, you can’t beat that stitch. My oldest machine is a Wertheim Superba B from around the late 1860. Three great treadle machines are in my living tool, I have 2, 301s setting on top of these treadles and a 400, for when I need double needles or zigzag stitches. I have that first beat up 301 in a soft sided tool bag, ready to go.
I’ve been thinking of signing up for local quilting classes, though I’ve already done my first quilt project, I made it for my wife, who has said that there is no such thing as too big of a beach bag, so I made her a monster sized quilted beach bag out of sea shore themed fabric I found when riding the Harley down to Cedar Key. Quilting is huge here in North Central Florida, Even it’s history with the Underground Railroad is fascinating.
My interest in living history has influenced much of my life. I’ve learned the skills that would have been common a century or two ago. This led me into the black hole of fiber arts over 20 years ago and I started spinning, weaving, knitting, felting. I got into leather work early on, tooling, making bags, knife sheaths which got me into metal work, I started making knives and doing other iron work.
After I retired to the farm I discovered after 30 years of working and trouble shooting “state of the art” Life Support Equipment I was missing the mental challenge. I was looking through a flea market mall one day and saw this really abused sewing machine. It looked early 20th century and reminded me of a diesel locomotive. I purchase it from the vender, who I knew from a buddies band. I got the machine for $10.00. All I knew was that it was a Singer. Once I got it home I started working on it. It made me nostalgic for a time before I was born, almost sad, that we used to build stuff like this, art and function, designed to last forever. It was a Singer 301. It loved me so much it must of started sneaking it’s buddies in while I was out riding the Harley, maybe taking a nap. Now the list is too long, I’ve given away 3, 221s that I’ve come across, to my sisters and one to my wife, who for some strange reason decided to stay in Homestead Florida. I still keep my eyes open for the early singers including 301s, 400s are not so interesting and they go down from there. I actually like the vibrating shuttles and the transverse shuttle machines the best, you can’t beat that stitch. My oldest machine is a Wertheim Superba B from around the late 1860. Three great treadle machines are in my living tool, I have 2, 301s setting on top of these treadles and a 400, for when I need double needles or zigzag stitches. I have that first beat up 301 in a soft sided tool bag, ready to go.
I’ve been thinking of signing up for local quilting classes, though I’ve already done my first quilt project, I made it for my wife, who has said that there is no such thing as too big of a beach bag, so I made her a monster sized quilted beach bag out of sea shore themed fabric I found when riding the Harley down to Cedar Key. Quilting is huge here in North Central Florida, Even it’s history with the Underground Railroad is fascinating.
07-16-2020, 02:00 PM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,065
Welcome to the boards and the wide world of quilting. Glad to have you here. Quilters are a surprisingly diverse group of people but generally among the nicest people I know.
While you are looking into your other interests, make sure to look into Seminole patchwork, the precursor to most of our modern techniques.
https://www.semtribe.com/STOF/culture/seminole-clothing
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswi...-appropriation
While you are looking into your other interests, make sure to look into Seminole patchwork, the precursor to most of our modern techniques.
https://www.semtribe.com/STOF/culture/seminole-clothing
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswi...-appropriation
07-16-2020, 02:14 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,235
Welcome from Maine. Nice introduction. Glad you're still riding that ol' Harley. I grew up on the back of my dad's bike, my parents in their 70's still ride.👍 Glad you found us, and I hope you do take that quilting class. Sounds like you have a creative gene or two and I am sure with a new medium learned, you will create amazing things.
07-16-2020, 02:34 PM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Clarksville, In
Posts: 1,840
Gracious! Is there anything that you don't do? You have a good eye for sewing machines. I have two 201's, one of which is going somewhere...probably to the guy that does my machine repair. The other one (my first sewing machine at age 24} I hope to have put back in tip top shape....it has been through the mill, but being one of the older machines, it will survive......BTW....welcome to the quilting board from Southern Indiana!
07-16-2020, 03:54 PM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 26,015
Welcome Mike, and hello from Mississippi. What an interesting life you have had (are having). I have a couple of 201s and 301s as well, and a 403 and a 66 treadle in a parlor cabinet. They are kind of addicting to collect, but I'm ready to get rid of a few of them now.
Glad you found us. We are here to help you make some awesome quilts!
Glad you found us. We are here to help you make some awesome quilts!
07-16-2020, 04:31 PM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
Welcome to the QB Mike! It sounds as though your heart is already into the quilting for life club. We have a select group of vintage and antique sewing machine enthusiasts here as I am sure you have discovered here. Your wife has to be loving her oversize beach bag! Quilting is an art form that takes on many flavors from the very simple and beautiful quilts to more time consuming art pieces. Your choice and your flavor. Jump right in and join the fun. Questions are unlimited and answers are given when ever possible. Sometimes I am very surprised. It is always fun and informative here. Again welcome to the QB and have a lot of fun!!
