Wow, the questions that we have to answer sometimes.
Thank you to Nancy, Cindy and Machelle for making our welcome table very inviting for our evening Program: Toy Sewing Machines.
And thank you to Susie and to Marjorie for arriving an hour and a half ahead of time to get everything in and set up.
I know some of the ladies really enjoyed getting a sneak peak.
So much to do and see when you are able to come a little early.
Embroidery group starts meeting now at 5:30 pm and all are welcome.
Even if you are not embroidering - it is a great time to catch up with everyone.
The door prizes being offered were fantastic. Thank you to all who donated (Duwe's, Mike and Sara and others)
Our free table was so over packed that we had to go find another table to take the overflow.
Material, books, patterns, magazines. Great time to share your excess with others.
And a great time to get pointers on wool, embroidery, or what ever.
Give you a close up of Marjorie's shirt.
She belongs to TSII - Toy Stitchers International, Inc. group which is world wide.
If you were unable to pick up a brochure about their group, or get a membership application, click here to bring up a copy that you can print out. T-shirts are distributed to members who attend a biennial TSII convention. Margie is wearing last fall’s TSII shirt from the convention held in Nashville. The next convention will be held in Kansas City October 19-21, 2018. TSII welcomes all new members and would love to see you in Kansas City at the next convention. It would be a great way to start or add to your toy sewing machine collection.
Had to get a few shots as Marjorie was setting up - so many examples. During the program someone asked her how many she had......in her inventory at one time was over 400. She is weaning herself down little bit by little bit, so she only has over 250 now.
Would you believe she has 3 toy treadle machines? Everyone wanted to take this little beauty home.
You can click on a picture and have it come in slightly larger so that you can take a closer look.
Some of them (Story Book Machines) even had fairy tale characters on them - have to see this one up closer.
During the program, Marjorie went over some of the questions she had listed on this board - we learned oodles of things we did not even guess was important.
Marjorie staged her sewing machines in groupings. Think this one was of the Americana group.
This is the second book that author, Glenda Thomas has done.
See the little girl gazing so intently into the sewing machine drawer - that's Marjorie's daughter at about 3 years old. The photographer hid candy in the drawer to get this shot. Just the cover of this book is worth having it for. Later on you will see another picture that has the first book also. Click to make larger and you can see more information about the books.
Doesn't this cabinet make this display? Medicine cabinet?, not sure, but it is perfect. Most of these sewing machines were from Germany.
Even the memorabilia that surrounds anything to do with toy sewing machines is worth collecting. Don't you just love the boxes and tins shown here?
Here are the books that can perhaps help you date your own toy sewing machine.
The boxes alone are a treasure. And can you imagine how long it must have taken just to find all those small spools of antique threads to make her display holler out wow?
At 6:30 pm, Dixie called the meeting to order and Susie introduced Marjorie Abel from Wakefield.
The ladies have known each other for perhaps 15 years, so it was the right time to introduce all of us to this ADDICTED collector. hahaha
Marjorie says she is in a 12 step program - but we were not sure if it was 12 steps to her next toy sewing machine or 12 steps to how you can cut the numbers down in your collection - just an itty bit.
Our guild is safe for the moment - Jan J. has a toy sewing machine that belonged to a friend and Donna J. has a family toy sewing machine, and Carol S. has one she got at a Toy Show. We may have to keep watch on Susie though, she thinks her collection is somewhere between 25 - 50.
Not sure if this was the first one Marjorie got. When she moved to Clay Center around 1982, she had never seen a toy sewing machine, so when she saw her first one in a store - she thought about it a couple of weeks before she went in and got it. After all, it was $12 and that is a lot of money for a Home Ec. teacher to spend on a toy in '82.
She is very thankful though that from the start, she kept records of her finds, where, how, condition and cost.
Dixie volunteered to help Marjorie show us how to tell the difference between chain stitch (single thread) and interlocking stitch (two threads)
The group that Marjorie belongs to sends out a newsletter that helps keep the collectors informed of shows, machines, what's going on.
Even collecting postcards, Christmas cards, advertisements and history (Edith Head) is a very compelling addiction.
For me, I think I love the boxes. haha
At first Marjorie collected the black sewing machines, now she has all colors. And where she used to ask if it had a wheel and a needle that went up and down......now she knows about revolving looper or reciprocating hook. (yep - I don't know the difference either)
Remember, these machines were geared for children to play with, so functionality was not always in the fore front.
And sometimes you can get a new addition to your collection for no $. For this little Pfaff, Marjorie traded one of her duplicates to a lady in Germany that had two Pfaff's.
Did you know that Singer made sewing machines in Italy, England, France, Germany and America?
There was even one of the toy sewing machines that was in a box with a mannequin and Butterick patterns to make the dolls clothes.
Prices are difficult to pin point. Good and rare machines usually go up in price. Regular or common machines stay the same or go down. Think of maybe $50 and up.
Marjorie set her self a ceiling to what she was willing to spend - never over $2,000. One time she came very close - it had daisies on it and a bonnet cover. She has seen one on E-bay for $5,000. It is still on there - so asking does not mean that you will get it.
Because of the size of her collection, she does have an insurance rider, though it only pays replacement value - if you can find a replacement. So documentation is very important.
There was so much information that Marjorie shared with us - my notes cover pages - unfortunately, I slept and forgot what most of it went to....not a ha ha. So check into the TSII's and talk with Susie too.
Ladies were given some time to get up close, look and ask Marjorie questions.
Lots of pictures were taken of our members favorites.
And this is a very small selection of her collection -- egads. More toy sewing machines than most of us even knew existed.
This case caught quite a few eyes - would display many collections to a great advantage.
Had to add this one - Marjorie said that it was one of her favorites because it was a mistake.
Can you guess what mistake?
They forgot to make a way to get the cloth into the cloth plate. It is supposed to have a piece out of it so you could slide the cloth in.
It would be a favorite of mine also - so cool to be a circle - looks great whether it makes sense or not.
Thank you Marjorie for educating us so thoroughly and with such fun.
**********************
While Marjorie packed up, roll call was done - 42 members and 4 guests were present.
And of course there was SHOW 'n TELL................
Vevia (I) had taken David and Teresa Duwe's "Stain Glass" workshop last month and this is what I made from it.
The outside 6 blocks were done with their technique. The center was done with Apliquick tools.
In January I had done a program and had a wooden picture frame with chicken wire over it and this chicken underneath. Was never quite happy with the result, so took off, added a plant and a bee trying to get away to come up with "Free Ranging"
I know that several of the ladies really liked the chicken, so click here and you can go get the pattern to print out.
Remember our workshop last year with Lola Jenkins? I attended, did my picture of Mandela, but never finished it. Now I can not find it, so I tried to remember how we did it and came up with this one of Mother Teresa.
Carol B. said that when you need a quick quilt - this is the way to do it. An hour and a half and it is finished - and with binding.
Please see Carol to learn how.
Carol and Hubby just got back from a trip. One of the places they visited was Panguitch, Utah for the Quilt Walk Story. Click here to read all about it. Seven men found out back in 1864 that quilts can be life saving under as well as over us.
"Twin" sister Frances B. took a lot of kidding for being an over achiever - she has her double wedding ring all finished. What a gorgeous quilt. There are several other of our members that are just getting started on it - wonder how long it will take them?
Geri loves Sun Bonnet Sue quilts. She also likes to embroider , so with two likes, she had two finished ones to show us.
Think this heart one got more oohs and ahhs - both are treasurers to own.
Fourth of July is coming up and Janet H. is ready with her stars and stripes quilt. Great quilt Janet.
Jenell H. finished her Mandela and brought it in to share - nope, still can't find mine. Good job on not only finishing it Jenell, but knowing where it was.
No, Jenell is not a quick change artist. My picture came out fuzzy on her butterfly paper piecing, so I went back to Bonnie's visit and grabbed that shot so you could see how good it looks.
Lorraine H. is working on the binding of this gorgeous turning 20 quilt. When you have flower fabrics - make a lovely quilt that really stands out. The recipient of this quilt is going to be very lucky.
Ruth Ann had made a table runner and had left over triangles, so she put them together and came up with this gorgeous table topper.
She also got this quilt back from Susie - beautiful. Hope we get to see it again when it is bound. You just can't stop looking at it.
Lisa reminded everyone that the First Monday of the month is when the wool group meets (either at Jeanette K's or Frances B's) Whether you just want to work with like minded friends or want to learn how - come on out. Here are two projects that Lisa has finished. The pumpkin is one of 12 small quilts that she will be making. Love her cross one.
Jeanette K. went to an auction really praying that she would end up the owner of the yo-yo quilt advertised and she got her prayer answered. This quilt is 123" x 123" and has 4,356 yo-yo's (no Jeanette did not count them, another figured out how many there should be.)
Every yo-yo is tied on to the backing and sewed to the yo-yo's surrounding it. Really heavy, really wonderful to own. Good job Jeanette.
Deb M. is trying to finish up some WIP, two shown here. One is from a kit that she purchased several years ago. And the crazy quilt block is from the workshop a couple months ago. Everyone is telling her that she has to finish the crazy quilt block purse soon so that she can teach the others that attended - how to do it. hahaha You go Deb.
Three days? Did I hear Verna Lee right? It took her 3 days to figure out how to make the hot dog pillow case.
Makes no difference now as once Verna Lee knows how - she's got it. Think she said she has done 50 of them now.
Love this one - Go Clay Center Tigers!
Another over achiever? Nope, just someone that was so thrilled with the two year twilling embroidery group project that she had to finish it up so she could see how lovely it was. And it is very lovely. Course now all the ladies have got an idea of how to complete theirs. Great quilt Juanita!
In case you want to "store" it somewhere - I heard quite a few that would be happy to do that for you.
Nancy had a tell about a miniature sewing machine and Erlene shared her tell - when her son was 3 years old, Marjorie's class for baby sitting, took care of him for an hour and a half a day for a couple weeks. Best time of Erlene's life - those few quiet hours when most needed.
Wonderful Program, fantastic Show 'n Tell time, great turn out.
Don't miss next month - a chance to go shopping without taking the long trip in the heat.
If you fell in love with those cookies at the refreshment table, here is the recipe:
Lemonade Cookies
1 C butter
1 C sugar
2 eggs
3 C flour
1 t soda
1 6oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed (divided)
Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat till light and fluffy. Sift flour and soda together, add alternately to the creamed mixture
with 1/2 C lemonade concentrate.
Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet at 400° for 8 min.
Brush hot cookies lightly with remaining lemonade concentrate, sprinkle with sugar.
Remember:
Tuesday, June 27th at 9 am, the ladies will be at the United Methodist Church basement putting together the Community Service quilt. All volunteers appreciated. Get with Chair: Ruth Ann if you have questions or to tell her how you would be able to help. There is squaring up, pressing, sewing - something for all.
Stay hydrated and safe.
Enjoy the 4th coming up.
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