I don't know if this will work as intended, but thought it might be worth it to have a Chat thread for keeping up with each other's non-quilting/sewing stuff. You can totally still make new threads for new questions, ideas, projects etc. Not trying to change that, just trying out if people would enjoy more of a central place to chat rather than now where a lot of it ends up in the What Are You Working On? thread for example. 

Also, I think some of you are interested in using the Chat Room, at least I've seen it mentioned a couple of times before. What do you think of setting up some specific times for that? Certain evenings or weekend days that appeal to you? Of course we come from all different time zones, so if you have a preference please state the times and your time zone. Maybe you'll find some others who are free and interested too?!

I kinda like the idea of a set day/time for a live chat.  It may take a while for everyone to remember it, though.  :-)

Waaaaay back in the mid 1990's, there was a terrific TV show for which an IRC channel (live chat) was formed.   When the TV show finished airing on the East Coast, those fans would log into the chat room.  As the show finished in each of the time zones, more and more people would log in.  It was amusing as, at the top of the hour, there would be an influx of chatters.  :-)   But, it was definitely something that everyone looked forward to one evening a week, after the show finished in their time zone.

Since there's a 3 hour time difference between New York and California, the East Coast people would stay as long as they could (or wanted to).  Sometimes the East and West coast people would get to chat with each other, sometimes not.  If the chat room wasn't particularly active (but was expected to pick up), people (especially the East Coast ones) would be working on projects, just hanging around and waiting for the rest of the time zones to join.

However, since we aren't depending on a TV show for our times, we could find a mutually agreeable time between East and West coast .. keeping in mind the 3 hour time difference .. and when the East Coast people want to get to sleep.  :-)     Pick a day, pick a chat length (say 1 hour to begin with) and we can try it out.

I know that the our chat room as been used before but since it's nothing scheduled, I know that I totally forget about it.  But if there was a set day of week and time of day, I could put in on my calendar.   Obviously, we're not going to be able to satisfy everyone's schedule but we can do the best we can.

I think a live chat would be fun....if I can remember the day and time.  Sometimes I am challenged.

I never know if I am going to be able to do a live chat..I have caught exactly 3 of Bonnie Hunter's QuiltCam sessions in the last several years...but...I did attend a series by a gal doing a demo of collage quilting since she published the hours and I put it on my schedule! So...if its a defined time (or times) that could work!!

OK, I have some chit chat.  I have been watching a local online auction for a couple of weeks and the bidding stopped last night.  One of the items I was watching was a "vintage portable sewing machine".  That's how it was listed, but just seeing the case I knew it was a Featherweight.  DH is an enabler when it comes to them so he watched and bid on it for me. There were just a few other bidders.  We got it for $150 and I get to go pick it up this afternoon--so excited.  I think if the auctioneer knew what it was and advertised that it was a 221, they would have gotten a lot more for it.  I wasn't about to inform him!  I'm anxious to see what kind of shape it is in.  DH thinks they should all look bright and shiny black and look like they have never been used, but I don't mind battle scars.  I like to think about the lady that used it and wonder what all she made on it.  

That's funny that your DH thinks all Featherweights should look "mint".  Does he think all vintage tractors should look "mint"?

whoohoo!! how exciting - you got a really great deal!!....I really really want a FW...I keep hoping I will find a great deal like this!

LOL!!  Sadly, he does.  Any tractor he sells -new or used- has to be bright shiny and dirt free.   DH tells me about a farmer he deals with that washed his tractor every night after use.  Crazy!!

Hooray!  What a deal!  Please share a photo once she's comfy in her new home.