Sewing Machine Found!

Well, I got my new sewing machine last week. It is actually a used sewing machine, but it is new to me. I look at sewing machines the way I look at cars, why pay full price when you can get something a couple years old, in great shape and for a fraction of the cost. I've been using a 40+ year old "Maxwell" that was my grandmothers, a 15+ year old Brother Galaxie, and a ? year old Babylock Companion (portable) sewing machine that I got in a church rummage sale this summer, so a 5 year old Husqvarna Viking Quilt Designer is new to me!

Here it is in all its glory!

I love it so much, that my house went to hell last week - kids complaining that we have no food in the house, no clean clothes, dishes piling up, no bloggin, etc... because all I want to do is play with my new toy! I did go grocery shopping yesterday, and cleaned the bathrooms over the weekend, but I have a lot of catching up to do this week!

But since last Wednesday , I did get lots of sewing done...

I did some of the quilting on the quilt I am making my mom...

Made this awesome fabric basket like the one that I saw on AmandaJean's website last week to give that I filled with Bath and Body Works products and gave as a birthday gift to a friend this past weekend...

Finsihed piecing this quilt top...

And made myself a tote bag out of some of the extra squares/fabric from the quilt top...

It was a busy week!

Date Day with My Hubby

Last Tuesday, Dave took a day off work, and he and I went up to the lake to get the jet ski out for the season. It was a beautiful day. Low 80's, sun shining, slight breeze... just perfect.

We went to lunch at this restaurant...

The bathroom walls were covered with actual flip flops screwed to the wall. It was so cute. I don't think I have ever taken pitures of a public restroom before... first time for everything!

After lunch, we put the jet ski in at a neighboring lake and took a cruise around. This is of the biggest lake in our area, and we have often talked of "trailering" the jet ski to it for the day, but never did it. The weather was so nice, we already had it on the trailer, and we had 2 hours before we had to start heading back home, so we figured "what the heck"!

These are some of the single family homes we saw that just blew us away!

Here are some other interesting sites...

Someone's personal "sea" plane, a church on prime lakefront property, a blue heron basking on someones float, and the bottom 3 pictures are of the old abandoned Bledsoe's Beach. It used to be a resort type complex. The large building was like a dance/reception hall. I love that they used to have parking meters for your boat!

It was an awesome day!

Sewing Machine Shopping

I've spent the last few days researching and shopping for a new sewing machine. My faithful 15+ year old Brother electronic sewing machine is not working properly, and I have a feeling that it will cost a couple hundred dollars to fix/tune-up, so I am considering buying a new one as opposed to having it fixed.

I have not really looked at the price of sewing machines in several years, and was blown away with sticker shock at the prices.

I want a nice machine - that will hopefully last me another 15 years or so, but don't want to remortgage the house for it!

If you have suggestions on a good machine for quilting, sewing, crafting, in a moderate price range ($400 - $600) it would be greatly appreciated!

Vintage Thingie Thursday

My second Vintage Thingies Thursday entry…

I love the old blue/green Ball jars. I love the color, the shape, and the versatility. You can pick them up cheap at garage sales and thrift stores (I have gotten most of them for under $1 each).

I use them to store stuff...

I use them to decorate both at home...

and at our lake cottage…

I even like to use them outside as tea light holders...

You can check out more great vintage items by going clicking on the picture below.

On the Road Again

In addition to being a stay at home mom, and avid crafter, I also have a part-time job as an Industrial Hygienist. “What the heck is an Industrial Hygienist?” you ask. Well it is a fancy way to say employee health and safety specialist. I work as an IH consultant for one of my best friends from college who started her own consulting firm about 15 years ago. My part-time is different from what most consider a part-time job. When I work, I typically have to travel, and may be gone for 1, 2, maybe even 5 days at a time. But then, I may not work again for another month or two. I spent the first part of this week working in Pittsburgh, PA. I’ve been doing training for employees at a chemical factory.

I am actually writing from Panara Bread in Mansfield, OH on my way home - a girl's got to eat!

I know, it seems contradictory that I would be working at a chemical factory in steel toed work boots, a hard hat and safety glasses when what I really love is crafting, sewing, quilting, etc… But it pays the bills, supports my sewing habit, allows my kids to go to Catholic School, etc… And as much as I love being a stay at home mom it is nice to get away every once in a while even if it is work. It’s good to be with adults, keep my mind active, stay in a nice hotel at night with no one to wake me up, eat at a restaurant and not be in a rush or have someone wanting to eat off my plate, see new areas, shop in the evening unrushed, etc... Also, being away for a couple days really makes my family appreciate all that I do for them. Two to three nights away is the perfect amount of time for me. It is long enough that I come home feeling refreshed by the change of pace and ready to get back to my family, kids, home, and all the things I love.

I’m excited to get home and start on the scrap challenge that I signed up for on JC Handmade’s blog site. This will be my first on-line challenge I’ve participated in. I’m trying to think of what fabric to send in – I have so many that I love, and so many “scraps” that the decision will not be easy!

Well, I'd better get back on the road and finish the last half of my 6 hour car trip! Yuck!