right now

right now

Feb 7, 2011

I've been in hiding the past 3 days...

Thanks to my wonderful hard working husband who worked 18 hour days in 120ยบ heat in the Middle East for the better part of a year to earn some tax-free bucks, meet the newest member of our family:


 (lots of husbands come home and spend their money on big screen tv's, video games, etc... not mine - he's definitely a keeper!)

The IRS delivered the refund early (I'm still in shock over that), and I was able to bring her home on Friday!  I researched about 7 machines over the past month and finally settled on this one.  I will admit that I used my experience in sales to score quite a bargain on this and got some expensive accessories thrown in, too.  I'll probably write about the machine at a later date since I know how hard it is to have to search and search for reviews and recommendations.  I'll work with it for awhile so I can provide a more experienced review on it.  Right off the bat though, OMG I HAVE A MACHINE THAT WORKS!  I took a cue from Mama Pea's self-imposed quilting retreat and took the whole weekend to read manuals, play with all the features, and finish my very first quilt.


My binding wasn't wide enough but at least I know what to expect next time.  I also found I need to seriously work on an ergonomically correct table/chair for next time as my back and neck are very sore from quilting for 6 hours straight... but at least I got the "very first quilt" out of the way without any serious property damage or suffering any panic attacks LOL!


Below is the big reveal... it's a bit Marsha Brady (whom I love!) and I think will look fantastic on my patio table with a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a few glasses.... now if that sun would just come out already!

Close up of the "Marsha Brady"-ish floral print :)


 Here is the back side for the quilters out there.  Not very exciting, I know - a simple grid pattern.  I don't trust myself to stitch in the ditch quite yet.  My technique still resembles winter driving, it's more of a "slide into the ditch"... LOL



Below is what happens when hubby and kids decide to cook dinner so I can quilt.  Pizzas of course, but also Finn made pretzels and Loch made some cinnamon rolls with daddy's help :)  Nobody said things would be healthy when mama's busy, but it sure was delicious!  At least it wasn't Ramen Noodles.



Sadly, I have to put the new toy away for a few days while I take care of some garden-related things.  The mess in the attic (lights and heat mat, chains and ext cords) got hauled down and I can now start my first flat of seeds for 2011.



See - there's plenty of messy stuff in the house, it was just stuffed up in the attic!




Now I'm off to spend some quality time with a notepad and the garden binder/seed stash!  Tomorrow's the big day.

21 comments:

  1. I think your first quilt looks great! I love my machine but seldom have time to use it anymore.

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  2. The quilt looks beautiful. I love my Innovis. Great choice. Can't wait to see what else you make.

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  3. O M G!!! Congrats Erin! It's well deserved! I've never seen a digital sewing machine before. Looks like you got quite the SWEET deluxe package. PS, I am loving your quilt!!

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  4. Beautiful quilt Erin, and very fancy machine. You definately have a great guy there-and he cooks too! What a catch. Have fun with the seed starting-I'm watching with ENVY!!!!!!!!

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  5. It's me again---I'm really liking your new font. How do you change that?

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  6. Congrats! The new addition to your family is just lovely! and your quilt turned out fantastsic. And what a great family to "take care of themselves" to let you work away. It really is very thoughtful. Many blessings to your family of 5!

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  7. What a lovely quilt~! It's hard to believe it's your first one! The colors and prints are really nice. You are something else - I'll be interested to hear your review of your newest family member.

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  8. I love your first quilt! It's wonderful! Your machine looks like a good one too. I'm sure you'll have many years of great sewing with her/it/him. Have you named your sewing machine yet?

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  9. OOOOOO!!!!! Congrats!! On both the new machine and the first quilt. And I've found in the past that when you are quilting for 6 hours ergonomics don't help that much. The importance is to take regular breaks- you hear that- breaks! Even if only for a few minutes. One of my quilting instructors used to make us do yoga stretches periodically during our retreat weekends.
    Judy

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  10. Fullfreezer's comment above is right on. Nobody can spend so many intense hours at the machine without doing bodily harm to themselves! (I should talk, huh!) Get up, do a few jumping jacks, easy stretches, lie down to stretch your back out, etc., etc. It really helps. You'll probably have to set a timer to remind yourself to stop now and then!

    Can't tell you how great your first quilt looks. Ab-so-lute-ly fantastic! You are off and running in good style. Can hardly wait to see more.

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  11. P.S. Your three boys helping by supporting mom . . . PRICELESS!

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  12. How fantabulous! I can easily peace my front together, but never ventured in quilting it together, just basting the sides together. You're my hero. You'll love the brother. It's a great machine.

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  13. Beautiful quilt and I love the "Marsha Brady" print!

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  14. DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN!!!!!! That's sweet Erin!

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  15. What else does that machine do besides sew? It's FANCY! And that quilt -- gorgeous! I love, LOVE it! Nicely done. I'd like to make a quilt for each kid, plus one for me and hubbie, but I find the process kinda intimidating. But then again, I used to think that about knitting socks! Thanks for the inspiration.
    P.S. More messy house pictures please. I'm starting to get a bit of a complex here!!

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  16. P.S. Hey, I can comment!! But only on my laptop -- I still get that weird Google error when I use my desktop. How weird is that??

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  17. Erin, is there NOTHING you can't do? (Double negative there, I know, but I like the impact of how it sounds.) Truly, you amaze me.

    I've had fantasies . . . well, maybe just wishes . . . of wanting to try quilting sometime, but there just AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY, are there? That, and I'm afraid it would drive me batty - trying to get the points perfect and matching and and . . . !

    Too, I'm envious of you having electricity so that you can start your seeds! Having lived on a tight (off-grid) electrical budget now for the past 4+ years, I think of all the things I would have done back when I wasn't living off-grid: start seeds, put up more Christmas lights during the holidays, keep the chicken house at a much warmer temperature (and, therefore, have a higher egg production), etc.!

    At any rate, I'm having fun living vicariously through you! :)

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  18. Thanks everyone for the kind words! It's a really simple design, but it's still a quilt LOL!

    Sue, on my page I clicked on "design" in upper right corner of blog, then click on "template designer", then "advanced", and that brings up a choice of fonts to use.

    Fiona, the machine also makes cocktails and sweeps the dog hair... LOL! Glad your laptop worked for the comment!

    Chicken Mama, I would think you hit the lottery if you suddenly started quilting - I would have to come up there and look for all the staff that had been employed at Swamp River Ridge to enable you to have some free time!

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  19. Congrats on the new machine, your right, hubby is a keeper.

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  20. Ummmm.....is it awful that I bought a sowing machine a year ago and it's still in the box unopened? Hahahaha...I wish you were my neighbor, I'd make you teach me!

    The quilt looks awesome by the way!

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  21. Thomas, you MUST make Jonathan a garden tool apron! I can just picture him with his rubber boots on and a homemade trowel belt!

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