۞ Sweet Interruptions ۞ 45

Debra, it was my mother that had a Viking.
I myself would love to have the Diamond Husqvarna, but I'd have to mortgage a certain part of Kel's anatomy!!!!
You can't go wrong with a good dependable product. My mum had her Viking like forever.
Just remember to be nice to your DH as you'll be wanting to get more of their embroidery software. The sales person told me it's around $1,500 just for those 8-9 disks. You are right to wait for the sale.

I have the Janome...here in Cn. it's about $3,000 plus disks ($100.) each...but I LOVE IT...now to find time to enjoy it..

Cndy, thanks for letting us know about the convenience of your Mantis Tiller.
I had been 'yo-yoing' to get one, as Lowe's sells some other brands similar to the Mantis. Looks like it will be a must have for me too.

My favorite quilting store used to carry so many brands. But now they only push Vikings. Of course they offer help, tutorials and especially the lure of instant service. The owner's husband is a mechanic that's trained to work on Vikings.

Right now, just for quilting, I am happy with my Quantum 9920 and of course, if I have the bucks... maybe I'll get that Viking.. Bernina.. Pfaff.. Janome... and the Gammill....you got the picture..

Even Rick likes my Mantis, he "plays" with more than I do LOL ^_^

To me, having the support of such knowlegable staff always available is worth paying a little extra. If I have a machine that I can't learn to use or stay frustrated with it then it is money wasted.

Cindy, a few years back my step sons helped till a veggie garden with the Mantis. They liked to 'play' with it, too. They over tilled the bed to the point it was fine dust that turned to brick after it rained!

Agreeing with you Deb.

Ya know... my mom had a Mantis, and she hated it... I don't know now why, but she never used it... guess I got my impression of them from her... I don't know what ever happened to that little tiller.
Guess I'm going to have to take another look at them, cause I can't use the big one we have... I always have to wait for Don to help me with it. Maybe I'll have to add that to my Christmas list.

Kel's father has a big tiller. He's always telling us not to get one, but use his instead.
Well, with the Mantis, I won't have to depend on Kel.

BJ, that is why I got the Mantis. The big ones are BRTUES to use. My mom is 81 and she uses it.

Afternoon. How is everyone doing? Is it warming up for you? It is 63 here now, and all my plants are so happy. The brug blooms are slowly growing. If I can get one of them to bloom, before it gets frosty, I would be a happy camper!
I wish we had the soil to use a tiller of anykind here. All our soil would do is eat up the blades! That is why I have raised garden beds, and everything else in pots!
Cindy, can't wait to see the doll clothes. How in the world do you sew those tiny sleeves, and pants, then turn them? You have more patience than I do.
Pictures for sure please?
LK

I'd take a Mantis for my birthday, I would, I would!!! Sounds perfect for my little space...

It is cold and foggy here this morning..supposed to be in the 60's a fairly nice in the afternoon....don't know if I believe them or not...we will see.

I don't know what the final plan will be.....initially Laura and I were talking about Cedric going to Jim from here as that will be a more expensive trip and we felt it was only fair that we paid that one instead of having to decide who was going to be stuck with the higher shipping costs.

I don't think any of us would mind shipping it to Jim. Guess I am speaking for myself here.
Send him to Jim, and then Cedric can make his way back to you across the US?
LK

Oh, that's a good idea! Then they could share some French words that they learned while in France!

I wouldn't mind the cost of sending Cedric to Jim, cheaper than an air fare!

Well on 2nd thought.. if Jim gets Cedric, then maybe LK could be next in line.. then maybe, Jim would be kind enough to send along some of those Mon Cheris just for LK...
maybe...

^_^ ^_^ ^_^


LK

I've decided I'm gonna make my youngest dd's boss a quilt. She does so much for Lisa, that I can't afford to do. She took her to her DR. and paid for her meds. Right now, Lisa needs a specialist to cut out a tooth that's growing in sidewqys, through the bone. She has no insurance. I'm not financially able to help. But I wanted to show my appreciation to her boss for helping Lisa so much/ She taught her in College, urged her on, and discovered her intelligence, put her on staff before she graduated. She's really been a blessing to her. Lisa has such a low self esteem, and Kay has helped her to build that up, She's made such a BIG difference in her life, I want ti thank her.
Any suggestions for an easy pattern that wont take to ling to make, or be to hard to machine quilt?

Good for you Audrey. Do some easy blocks, sew them up into rows. But instead of joining the rows and making one big top.. sew first row on to your batting and backing right away, then continue with second row..till you finish. Then finish with your border.
Quilt as you go!

This is a picture of my latest project with Courthouse Steps, the blocks were finished in a couple days. From cutting, to piecing to the rows. All that's left is to sew row by row onto the batting/batting.

That quilt top is pretty, Jaye!

Audrey, I use 5" charm squares for the center piece and 2 and a half inch strips.

You can do it too Deborah, it is very easy, not intimidating at all.

Audrey what a wonderful idea, I am sure it will mean a great deal to her.

Jaye that is going to be a beautiful quilt!!!

Sun has finally come out so took the dog for a short walk....can't seem to get up any energy today. It seems you always end up with the least energy when you have a long list of things that need to get done.

Thanks Trisha, I hope the recipient will like it too!


This message was edited Oct 28, 2008 4:44 PM

Someday, I want to do something like that... so, hold that thought a while Jaye... I may pick your brain at a later date.

TY Jaye! I've done a Log Cabin quilt as you go, but it's a lot of hand sewing, and my fingers don't take to that to good! I also did a Strip piece quilt that way for a friend. that was easier, but I may try your pattern! I have some books with patterns, I guess you could quilt as you go with just about any pattern, couldn't you!

Have any of you done the shawl on the Santa yet? I'm at a standstill, I don't know what to do with it! I've finished the sleeves and bodice.

I got a book today! It looks like the same book Debra got. Is it from you Jaye? It's called
Quilt in a Day Still Stripping After 25 Years by Elanor Burns!. I've been reading bout how to choose fabrics being sure to pick two contrasting colors and the the supporting colors. Still lots to read. There's a quilting supply list so that's going to be my shopping list I'll use my money for! Yippee, Jaye Thank you. I'm hoping I'm not getting embrassed here. If it's wasn't you, Jaye, someone please speak up! Hugs by secret sistah!

This message was edited Oct 28, 2008 6:49 PM

The shawl is for the hat, right?

Whoo Hooo Deborah! We can learn together. (don't make me look too bad, ok?) Isn't that book a hoot? Some of the photos are really funny.

Audrey, that's such a sweet thing to do for your DD's boss. I'm sure she will recognize the personal effort put into making it and will appreciate it very much.

Lordy, I'm tired! Just got back from picking out BJ's coordinating fat quarters. That's hard work! BJ, both of the new quilting books show how to choose color schemes, contrasting colors, complimentary colors, patterns in the correct scale, etc. Unfortunately, I haven't read those parts yet! I can see you now as you open your fat quarter package ..... shaking your head and saying 'tsk, tsk - that girl's got a lot to learn'. LOL!

Oh, my heavens, Debra... I'm the worlds worse at matching up fabrics... I'm always flying by the seat of my pants... scratching my head... putting half what I pick out back on the rack, picking some more, putting half of it back again, and starting all over... takes me hours to do that... and then I don't usually get it right. That's why I wanted someone else to do that this time.... soooo glad it was you... LOL....

The other person ( buddy) can take the fat quarters we sent to them to the fabric store with them. That's too cool!

Sounds like you ladies are having a bunch of fun.
LOL, now I get the stripping thing from earlier too. LOL

On the Santa Shawl, you just sew all the way around a hemline.
..got my kit today!!!

LOL! BJ, you could be describing me! The staff at Hancock's must know me by now. I was there over 2 hours this afternoon between choosing fat quarter fabric and TRYING to choose some fabric and flannel to make my brother and future DSIL lap quilts. Their fabric is never in order and it's impossible to find coordinating fabric from designer collections or flannel to match, etc. I get so frustrated. Don't think I'm ever there less than an hour and criss cross the store several times.

Good going, Judy! You're the first I've heard that has so far!

LOL, Thought about you too when i was there yesterday,
I only chose 5 fabrics, I am the same choosing too...

Yep, Deborah, i was really excited, had terrible day at office, took 2 hours to get home...
LOL, inched along and did some embroidery on my bag jammin to music...what else can one do...
Everyone else was blabbin on c phones.

If I do say so myself! I'm GOOD at picking out cooridinating fabrics! I can put together some of the most unlikely opatterns together, and it looks great! You just have to have a color in each one that blends with everything else! Brag, brag, brag!!!!

Seedtosser, I want YOUR job! What is it?

Yes, Deborah... your buddy will take what she gets from you to the fabric store and coordinate 10 fabrics with them to send back to you... now, that's the real challenge.

Yep, Debra... it's always an adventure at Hancocks, isn't it?

I learned something today... Did you know that every month Walmart gives away a new quilt pattern (one of those free fliers) at the cutting table... and they also have what they call "featured fabrics" that the quilt pattern uses to make it out of... they did all the thinking for you... I did no know that.
I got this months pattern called "Stepping Stones"...