Saturday, September 4, 2010

Janome Just Jolly

Well, I finally did it......got a Janome. Don't know why I never got one before. Not as fancy as the Husquvarna, but sew smooth, has enough quilting stitches to placate that quilting bug. Not an overly havy machine, which is good, but has good weight to not move around on the table. The light is nice and bright, the thread cutter is located at the side ( something I have to get used to......) and the bottom plate is clear, so you can see if you are running out of thread, rather than guessing.
Well laid out. Easy to understand modes for sewing. So the Husquvarna is getting cleaned up and will be sent to the local quilting store for sale , on consignment. The ladies who run the store said they often have people in who are looking for them, and I should get a good price. Janome is really easy to thread, great thread guide ( that actually works) and comes with tons of bobbins that wind incredibly fast. I like the fact that you can choose how fast you want to sew....the little insignia at the middle portion shows a turtle, going all the way to the bunny ( I kind of sew like a bunny.....zoooom)

Janome is all computerized, but in a manageable way. Still have to push the panel pretty hard to make them change back and forth, but I think that's because it is brand new. Best feature is that there is a manual lever for moving the pressure foot....and the machine does not start automatically. A lot safer.


Friday, September 3, 2010

Sewing Machine Possession

Grrrrr.
That is my first comment on this goofy machine I bought over two years ago. It's possessed, I tell you. I even thought I should get an exorcism, but figured that was too weird. Have decided to sell it on consignment and put the money towards a new machine. One with not so many bells and whistles and things that can go wrong, or beep and fall off.
Yes, I did my research on sewing machines and a couple of years ago bought a Viking Husquvarna, after much debate and much trepidation. Income tax money is wonderful to spend on treats ......feels like it's some sort of present. So after about 6 months, I took the plunge and lugged home the Husquvarna.......the thing was so heavy it took two of us to drag into the car.
The first time I tried to sew with the thing, it tried to eat my fingers. I just put that down to it being new and fresh from the factory, and me being green, green, green. Well.....I'm not so green now, and this machine has become annoying."All the bells and whistles, with so many quilting stitches it l sew by itself", was the advertisement.......Oooooh, I thought. Fun. Either that, or it better make coffee.......
Grrrr.
For these past two years, this machine has been slowly, but surely falling apart. First, the pressure foot jammed , wouldn't move, I couldn't raise it. Everything was done electronically. The machine would just shut down and sulk ,when it wasn't happy. Then, after the pressure foot incident, the threader stopped working. Three times I've had it " fixed", and it is still broken. Then the weirdest problem of all showed up...........it started beeping and humming and freezing. Then the sewing needle would come to life, sensuously darting in and out of invisible fabric, nearly sewing my fingers to the metal plate. The stitches would switch back and forth, for reason at all. And the humming.....as if it was laughing at me.....daring me to stick my fingers under the pressure foot.
I must destroy this machine, I decided.........but how, and when? Would anyone notice?
Grrrr.
The latest problem? Well, the pressure foot pedal cracked, the metal bands inside snapped off and the casing fallen off. No one seems to know how to get a replacement. I was told that I would most likely have to send it to Sweden............I could have a vacation there, for what it would cost in shipping charges. And at this point, I am soooo fed up with the Husquvarna I would gladly give it away, either that or toss it into a metal squisher and listen to it grind away into tin foil and plastic.
Sigh. That would be a most satisfying sound.
I've returned to my back up sewing machine...one I got 12 years ago....a Brother. Loud and noisy, and some uneven stitches, but it behaves. But, I still need something with at least SOME quilting stitches, so will be having a look at a Janome today. The Husquvarna sits in its corner, tauntingly. I think it can hear me plotting its demise.
I hope the new machine is not possessed , just quiet and obedient.It better not talk , or beep or have any sort of personality. I hope that I am not losing it.
And it doesn't even have to make coffee......

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Faith's Gift

With Faith, just before she left today. This is her 50th birthday present.....Dresden plate wall quilt.....added some beading on the edges to give it some shine.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Courtenay Country fair Quilt Show 2010

Lots of great quilts at Courtenay Fair. Most, in fact, all of them, except for one, were machine quilted. Kind cheating, I say. Nothing like a hand quilted piece. This little Pineapple mini wall quilt was voted as best in its class. Machine Quilted, but absolutely perfect paper piecing.
THis Civil War Reproduction Quilt is the only quilt in the shaw hand quilted. I think it is wonderful. It received 1st place in a special category.

Best Use of Colour in Show....all batiks.


Mariner's Compass Quilt. Best Overall.

Landscape wall quilt. Best in Class.

Native Art Mixed Media. Best in category. Beautiful quilt. Quite unique.

Strip pieced, mixed media levels. 1st place.

Christmas in the Country queen sized quilt. Has pigs on it. Not sure what pigs have to do with Christmas.........but really nice colour scheme.

Kitties and Chickens. Kind of busy, for me, but kind of cool. Placed 1st in its category.

1st Place over all in Unusual Quilts Category. The top is quite fuzzy from the machine quilting, and incorporates wool.

Blazing Star. Unusual. Honourable Mention

Hot Batik Wall quilt. Use of metallics. Strips and Curved seams.

Piano Keys and Simple Crosses. Nice use of colour.
Log Cabin Crows. 1st place. Great log cabin strip pieced quilt. Love the crows. Kind of weird. But really neat.
Eagle in Flight.


Spawning Salmon. Salmon appliques are covered with netting, as if the fish are being pulled up into a Gill Net. Great idea.

Strips and curved wall quilt. Lots of detail in a two tone facade. ALl machine quilted. I think it would have been nicer if it was hand done.
















Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Fair Toting

Fully lined, filled, trimmed,including a patchwork lined inside pocket, quilted tote. Just finished this for the Group Christmas Fair at the end of November. Takes about 3 hours to make..Now,the tough part...I have to figure out how much to charge. What would you pay? I am really interested in your ideas.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tofino Textiles and other cool stuff

Okay, I know this isn't fabric...but just had to show you my find.....antique amber bracelet inan out of the way shop in Tofino. I adore amber. Love how it glows....
This is a cool piece. All hand beaded anbd embroidered , in India, then sent to odd little places like here. The textures ae amazing...beading, buttons, twisted fabric, felts, ribbon....this will make a great wall hanging.

Native embroidered shawl.....open work design, with shiny baubles dangling from the faces. Very soft, can be worn in the winter either as a shawl, or a scarf. or maybe on a table.....or maybe hanging from a wall....the possibilites are endless.



Detail

Celestial Sphere shop, Tofino, B.C.Very odd little place.


This is outside, you should see inside....but couldn't take a picture of it. Ceiling to floor stacked with "stuff", fabric, wall cloths, indian blankets.....could have happily lived there.
Cushion covers from Celestial Sphere. I was thinking of turning them into front flaps for Messenger bags, or totes. All hand done.


Love the elephant. That was the most expensive one. Really hmmed and hawwwd about whether or not to get it. Cost me $35 just for the elephant. The others were only $12 a piece.








Monday, August 9, 2010

What to do with Scraps

Had some leftover drapery material, the old diningroom chairs needed covering, so tore the old ones apart and made them all different. I love the effect! Nothing has to match, and yet, they all still have the same tonal hue. And didn't have to use anything new. Even used a piece of poly filler underneath to bolster up the sweet hay that was used over 80 years ago as filler.
Started organizing reams of scraps that just sit on the shelf an do nothing..............

Ironed and folded everything to see what was available. These are just some of the leftovers.

Cut most of it into 6 inch squares that I can use to a multitude of quilts, either as triangles or squares, in a variety of designs. Really useful. Love cleaning out stuff and finding a use for it all.