A Date With Destiny...

Ellisimo (Miss Ellie)

One of the things I've been working on is a decision to upgrade my machine in the studio. I have loved and been faithfully served by Miss Ellie for the past five years. She's a great machine!

Yesterday, I sold her to a nice lady in Colorado, so I'll be packing her (with Handsome's help), along with all her accessories for the trip out west. I know she'll perform equally well for her new owner.

Crescendo

I've also sold my one-year old, Crescendo. Don't gasp. There's a method to this whole process. Trust me.

Babylock Destiny

I wasn't planning a new machine this year, but I met Destiny. She combines all the features in the Ellisimo and the Crescendo; has a larger screen and a heavier duty embroidery arm; and I got a deal that I absolutely couldn't refuse!

 

I'll be making a phone call today to make sure they have the new machine in stock so I can pick it up. My plan is to go and get her on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to having her in the studio, and for us to get to know each other. I know the new owners of my previously loved machines will be happy, too. I'm pretty sure it was Destiny that brought us all together.

Meet "Kenny"...

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of the Brynwood team. 

 I proudly present "Kenny". 

Kenny is the oldest member of my hardworking sewing support team. 

He was born in 1962 in Matsuyama, Japan. He's small, but extremely strong.

He's all steel and doesn't do a lot of fancy stuff, but he's willing to do what my

 "girls" won't. You see, they've been complaining about sewing through all those

 layers of fabric and stabilizers in my wallets. Frankly, I was tired of the whining. 

Miss Ellie and Cressie would stomp their feet and just skip across the fabric 

without linking threads. They told me they were meant for more complicated 

and genteel work - like embroideries and needle dancing. They're such divas!

I conducted a series of interviews, checked references and decided that Kenny

would fit in quite nicely. He's in excellent shape for his age, has had a full physical

and received a clean bill of health. He even came with examples of his work!

Kenny is a Sears Kenmore Model #148.295 (29) heavy duty, straight stitch (with

 reverse) sewing machine. He was used by one owner and was serviced every year,

 so he's been lovingly cared for all his life. I'm going to be looking for a special

table for him, too, but I'll wait until I can find just the right vintage-style one.

As you can see, he's ready to get right after the tough jobs. Yes. I think he'll do

quite nicely around here. I'm going to send each of the girls, Miss Ellie first,

to the spa for a little tune-up while I get to know Kenny a little better. They have

earned a rest, after all. They did give me their best effort, and I want to make sure

there are no hard feelings. I have some things planned for each of them in the

very near future and I want them ready, willing and able for their respective tasks.

 All I have to do is get better. Kenny is all shined up and waiting...along with ten  new wallets that are cut and waiting for his special talents. Just waiting on me.

Cuddling Over Sewing Any Day...

I certainly never expected this to happen! Every year when I come to Wisconsin, I take a little drive over to Beaver Dam to check out what's new at Nancy's Notions. I saw this and it was love at first sight. 

This is Babylock's Crescendo quilting/sewing machine. What caught my eye was the wide open throat space to the right of the needle. With 11-1/4", there's a lot of room to do my own quilting after the quilt tops have been pieced. 

This are the other features that made the Crescendo so appealing:   1) A Digital Dual-Feed Walking Foot System  In addition to mounting like the other walking feet, this one also has  a USB cable that attaches to the machine for precise fabric feeding.   2) A Laser Guide Beam for Sewing The stylus connects to the computer for the sewing machine. It tells the machine exactly where I want the needle and stitches positioned. The pen designates stitch width, placement and stopping points on the fabric!   3) A Laser Guide Beam for Sewing No need for vinyl guides or other tools attached to the machine.  I can just follow the light beam to guide my stitches. I went back to The Cloud and read through all the literature. (The Aria is  the same machine without the Laser, Sensor Pen and large sewing table  attachment, so I had some feature-for-feature/price comparing to do.)    I returned to the campground to think about it. I talked with Handsome  and decided to go back to get the Crescendo this week. (She's going to need a new name, too. Anyone have any ideas they'd like to share?)
  I love Miss Prissy (My Espire), but it's time for her to move to a new home.  She's a hard worker and reliable, so I know she'll find a good home where  she'll be appreciated and used more. (If anyone is interested in pricing and more information, just send me an email through the link in my left sidebar.)   Otherwise, when we get home, I'll list up Miss Prissy and Evvie (my Evolve  serger) for sale. I only really use Evvie at Christmastime when I'm making  Grammies Jammies, and with all the specialty feet that come with her, I know   she could be used exclusively for sewing and quilting! (I actually know  someone who only sews with a serger!) It's a shame for her to sit around  most of the year when she could be serving someone else more often. Miss Ellie will be staying here at Brynwood. She'll continue to sew and  embroider for me and the Crescendo will be busy helping me make new quilts.

I decided to get acquainted with my new machine by making a new project. These panels are the front and back of a great wooly sheep tool bag.

I finished the front and back yesterday, but I took break and will assemble the pieces into a new tote bag today.

"Hey, Mom. Did you see that fuzzy thing lickin' on me?"

 I happily set my project aside to visit with this sweet, little guy again yesterday.

Tag was quite taken with him. He's never seen a tiny baby before,  but I can tell you, he loved this one. He was very curious and gentle.   Mommy and baby came to the campground and we talked and cuddled away  the rest of the day. I can't believe how much he's grown just since I saw him  at the baptism! It was great spending just a little more time together before  we get ready to go back to Florida. Our departure is just around the corner.  

All in all, another wonderful day creating new memories in Wisconsin.

Last Minute Prep...

 We'll be rolling out the Flying Cloud this week, and I'm busy with

last minute projects as we also pack and prep for our upcoming trip.

One of the things I'll be doing while away is attending the baptism

of our sweet, little great-nephew, Jace. His Mommy and Daddy have

planned the ceremony around the dates that we'll be able to attend.

They said that they think it's only fitting that the person who made the  Christening gown be in the chapel as another child is baptized in it. I'm honored that they are making it possible for us to attend, because  I'd love to be there as they bring their child to a life in the church.
Their baby will be wearing the same gown that I made for his older brother thirteen years ago, and I found out yesterday that the gown has been carefully stored in plastic. I think it's better for the gown to be stored in a protective fabric garment bag, so I made one for it. Beautiful, monogrammed, soft, white cotton will work perfectly.
Miss Ellie (my Babylock Ellisimo) embroidered their family monogram  onto the outside of the garment bag, and now it will protect the gown  when it hangs in storage. I think Jace's parents will like this better, too.    I only have to add a small pocket to hold a card that will list the names  of all the past and future children who wear it...a small heirloom touch.
I'll be going back and forth to The Cloud as we dodge the daily rain showers. Tag will be here tomorrow to tell you how he's preparing. We'll be ready in no time at all. This is going to be fun!

Button Floozie Ornament Exchange...

I'm a Button Floozie. No. Really. I've been a contributing writer to the weblog, Button Floozies for some time. It's a great place to read about all the different kinds of buttons and meet new bloggers who share this interest, too.

For the past couple of years, our administrator, Laurie has organized an ornament swap for our members. Each of us belongs to a group of five and we create ornament sets to share among our group. In my group for this swap are two old friends, Denise and DeeDee, and a couple of new friends, too - Debbie and Renee.

Our deadline to mail our hand-made ornaments is today. So, guess how I spent yesterday? Yup. Making ornaments!

I had help. Miss Ellie (my Babylock Ellisimo) was all too happy to help me create the base for my ornaments, and she stitched out her work in record time.

After she was finished, it was my turn. Sewing, stuffing, stitching, detailing with vintage buttons and making the cording for hangers all went into the creation of each ornament.

They're all finished and in the mail...right on time. I'd love to show you a picture of them, but I really have to make you use your imagination. There's a chance that one of the Floozies in my group might peek at this post, and we can't have her seeing her ornament before she opens her package, now, can we? Thank goodness for Photoshop and their special effects feature.

I'll show you the actual photo some time next week, after I'm sure the ornies have been received. Today, I'll be making the November mini quilt for our monthly QAL at Sandy's Quilt Shop. I'll be taking it with me to the shop on Saturday, but I promise to share it with you first.

Happy Friday, y'all. I hope you have a creative day, too.

Ellie's Back From Rehab...

When I owned Stitches in Wisconsin, the girls and I used to take the same approach to anything mechanical that didn't work. If it happened to be a car, we all agreed that it was best to just leave it in the garage until it "felt better".

Sometimes, that only took overnight - especially in the winter - when the problem might have simply been that something froze up. You'd be amazed how something could thaw in the garage overnight and result in a car that worked fine the next day (but, usually not). Nevertheless, our philosophy was always good for a laugh.

Now that I'm more mature and wiser (no laughing, please), and I don't leave things of a mechanical nature to simply heal themselves. I'm more proactive these days.

I noticed that the last time I asked Miss Ellis (my nickname for my Babylock Ellisimo) to help me with a project, she seemed to be under the weather and falling a little behind on her tasks. I decided it was time to send her to Dr. Bob for a checkup.

She only went away to "rehab" for the weekend, but it was long enough for Dr. Bob to get to the bottom of her "issues"...also requiring that I put off a task that needed the attention only she can give.

I'll be picking her up from the clinic this morning. Dr. Bob has given her a completely clean bill of health and has written a note approving her return to full duty. I'm glad to hear she's completely recovered because she's got a lot to catch up on in the studio. I can't wait to show you what she and I have planned!

I'd Like You To Meet Sofie...

Miss Ellie (my Babylock Ellisimo) and Prissy (my Espire) are the hardest working employees a seamstress could ever want, but there's just one thing. They refuse to leave the house. They love being in the studio on their respective tables and they prefer to wait for me right there for me.
I found myself needing an employee who was willing to travel, who didn't take up much room and who would happily tackle any project I might want to attempt while on the road.

I reviewed a number of resume's, and yesterday I hired Sofie. Her full name is Babylock Sophia, but like Miss Ellie and Prissy, she likes having a nickname. It's a good thing, too, because I told her that's how we roll at Brynwood.
At a mere fourteen pounds and a petite fifteen inches long (without the embroidery unit attached), she won't add much weight to the coach or need a room to herself when it's time to hit the open road. She can embroider small designs (up to 4" x 4"), and she's sturdy enough to quilt. She also has many of the features of the "big girls". She has an automatic thread cutter, the much used and appreciated needle threader, and built in specialty stitches. I know that our association will be a match made in...Sarasota!

Now, don't think I went out and paid a full contract price to employ Sweet Sofie. Thanks go to my dear friend, Carol of Serendipity (who lives part time in Sarasota). She wasn't using Sofie to her full potential and decided to let someone else hire her. I jumped at the chance! I'm sure that she'll enjoy working with my other two girls...and I know she's going to love the wayfaring life I have planned for her.
If you haven't visited Carol before, be sure to stop over to see her beautiful spot in Blogland. She and I have been friends since meeting a few years ago at a local quilt shop. We've taken classes together, and since her latest trip south, we've met with another blogging friend (who I'll tell you about soon) for lunch, shopping and visiting. She creates truly fabulous quilts, participates in Tablescape Tuesdays, and she's in the process of redecorating her blog these days. Of course, you'll remember to tell her "hello" from me, right?

Sofie is looking forward to sharing some of my creative collaborations with you over the summer and into fall. She'll be back to visit again before you know it.