Sew or not to sew

My machine is back home. I got it back last Tuesday and tried it out a bit at the sewing course. It seamed to be working sewing straight anyway. But I am a bit apprehensive in trying it out more. What if it still mucks up when FMQ? I hate the thought of yet again battling my dealer. Every time I have had it sent away it comes back with a note of user error... But what is it I am doing so differently from before I cant understand. Nothings really changed, still the same thread the same quilt, I've changed needles so many times in case it was them that made it all go pear shaped it is costing a fortune in needles! I will have a test drive in the weekend when I am off from work and have more time and patience to figure it out. Plus I have signed up for a Janome help group on yahoo and have been going through all their advice and hints to what I can try out. But obviously it isn't only me having trouble with this machine. Makes you wonder why they started selling the Horizon so quickly if there are all these kinks and problems with it....

Home alone

So, what to do with yourself when home alone with a cold? I am still going to the quilting meeting tonight of course. Got to see if there is any news at all on my sewing machine! It will be very interesting to say the least to find out what is wrong this time around if any.... Lately it feels like they cant seem to find anything wrong with it so it has to be an user problem.. I am so sick and tired of this now I want to chuck it out the window so there will be a genuine user problem!!

I have been sewing a bit of other stuff with my old sewing machine. But oh how I do miss the option for free motion quilting or to have a few nice stitches to choose from when finishing a border or a binding. One of the things we did at the quilting course was a handbag. I made a very bright and springlike one first with loads of inside pockets. I liked the model but not the fact that the pockets end up on a different level on the outside so I went and made a more subtle one in black as well... Note that the side pockets on the black one are matching up better with the big main pockets. In the original pattern the pockets don't line up at all which I thought was a bit odd so changed it around for the second one.

First one, nice and bright with loads of pockets inside and out.

Second one, bit more muted and not so many pockets on the inside but a better match on the outside ones

I've also done a Serendipity quilt... You get two baby quilts from sewing one block together and cutting in a special way. I made mine with blues and a light yellow. I quite like it but have not finished them off yet. You can see the one that needs sewing together at the top.

Also Mette and me got into making small purses on one of our sewing weekends. This is what I've done so far. I quite like the blue and gold one, not so sure any more about the bright red button on the black one. But at the time that was what red button I had at home.

The last project that I started in the weekend was trying out the pattern called Texas Braid  from one of Bonnie Hunters books. It was just meant to be a little try out block to see if I liked it and if it was easy to sew....But look what's happened!
It sort of ... grew

It has been a while for me to post what I have been up to but this maybe has made up for the lack of posts.. :)

Sewing update

I have been busy sewing a bit on my old sewing machine. The Janome Horizon has been sent away since it started playing up sewing normally. The latest news is it could be the circuit board? After a sewing weekend with my friend Mette it started skipping stitches and the zigzag was all over the place. It didn't help changing needles or thread so off it went to my dealer with a note that I am getting very tired off this and want a new machine. And this is without even trying to FMQ. It is a very expensive sewing machine for just sewing straight I'll tell you....

I did finish some projects using my old machine and resolving to do some straight line quilting on a handbag and a tote I was working on just so I could finish them off. I must say the more the Janome is acting up the more I am impressed with my OLD Husqvarna Viking. It is a mechanical one with no chance of FMQ on it but it stitches beautifully and can cope with thickness without starting to skip stitches.... If I have the option at some point I will ask for my money back on the Janome and look into a different brand sewing machine because this is getting ridiculous! To top it off I read the latest sewing magazine from Janome in which they proud themselves on their excellent customer service.... I've never laughed so much!

Quilting

So... I tried out to quilt on the bargello heart and yet again the thread started to break. I am puzzled at what this is all about. It worked fine on the star table runner, It did quilt lovely and the thread didn't break once. When sitting there thinking I thought what if I turn over and quilt from the back since it is an over all pattern I am doing. So I did and quilted it without a hitch. Am now wondering if it is the backing giving me so much trouble. I have a fleece backing on both of the quilts but the one that quilted nicely the fleece is a softer and shorter fleece then the black one that is on this one. But still the center part of this quilt went together without a hitch so something must have happened to my machine but what? I really don't know what to do with it. I am going to quilt some more and then try it out on some other projects as well but if it still is fussing with other backings and batting then I will want a new machine.   But somehow I think that will be a huge struggle with my dealer, since she wasn't very helpful before.

Quilting yay...?

I tried my machine out and so far so good..... I will tackle the big beast tomorrow and see if it still is so far so good...

Here is what I finished today, quilted and bound in the same day, wow!

Keep your fingers crossed will you?

Quilting curse....

So much for saying it was going fine quilting the second heart quilt.... my machine started to act up again with the thread breaking and making a rough sound when sewing. After a lot of debating if there was something wrong with it with my dealer she finally decided to take it in and had a look at it! I got soooo frustrated she wasn't listening I cried in front of her in the end and only then did she say she would have a look at it! She had to send it away to be looked at by an authorized Janome repair center after she couldn't find what was wrong. When it came back 2 weeks ago and I was going to try it out at home the first thing that happened was that it said F2 error.... And no way was it going to quilt, it took 5 stitches or so before it went F2 error again in which case the only thing to do is to turn it off and on again. I just packed it up and went straight back with it saying I do not want to look at it until they have fixed what ever they messed up trying to fix it in the first place!!

2  weeks going and haven't heard anything from her about it yet. I am very disappointed with the machine, Janome Horizon 7700 and my dealer. I am thinking I want a new machine or my money back if it doesn't get resolved soon.

I at least managed to get the binding on and finished the first bargello heart quilt. So one down and the other one just have to wait until I get a working sewing machine.

Lists

I have several lists going on in my head at the moment. You know things needing attention or just wish lists for the house, garden, me, you name it. I just have to decide which list needs most attention and get on with it really.... sigh

It is slow progress at the moment in the quilting department. I am cursing at the last heart quilt not wanting to be quilted as I like it to be. The seam ripper has been in ample use and I have had a break from it because it was getting just too frustrating. But during the weekend I have finally picked it up and am finishing the last borders on it. Thankfully my client is very VERY understanding....

I've had a birthday in October and was given the most excellent birthday present! A quilting frame in which I can use my sewing machine! We saw the frame being demonstrated at the Birmingham Quilt Festival and I was in love. But I never thought I would get it as a present. I was more in the line thinking I'd save up and we make an order next time we went to the Quilt Festival! So now my sewing room is in a bit of disarray while I am trying to fit the new frame in and all my other necessities. I think I have found a solution to how to have it arranged but now all the fabric and other stuff has to be fitted into lesser space so that means refolding fabric and going through all the other stuff and see if it all is needed. But that is sort of fun, if you have the time to do it... which I wont have in a couple of days time when I am temping for Veronica full time again for 2 weeks. Got so tired last time I did it I barely managed to stay awake for the evening news! But it was more fun then my normal routine at work so am glad to get to do it.

Little Miss-Fix-it has left the building!

Yes, so if you have any trouble or problems and need a shoulder to cry on don't come my way to get them fixed and leave me to clean up the mess.
I have had enough!
I don't mind to help out if I can, but at the moment I have had my fill and am sick to the bone of solving everybody else's problems while no one seems to wonder or think that I might need a break or a friendly ear for my troubles. So look elsewhere for someone who cares!

Services will probably resume, but not for the foreseeable future anyway!

Festival of Quilts in pictures

Here are just a few of all the pictures I took from the festival of Quilts in Birmingham.

 This was elected Best in Show and I so do agree!

Think what you can do with this technique when using it in a dress....

This one was just amazing! And it had such a nice fall around the skirt..

Birmingham Festival of Quilts

Ok... I think I have found heaven!

I have never been to such a place as this Festival of Quilts, there is just sooo much to take in and to see and to buy there aren't enough hours it is open! We were there waiting outside for it to open but still we hardly managed to see everything before it closed, so thank the gods we have another day tomorrow!

I've already bought so much fabric but have my eyes set on more and I have seen a kit for a queen size quilt, but I've never sewn from a kit before so don't know if i would like it. But it is oh so tempting to buy it because both me and Jamie absolutely love it! It incorporates some applique which I have never done before but it looks a simple enough design, just some leaves scattered around the border. Talking about poor Jamie, he has been very well behaved and put up with a lot of carrying and standing waiting for me when I got into looking for fabric. Bless him he will have to do it all again tomorrow!

Lets see, there is still the whole quilt exhibition to see tomorrow and to take pictures of and then there are the second round of going around looking for more fabric and notions and maybe a new ruler and maybe a few books or patterns to be bought. I have seen a quilting frame I would like to buy to my machine, makes it a whole lot easier to free motion quilt and you don't need to invest in a longarm, even if that might be something I do in the future. There were a few other new crafts that I would like to try but I think it will have to wait for another time, just cant start another one plus all the other ones I am doing already!

I will post pictures later when we have access to Jamies parents computer with the little slot for the memory card.

Finally done the first one!

After all the trouble with the sewing machine and a lack of time for the spring frenzy in the garden I have finally managed to finish the first bargello heart quilt! And here it is all quilted, just got to put the binding on which I have all the material at home so that will go quickly.

 Very nice swirly pattern. A very fun one to do as well.

So now on to the next one!

Garden so far

Here at last are some pictures how the garden looks like this year. It is a lovely day so I am off out when I've posted theses

My flower arrangement at the door this year. I went very pink!

The new borders we did last year are bulking out very nicely

The new border by the street, putting peat blocks in place as to keep the soil from falling on to the lawn we are going to sow

We extended the veggie patch this year a bit and rounded it off, makes it easier for Jamie to cut the grass

A view from our deck

I just love this white peony! And the daisys I managed to sow from seed last year are really thriving. They got too tall though!

Rain rain rain

Sigh, when it rains it pours it seems. But maybe there will be a break in the weather today. It is looking promising outside now when the really dark clouds has rolled past and the sun is trying to get out. But I am not really complaining about all the rain we've had. It has been really good for the garden and all veg is now looking really healthy not to mention my spuds! They now look fully grown in height!

I am off to take my mum to a garden center, well me as well..... Jamie is working today so got to amuse myself somehow don't I? Well we also need a few more peat blocks for the new border we are doing at the front.

Veggies,veggies,veggies!

Yes, the garden is up and running. Spuds in the ground together with carrots, beetroot, dill, parsley, sugar snap peas, onions, leeks, runner beans, wax beans, broad beans sown inside so the fecking birds wont eat them all, squash plants on the go inside as well since it is a bit too chilly for them yet to go out.

New perennials have been planted in the new border by the hedge towards the street. All other borders weeded and I've already seen some things I want to move because they are getting crowded out and a shrub that needs replanting somewhere else since it doesn't like its current spot. Other then that all the new roses we planted last year seem to be coming along, not a single death yet this year but then the last winter we had wasn't all that harsh like the year before.

Have to measure for a trellis of some kind backing up to our new decking so I can plant my new clematis. Also got to decide what to do with the wild section. I like it being wild and rough but not when it gets over run by dandelions and that other pesky weed. We did cut back on it last year when I decided that the cats would lose their litter box, it was really smelling awful around the bushes, so I changed it around and added more lawn going in around the bushes. I am now thinking I might do the same on the other half and just keep a smaller part of it as a flower bed and pack as much ground covering plants in there as I can.

Generally all our plants are bulking out nicely and covering the ground so there hopefully wont be too much weeding for me to do. Since my hands seem to be deteriorating in strength quite considerably since last year I have to think of ways to make the garden easier to manage. But I don't want to resort to just having shrubs and lawn. Just have to crack on and get the borders separated from the ever creeping lawn with something nice like paving stones or a wooden plank or something similar so I don't need to do so much trimming of the verge, which I usually do by hand.

Sewing is put a bit on the back burner on nice days like today but I can happily report that the sewing machine from hell now is from heaven again and it is working out quite nicely. Got at least half of the first heart quilt free hand quilted and the thread doesn't snap every 5 cm any more, just the odd time when I am going too quickly over a thick layer of seams....

In between lots of cursing and swearing.....

Yes its been one of those kinds of days. I was going to press on and quilt as much as I could on the first heart quilt today when I had plenty of time and felt inspired but I don't know what had happened to my machine but all of a sudden the thread kept on breaking, hopping stitches like anything and snapping when I was free motion quilting. I changed the needle, changed the foot, adjusted the pressure of the foot, adjusted the tension, threaded the machine a thousand times. Almost threw something through the window of sheer frustration when nothing seemed to make any difference to the problem. Jamie tried to help but he backed off when I started growling at him, poor soul.

Then after almost giving up and calming down over a late dinner I had an epiphany! Last Tuesday at the course Marina changed the bobbin holder since the old one often got dislodged and at one time got pierced by the needle and jammed crocked when I was sewing and got slightly damaged and uneven. She also changed a metal clamp to a thicker version to keep the bobbin holder better in place. It seems the Horizon has some 'issues' with the bobbin holder moving out of place when sewing. Anyway I kept the old bobbin holder and now put it back. And see it works again! There were a few thread snags but not every 2 inches like it was before! I have to ask Marina what this is all about because it shouldn't behave like this! Also I noticed the thread snagging when I had the front cover closed but not so often when I have it open to try to see when and how it snags.

Sigh a very frustrating end to the day after a perfectly alright morning. Weird thing is that it sews perfectly when straight stitching and piecing. So that is what I ended the evening with and sewed a few more blocks to my scrappy cathedral stars quilt, pattern is from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville. And here is a photo of my progress.

:o)

Been a while

Life just got busy and didn't have time to write about what has been happening around here. Not that much has happened.  I've been plodding on with the blocks for the lilac heart and can now see the end of them all. I only need to make 15 more! Then it is a matter of sewing it together and then quilting it. But that feels like it will be more fun then doing the blocks has been lately. Last night at my quilting course I started a quilt just for ME, well us really since I am making it to be used when lounging in the sofa . Just a nice blanket size quilt. Will post a sneak peek later.

Weekend done and dusted!

I don't enjoy working weekends but its a must since I work part time in a supermarket. If I didn't the pay would be really really crap.

I haven't done much sewing at all, have had a headache and feeling generally tired and off since Friday . So after getting back from work and had something to eat all I could manage was to slump in front of the telly with a nice warm blanket.

It has been very cold here for a couple of days, night time temps being around -25 -27 degrees makes our house go cold inside. It has been much improved since Jamie did some extra insulation work down in the basement, the floor is not as cold as it was before but it still goes cold inside when the weather turns for the lower temperatures because our heating system can't cope with the extreme cold it being an air to air heating system. Don't ask what sort of system it is all I know is that if we ever move or build a new house we are not having this system again! It is total crap for Swedish climate but still all the new houses going up have this system as standard. No wonder people are complaining about their heating bills being horrendous when they need to put extra heaters on when it gets cold in winter.

We have been thinking again about maybe building our own house and looked a bit at what plots there are available. We would want to move out a bit in the country and get a bit more land as well. Jamie would like some woodland so we could be self sufficient with wood for heating, I'd like plenty of room for a wild garden and for growing vegetables plus a studio for all my crafts, oh that would be lovely. If we ever do build it would definitely be an eco house of some sort maybe even a passive house which uses very little energy for heating since it is so well insulated. Lots of things to think about of course and we still have to find the plot of our dreams. We will have fun looking though and if it pops up it does or maybe we will find a dream house in the country with all the requirements. But we best win the lotto first....!

Testing....

This is what is taking up a bit of my time....

Bits and bobs... and fabric!

This weekend has been very busy and had a slight change of plan due to the weather that rolled in on Thursday night. But it all went very well anyway since we could get to the sewing festival on Saturday instead of on Friday. But it was a bit of a disappointment. That festival seems to be getting smaller and smaller each year. My favourite fabric person wasn't even there this year with her stall. But there was someone else instead and she had a sale on! This is what I got from her

The top line I could easily use as is to a quilt I have in mind with lots of different stars. The bottom line I am thinking of making a table runner for spring. Even though looking out the window it doesn't look like spring will be here any time soon. I woke up to -19 and it is snowing....

Friday was spent indoors after shovelling all the snow that had drifted and sewing more blocks to the bargello heart quilt. At the moment I have 48 more blocks to do before I can start thinking about borders and quilting and binding. It is so slow going at the moment though, I need a second project on the side so I can alternate when it gets too boring doing the same block over and over again. That is why I finished the center bit of the Wedding quilt. I think it is safe to show on here so here goes.

Today at the course I am going to pick what borders I am going to finish it off with and then it is on to quilting it....