The craft room is full of treasures that bring back wonderful memories. Like seeing my father’s antique armoire where he kept his dress hats, ties, socks, and suits. My mother’s cedar chest that was given to her by my father. Baskets given to me by a very special friend. When one of my friends passed away, her daughters gave me a few things that have been placed or hung in memory of her. The teddy bear pictured above was made by my sister, who passed away, and the picture was handmade by a sewing friend. There is also a secretaire bookcase filled with my Amish heritage treasures. My craft room could also be called a special memories room. This room is a bonus room above our garage. It’s my office, it’s where I write, sew, quilt and who knows what else I do. It’s another room where more memories are made.
Five of my dear faithful friends, come almost every Monday to sew. First, we gather together and have our morning cup of tea with all sorts of interesting conversations. When six ladies are in a room, there is also lots of fun and laughter. Then after we have finished solving our life and sewing problems, we make our way up to my craft room. There we get out the fabric and plan our projects. This past Monday, we made flannel baby blankets for a Monastery that helps young mothers.
I started this group over ten years ago, and we have made many things that we donate to different organizations. When we first started, someone suggested that we get a notebook and keep a record of all the things that we donate. I decided not to because I didn’t want our sewing group to be able to brag about how much we have made and donated. I feel if God wants to keep an account, and decides to tell us someday, that would be a great blessing! “Good deeds should be done with intention, not for attention.” heartfeltquotes.blogspot.com
One problem developed when our group made quilt tops. We had no way to get them quilted, except to pay someone to machine quilt them. That cost us money. So, I asked Hubby if I could buy a quilting machine. Well, of course, he said I could until we started investigating. Purchasing one of them cost $10,000 to $15,000, or more depending on what we wanted. I wanted one that would help us get our quilts sewn without spending a fortune.
I heard or read somewhere if you want something pray about it. Visualize where you will put it and see what God will do. I was telling Hubby about the praying, and that we were not getting our quilts done. He said, “Naomi, stop whining and just start praying about it, and figure out where you are going to put that huge machine!”
(By the way, my siblings and Hubby think I whine. I don’t, but I let them think they are right.)
“I know where I can set up the sewing machine, but I can’t justify paying that much money for it. I’m not going to have a business quilting, it’s for charity.”
“Pray anyways!” Hubby reiterated.
That’s what I did, I prayed. I also tried to figure out how I was going to clear the area where I wanted the quilting machine.
Every week I kept looking in the paper and online. One day I did find an ad about a long arm quilting machine that was in the next town. I called her and asked if we could come and see it. She said, “No, it’s all taken apart, but we can bring it over to your place and put it up for you. My husband is an engineer, and he has written directions on how to set it up.”
Well, it sort of sounded good, but I just didn’t feel comfortable about it. I said, “Okay, I’ll get back to you if we decide on it.” Knowing full well, I didn’t want to purchase something I couldn’t see if it worked. You wonder if all the pieces were there. What if something is missing? So, I forgot about it. We kept searching for just the right one, but all of them were way too expensive.
After a few months, we still didn’t find a quilting machine, so I decided to call the lady back. The problem was, we didn’t want to buy it if we didn’t know that it worked.
Hubby did his homework and looked up the machine online and found the going price for that used model. “Offer her $800 if she still has it.”
“Are you kidding me? I can’t do that. She wants a lot more. I feel foolish!” I moaned.
“What’s it going to hurt? Just ask her!” My matter of fact Hubby said. Sure, he does that kind of stuff all the time at work, but for me, it was a little out of my comfort zone.
I called her, and she still had the machine. She said, “I got lots of calls, but no one wants to buy it because they can’t see it.
I offered her $800, and she said, “How about $1000, and my husband will come over one night to set it up for you?”
I never thought about how much detailed work it would take to set one of those things up. They came over around 6:00 p.m., and he took over my craft/sewing room. He worked all night, unpacking, leveling, setting up until around 10:00 p.m. That is when she took over demonstrating how to use the machine.
We have used it for almost five years. When someone asks me how much I paid for it, I say, “We got it free. We paid that dear man $1000 for his labor.” What a labor of love that couple gave us. The best part, God answered my prayer. It truly was a gift that I am very thankful for.
Precious memories are still being made in my bonus craft room. The quilting machine is kept busy by my faithful, sewing friends.
