Bernina, one of the sewing machines used by quilters, fabric artists, and dressmakers, will celebrate its 75th anniversary by spreading cheer to youngsters through Toys for Tots.  Participating Bernina dealers throughout the country will be a collecting point for toys.

Bernina also will donate money from particular sewing machine purchases.

 Quilters, click here for more information about the Bernina Toys for Tots program and participating Bernina dealers.

(I learned about this program from Jenni at www.QuiltersVillage.com )

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Quilters, Bernina Participates in Toys for Tots

Also,  if you order it, using the code Chloe provides, you’ll receive a discount.  What more could you ask for?  Time saving gadget and a discount.

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Do You Need a Handy Bobbin Winder?

  Ah!  The old treadle sewing machine!  That’s what I learned to sew on.  My mother had one; my aunt and grandmother had one; my 4-H sewing leader, Aunt Mary, had one.  I spent many hours at the treadle machine in each of these locations sewing.

In fact, we have one today that someone gave us.  We don’t use it for sewing, but have at various locations used this as a plant stand or side table.  My daughter and I keep saying we’re going to see about tuning it up, as Chloe plans to do with hers.  But we never seem to have the time.  In the meantime, we simply can’t let it go.

I also like to collect to collect sewing machine memorabilia…bobbins, bobbin cases, gadget boxes, presser feet, needles in needle cases.

Do any of you have memories of quilting with the old treadle sewing machine?

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Memories of the Treadle Sewing Machine for Quilting

Also, if you’re conducting a business where you promote and sell your items over the Internet, you’re likely to be devastated when you hear,”Your server is down.  The electricity is off.  Your computer has a glitch.”

All of these challenges occurred in our household recently, in addition to b5media having some downtime, which disrupted my ability to post here.  So occasionally my blog posts were rather irratic in April.

A friend in another state, who also conducts business utilizing the Internet, had server and computer glitches this past week, too.  “It made me realize how much we depend on technology these days, ” she remarked.

Yes, our lives seem ruled so much by technology nowadays which has it’s good points and disadvantages.

*If you depend on the Internet for receiving or placing orders, it can mean loss of business.  Another friend has a web site and sells quilt fabric, books, and notions to customers online.  When she has technological distuptions, it can affect her business.

*Viewers/customers who visit your site and find it down/inaccessible may not return or take awhile before visiting again.

*If you post online at a site or blog, your material may not be so frequent.

*In a world where editors, print and online ones, want your material sent via e-mail, then having technical problems can mean delays or missing deadlines as a quilting writer.

*Of course, if your sewing machine isn’t operable, your ability to produce quilted and fabric items is curtailed. 

 *If your banking and bookkeeping are done online, there can be problems without technical access.

Solutions? 

*Have designing, hand work, and other related work you can do during electronic and techical downtime.  Of course, this doesn’t mean you’ll meet deadlines, but you won’t feel you’re completely wasting your time.

*Try to have phone numbers you can call when your computer and related technical support is down.  In some cases, you can conduct your business via phone and fax.  You, at least, can let necessary contacts know what’s going on.

*When things are up and running, inform your viewers, customers, or editors what’s been going on.

*Have a back-up computer, or sewing machine, in case one doesn’t work.  (We’ve found this necessary in our household.)

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Technical Failures Can Affect Your Quilting Business & Fun

When these sewing machines were invented in the mid-1800s, they were the height of modernization.  Seamstresses were delighted they no longer needed to stitch clothing and quilts and do mending by hand. 

Finally my 4-H teacher bought a portable electric sewing machine that sat on a table.  She taught us to use this but warned us to “be careful of your fingers.  That needle goes awfully fast.”

We still have a treadle sewing machine that my daughter has claimed.  It’s considered an antique.  One of these days, we’ll have to haul it from storage in the garage and see if it really works.  In the meantime, she uses her computerized machine for quilting and fabric art.

Anne Kusilek . at Antique Quilt Dating, has written several articles about the non-electric, people powered, or treadle sewing machines…the history of them and her experiences.  As I read these articles, I was taken back in time to a childhood when Mother, Sister and I used treadle sewing machine in my parents’ bedroom to make many items of clothing and sew patches for quilts.

These old-time sewing machines have become collectibles.  Some are used for display and decorative effect.  Others are used for sewing, as Anne Kusilek does.

A number of books, as well as Anne’s articles, have been published about the history of the sewing machine.

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Quilting & Sewing with a Treadle Machine