NEW SEWING MACHINE....MAYBE?

I decided to write a quick post, not because I have something important to share, but because it is just something I would have chewed over with my mom, (who would have been soo interested in it), and honestly with the exception of my sister Diane, no one else really is, and she is 3 times (at least) as busy as I am, and so it is hard sometimes to get a good "chew" in with her.   It is on the subject of sewing, haha, (which is why Mel is not too interested ~ though she listened to my rambling without complaining to be fair).  I have also decided that rather than bemoan how sad I am that I don't have her to chew things with anymore, I am going to be grateful for ALL the years that I did, and especially this last year where she and I chewed and chatted our days away, day after day after day.  I know there are plenty of women who just have never had that.  I guess it is something that I KNEW I had with my mom, but I wonder now how much I appreciated it then.  So, let me just encourage you if you have this in your life, to consider how blessed you are, and be joyful.

My mom left a small amount of money for each one of her kids.  It is really not a lot in the scheme of things, and I have of course considered just putting it into the bank (but what fun is that? haha). I have been thinking (and praying) about this for a while and I have recently been considering MAYBE buying a new sewing machine.  Now I bought the top of the line Bernina 29 years ago.  I was just getting into sewing and the gal who was coaching me in this art had one, and I was soo enamored by it that I had decided I needed one too.  Well, it cost me 1500.00 dollars clear back then which was sooo expensive it might as well had been 15,000.00!  Looking back I wonder now how we ever afforded such a thing, or why my hubby INSISTED I get it, etc.  But let me just say this.  I have used and used and used that thing to death!  And! in the almost 30 years of it's almost daily use (at times anyway) it has ALWAYS run beautifully and has NEVER needed a repair.  It has more than paid for itself over and over again.  I DEFINITELY got my money's worth.  However, about a year ago "something" broke on the switch that changes it to my decorative stitches, so I have been unable to use them.  It really hasn't been a huge issue, as everything else works just fine.  When Melody was young I pretty much made everything she wore until she was about 10 years old.  I used the stitches ALL the time then.  I have always been going to see about just getting it repaired (if it even can be!) but I just haven't gotten around to it.  However, I have decided recently that I am FINALLY going to do what has been almost a lifetime desire for me and that is learn to quilt.  I think the rag quilts got my feet wet.  And then I made a couple of quilt tops and backed them with the flannel and made the self binding baby blankets.  But now it is time to do the whole thing.  Soo I have been watching tutorials and I am ready to make one.  It doesn't look too hard (of course I am looking at your beginners basic, but still!).  But I am concerned about the actual quilting part.  Do I think I could hand quilt?  Yes, of course I could.  But for me I am afraid it might go too slowly, and turn into what I call "fiddly".  But!  I think I would REALLY like to machine quilt.  And I want to do it myself, though I known they can be sent out.  So thus began the thoughts of "maybe" looking into a new machine that would do it.  Here is where the story turns....I called the same dealer who I bought my first one from who is still there btw, and found out of course that my machine is a complete dinosaur.  I knew that of course, so that part wasn't surprising.  EVERYTHING now is done by computers and digitally.  But what was TOTALLY shocking was the price of their very latest top of the line.  Are you ready for this??  13,000!!  Can you stand it?  I was expecting maybe 4 or 5 thousand what with inflation and all, but thirteen?!  Now of course this machine does everything you can possibly think of, and honestly is way, way more than I would ever need or use anyway.  But I was just soo shocked.  In talking with her further she told me of a machine that does do some quilting and embroidery work as well but at a much more reasonable price.  A mere 5300.00 for it.  Still seems just insane to me.  However, I am going to go and look and let her demonstrate it etc.  I love the idea of buying this with the money my mom left me, and knowing always that she in essence bought it for me.  But I just might get mine cleaned and repaired (hopefully) and go on using it forever and worry about the quilting part when I get to it, haha.  I know I could probably just use my decorative stitches and self guide my fabric and do it that way too.  Guess I won't really know what I prefer or will like until I do it, and at this point, I am quite a ways from being at that stage anyway.  Sooo, now you have all (those that are still with me anyway) heard my sewing dilemma story that I am pondering, and I am curious to your feed back.  Mom would have had plenty, but don't let that bother you, haha.  Oh, just so you know I have considered just buying a different kind of sewing machine, (maybe it would be a lot less!) BUT! I am a pretty loyal Bernina fan at this stage of my life.

I have finished up every little thing I am making for the new baby in the last couple of days, so I will cut his rag quilt out hopefully tomorrow.  Other than that, my week so far has been uneventful and good.  Hope all of yours has been too!   Blessings!  Debbie

I LOVED THIS CUTE LITTLE FABRIC!  

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PRINT!

THIS ONE IS MADE OUT OF KNIT INSTEAD OF FLANNEL  I ALSO MADE A MATCHING NIGHTSHIRT OUT OF THE PLAIN BLUE, BUT DIDN'T HAVE A PIC OF IT FOR SOME REASON.  THE KNIT IS SOFT AND COMFY, BUT IS WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE FLANNEL, AND TRUTHFULLY KIND OF FIDDLY AS IT CAN STRETCH ETC WHEN SEWING.  DON'T THINK I WILL USE IT AGAIN

POSSIBLE NEW MACHINE!