Here it is!

My quilting machine.
 It's big and scary and I am having so much fun getting to know it. It has handles for free styling, where you stand over the material and let your imagination take over. Or you can stand behind the machine and follow a pattern placed on the black table with a red laser light. I haven't tried that yet because I DO LOVE using my artful eye.

 It is 10 feet long and as you can see takes up quite a bit of the basement.
This is me free styling!

 I just noticed I am wearing one of Mom's shirts

 

I can't help but smile all the time I am using this thing, even when it sticks up on the tracks and ruins my design. HA, The design is only in my head - I am just swirling around acting like I know what I am doing. I'll be damned if the first few turned out ok.

I never in a million years would of spent this much money on something so frivolous just for myself, (and the people who receive my quilts) but I am so glad I did.
 I wonder if Mom knows how much fun I am having?!

Bryan and Sharen both must understand my excitement over my new found passion, because they each bought me quilting thread for my birthday. Mike made this dandy holder and now I am equipped with enough thread to keep me busy this winter.

My quilts now have a finished look to them and to think I, Karen, did it all by myself.
I wouldn't dream of quilting someone else's work, but who know maybe some day.

A No Brainer

Lester's/Grandma's slot machine has been in our basement for a long time. It wasn't working and just sitting there under a blanket.
 The key to opening the back was lost and it was jammed. Not Working! I looked into getting it fixed off and on, but it was way too expensive so there it sat.
*****
When Mom would watch the kids for us when they were little, Bryan, Carrie, and Jon all played with it. They hit one jackpot. (actually Bryan did the pulling, but because Jon and Carrie were standing next to it THEY hit a jackpot).
They all loved playing it. Jon most of all. When it was time to pick the kids up, Jon would have to run downstairs for one last pull.
*****
So it was a no brainer that Jon would end up with it.
I thought it would be a great house warming present.

Now I had to just figure out how to get it working again.
First I had to get it clean so I polished it up. This is it dirty.

I called around and still - very expensive. (I don't know what made me think that it would get any cheaper with time.)

Elgin Key and Lock told me that they would look at it, so Mike and I lugged it up from the basement and took it in. This thing is HEAVY! They have never seen a lock like this one and didn't have a key for it.
They had to destroy the original lock.  I was worried that it would devalue the machine but it wasn't doing us any good as is. They got the back open again and replaced the lock with a new one - with 2 keys.

Now to get it working.
I did some research on it and found out it's a 34 (or 36) Mills diamond slot machine. And I'll be damned if YouTube doesn't have a video on how to unjammed it.
So with my Dad whispering in my ear, one eye on the computer screen, tool box open and cleaning supplies standing by, and camera in hand (I took pictures of everything before I took it apart so I would know what it looks like when I have to get it back together) I start cleaning this thing.
This is where 90% of jams occur so this is where I start. This thing was filthy and smelled like old coins. Yuck! I dismantled this escalator (the part where the coins show through the top front) and cleaned every spring and screw.

I get brave and take the whole thing apart to just give it a good cleaning. I took a picture every time I removed a screw. I gotta say I was a little nervous.

But I surprised myself and got the thing working again. Put it back together and did a happy dance.
I took the old coins (most were from the 60's and 70's) and put some in paper sleeves and the rest in one of Dad's old cigar boxes. Mom kept the coins in a cigar box next to the machine. I wrapped it up and called Jon and told him I had a house warming gift.
As soon as he unwrapped the cigar box he knew what I had in my car for him. Big Smile!

 Rumor has it that Erica is luckier at Slots than Jon.

I am so glad that it's being played again and I am sure Mom would approve of my choice. She knew how much Jon loved playing that slot machine.

Spooky Stories

Stacy's Literature class was having a "spooky Story" party and she invited all the parents of her class and ME.

Of course I wanted to bake something! Not allowed!
You cannot serve "homemade" fresh baked goodies to school classes anymore?!? What - but I'm a baker. ):

I settled on fresh fruit. I wasn't too sure that it would get eaten by the kids, but maybe the adults
would enjoy it. Oranges/pumpkins and Banana/ghosts.

Turns out the kids did eat them (after the cake that was brought in by a parent).
Stacy made a fire out of paper and we all sat around the campfire while the kids read their stories. I wasn't too sure about sitting on the floor, but I got down and up without any help.
She handed out marshmallow to "roast".

Stacy's class had to either write or read a spooky story. 6 out of the 7 kids wrote their own story. She had a flashlight to pass around.  It was your turn to read when you got the flashlight. The only one that I could understand was the kid sitting right in front of me. It was so cute, they all read real softly with their heads down. I asked her aide if they were always so quite. "Only when they're reading out loud!"

The place got louder when it was time for snacks.
I had a great time!
Thanks for the invite, Stacy.