so grateful.

Hello Gorgeous.

It's still not quite real to me that this is mine.

I had outgrown my old machine for the second time (the first time was a couple years ago), and was looking. 

But, as many of you know -- 19 month olds don't pay so well, so I wasn't sure when I would be able to get a new one. 

A few upcoming custom projects (that will be too big for my old machine to quilt) became the catalyst.

I had originally thought I would get the Juki TL-98Q, (and even got to borrow one for the weekend to quilt this little number from Debbie...yes, she let me borrow it... quilters are good people). :)

Even though I liked the machine, I wasn't in love.

Before I make any major purchases, I like to try to do my research, so I had my mom take S and I to Sacramento to try some more machines out.  

My friend Amy had told me about her babylock, and I had tried an Espire that I really liked at our local sewing machine shop.  The girl at the place in Sacramento was great, and gave me what felt like a really good deal (almost the same as I would have paid for the floor model Espire at our local store).

My mom said, "Box it up."

My mouth dropped.  

I coughed and sputtered and got that giddy, clenchy chest feeling.

It's my birthday and Christmas gift for the next 10 years, or for as long as it takes me to to make and sell custom quilts until it's paid off. 

I said it before, but it is the closest I think I will ever come to that wedding dress shopping feeling again.

Thank you Mom.

All tucked in to my sewing space. :)

I have already finished one quilt on it that I delivered to my mother-in-law as an early Christmas gift (you can see it in progress in the picture above (Shirley -- if you're reading this, I'm going to have to get pictures of that soon, or you can send me some if you'd like...I was in a rush after I finished it Saturday morning). :)

The extension table is great.  So much better for quilting.

Overall -- I am one grateful girl.

Jay having time off + Healthy family + New sewing machine + time with a friend + 2 finished projects + pie + Grandparents who babysit + Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, & Ron Weasley = Perfect Thanksgiving week.

♥

P.S. I'll be selling my old machine if you're interested -- it's actually the "Heart Truth" version pictured here, but the same in everything except color to the Janome DC2010 -- it's a great machine for everything except free motion quilting on big quilts -- I'll be a little sad to send her away)

need to do an "I'm grateful" post

So, most of you know last week was a bit rough...

What I didn't tell you, is that our washing machine also went out, in the middle of doing the camping laundry.  I'm not normally great with laundry anyway (why is fabric so much more fun?), but it's bordering on OOC (out of control) at the moment.

Yesterday, I was intentionally focusing on bits of gratitude... and it was really flowing (I mean seriously -- I was grateful that I could throw away the heel of the bread because it meant we had enough to eat).

This morning, I got in the car to go pick up laundry from my mom, and the Check Engine Light was on... for the third time in six months.  The car is about 1 1/2 years old, with an awesome extended warranty -- that doesn't cover bunnies.

That's right -- I said bunnies.

(We no longer think they're cute)

You see, for reasons I will never understand (it was record breaking heat here yesterday), they like to climb in to the car and chew on the wires that go to the power steering and O2 sensor.  We have already spent $900 on bunnies this year (I actually had to cancel a fabric order after the last time we discovered their dirty work), and I'm feeling pretty sad about the $400 more, on top of the new washing machine (it was already a hand-me-down, and we didn't want to put $$$ in it).

So there you have it.

I need to be grateful again, like I was yesterday...

*deep breath*

I'm grateful for fun people like Krista, who rambles with me about doll quilt woes;
and Natalia, who gets excited for me and even snaps a pic with her cell phone when she sees someone who tried a design of mine;

and then emails me another copy of the tree-skirt her friend made.

(This one Tamara made is hanging in this quilt shop)

(and let's be real here -- I'm grateful there are people out there who like my ideas...not that they're mine 100%; I think everything out there in quilting is just recycled, right?) ;)

and Amy, who I'm hoping will win more than a Go! cutter;
and Kelly, who sends me pretty pieces of linen and cute scraps;
and Erika, who listens to me chat about the fears of mommydom, and even shares some of her own... and...

I'm grateful for pretty Dresden plates, and my new Dresden ruler that can make them even "chubbier" ;)

(For my Quilting Divas group)

I'm grateful that all the cups of clam chowder I ate while here aren't showing on the scale any more.

I'm grateful for my this little darling, who loves to snuggle his bears

and for ice cream on a stick, that can cheer him up when Mommy can't.

And I'm grateful that pickle is sleeping... so I'd better get back to sewing.

And lastly -- I'm grateful that even though we don't have the money for the car and washing machine, I'll be here when he wakes up.

Feel free to make your own grateful list, or add to them in the comments. ;)