Machine Woes, Again

I love my Featherweight, but she is suppose to be my travel machine and Lily is my regular machine.

Unfortunately, after only about 3 hours of sewing on Lily, she is making another "distressed motor" type noise. I was so frustrated yesterday that I just got the Featherweight back out and worked on something she could handle. I'm still considering my options for Lily. The shop where I take her guarantees their repair work for 30 days but I still have to get her there. Two trips there and back costs me two tanks of gas, about $100, 700 miles of driving and about 13 hours of my time. She has been a good machine (until recently) and I have no complaints with the shop, but I'm wondering if she is worth all this.

I'm going today to my local Bernina dealer to browse and explore my options. Initially it will cost me more to buy a different machine, but I know in the long run it will be cheaper to have a local repair and service shop. The other consideration is that I just spent a lot of money on my HQ Sweet 16. We do have a good savings account so we can afford for me to buy another new machine. However, I have a comfort zone I like to stay above with our savings account and I don't want to drop below that by purchasing a second machine in one month. My husband is being so sweet about this though. He told me to do whatever I need to so that I can have a working regular machine.

Birthday Purse

One of my nieces is turning 6 this Saturday. I made her a purse today to send her. It's the same pattern as the one I made for her big sister, but with different fabrics. I asked my mom for advice in picking fabrics. My instructions were purple, orange and bright. Do you think I followed directions?

Machines

Both of my machines are now in their proper places!

They are getting along very nicely and I think we will all have many enjoyable hours together! Lily is working beautifully after her trip to Colorado Springs. The drive motor was bad and had to be replaced. She is now back to her old self again. I'm trying to think of a name for my HQ. The current forerunner is Helga. Any suggestions?

Hodge Podge

(1) Our house guests left Friday afternoon. We all had such a wonderful time with them! It is so rare to find "couple friends" of which both you and your spouse like both of the other couple. Even rarer to like the whole family. Yet we have this with this family. The kids just picked up where they left off last time we got together, two years ago.

They brought the son a gift, the Battle of Naboo Star Wars Lego Set. To say he loved this gift really doesn't quite describe his enthusiasm. It has sparked quite a bit of creativity. Here are just two of the various displays and creations he has crafted since receiving it.

(2) I ordered a new book recently, The Bag Making Bible.

It includes 8 patterns will full size patterns but that isn't why I purchased it. The book is mainly a "technique" book that teaches you about the various components of a bag and how to create and customize them. There are eight chapters: Getting Started, Choosing Fabrics, Structure and Reinforcement, Linings, Closures, Handles and Straps, Pockets, and Edgings and Trimmings. I've only had a chance to read a little bit of the book and browse through it, but I think I'm going to really like it. I love bags but want to customize patterns I like and/or create my own patterns. I think this book will help me create the cute bags floating around in my head.

(3) I've started on my Glamp for Summer Camp. I've decided to make this one for me. If the boy decides he wants one too, I'll order another kit from Amanda.

(4) My new HQ Sweet 16 is AWESOME! I've only set it up and done some practice stitching with it so far. The "getting started" DVD said to change the needle before sewing if you just received the machine. I did this and put the needle in backwards. So then the tension wasn't right. I took out the bobbin thinking I may need to adjust the tension on the bobbin case. The bobbin fell out of the case before I had a chance to see which way it goes in the case. So then I had to wait until business hours to call the dealer I bought it from for help. All is well now! The dealer is coming to my house on Friday to check out my set up, make sure I got everything set up properly, answer any questions I have and give me some pointers and tips about the machine. I don't feel comfortable enough yet to use it on a "real" project, but I hope to test it out "for real" on a charity quilt soon.

(5) I'm driving back to Colorado Springs to pick up my regular machine today. It's 350 miles round trip, Ugh. I don't plan on doing much shopping, just up and back. We've got a neighborhood party this evening that I need to be back for.

(6) My local quilt shop changed owners at the beginning of this month, about a week ago. I went in yesterday for the first time. It was like going into a house a friend used to own for the first time after they moved to meet the new owners. The building is the same but everything else is different. I met the new owner and she seems very nice. I'm sure it will feel familiar again in time.

It's here, it's here!

No time to type. I'm busy setting up my new toy!

Repurposing

I started listening to Anne of the Greenstitch blog and podcast last year. Anne has inspired me to think before I buy. Now when we need something, instead of automatically shopping for it, I stop to think if I could make it and could I make it out of something I already have.

Case in point: My husband bought a new skillet for the camper and I gave him a griddle for the camper for his birthday. He wanted covers for them so they don't get scratched up while stored in the camper. He asked me where I thought he should go to buy some and I said, "don't buy any, I think I can make you some." I've still got 11 panels of our old curtains, maroon cotton velvet. I pulled one of those out, measured his items and made covers in about two hours.

The skillet cover.

The griddle cover.

The skillet cover has a drawstring. I had to use some green grosgrain ribbon because it was the only "manly" thing I had enough of on hand. I didn't think he'd like pink! I told him it would be easy to change the drawstrings later if he really doesn't like the ribbon. The griddle cover has a flap that folds over the end of the griddle and goes about 1/4 of the way inside the cover.

I think he really likes them! I was glad to make them for him and use up some of the old curtains. As I was making the skillet cover it occurred to me that these curtains would make luxurious Christmas gift bags. I think that is what I will do with the rest of the curtain panel I used for these covers.

Recent Shopping

Last week, in addition to purchasing a Handiquilter Sweet 16, I also purchased some fabric and a pattern.

The fabrics just called to me! I bought a yard of each. I'm planning to use them to make some baskets for my newly remodeled sewing room using the pattern I bought.

They had the cube size made up at the shop. It is sooo cute! It's about a 6" cube, so a good size. I may be able to use the pattern idea and techniques to make different sizes too.

The shop I'm referring to is Stitcher's Garden in Pueblo, CO. If you are ever in Pueblo you should stop in. It's a really nice shop, not very large, but a great selection of fabrics and patterns in a nicely renovated old building. Actually, the whole street is nicely renovated and had some interesting shops. I didn't spend much time window shopping since I was on a bit of a schedule and I'd already spent quite a bit that day.