UNVEILING OF MY NEW MACHINE

Juki HZL-F600 Full Sized Computer Sewing and Quilting Machine

I did not even start out wanting a Juki.  I have heard nothing but good things about juki's and when we left the Janome Shop in Texarkana, I just went on line and searched out what I was looking for.  

The below picture is the reason I purchased this Juki besides the price tag.

See the number six?  Just a tap of the button.  My Pfaff you enter in two numbers and truly it was no big deal to do this.  The Janome I was looking at you had to punch in, well...let's say I stopped counting when he hit the button more than four times.  I just want to go from one to the other.

Here is a practice pillow top, using my Island Batik Fabrics, of course.

I chose one of my patterns that would use every feature I would need.  The quilting on this is fabulous, the stitches look great.  The thread did not break, that was a great big plus.

My pfaff the presser foot just goes down automatically, that is a nice feature.  This one you have the lever in the back.  Still no big deal, I just put the knee lift on and well...there you have it.

I do not need or want the decorative stitches, nor did I want a machine that does straight stitch only.  I just need the straight stitch, blanket stitch, and quilting abilities.  There you have it.

I love the lighting on this machine, the table that comes with it.  I folded a piece of fabric eight times and it just hummed over it. 

Simple.

With every machine there is a learning curve and once that is over we will sing songs of love.

Still love my pfaff but will be selling her.

What machines do I have left?

Juki

Pfaff embroidery machine

Pfaff (lifestyle)

Nicce

White serger.

My daughter in law asked me how many machines do I need.  One day I will answer that question without rolling my eyes.

So what do you have and what is your favorite.

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This is the last week of "The Great Outdoor" blog hop, still time to win amazing fabrics, thread, patterns, tutorials, etc.

WEEK 1

Monday, August 6 – All A Flutter
Yellow Cat Quilts, Creative Blonde

Tuesday, August 7 – Birds N’ Bees
Ark Angel Creations, Patterns by Jen

Wednesday, August 8 – Canterbury Manor
Sally Manke, Powered by Quilting

Thursday, August 9 – Eclectic Garden
Desert Bloom Quilting, Sew Karen-ly Created

Friday, August 10 – Vintage Morris
MooseStash Quilting, Devoted Quilter

WEEK 2

Monday, August 13 – Safari
Sew Incredibly Crazy, SweetGrass Designs

Tuesday, August 14 – Spring Blossoms
Mary Mack Made Mine, If These Threads Could Talk

Wednesday, August 15 – Victoria and Albert
Bejeweled Quilts, Clever Chameleon

Thursday, August 16 – Wild Things
Freemotion by the River, Kauffman Designs

Friday, August 17 – Petting Zoo
Den Syende Himmel, Sarah Goer Quilts

WEEK 3

Monday, August 20 – Ocean Odyssey
Toby Lischko, Karen Overton

Tuesday, August 21 – British Rose
Busy Hands Quilts, Mania for Quilts

Wednesday, August 22 – Dear William
The Inquiring Quilter, MMM Quilts, Living Water Quilter

Thursday, August 23 – Dragonfly Dreams
Inchworm Fabrics, BeaQuilter

Friday, August 24 – Fur-ocious Friends
Quilting Affection Designs, Dizzy Quilter

WEEK 4

Monday, August 27 – Globetrotter
Pamela Quilts, Curliecue Creations

Tuesday, August 28 – Jungle Cruise
Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting, Little Bunny Quilts

Wednesday, August 29 – Lavendula
Carole Lyles Shaw, Masterpiece Quilting

Thursday, August 30 – London Calling
Quilt in a Not-Shell, Lizard Creek Quilting

Friday, August 31 – Spirit Rhythm
Steph Jacobson, Whispers of Yore

WEEK 5

Monday, September 3 – Sweet Tweets
Kathleen McMusing, Adventurous Appliqué and Quilting

Tuesday, September 4 – Whatnot
heARTS Creations, Slice of Pi Quilts

CHRISTMAS PENGUINS "THE WOODEN BEAR QUILT DESIGNS"

          This morning while the little one was sleeping I cut out all of the shapes for these penguins.

                                  Then while he is napping, I put them together on a pressing sheet.

I do like my pressing sheet and have found that Heat N Bond works better than Steam a Seam when using the pressing sheet.  You might feel differently.

Here they are all ready to stitch up.

I just love making these towels (go figure).  I showed you my stash of towels at one time.  Now I have a hankering to make some...a bunch....  ok.... a lot more than a bunch..

On my blog post yesterday I was asked:

DaynaNovember 2, 2017 at 10:19 AM

Did you use a stabilizer on the back when you blanket stitched? Appears your towels were made from different fabrics. Very cute by the way. Love me some batiks!

No, I do not use stabilizer and here are some towels I have had for years....I mean like five or more years and they have been washed a zillion times (okay so I am exaggerating but you get my drift).

                            Never found a need to use stabilizer except with machine embroidery.

This pink one was made without any kind of fusible, just glue.

I use any type of towel available and that is on sale.  Yesterday I did have one that was more nylon than anything else and I didn't like it but hey...it was there, was the color I wanted so I went with it.

Happy Toweling!!!

REINDEER TEA TOWELS

I had to be somewhere last night at seven.  It was six thirty so I had a few minutes to draw the patterns on my Heat N Bond fusible.

This morning I got up at five and ironed them to their fabrics.  This is actually 6 projects, 3 reindeer and  3 penguins.

We are expecting our grandson today...whoooohoo so I decided to get going on these.

I timed myself when I blanket stitched.  Talk about nerve racking, seeing the seconds go by.  I finally told myself not to look.

The time did not show up but it took me 13 minutes and 35 seconds to blanket stitch around these reindeer.  See how fast this goes?

The most time consuming part is drawing out the pattern pieces on adhesive and cutting out.  Even then it didn't take that long.

I find that is is much easier to make 3 than one...maybe a little more time but once you have the fabrics picked out you are GONE!!!

The pattern is "The Wooden Bear Quilt Designs" and the fabrics are Island Batiks.

I love these reindeer on brown don'w know why but I do.

Sick of my Octopus yet? Maybe Mermaids will help?

This week has been a whirl wind of events. My husband and I drove to Louisiana one day, stayed a day, and drove back the next. So....I finished this quilt totally before I left. I took it with me to mail out but didn't that is why it is crinkly.

This quilt is ready to quilt....

Then I designed this quilt and finally quilted it today.  Now to bind it.

So.... the Mermaid quilt

 It took me three hours to decide on fabrics and to cut everything out.

 Probably another three hours to blanket stitch it.

 Then another three hours to quilt it. 

 So that is nine hours. 

 That does not count for actually coming up with the idea, drawing out the figures and deciding on how to place them and what to add and not add.

Most of us do these things for the love of quilting, the love of creativity, the excitement of chosing the fabrics and watching the project take place.

I am in it for the creativity...what are you in it for?  What do you like best?  If this was not a customer quilt, it would probably be sitting to be finished.  Once the top was created, I was done and ready to go onto the next fun thing.  

So what are you in it for because obviously something keeps us going?

Squirrel Pickings!! (CHARM PACK GIVEAWAY)

What an amazing week last week was….three wonderful designers.  Did you happen to go to “Quilting Gallery”  on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of last week
to see who was creating these blocks?  What grand deals on those days as well!


 If not, you sure missed out!

Now the blocks will be posted at the “Quilting Gallery” if you want to mosey on over there and see what you might have missed.

Sept 4 – Dec. 13th

Michelle has done a fabulous job arranging this Block Party, she has a wonderful deal each day that it runs…lots of hard work.  Be sure when you stop by to thank her for this or at least comment.


  Now for my block.  I have to say that I had an idea, cut it out and it just sat on my cutting table for weeks….seriously.  I wasn’t happy with it.  Then….about two weeks ago I received a package from Inchworm Fabrics , when I saw the Harvest Moon charm pack….the wonderful colors….awesome smell (yes, I smell my fabric)….and I fondle it too.
That is when fur started flying, out with the old block in with the new.  I hope you like it.


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Squirrel Pickings


I used 7 charm squares from Harvest Moon by Moda,  one 12 1/2” square (all fabrics were provided by  Inchworm fabrics).
One owl button from ButtonMAD, about six inches of rick rack, Steam A Seam or fabric bonding of your choice, and small beads.

Yep…those that know me would have no trouble guessing that I would do an applique block, with blanket stitching.
I wanted to add texture so I made the squirrels tail fluffy….and the little tuff on his head.  In the pattern download it will show you how I did this and
 of course, is optional.

You can get the instructions here:

I guess you can say Inchworm Fabrics is my sponsor because she is giving away two charm packs for two winners on her blog  for me and 15% off in her store, she gives you the code.  Thanks Inchworm!  Thanks Michelle!!!

Inchworm Fabrics also sent me a charm pack to give away today on my blog....would love for you to be a follower but not necessary....just leave a comment.

The deal of the day is at Christa's Quilts!  Remember every day there is a new design there is a new deal!

KIM SCHAEFER’S CALENDAR QUILTS

My sister Beverly came over today, she sewed on the Drunkard’s path and Apple Core cuts I did with my Go

cutter and I finished these three Calendar Quilts.

Other than that, I am just chillin…..tomorrow I will go back to Texas. I plan to meet Cindy from “Just Cindy”

on my way back along with her daughter Lacy and her granddaughter..... Now how fun is that??????

No internet except at the Library for a week…….

HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME - UGLY QUILT TOP WINNER

I have been working on this quilt top for the last two days. Can anyone guess who's blog I got the inspiration from? This quilt is headed to Samoa....

The winner of the ugly quilt top is BeeBee.... Thanks to all of you who wanted it...they say Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in this case it is so true.

WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Every since I had watched "The Quilt Show" and hearing Ricky Tims (no, I am not in love with him) talk about the Bernina and how it stitches more times in the blanket stitch than other machines. Well...that stuck out with me.

So....I got my Bernina back from the shop. She has been ill since Samoa. Infact, I only got a good 3 years out of her. Not happy about that. They said she was dirty in the panel and yes....in the bobbin area (so I am embarrassed). That salt air did not agree with her and I believe she has to go back into convalescence.....she is still not well.


That being said....A friend was using my pfaff yesterday and so I was using the Bernina....thank heavens or I would not know she was not well.

I did see what Ricky Tims was talking about. Look below at this picture. As you can see, the first one is the stitches by Bernina (activa 230), the second is the Horizon (Janome), the third is the Pfaff ( 2058). Which one do you like best?

This picture blow is from the Pfaff...
this next one is from the Bernina...............don't you just love it?
I will say that using the Horizon to do blanket stitch is a chore, therefore, I use my Pfaff for all blanket stitching. I love the Pfaff because it is a breeze to do the blanket stitch, no forcing, juggling, it just does what I want.

Bernina on the other hand for me is a chore as well. I do know that I need to get use to her and her wild ways. It also takes longer to blanket stitch (that is obvious), I could have had what I am doing in the pictures (you will have to wait until December 17th to find out what I am doing)....well...I could have had this done and quilted in the time it has taken me just to do the little bit I have done.

But.....to be fair....Bernina decides when she is tired and she just stops sewing. So I turn her off...either go and do something else and come back or wait a few seconds and she will start up again. So...she needs more convalescence time. Really irritating when you want to get something done.

So....what do ya think? Any opinions out there?

Every since I met Judy from Sew Fun Quilts and her Sister, Fabricartist21, in San Antonio while still in Samoa, I have wanted a 300e and I have been searching ebay and hounding my dealer for good deals. Does anyone have a embroidery machine that they truly love, my mind can be changed!

EASY EASY CLAM SHELL TABLE RUNNER

Saturday as I was thinking (I know....I get myself into more trouble)..... I came up with this idea.


I used the Accuquilt Go Circle die, using the middle circle (3" in diameter) and came up with this table runner. If you would like a tutorial, give me time and I can come up with one. It is done by rows, starting with the top, you blanket stitch around each circle ( top only), See how easy it is???? Then you just work from row to row...and I use a glue stick to glue down the next row....let it dry and then blanket stitch....easy...easy...easy.


I had so many plans and so much that I needed to do but nope....the thought wouldn't leave my head (don't you just hate that?).....


I will say that after I trimmed the back of each row before starting another one that I had some waste. But look what you can do with the scraps from trimming....


Countless possiblities, making leaves.



You can use your scraps....and just forget about the waste. But there are so many out there that say the Accuquilt creates waste, I am here to tell you that it does not (least ways that is my opinion)....



Enjoy your day and don't forget about the "Pick Four" hop and giveaway below.
and Lynn tomorrow here

MEET HOOTCINTA THE OWL! HOOT HOOT!!

Upon visiting Buttonmad I found this cute cute tutorial for this owl, you can find it here. Yes, I know (if you read my post yesterday) this is pitfall #3.

I am always looking for projects for the Young women and I think we are going to do this this Wednesday.
In keeping with the spirit of using ButtonMad's tutorial, I put one of their buttons on the bum....

Now this bum looks about as broad as mine.....can you guess why? Hootcinta can not stay out of the M & M's....
GET OUT OF THOSE.........................those are MINE!!!!

Trying to make up for it by lifting the fabric cutter...... Silly owl....doesn't she know it will take more than a few ups and downs to work off those M & M's?

I guess I should take my own advice.....

I did a few more bags....

Maybe if I go up and down the stairs a few times I can have some more M & M's...... ???