Little Mother Toy Sewing Machine

My husband is always shopping.  Lucky me, he is also always looking for vintage sewing goodies for me.  Yesterday he brought home this gem of a toy sewing machine.

This hand crank toy sewing machine is called the "Little Mother".  It was manufactured in the 1940's.  These toy machines were made in several different colors from pressed metal.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but this one is Navy Blue.  It's in great shape, and works well.

Here's the front of the case it came in.

It was so much fun to open this up and see the tiny machine inside!

The upper drawer contains a small clamp, to fasten the machine to a table top for sturdy sewing.  There are a few tiny, vintage spools of thread in the drawer, too.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

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Blue and Yellow Star Quilt Top

After much consideration, and lots and lots of differing opinions, I decided to go with my original plan and sew these blocks together without any sashing at all.  I like it.  I think it gives it a vintage look.

All the star blocks sewn together, above.

I added a chunky yellow border in one of the same fabrics as I used on the stars.

I loaded it onto the quilting frame...

And started quilting away!  I'm quilting this one with a blue/grey solid thread in an all over free form feather pattern.  I've quilted about half of it so far.  It's going really well!  That Free Motion Quilting with Feathers class I'm taking on Craftsy is really helping!

                                      

Craftsy is having a super sale right now, so click on over and take a look.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas 

Peacocks in Tree Block Progression

This past Sunday, when the Carolina Panthers lost in a heartbreaking game, I finished stitching the Peacocks in a Tree Block.  This block design is from Jane Townswick's book, Artful Album Quilts.  I though it would be fun to see how it progressed in pictures.

The start of my block, with a pieced background, stems, and a few of the leaves.

Part of the tree, and a few more leaves.

The ground, and a few more leaves.

Peacock number one, plus a few more leaves!

Even more leaves.  (This block has a lot of leaves!)

Peacock number two, a few more leaves, and it's finished!

I'm finishing up this block next.  I think it's called Spring Tulips.  

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

Three New Books in the Shop!

Have you visited the Curlicue Creations Shop recently?  I've been busy adding some wonderful books to the inventory.  These and many other crafting books and magazines are available in the Craft Books and Mags Section of the shop.  Click on over and browse for a while!

Pink Ribbon Quilts by Mimi Dietrich is a lovely book of quilt patterns for anyone affected by breast cancer.

I have two copies of the classic, Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel.  If you're interested in learning this technique, this book is the best!

And for handwork lovers (like me!), I have The Needlepoint Book.  The dust jacket on this book is a little torn, but it's in splendid condition, and from the 1970's, too.  This book is filled with diagrams and instructions detailing 303 different needlepoint stitches, plus some projects, too.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

HUGE Yard Sale Spoils

Last weekend I attended what was touted as a "HUGE Yard Sale".  There were banners hanging all over town advertising this sale for 2 weeks.  I was ready!  I spent a total of $11.00.  Here's what I came home with:

Adorable teacup pincushion with pins.

Marking pens and pencils, embroidery hoops, zippers, and one of those cool, old lady light up magnifying glass necklaces that I probably need because I can't see.

Various packages of batting, stuffing, and etc.

Always useful.

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Three big stacks of eye candy quilting magazines to drool over for inspiration.

Various fabrics, including ultra suede, silks, and velvet - luscious!

Fun, purple marble dyed fabric.  I'm going to use this for something soon.

Stack of quilting fabrics, mostly busy florals.  

I just love vintage shopping, don't you?

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

Blue and Yellow Star Blocks

Yesterday I pieced together all of the blue and yellow star blocks.  

Here they are all pinned and ready to sew.

Two blocks up on the design wall.

Five blocks up on the design wall.

Twelve blocks up on the design wall.

I pieced them with the new Featherweight, Mary.  She did a great job!

All fifteen star blocks up on the design wall.  Now I know I need to move the darker background blocks around a bit, but here's my question:  "Do I add yellow sashing, or not?"  What do you think?  I need a vote here.  Thanks!

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas

Featherweight 221 Comparison

Yesterday, I acquired a second Featherweight 221 sewing machine.  It's a 1937 (pictured in front).  I've decided to name it Mary, simply because that was the most popular girl's name in 1937.

She sews a fine seam, but looks a bit more worn then the 1951 machine (pictured in back).  As I explored the "new" machine, I thought the differences between the 1937 and the 1951 were interesting.

The case for the 1937 machine is shorter and a bit taller.  The handle is made from metal wrapped in leather.  The interior of the case is covered with a pretty, black embossed design.

The 1951 case has a plastic handle attached with metal.  It also has space inside for a few notions.

Here they are together so you can see the differences.

The most noticeable difference in the two machines is the design on the end plate.  The 1937 is on the right, featuring the fancy scroll work.  After WWII, they changed the end plates to the grooved style.

1951, grooved end plate.

1937, scroll end plate.

1937, the word "Singer" on the light is in a higher position.

1951 "Singer" on the light position.

The 1937 machine features a lot more chrome.  See the flywheel?  I think the bobbin winder has been replaced on this machine.  This one is made out of black plastic.

The 1951 machine has a black flywheel and a chrome bobbin winder.  They are opposites!

The 1937 has a chrome stitch length plate.

The 1951 stitch length plate is black with chrome trim.  Fancy!

Black light switch on the 1937.  I need to get a new light bulb.  The one in the machine was burned out and looks like it could be original!

White light switch on the 1951 machine.   These switches only operate the lights and do not need to be on for sewing.

The needle plate on the 1937 machine has been replaced with this handy, marked plate.  I like it.

The 1951 machine still has it's original needle plate.

The motor on the 1937 features this Singer symbol.

The 1951 motor has this Singer symbol.  Both have the same type of motor.

The Singer plate on the front of the 1951 machine.

The Singer plate on the front of the 1937 machine.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the differences between these two machines.  Now I'm off to sew blue and yellow stars with Mary.  

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Get Creative!

Jennifer Schifano Thomas