Another one bites the dust!

One down, 4 more goals to complete!  I got my new hand-crank cleaned and oiled, and learned how to thread it properly.

Isn't she pretty? She's in excellent shape and such a beautiful smooth stitch. The case needs a good feed 'n wax, but is otherwise in good condition as well.  Better shape than the top of my treadle!

The serial number identifies her as a Singer 99, made after November 1940. I was kind of surprised she was that young, as there are no numbers on her tension dial, and there is only a knob for the length of the stitches - no guide.

The kids took turns turning the crank as I corrected the tension, then practiced sewing strips together.

My sewing room is still in disarray after getting a new table, but I was able to make enough room to finish one more block for the Splendid Sampler. 5 of 100 done now!

I'm using these blocks to improve my quilting skills.  Each block gets partially sashed, then quilted in the quilt-as-you-go method.  On Block 7 (Simple Simon) I cut the back too short so before I get too far, I joined it to Block 1 (Hearts Aflutter). It's taken a while, but I finally figured out how to do the sashing and still be able to quilt the blocks individually.

July Goals

Happy Canada Day!

I love this picture! It is so cliched (is that even a word?) However, since a baby beaver was rescued by the local wildlife society this week, just a mile from my home, I have a maple tree in my front yard and I get teased for adding eh? to my sentences there is some truth to it!

Barbara is the author of one of the blogs I follow regularly, Cat Patches., She has been listing her goals on the first of each month, and provides a progress report.  I like that ideas since I have lots to do and keeping a running list in my head doesn't seem to be working.

In July, I would like to (in order):

1. Finish Konner's quilt and get it to him.

2. Clean and oil my new-to-me handcrank so I can start teaching Zoey how to sew.

3. Join the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RBC) and make string blocks for future projects. This month's "colour" is Watermelon - hot pink with a little green for accents.  I think I'll stick to one colour - pink it is!

4. As I have fallen behind on both the 365 Block Challenge and the Splendid Sampler, my goal this month is to ensure I have downloaded all of the blocks.

5. Spend 15 minutes a day in my sewing room doing something - even if all I do is fondle fabric!

No pictures today - I got a new table for the sewing room, so it is in turmoil!

Next month, I post my progress (with photos) and make new goals. My reward, if I complete them
all, is to buy the fabric for this splendid Halloween quilt from Flying Parrots Quilt:

(Although I will confess, I bought some black on white spiders yesterday!)