April 9, 2013

Seeking Long Arm Quilting Advice

By    5:04 AM // 6 comments
She'll be here on Saturday!
Update: that area is supposed to get quite a bit of rain in Friday and we thought it could make carrying the parts and getting it all loaded a bit more difficult so we've moved the pickup to Saturday instead.
No this isn't my machine and frame. Since I don't have her yet, I had to borrow a picture.

I'm heading down to my sister Tina's house Thursday Friday after hubby gets home from work and Friday Saturday morning we are driving to my new toy's current location to load her up and start the journey back to her new home. Tina and I are going to do a little shopping in the Allentown area (I'm going to try really hard to behave since I'm already spending enough this week), we'll have a nice dinner that night to celebrate and I'll make the last bit of drive home the following morning. The mini trip will be heaven because I'm realizing a dream (a lot sooner than I ever imagined) and I'll be getting a tiny break from the kidlets. I love my kids more than life itself but getting away every once in a while is a good thing.

So what have I been doing since making the deal for my new baby? Research and learning of course. I need to figure out how to use this lovely tool. I'm working to find out what accessories I really need versus those that are nice to have and those that are a total waste of money. Which thread(s) to use is the biggest question I'm trying to answer. There are so many options and there is no right one that works for every quilter with this brand of machine. I'd really prefer to not buy a bunch of beautiful thread to find out that it doesn't play nice with my machine.

The other thing I've been looking into is classes, both in person, online and DVDs. Obviously I'm missing out on going to MQX this week to take classes so I want to find some other options. There doesn't seem to be any in person classes near me so online or DVDs may be my better choice.

Books. I love books. Again there are multiple options and knowing which few are the best to get first is difficult to decide.
And then there are the blogs by those that long arm quilt. I've found a couple to add to my reader list but I'm sure there are many, many more that would be great inspiration and full of terrific information. I need to find them.

Recommendations is what I'm looking for from anyone who has a long arm machine and can help guide me to the best choices. Quilters always help quilters so I'm hoping you will again help me get my long arm journey started the best way possible. If you have advice to offer on any or all of these things, please let me know.

*Which online classes or DVDs are the best?
*What books are must haves as I start on this new avenue of my quilting journey?
*Which online sources have the best prices and selection for thread?
*Who have the blogs that are the top places to learn from the masters?

Of course, anything else you want to let me know about would be greatly appreciated. There is so much to learn and I can use all the help that I can get.

April 5, 2013

The BIG annoucement!

By    5:00 PM // 14 comments
Are you sitting on the edge of your seat yet, waiting to hear the rest of the story? Yes I'll admit that it was a little mean not telling it all in the My Quest post but that one was long enough already and I didn't want to not tell the full version just to shorten up the post.

So the machines I was researching and considering were by Gammill, Bailey, APQS, Handi Quilter, Voyager, Nolting, Tin Lizzie, Innova and Baby Lock. I had a post all drafted to discuss the various options and to ask for your opinions, if you have a long arm machine, why you chose that particular one, your thoughts on how it works for you, the pros and cons that you have learned since owning it, and your recomendations. I figured that I'd be able to take all of your feedback into consideration while working towards making the decision as to which one would be best for me.

Then late one night recently, about 10:30 pm, I came across an online ad for a machine with a 10 foot frame, one of the brands that I was considering but listed in a really obscure place, not on any of the typical used machine as sites. I literally sucked in my breath and honestly didn't believe that it was a legitimate ad or more than likely that if it was in fact a real listing, that it was already sold and gone. But the ad did list the sellers full name and phone number. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try, right? It was too late to call him (I'm not that crazy) but I went to bed excited about the possibility. To say that I had a hard time falling asleep that night is a huge understatement.

The next morning I was up early as usual, before 6am for sure, and waiting until a reasonable hour to call was killing me. I dialed the phone at 8:15 am and since no one answered, left a message and headed off to work. I had also replied to the ad through the listing site so I hoped that I'd hear back one way or the other very soon. At work I checked my email A LOT. Nothing! I tried to concentrate on what I was working on but it wasn't easy.

At lunch time I called again and this time the owner answered! We had a nice little chat, the machine was not sold yet and in fact I was the first person that had called about it. Amazing, six days after he listed it it was still available. After a few questions were answered, I told him that it is sold, site unseen!

Are you dying to find out what I bought?

Well, here is the answer!

A Voyager 17
She will be sitting on a Hinterberg Stretch frame that looks like this.
This deal was way too good to pass up. Although I hadn't planned on buying for many, many months to come, I would have been really crazy to let this one slip through my fingers. She is currently in the Philadelphia area so it is within driving distance for me. The current owners, a husband and wife team that both used it up until just a few weeks ago, have recently moved to a smaller retirement place and don't have the space for it in their new home. Their loss is my gain.

One week from today, my sister Tina and I will be taking the road trip to pick her up. I can't wait, as you can imagine. I've figured out where she will go in my studio and I hope to get it painted before I bring her home.

A Voyager 17 was definitely one machine I was strongly considering. My good online friend Bea has one and I've picked her brain to death asking questions about them. I know that although they don't have all of the bells & whistles of some of the other brands they are one of the lesser expensive options for starting into long arming, they are real work horses and are simpler to operate and maintain which is perfect for a newbie like me. It is the heaviest machine available in its class, weighing 75 lbs (because all of the parts are metal not plastic) but on this frame and carriage it glides like butter. I've seen Vanessa of Crafty Gemini's YouTube videos and I've seen her operate her Voyager with just a few fingers guiding one handle. My new baby has a stitch regulator so I know that will help in my learning curve.

She is officially a mid-arm machine since she is under 18" throat space but I know that she can still do plenty as far as available quilting area. Her harp isn't as tall as some of the others either but if Bea and Vanessa can quilt large quilts with their machines than so can I. Might I want to upgrade to something bigger and fancier in the future:? Maybe or maybe not. I might be plenty happy with my Voyager for a very long time. I'll just have to wait and see. The one thing I've learned is to not try to predetermine where my quilting life will take me. It has already taken me farther than I ever dreamed of in the beginning.

Now all she needs is a name. Nothing I've thought of yet feels just right so suggestions are more than welcome!

My Quest

By    8:19 AM // 11 comments
 It never entered my brain. It was the furthest thing from my mind. Three and a half years ago I was just starting on my journey to becoming a quilter. I've been happy to piece blocks together and combine them into beautiful quilt tops. 
Even this time a year ago I wasn't thinking about this at all.

But six months ago a thought came, a curiosity and I started on what I'm calling My Quest to learn more.
Research commenced. Lots of questions asked of friends who know things.
Thinking, thinking and more thinking. Almost daily.
Watched YouTube videos. Joined Yahoo groups.

What has had me obsessed lately?
Drum roll please........

I had decided that I want a long arm machine!

Aggg! I can't believe that I was even considering such an idea but the more I researched and the more I learned, the more I knew that this is what I want to do.
I have been a cake decorator for 20+ years and if I can create masterpieces out of sugar, flour and butter, I know that I can do this too. My brain is in overload with the creative possibilities this brings.

Here are just a few of my sugary creations. Sorry about the picture quality; they were taken long before I had a digital camera and then were scanned into the computer.
This is the very 1st wedding cake I ever made.
Yes the bride and groom are all cake, they are sitting at their "head table" looking at "their own wedding cake", which was an Italian Rum Cake and absolutely to die for BTW.
 
 For a retirement party for 2 teachers.
 
 For my step-dad's retirement party.
 
 
 
 
 
 One of my very favorites of all, for my nephew's christening.
 
 Another favorite, for my grandma's 90th birthday party.
I don't do nearly as much cake decorating these days and am more obsessed with quilting but every so often the pastry bags come out for some sweet creating.

Anyway....I HAD planned on taking you on the long journey to my long arm with me. I HAD planned on test driving as many brands and size machines as possible and then posting my thoughts and impressions about each one. When I went to the quilt show in New Jersey 5 weeks ago I did a quick test of a number of machines and talked with some of the vendors, but because that road trip was a fast one-day one, I knew that I wanted to spend more time testing out each option available. I HAD been planning on setting up appointments to check out the brands with dealers within reasonable driving distances to me. I even HAD a visit penciled in with an owner who was willing to let me try out her machine since there isn't a dealer for that brand nearby.

The one thing that I did know already is that I only wanted a 10 foot frame and one of the smaller throat machines. A 10 foot frame would fit in my studio (though it would be a bit tight) and I could still hear and keep an eye on the kids while they play. Anything bigger would have had to go in the basement and I wasn't thrilled about that idea. None of the basement is finished yet so moving the frame as we did do that work would have been a real pain in the rear. Plus being in the basement would prevent me from quilting on it at all while the kids were home and awake, unless they were playing down there too. So a 10 foot frame also meant an 18", 20" or probably no more than a 22" throat machine. I just don't have the space in the studio for anything deeper.

My plan WAS to figure out which one I wanted, to know how much it was going to cost and to work on saving up for it, to comb the used machine listings on Longarm University, House of Hanson, the various Yahoo groups for the brands, Craigslist and Ebay until I came across a deal that was perfect for me.

But that isn't what happened at all. My Quest is coming to an end a whole lot sooner than I ever expected. Stay tuned for the big announcement of what will soon be mine.

April 4, 2013

Thank you and a plea!

By    7:08 AM // 5 comments
My sincerest thanks go to each and every one of you that have said Yes and are sending me a square of fabric and a wish for Joey's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. So far I'm expecting 16+ squares and wishes (we call the combo "squishes") and Kris has commitments for 20 so far.
But we need more. Many, many more if we are going to succeed in creating this quilt for this sick and just diagnosed little boy. I have yet to find out how long they expect him to live if the treatment they are attempting doesn't work at slowing down and/or putting his cancer into remission. All I know at this moment in time is that it isn't curable. And I'm worried that we won't get the quilt made fast enough.

So I'm putting out this plea for help. You can read my original post about this request here. Please help me spread the word by posting about this on your blog or letting your bee or guild members know.

Anyone can be a part of this project. All you need to do is to send me a 9" square piece of fabric (just fabric, not a quilt block), something appropriate for a 9 year old boy (I just learned that he likes super heroes and he plays the violin) and a written wish or quote, a poem or a joke, or a silly story...something to cheer him up and bring a smile to his face. The details are all spelled out in my original post.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. I'm hoping to get an update soon from Kris so that I can share it with all of you. The family is meeting with the oncologist today. Knowing that so many people care and want to help him beat the odds has got to help him keep hope.

April 3, 2013

Little Artist's Quilt - More of The Middle

By    5:56 AM // 4 comments
These are the rest of the painted blocks from the preschool artists. It is interesting to look at them and wonder what they are supposed to be. Some are much more obvious than others.
 
 
 
I had forgotten to take pictures of some of them before I started sewing on the sashing so here they are partially finished.
 
 
 
 
 
Since there are 21 kids in the class and that doesn't work for a quilt layout I suggested the teachers make one each also to give us 25 blocks, perfect for a 5 x 5 layout. Here they are: the lead teacher and her assistant. 
 
 And these two are by the PE teacher and the Art teacher.
 
Now I just need to finish the sashings, figure out the block placements so that the colors are well scattered throughout, sew the blocks into rows and then the rows into a quilt top. The even is only weeks away and this one need to be completed soon.
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