Meet My Machine

I thought I'd join in with the Meet My Machine bloggy link up.

• Please tell us about your current machine - make, model, etc. (and if there's any story behind you obtaining it, etc.)
• What's your favorite machine accessory/doo-dad? 



Does your machine have a name? What is it? Have you tatted your machine up with fancy stickers, decals, etc? let's see 'um!



My first sewing machine was a White that I bought from JoAnn's Fabric.  It was a really basic machine and I did really basic projects with it.  I stupidly gave it to my sister (who subsequently got rid of it) after I had bought a new machine and thought that I would never use it again.
• I own 4 machines.  I have my great grandmother's machine that, I guess used to be a treadle machine (have never sewn with it), but was made into an electric machine, I have my grandmother's White Serger, I have a Babylock Ellageo (that I bought after my grandmother died and she left me some money), and I recently bought a Babylock Sofia2 to use as a travel machine since my Ellageo was too heavy.
I love the different things that I can do with my machine.  I love that I can use basic stitches and also do some embroidering.  I love how portable my sofia2 is as well as how good of a machine it is.  I love my Ellageo, but with a 5 year old and 2 four year olds, I need to be able to have a sewing machine that can be portable.
I love that I don't need to have a foot peddle to sew with my Babylock machines.  I also love that it has a cutter as well as self threading ability.
• For now, I have everything that I could want in my machine.  I'm not sure that there are any features, other than more stitch options (and that is really just to play).
• I would love a higher end Babylock quilting/embroidery machine.  I have heard really good things about Janome Machines too so I would be really happy to try a high end Janome too.
• I don't really have a sewing space right now.  I have everything in my basement and I just make do with what I have right now.  I really would love to get it a little more organized and have a space where I can go and get away and have a creative space.
• Right now I am using plastic drawers for my yardage, a plastic bin for my fat quarters and a fabric bin that I just throw my scraps into.  Nothing special, but it is somewhat organized (more organized that what it was).  I can now go into a draw and know where to look for what.  I still have more work to do, but I am really happy with where I came from.
• I love anything sewing/craft related!  I love my crafting and quilting magazines and books.  I love youtube and crafting and sewing blogs!

I had a lot of fun writing about this.  I love creating and sewing and I love sharing what I love.

Amy

Handmade Valentines

I decided to make handmade Valentines this year!  I still need to make ones for Michael's specialists and I just got more classmates for Michael.  I also have to make another one for my husband.  Our budget isn't going to afford us to be able to get each other expensive gifts, but I can certainly make something from the heart and hopes that he likes it (I'm sure that he will).

For Michael's classmates, I just cut out 2 paper hearts and sewed them together and added pencils.

This happens to be for my daughter's teacher, but Michael's Valentines are the same

For his teachers, I made a fabric book that I will have Michael help me decorate and add things to the pockets.

Outside covers

Inside pages with pockets that I think we will add bookmarks to(there are 2 other blank pages to decorate)

For the specialists and my daughter's speech teacher, I am going to make fabric postcards like these.  I need to make 3 more.

Front side

Back side with Eva Rose tracing her name and rubber stamping decorations

I have really enjoyed making these different projects the last couple of days.  I just wish it didn't hurt my sciatica so much/.  I can't wait to feel better so I can handle creating more things!

I love my new sewing machine.  It's amazing how good a good quality sewing machine is.  Too bad I had to spend the money on it, but I have really enjoyed having it!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  What are you crafting?

Amy

Trying To Be Productive

It's amazing how little time you have when your kids get to be preschool age.  When they were babies, I had the luxury of naps.  Now, naps are few and far between and I never have all 3 kids occupied where I can spend time and create.  Of course, as usual, there are also good points to the kids getting older.  Now that they no longer nap, life is a little easier to plan or not plan and just go and do.  We can do so much more with them now.  We may have less free time on our hands, but I wouldn't change a thing.

That being said, I still try to find time to be creative and maybe even blog about my creative projects.  It may not be as often as I want or as complex as I want.  My blog posts may not be as intellectually stimulating as I would like.  But, I am finding time to create and some how, some way, journal about it; and that is what is really important to me.

Since my last post, I have done a decent amount of projects.  I have also treated myself to a new sewing machine.  I decided that my cheap $100 Joann Fabrics Singer, was just too frustrating for me to actually use.  I loved having a more portable machine than my Baby Lock Ellageo embroidery machine, but the Singer was just not a good quality machine.  At first I didn't understand the negative comments, but then After just a couple of uses, I realized how right all those reviews were.  I love my Ellageo, it's just not really portable.  I was looking at a Janome QDC3160 and a Baby Lock Grace.  I ended up at "Nashua Sewing and Vac" on Black Friday and ended up getting a Baby Lock Sofia2 for what I was quoted the Grace to be at another store.  I had heard really good things about Nashua Sewing and Vac and felt really good about trying out sewing machine and buying there.  There is nothing wrong with the Janome.  I know a few people who love the Janome and they all have different Janome machines.  One of them is not a Baby Lock fan.  I decided that it must be ike buying a Nikon vs a Canon.  I have always used a Canon, but I know that Nikon is just as good, just personal preference.  I wish I had more time to devote to my sewing!

What I've been up to:

English Paper Piecing Diamonds

Ballet Slipper Ornaments

Thanksgiving Skirt

Matching Thanksgiving Tie

My New Sofia2!

Embroidery On My Sofia2

Embroidery On My Sofia2

Embroidery On My Sofia2

Sewing On My Sofia2 With A Stitch Sampler

Cookie Plate for Santa

Cinnamon Ornaments

Now if I could just make sure that I continue to be creative both by myself and with the kids, I would be a very happyMommy!  I can't wait to sew more often.  We are in the process of decorating for Christmas and then cleaning up after that!  Right now, Creativity is going to be limited.  I am trying to make sure that I ambling creative with the kids so that they get to be creative as well as me.  Some days are better than others, but often as things are with kids, they don't go as planned, but we are still making memories and that is what is most important!

Happy Holidays to All!

Amy