'Tis a gift - Very Quick Christmas Fabric, Button & Trim 2009 Swap

I recently took part in the "Very Quick Christmas Fabric, Button & Trim 2009 Swap" sponsored by Vicki at Tozz's Corner and Jenny of Elephantz. I sent the two top fabrics and Cheryl sent me the two bottom fabrics.
Go here http://willowberrydesigns.typepad.com/willowberry_designs/2009/12/swaps.html to see what else we swapped :) Her photographs are a whole lot better than mine and I forgot to take a picture of my package before I mailed it.
I'm looking forward to making a Christmas project with this lovely Figgy Pudding fabric.

Remember the funky santa/penguin/flamingo Christmas fabric I won recently? It's all now cut up and ready to make into a fun project.

Tis a gift - our Christmas tree skirt

We have a fairly decent size artificial tree (I cannot do live ones, gives me the sneezies) and every year I put the same items round the bottom.
The tree skirt was made by a friend of mine from our days in Ohio. Her daughter developed a very rare condition that could only be treated in one state in the US. The family had to sell everything off to afford the move and some of the medical expenses. I bought the tree skirt and a few of her Christmas ornaments.
The cabbage patch dolls were made by a friend, also from Ohio, for each of our girls. She made a baby quilt from the same fabrics for our son.
The book is my collection of Christmas stories. My mother-in-law made the book with a few stories in it and I added the cross stitch. It is about falling apart now but we love it.

'tis a gift - I'm doing a give-away :)

The give-away is open till Saturday (19th). Leave a comment at this entry or send me an e-mail.
I will announce the winner on Monday (21st.).
The book is called "Happy Endings - Finishing The Edges of Your Quilts" by Mimi Dietrich and the quilt pattern is called "Butterflies" originally designed by Laura Wheeler and adapted by Nina Shrock. (The antique quilt is in The New England Quilt Museum.)

Just for fun :) Anyone that has ever left a comment at this blog (up until yesterday) is automatically entered into the drawing.

'tis a gift - really and truly it is (was)

I've mentioned my White treadle machine in past postings and here it is. With all the re-arranging I did in my sewing room I now have space for it. Nik helped me haul it up from the basement last night and I gave it a good wipe down and check up.
It appears to be missing a key for the drawer locks, wooden hood for the machine and (unfortunately) the bobbin holder, bobbins and needles. The holder might be underneath but I have not lifted the machine all the way up yet.
The foot plate works just fine. A wee bit stiff but that can be fixed no problem. The band is a bit loose and while everything is able to turn somewhere there is a jam of some kind that prevents the needle shaft from working.

All the drawers are very sturdy. I love the designs on them. The two on the end have been decorated with what looks like oak leaves. The two at the other end are hidden by the drop leaf most of the time so are plain.
The middle drawer has a nice curve to the front of it and the carved oak leaves. It has some round holes just inside that are meant to hold something but I have no idea what.
I feel fortunate that the drawers are unlocked because they have a decent amount of space in them to hold some of my small supplies.

A full set of presser foot equipment by the looks of things. One of them is a quilting foot with a width guide that can be attached if needed :)

So generally the machine looks like it has been well used. There is a bit of damage to the surface of the wood bed and some rusting but that can be fixed.

I've seen a picture on-line of the same model but it had no information about dates etc. Most of the White treadles were made between the late 1800's and the 1920's and I would "guesstimate" at later rather than earlier.

So my White, which I scrounged off my neighbor who was getting rid of it, is now going to be used as a bedside table of sorts and I will let you all know how our fixing up effort goes. (John seemed interested in helping with that.)