Teresa's Life and Quilt Journey: November 2013

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Good morning! I have been so busy the past few days getting the house ready for our guests that I haven't taken the time to post anything. Hubby and I are waiting for our daughter and her family to arrive from Florida some time today. Sadly, they are having to drive in this awful rain we are getting today. I am praying and I'm asking for prayers for their safety as they travel. We will have a glorious house full on Thanksgiving day. My husband's side of the family are coming for dinner. Our children and their spouses and our grandson will be here. Now, we don't have a big house, but we can fit them all in. It may be crowded, but it will be a nice crowded since we are usually here alone 99.9% of the time. Us and the dogs. LOL It will be wild and crazy and enjoyable while it lasts.

We haven't gotten to spend as much time with our daughter, SIL, and grandson this year as we have in the past, so we are really looking forward to the time together even though it will be short. Our grandson is seven and in the 2nd grade. He is attending a Christian school this year after being home-schooled for two years. He loves it, but part of him wants to home-school next year. He misses the time he spent with his mama. She also works for the children's department at the church. That is where they attend. Our daughter told me his reading has really improved and he is actually reading a chapter book on his own while they travel. I am so proud of him. He has always loved to be read to or to listen to audio books, but it has been a struggle to get HIM to read himself. I am so glad and thankful that he is developing a love for reading like his mother and I have.

We will give our kids and Jackson their Christmas gifts on Thursday, but not the quilts I'm making them. I haven't been able to get them finished by now, so they will get them for Christmas. With the issues that I've had with my machine, I've had problems sewing like I needed to.

So, I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and have a great week! Be blessed.

Hugs,
Teresa

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Still No Machine!!!!

Have you ever been frustrated and don't know what to do? Well, I am that and more. My Janome MC Horizon 7700 QCP has been in the shop for six weeks now. I have never had any problems with it until Oct. 15th. I had just finished a baby quilt, that I showed on here, and then repaired the string on two pair of my husband's shorts. I started sewing something right after the repair, and the stitches were skipping. I had never had a problem before, so I tried everything I knew to do and what the manual said and my friends on Facebook told me to try. NOTHING CHANGED!!! So, I called my dealer and told one of the owners what was going on, and she told me to bring it in by the next morning and I would be one of two that the repairman would work on that Thursday. I took it in on Wednesday morning never dreaming they would have it six weeks later! I was not offered a loaner machine until four weeks down the road after it seemed that Janome would not get the needed part sent to them any time soon. Even repairman told me on Monday that he never dreamed it would take this long to get my machine back to me.

While he was trying to find what the problem was (after cleaning and servicing it), the mother board went out. They ordered the part and waited ten days to get the part. When he put that in, he discovered that a required part to make it work was not included in the delivery. Ugh!!! So, we waited over three weeks for that power source part to come in. During this time Janome employees were allegedly having workshops/training, etc., and were not getting anything done in a speedy manner. I understand the need for training, but I also am a firm believer in great customer service. With my blog and all my sewing/quilting FB friends, I can influence a lot of possible customers. I love my machine, but not this type of customer service. I told the owners of where I purchased my machine that I have three quilts that I needed to finish for Christmas gifts when I dropped my machine off. I have called them several times each week for any news. I know they are probably tired of hearing from me. LOL

On Monday, I called, but the owner was teaching a class, so I left a message asking about the part and my machine. The repairman called me to tell me the part had come in and the machine was fixed, he believed, but he wanted the owner to do more stitches on it to make sure. Well, when I didn't get a call from them telling me different, DH and I went to the dealer about sixty miles one way from me, to pick up my machine and take the loaner machine back. We walked in and brought the machine in and was met by the lady who had gotten me the loaner and told me it was not fixed that they were waiting on Janome to call them back from the day before. I spoke to the owner and she told me when she tried other stitches, that the it was still not sewing right, so they may have to send the machine to the company. I am to the point that they just need to get me a different machine. I have been told that this was a problem with these machines and the company received enough complaints that they rebuilt the mother board to "fix" the problem. Well, obviously this didn't "fix" my machine.

Oh well, enough on my frustration. I doubt I will get my quilts finished in time, but I will work hard between now and Christmas. I actually need two of them done by Thanksgiving, but they many not be quite finished and will have to ship them. Oh the joys of quilting and using my talent and love for the process to make Christmas gifts. I had plans to make some mug rugs and various small projects, too, but I doubt that will happen. Unless God gives me the strength to hold up to sew much longer than I usually can at a time, I will not be able to get all I planned done. :( Not a happy camper.

I made the backing for the Avengers quilt Monday and have it and the top ready to pin. I will be sewing together the backing for the other top I have finished today and have it ready to pin, then the quilting can begin. I am not a great quilter and don't fmq much. I really need to practice. I would love to take a craftsy class on this, but I doubt my Internet connection can withstand it. I will post pics of the quilts when they are finished.

What do you use to mark quilting patterns on your quilt tops?

Hugs to all,
Teresa

Monday, November 18, 2013

The Avengers Have Arrived!!!

Hello!!! I know it has been awhile, but I've been suffering for a month without my Janome 7700 sewing machine, so I didn't have much to talk about. I still don't have my sewing machine, but they finally told me to come and get a loaner. I was able to pick up a Janome 8900 to use while mine is in the shop. I LIKE this machine!! Not a lot different from mine, but it has more stitches on it than mine does, and a different walking foot. I have not been crazy about the Accufeed walking foot that is on my 7700. It has the moving part connected to the back of the machine all the time, as far as I know, and it does get in the way when not using it. Anyway, I am thankful to have a loaner, because I am so far behind on my Christmas gifts. I am making each of our children and their spouses a quilt for their bed and one for our grandson. They know about the quilts, because I got them to pick out the fabric. Jackson is the only one that isn't expecting it for Christmas, I don't think. Well, I have the flimsy for our daughter's quilt finished and it has been done for awhile. But, I was able to finally get to my sister's house last week and we measured out the backing and figured out how I can make the 90" backing wider, and so we got that ready for me to sew together. When that is done, I can get it ready to quilt. It will have to be done on my Janome, so I hope it looks good. It definitely won't be anything fancy. I have everything cut out and parts sewn together for our son and his wife, but messed some up, so I have to do some resewing then sew the blocks together. I'm hoping it goes together fast. Keep your fingers crossed and say lots of prayers.

Ok, back to the title. Yesterday I was able to finish the flimsy of my grandson's quilt. He loves the Avengers, especially Iron Man. So, I was able to order a panel from eBay, and I had purchased three yards of fabric to go with it. I added some solids I had in my stash. It isn't what I originally intended it to be, but I think it will be loved. I wanted to make some stars, or other type of blocks to go in it, but decided the fastest and easiest way to get it done was to do borders and add some corner blocks.

HERE IT IS!!!

How I did the corners on two of the borders

I sure hope the little guy loves it and it fits on his bed. I think it will since this is a full sized bed and his is a twin. Today, after doing so cleaning getting ready for Thanksgiving, I will make his backing and get it pinned, hopefully. That is my plan anyway. LOL

What all are you doing for Christmas gifts this year? My plans really got out of whack when my machine went in to see why the stitches were skipping and get it cleaned and serviced. Never dreamed it would be gone almost five weeks. I won't get near all I had wanted to do for gifts this year finished. Oh well, hopefully there will be another year next year. I will most definitely start earlier for next year.

Have a great day and week. Be creative, be crafty and share some love.

Teresa

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Sewing Machine; Crochet; Etc., Etc.

Good morning! I want to let you know what has been going on with me lately. I have not been quilting, that is for sure. :( I can not believe it is November already!! Can you believe how close Christmas is? I am getting really nervous. I have three quilts I need to have done for Christmas gifts, but really need at least two of them done by Thanksgiving. Our daughter and her family is supposed to come here for Christmas this year, but due to her DH's job off days, it isn't going to be. So, they are planning to come for Thanksgiving. Since we won't be seeing them at Christmas, I need to get their gifts done by Thanksgiving. The DGS will be receiving an Avengers quilt for his bed. All the quilts I've made him so far are throws or lap quilts, so I want him one for his bed. I have the top ready for the DD's and SIL's quilt, just have to prepare the backing and get it quilted. Still cutting out DS and DIL's quilt top getting it ready to sew when my machine returns home. Yep, my sewing machine has been in the shop since the middle of October. I am missing her sew bad!!! It started skipping stitches all of a sudden. Well, since I had not had her in for a good cleaning and servicing, I knew I needed to take her in since everything I did, did not work to fix the skipping stitches. Well, he cleaned her, and was checking to see why the stitches were skipping, and the mother board went out. UGH!!!! It took over a week to get the part in, then there was a part missing. So, last Tuesday that part was ordered. I pray that it is in or comes in by today where he can fix it tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. :D

Since my machine has been gone, I've been doing some cutting on the Day and Night quilt I'm making for DS and DIL. Man, that is a lot of cutting. I sure hope that it sews together faster than the cutting has taken me. But, I've also been learning how to crochet the Sashay ruffled scarves.

Definitely not perfect, but I like them. I plan to make more. These pics do not do them justice, though. What do you think? I also plan to get back to cross-stitching. I haven't cross-stitched in years, but I want to try it again.

Well, I hope and pray you are all doing well. I apologize for not keeping up with my blog. Please forgive me. I am still losing weight, so I will post some updated pics on another day.

Hugs,

Teresa