Snow, Purses, Quilts, Oh My!!!

Good morning! I've been up for an hour or so due to my hips and legs aching, but oh how blessed I am to be as healthy as I am. I am so thankful that I have both legs to hurt, I am thankful that I have both arms, and my health as it is. I am seeing and hearing of so much sickness and death in the past few weeks until it breaks my heart, but I know someone Who has conquered death and the grave, and one day there will be no more dying and crying over the loss of a loved one.

I follow several children on Facebook who have cancer or have had tragic accidents, or have a genetic disorder where I will remember to be thankful for the health of my family and to pray for these precious ones and their families. I have read where several of them have passed away and left heartbroken families. I have gotten so upset and angry at the disease of cancer lately, that I have really had to pray about it. I continually hear of others who have been diagnosed with this terrible disease. Ewing's Sarcoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and so on. One would think that in this day and age there would be cures for cancer. I wonder if the pharmaceutical companies and researchers have found cures, but know that a lot of money will be lost if it is told. Cancer is not the only disease out there taking people, but this one seems to be so strong right now. Help me pray for these people who are suffering, and their families who suffer, too.

On a brighter note, they have predicted that we will get snow today. A significant amount of snow for Alabama. anywhere from a cold rain to some isolated areas could get up to 8 inches! For you northerners, that isn't much. Even 1-2 inches in Alabama can cause trouble. LOL People clean out the stores bread, milk, and various items if they predict snow or ice around here. Schools have already been closed for today, and many public offices like city halls, etc. have stated they will be closed today. People in the south do not know how to drive nor are we equipped to drive in this type of weather. I am thankful that we get snow very infrequently around here. I couldn't live up north where it is an all winter thing. One good thing is our snow will more than likely be gone tomorrow. I will post some pictures if we do get some.

I have sold one handbag lately, and have an order for another rag bag. I also have an order for a baby quilt and finished getting the fabric for it yesterday. It will be red, white, and blue with a touch of yellow/gold in it. I am not sure of the name of the pattern I'm using, but it is fairly simple and looks nice. I wanted to show the focus fabric, which is a navy floral, the most and this pattern will do that. The backing is a red bandana print. I ordered with the assistance of the purchaser a red bandana print from www.fabric.com, but when I got it in the good light at Hobby Lobby yesterday, I realized how much orange tint it had. That was not what I nor the purchaser wanted. We wanted a true red, so I bought more at HL and will use that other for something myself. Maybe in a handbag? I also pieced a donation quilt the other day out of the blue, so while at my quilt meeting yesterday, I picked up batting for it. Now to find a backing in my stash to use on it, quilt it, and get it back to the group to give to a child. Here is a picture of the top

Donation charm quilt

I call the quilt Scrappy Happy! I just took charm squares I collected a couple of years ago at the quilt group and started sewing them together with alternating yellow squares. Added a wide yellow floral border to top and bottom and a light purple border all around to make sure I got it large enough.

Below is a Swoon Sewing Patterns bag I made as practice. My machine would not sew though the sides very well due to the thickness of the Pellon Peltex in the pocket section. I got it in there, but it isn't sewn as well as it should. I won't have a problem carrying it. It has a strap that is connected by swivel hooks to the loops you see in the picture. I think it turned out nice even though the pocket section is sewn in as well as it should be. I know that next time, I will need to add some rivets instead of trying to sew it.

I was gifted with lots of fabric scraps and large pieces to make quilts and purses out of. I would love to sell some more bags, so if you are interested check out my Items for Sale Page. I can make them to order. I have two bags already made ready to sell, but have had no bites on them, yet. I will give someone a good price on the two already made if interested, please send me a message on Google+ or email me and let me know. Price will need shipping added to it.

Well, I am going to go for now. I pray you all have a great week. Keep checking back in to see what is new around the house.

May God Bless you,

Teresa

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