Hello, I’m Mike,
07-16-2020, 05:54 PM
#11
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 13
Thanks for the warm welcome,
Quilting can be as simple or complex as you want it to be.” No doubt, their’s a woman who displays her work at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs during the quilting weekend competition. I’ve been a volunteer there since I retired. Her work leans towards the style the Hawaiians have taken. Insanely tedious, absolutely amazing. Like any good medium the challenge is only limited by skill and desire.
Make sure to look into Seminole patchwork” I’ve a few samples of their work. They have some great art shows at the Miccosukee Village in the Everglades. They do some really tight, small patterns, I’ve wanted to get one of their jackets but the cost, though well worth it, is a little out of my range. I may attempt the project once I’ve learned more of the basics. I have purchased a couple head bands that I use as hat bands.
Quilting can be as simple or complex as you want it to be.” No doubt, their’s a woman who displays her work at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs during the quilting weekend competition. I’ve been a volunteer there since I retired. Her work leans towards the style the Hawaiians have taken. Insanely tedious, absolutely amazing. Like any good medium the challenge is only limited by skill and desire.
Make sure to look into Seminole patchwork” I’ve a few samples of their work. They have some great art shows at the Miccosukee Village in the Everglades. They do some really tight, small patterns, I’ve wanted to get one of their jackets but the cost, though well worth it, is a little out of my range. I may attempt the project once I’ve learned more of the basics. I have purchased a couple head bands that I use as hat bands.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 07-17-2020 at 03:36 AM. Reason: remove excessive blank lines
07-16-2020, 06:53 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,546
Welcome from Texas. I'm so impressed by your array of things you have made over the years. I especially love the leatherwork! I think you will like this board as there are so many helpful quilters here ready to answer any questions you might have.
07-17-2020, 04:51 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,422
Hello & welcome!
Your quilting journey is a great story of making the transition in retirement. More time for exploration in different hobbies that we may like. It sounds like you have found lots to do.
Your quilting journey is a great story of making the transition in retirement. More time for exploration in different hobbies that we may like. It sounds like you have found lots to do.
07-17-2020, 05:12 AM
#16
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 99
Welcome from North Carolina.....Wow, what a background you have......sounds like you're going to be a great quilter. Just jump in there and get started - a class is a great idea. You will enjoy this group - keep us up to date on your new challenges.
07-17-2020, 06:14 AM
#18
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 13
Thanks, I’ll certainly sign up for the class, I’m just kind of riding out the plague for now. Like many others I’ve been sewing masks, I carry a stack around with me and give them away, so far around 70, mostly to individuals and families when I’m grocery shopping, some to the local fabric shop when they run low. I even quilted the one I use regularly. I’ve started another batch of 10. It’s kind of a positive social thing in all the social distancing, in the actions speak louder than words category.
The years I’ve spent as a volunteer at the State Park, mentioned above, was as a craftsman in the “Craft Village” part of the park. I had a leather shop set up, it wasn’t my intention to sell anything, I did a few things through the gift shop. There are three cabins and the forge. One was for quilting and other fiber arts, including weaving. It was our intention to encourage others. I cringed every time someone would say, oh, I have no talent, I could never do anything like that, particularly from young people. I taught a lot, had soap making classes, leather classes, even paper making at one time, I’d supervise children making scrub brushes out of Saw Palmetto, that was a blast, I did this at a couple other state parks too, for historical demonstrations.
I’ll try anything, including culinary archeology “o) a fun story of a Christmas gift Mom asked of me ten or so years ago. I miss her, she passed two years ago on my birthday, she always did have a sense of humor. We were all with her when she left, my two sister, brother and her companion. I was playing my guitar for her, when I stoped she left.
I’ve taken lessons in painting watercolors, one of the few things I couldn’t learn from a book or attempt. Not exactly an intuitive medium.
My greatest most accomplished skill is playing the bass, I’ve been doing this since 1963, after a few years of violin and cello. Last week I had an audition for a 5/6 piece band. The only audition where I didn’t get the job was back in 1970 and they were more interested in strong vocals. I’ve made 4 basses for myself and two for others that just had to have them, even at a go away don’t bother me price. I guess I’m kind of lucky or blessed, I don’t easily get frustrated, making mistakes and experiencing failure is part of the learning process. It’s never “I can’t do this” as much as it’s “Well that’s not gonna work” If it’s no challenge, it’s no fun. The simple stuff is never what you think it is, and it’s boring, like when I was doing ships in bottles, as simple as that is, it can still be taken to difficult extremes.
OK, enough about myself, and thanks. Back to quilting “o)
Edited to remove photo link.
The years I’ve spent as a volunteer at the State Park, mentioned above, was as a craftsman in the “Craft Village” part of the park. I had a leather shop set up, it wasn’t my intention to sell anything, I did a few things through the gift shop. There are three cabins and the forge. One was for quilting and other fiber arts, including weaving. It was our intention to encourage others. I cringed every time someone would say, oh, I have no talent, I could never do anything like that, particularly from young people. I taught a lot, had soap making classes, leather classes, even paper making at one time, I’d supervise children making scrub brushes out of Saw Palmetto, that was a blast, I did this at a couple other state parks too, for historical demonstrations.
I’ll try anything, including culinary archeology “o) a fun story of a Christmas gift Mom asked of me ten or so years ago. I miss her, she passed two years ago on my birthday, she always did have a sense of humor. We were all with her when she left, my two sister, brother and her companion. I was playing my guitar for her, when I stoped she left.
I’ve taken lessons in painting watercolors, one of the few things I couldn’t learn from a book or attempt. Not exactly an intuitive medium.
My greatest most accomplished skill is playing the bass, I’ve been doing this since 1963, after a few years of violin and cello. Last week I had an audition for a 5/6 piece band. The only audition where I didn’t get the job was back in 1970 and they were more interested in strong vocals. I’ve made 4 basses for myself and two for others that just had to have them, even at a go away don’t bother me price. I guess I’m kind of lucky or blessed, I don’t easily get frustrated, making mistakes and experiencing failure is part of the learning process. It’s never “I can’t do this” as much as it’s “Well that’s not gonna work” If it’s no challenge, it’s no fun. The simple stuff is never what you think it is, and it’s boring, like when I was doing ships in bottles, as simple as that is, it can still be taken to difficult extremes.
OK, enough about myself, and thanks. Back to quilting “o)
Edited to remove photo link.
Last edited by Hushnel; 07-17-2020 at 06:30 AM.
07-17-2020, 07:53 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,033
Welcome from Southern California, Mike. I enjoyed your bio and look forward to more contributions from you. I'm accomplished at the sewing machine but still take classes. Each teacher has her own methods and shortcuts and I nearly always learn something good in a class. It's an opportunity to meet people who speak fabric at the very least. I also recommend joining a quilting guild -- lots of ideas, meeting good people, and their creativity amazes me.
07-17-2020, 08:44 AM
#20
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 13
Thanks Sally, I can certainly use greater skill at the machine. I do like the primitive machines, but I concede the value of the reverse option. The 301 is probably my most used machine. I have three. I’d sell one of them but every time I sit at each, they are just so cool I can’t. One of my treadle machine is a 15 and it does have reverse. I mentioned above that I really like the early shuttle machines. Two treadle mounted the others hand crank.
The one 221 I have left is an exemplary example, I purchased it from an older woman who was it’s only owner, I happily paid her what she wanted, it came with the card table. I meet her sister at a tractor show, who was selling off her 221 and card table, I was on the Harley so I couldn’t purchase her’s. I have meet a lot of quilters, many are good friends. It started off with me working on their older machines, mostly the 221. Modern machines seem fragile by comparison, and like the high tech Ventilators and other life support technology I used to work on, are often board swapping and calibration. Some of the board used in the modern machines cost nearly as much as the machine. The old ones, rarely need parts.
The one 221 I have left is an exemplary example, I purchased it from an older woman who was it’s only owner, I happily paid her what she wanted, it came with the card table. I meet her sister at a tractor show, who was selling off her 221 and card table, I was on the Harley so I couldn’t purchase her’s. I have meet a lot of quilters, many are good friends. It started off with me working on their older machines, mostly the 221. Modern machines seem fragile by comparison, and like the high tech Ventilators and other life support technology I used to work on, are often board swapping and calibration. Some of the board used in the modern machines cost nearly as much as the machine. The old ones, rarely need parts.
