Alzheimer's Touch quilt for Dale - Doug's cousin

My husband is holding the quilt top over his head.  Perhaps I should invest in a little clothesline for taking these photos.

This quilt has squares of denim, fake fun fur, mock suede, waffle weave 100% cotton tea toweling, poly-cotton, polyester, nylon and satin. I added ribbons and little bags with five tiny buttons in them for more texture.

 This airplane was embroidered on the square before quilting.

This water flower and my intials with the year were embroidered rather than quilting.

All the little fairies were embroidered instead of quilting the block.  I found machine embroidery on the quilt sandwich quite difficult because these fabrics have stretch and the seam allowances are quite thick.  It took several tries to get the squares hooped.  The ribbons were also a problem while machine embroidering, even though I pinned the ribbons out of the way, the yellow striped ribbon below got stuck in the idt device behind the needle and the machine stitched out the fairy's left eye, nose and mouth in his lap!  So picked out those stitches as best I could and embroidered the remainder of his face by hand.

The three fun fur squares have a button sewn in the centre instead of quilting.

 The fairies are embroidered on the five mock suede blocks.

I used silver metallic thread on the propeller.

 

It is all finished and ready to be mailed.

 The backing is 100% cotton flannelette.

I free motion quilted heart shaped leaves, jesters' hats, and swirls on some squares, others were quilted using decorative stitches.

 The waffle weave feels bumpy and has stretch to it.

For information about Alzheimer's touch quilts, please visit the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

Ornamental Gourds - So colourful.

Look what I bought for a $1.40 CAD!  Yippee!

I just love ornamental gourds, they are so photogenic, plus their textures are wonderful.

  I plan to keep them just to admire until after Halloween.

 Apparently if they dry out properly, they will keep indefinitely.

Then again, at only .35 cents per pound or a $1.40 for the whole basket, they are easily affordable to replace annually. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure I have already got my money's worth, playing with them last night and today.

 There may be more photo shoots with these little beauties.

 

 

 

Perhaps they can be props with quilts or sewing machines.  It seems that the simplest things in life can bring such pure joy.

Dear Readers, I have been thinking about watermarks on my pictures.  Many folks are marking photos with copyright year and name.  Have you ever had your photographs stolen?

I feel the watermark takes away from the photo, plus if someone really wants to steal your photo they can remove the watermark. 

Your thoughts?

Bee Maid Honey - A most excellent day!

It is no secret that I love honey.  Yesterday, I visited a local bee keeper who I have been buying honey from for years.  It was my lucky day as they were processing honey.  So sweet.

This is my friend Merv with a giant caldron of melted bees' wax.  The melted wax is poured into molds, that harden in blocks. 

I dipped my finger in the liquid wax, it was hot.

Merv had 600 colonies of bees this summer, it was a good year for honey.

After the bees fill a comb full of honey, they seal it shut with wax.  These wax seals are removed by machine.  This is sticky business.

 

 Little bits of wax remain in the combs that are scrapped off manually.

 Honey is processed using heat. 

When honey is heated, the bees, wax and debris float to the top as honey is heavy.

 This is a 45 gallon drum full of yummy honey.

The whole shop smells wonderfully sweet. I bought honey and bees' wax.  Like I don't have enough hobbies already, I'm going to make some candles.

Remington zigzag sewing machine & threading instructions

Look what I bought for $40 CAD in Winnipeg.  I'm pretty sure this beauty is from the 1950s.  I'm just tickled pink with it.

Even the carrying case is in great shape.

Original pink instruction manual.

Notice the accessory box is still wrapped in plastic and surrounded with a cardboard sheath. 

 Unpacking... was like opening a Christmas gift.

A new motor belt and bobbin winder tire were included. These Japanese vintage machines have the best paint jobs.

 The tension dial is painted pink as well.

I haven't cleaned her up yet but Ms. Remington is in pristine condition.

 Serial Number

Brother International Corporation - Made in Japan

 The accessories were still in original packaging.

Six bobbins packed in plastic as well as two little green felt circles for the thread pool pin.

 An extra light bulb, I hope it still works.

A stitch sample.

 

As her third owner, I promptly unpacked her suitcase.  Ms. Remington is beautiful.

 I love the smooth lines, she looks fantastic.

And she is a wonderful stitcher!  Light pink thread in the needle.

 Just look at that satin stitch.

 Hot pink thread in the bobbin.

I just wiped the dust off her, brushed out the feed dogs and the bobbin casing.

Haven't even oiled her yet.

 Now she has been relocated to a cabinet, I have big plans for her. 

First she will be outfitted with a new electronic foot pedal as I do not like using a knee bar.

Then she'll be sewn with often. 

January 12, 2020 - update I received an anonymous comment requesting threading instructions. These photos are from the manual.  

Threading instructions:

Unfortunately, Ms. Remington is so much lovelier than Pinky.  That I may need to find Pinky a new owner.

For many years I wanted a pink sewing machine... now I have two!  My cup runneth over!

Dear Readers,
Does any one know the year Ms. Remington was manufactured?
Do you have any pink sewing machines?
What is your favourite colour of sewing machine?