I Was Right

it was the operator and not the machine. Gee, all I had to do was read the book, and solved the problem. I was using the wrong stitch. Don't know what made it wrong --there are so many stitches on this machine that I don't know if I'll ever learn them. But by switching to the stitch it called for for free motion quilting and putting the tension where it recommended, I got just the results I was looking for. So, go me!!! Will post photos next week.

I'm Still Trying

I've finished the wallhanging top I was working on. And have now moved on to the quilting. It's not going so well. I'm having two problems -- either the thread is breaking or the thread is seriously looping on the bottom of the quilt sandwich. I know that both are tension problems, and today, I have decided to reread the instruction manual that came with the new machine, because I know that it's the operator and not the machine. I've been trying some new quilting patterns in my freestyle quilting. I've done some swirls, and loops and some outline quilting. Hopefully I can finish it up this weekend.

We're leaving on Thursday afternoon for the York train meet, and will return on Friday evening. Krissy has a parade and her first softball game on Saturday, and we surely don't want to miss that. Weather is supposed to be beautiful this coming weekend, and since Izzy and I cleaned the deck last weekend, I may actually get to sew on the deck this weekend. We did ribs in the smoker last Saturday, and they were yummo!! So, we've decided that the smoker is a keeper, and may try a brisket this coming weekend. Jimmy goes back to work today, and so Bubby comes back to stay with me. He stayed yesterday afternoon, and Izzy was so happy to have him back. I have a corner of the living room which is in front of their books and toy shelves which they call the "library". After Bubby got home from school at noon yesterday, he and Izzy spent about an hour or so reading in the "library". Since neither of them really reads yet, it was so interesting to hear them give their versions of the pictures. Have a good rest of the week,

Here and There

It is the end of an era-- John Madden has announced his retirement. And football, as we know it, will never be the same. Thanks John for all the enjoyment you've given us.

My Mom is finally settled in Assisted Living. It's a really nice community only 5 minutes from our house. The facility is a group of homes, with both private and semi-private rooms. Mom has moved into a private room with a private bath. The residents are assisted with dressing, if needed; bathing or showering, their rooms are cleaned, the beds are made, and home cooked meals are prepared there in each house. The residents all go to the dining area for meals, and then the caregivers clean up after dinner. There are living rooms in the house and large screen TV's. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and there is a pond just a short distance away from Mom's house. I hope that she will be happy here. It's been a bumpy road to find a suitable facility, and I'm looking to getting myself settled down and my blood sugar levels back to normal.

I've been sewing on my new machine on the new table. Love the machine and the table, but I'm a shorty and the table is way too high for me. My hands have been going to sleep from shoulder problems. So, I raised my chair level, and then my legs started to go to sleep. This weekend, DH Rod is going to make me wooden legs to put my table at the height where I will be comfortable. He sure is a sweetie!! I've finished the wall hanging I was making to celebrate spring and hope to get it quilted this weekend. Photos will be posted next week. Have a great quilty weekend.

OK, OK, here are the pictures

Ok, in response to the numerous requests (well, maybe only two) for photos of the new machine, here they are. This is the new sewing table with has a drawer just big enough to hold the foot pedal (which I rarely use) and the accessories box. There are measuring marks on the front of the table, and holes in the underskirt where you can access the lever to drop the feed dogs.


And, here it is. The new member of my sewing family. Isn't it beautiful? I have been practicing with the decorative stitches, and have started the borders of DD Mary's batik quilt. Today, I don't have any kids, so guess where I'll be!!!

I DID IT!!!!

At the Lancaster show this weekend, I bought a new sewing machine. The newest addition to my sewing family is a Janome 6600P, a professional machine. I also bought the table made to go with this machine. Much more than I wanted to spend, but my dear Hubby encouraged me to do it. And boy am I glad that he did!! I played with my new machine yesterday, and so far I am in love with it.

Thursday I have all three kids since Krissy is on Spring break Thursday and Friday. Rod is off also on Friday, so we'll carry on our Good Friday tradition of dying eggs with the grandkids. Also I bought some spring cookie shapes from Market Day, and we'll bake them and let the kids decorate them. This will be our first egg dye with Izzy and I'm sure it will be a hoot. I used to make pierogis for family and friends on Good Friday, but haven't done that for a few years. If I have time, maybe I'll do some potato and also some sauerkraut pierogis. When I do my sauerkraut ones, I drain the sauerkraut and mix in some brown sugar, so it gives them a sweet/sour taste. I sent them to Philly with Kristin one year, and her roommate couldn't understand why the Mrs. T's sauerkraut pierogis that he bought didn't taste like mine. And that's my secret for sauerkraut pierogis.

I bought some new patterns at the quilt show this past weekend, one for dinosaurs for Izzy since she loves dinosaurs. I bought dogs and cats and one for a seamstress sweatshirt jacket for me. Now to find a sweatshirt to fit me. And on to play with my new "friend". Have a good week.