A Place for everything

And everything in it's place.

Juki update. All the goodies came in a zip top baggy. I just couldn't handle that at all.

I hunted for a container that would hold everything. I finally found one at Michael's in the jewelry area.

• Smallish...check
• adjustable...check
• sturdy...check
• under $5.00 bucks...check

It all fit, but not comfortably. That darn screwdriver was giving me a little trouble.

Sooooooooo, I got a beater screwdriver from the garage, heated it up and melted a little spot for it

Now it fits perfectly.

And closes nicely.

Ahhhhhhhh....

I still need a table for the big girl, but her stuff in all in order and ready to go.

How do you keep your machine accessories organised?
Are you a zip top bag person or do you need a bit more separation?

Island Living

It's not what you think. I wish I was on a semi tropical island in a home with a large sewing room with an ocean view. My little room has a nice view, but no ocean breezes. LOL

Nope, the last piece of the kitchen redo is finally in place. The Island. We've been using an old book shelf with a piece of old laminate flooring as the top for several months. Hmmm, do I have a pic?
Anyhoooo, the hubs and I couldn't find a ready-made one that fit our needs and didn't cost a big chunk of change - so, he built one.

The wood is 100 years old from an old garage door in Berkeley. It's was already reddish, but I really wanted barn red. We watered down some Benjamin Moore 'burnt peanut red' and it's perfect.

The top, that was a pain in the rear. I wanted stainless steel (first choice) or butcher block..the hubs, more wood planks. that would've been picture perfect, but not very sanitary...ew.
We finally found someone who wasn't going to charge us $450.00 for a top. We are talking 20" by 54"....not big at all. Some left over steel from a job, a friend that does steel work, and a long wait until he could fit it into his schedule...the top is finally done.

It is, for me, perfection. We already have our first scratches so I can now be all carefree when I use it. LOL


A few pics........

I am so glad he left all the history intact.

Both side views. Complete with a custom area for the garbage can. 

Yes, I now need a red garbage can.

The hubs just had to make it more elegant. I wanted it all blocky and rustic.

It grew on me, but I was not happy with the executive decision at the time, trust me.

 At work. 

It fits our space and our needs perfectly. The hubs is definitely a keeper.
Yep, pinterest worthy.

Project Sweetwater Volume II

Sweetwater Fabric  has a new thing. Project boxes. It is replacing their monthly label crew. Looks like these will be a quarterly thing, but this is only box number 2, so who knows.

This one uses 'Mama Said Sew Volume II'. Love this color palette.

Here's a peek and what you get, plus the link above will give you more info.

First glance. There is laffy taffy in that little baggy.

It comes with MORE than enough fabric for the 6 projects (color patterns on card stock included), the trims and little extras too. No batting, but we all have scraps of that stuff layin' around, am I right?

I completed 3 of the projects.

Project number 4 is all cut out and ready to go. 

It's teeny. It's tiny. 

It's going to be a 16.5 x 16.5 spool quilt.

I wasn't kidding when I said teeny, tiny.

Lily was not helpful.

I already pre-ordered the next one.Project sweetwater solids. So far I love everything in this box and the sneak peek from the next one looks fab.

If you love little projects and a little gift giving (or keeping lol), this is a win win of a buy.

Now to sew those micro squares together. Wish me luck!!

'Juki TL-2200qvp Mini' Review

Happy Anniversary to me!!! 28 years and counting with the hubs. We don't usually exchange gifts, but this year we went nuts. He got some toys and I got some toys. This is my one of my new toys.

A brand, spankin' new Juki TL-2200qvp Mini.  It's pretty much the TL-2010, but with new colors and a few extras.

Here she is. New machine still in the box smell. Ahhhhh

First look. Yep, a knee lift

All kinds of notions. 9 feet in total

New....a guide for the walking foot

All the Free motion feet..New...the open toed one.

For those that turn their machine, you can get a sideways open toe foot optionally

There she is, sans extension table. Huge extension table

A little goofin. The light is bright, but it needs to be all the way around. 

Yes, I will be adding some light

More play to see the stitch quality and get a feel for this puppy

Also new, a real quarter inch foot, not just the 7mm compensating foot

Yep, a scant quarter

Walking foot with guide. It's not a quiet foot, just saying. 

My Bernina 440qe has a quieter walking foot.

This foot edge is a quarter inch....how awesome is that?

Guide time...pretty accurate

 I actually used it to bind a quilt. I used its cousin, a tl-2010 to quilt.

Like buttah

All in all, I am quite pleased with this machine.

Pros:

•  a ton of feet
• deep and tall harp space
• quiet machine
• good foot pedal response, no jaggy, jumpiness..smooth as can be
• faster than spit
• reasonably priced compared to other quilting machines, especially computerized, multi stitchers 
• thread cutter....oh my! It is fab...really fab. How did I ever live without it?
• thread cutter activated by foot pedal
• pow er full

Cons:

• cutter and walking foot loud
• only stops with the needle down...I wish I could control that, but this is a mechanical machine
• light has shadows on the wrong side
• Thread cutter activated by foot pedal..yes, pro and con (thankfully, comes with a piece to stop that function)
• more frequent oiling (so easy)
• heavyish
• I don't yet have a table for her

The cons are, by no means, deal breakers. The only time I dislike the foot pedal thread cutter is when I am free motion quilting and I accidentally cut the threads when I don't mean too. Pain in the patootie. I suppose with time I could overcome this, but I just put the little rubber thingy on the foot pedal and no more booboos. Take it off for regular sewing and I can cut with my heel again.. Takes all of 30 seconds. :-)

Is it an elegant machine? All little bit yes and a little bit no.. Is it my end all be all of a sewing machine? 

Darn close, but not quite.

All machines should have foot attaching like a Bernina and a builtin walking foot like the Pfaff, a tall, 12" harp space, great lighting, the power of the juki and not cost the same as a good used car....a girl can dream, right? LOL Oh, and a low bobbin warning...seriously.

Will I get rid of my Bernina and my Janome Gem? (and my featherweight, my serger, my cover stitcher, my singer 185)?  Nope. The Juki is a straight stitch only machine and I do a lot of non quilterly sewing. And the little Janome Gem makes thee best stinkin' buttonholes. Yes, better than the Bernina. I know, right.

What are your favorite machines? 

Do you have more than one? 

What features would your "dream machine" have?

I am really liking this machine. I'll know if I love it after a few months of sewing. I am betting I will.

Yes, Ratty.....save your pennies.