STILL PONDERING....(SHOCKER!)

I was going to do a "HODGEPODGE" post today (I soo enjoy those) but somehow Wednesday snuck up on me, so I guess it will just have to be some more of my jabbering about sewing machines and quilts.  (sorry)  I actually am more confused than ever, if that is even possible, as I have no idea what I am going to do.  I DID go to another Bernina shop, GOT my comparisons of the machines, and decided that the original gal I talked to REALLY might have had the best deal of all, haha.  HOWEVER, the people at this new place had a used 660 model (5 years old) machine that was the model that got replaced by the 580.  It does everything I want it to do.  All the stitches I would ever need, has a stitch regulator, AND embroiders.  And for quite a bit less....HOWEVER (WHY is there always a "however") it does NOT come with the same warranty (of course since it's used!) and it does not come with the lessons on using the machine.  It also kind of "looks" used if you know what I mean.  The new machines are soo pretty, haha.  Now I am pretty sure I could figure out everything on my own, with the exception of the embroidery part.  But that's a pretty big part in my book.  They did however completely change my mind on the machine quilting part!  I have gone back and forth on that too.  My latest was I was NOT going to do this as I watched a couple of tutorials that looked REALLY hard to me, and kind of "fiddly".  But this gal threaded up a machine (the beautiful 580) and connected the wonderous stitch regulator and told me, "go ahead and try!"  Well, it was SUPER easy.  Almost fool proof.  I LOVED it.  Kind of relaxing and nothing.  Now of course I was doing it on a small piece of fabric, not a large quilt that I had done, but still.  Let me know that IF I wanted to, I COULD do it!  So now a stitch regulator seems like a must.  And just so you know, those things are SUPER expensive and CANNOT be added to my existing machine.  Anyway, the 580 at this shop was WAY WAY more expensive than at the original shop I went to.   The original gal is trying to sell me a class demo machine (which is still really brand new and comes with all the warranties etc.) which is why hers is soo much less.  I thought I had made my decision.  I would go with the NEW one (the 580) at the original shop I had gone to.  BUT!  (again, WHY is there ALWAYS a but!) yesterday after I had gotten my hair done I went BACK to the original shop to pick up my repaired machine.  My gal was not there but her partner was and I asked her if she might PLEASE embroider the name on one of the squares of the baby quilt I was making so that I could not only have it of course, but see how easy something I might do frequently was actually done.  She was such a sweet woman and did it for me and I was very impressed not only with the way it came out, but the easy way it was to do.  But in our conversations about the "new" machine I was planning on getting soon, it came out that she does not think that the price I was quoted included the stitch regulator!  Oh no....And of course to add that on (with tax) is close to another 800 dollars!  Now she isn't sure, so I will be calling the gal who I originally worked with today and hope pray that it was indeed part of the deal.  Otherwise, I think we might have priced it right out of my range and now that used one is looking REALLY good, haha.   Meanwhile, I got my old machine home (it is soo heavy getting it into the house without hubby was quite difficult) got it back in my sewing stand, hooked back up, and immediately tried a decorative stitch, and OH MY GOODNESS is all I can say.  It was like new.  Worked BEAUTIFULLY and was soo quiet and quick I had honestly forgotten how well it worked.   I was almost giddy.  I can hardly wait to embellish some of the things I have already done with a few decorative things.  MEANWHILE, (this is ANOTHER long, involved story ~ but no fear, I WILL cut it short) I found out that my son and his wife preferred the original fabric and look I had going on the rag quilt, haha.  Sooo, I am removing the dog print (I still think it's cute) and going back to the original. Thank goodness I had not sewn it yet, thank goodness my son had the gumption to tell me as they are the ones I am trying to please afterall, (my sweet dil would have probably died first, haha) and thank goodness it was only 4 dollars.  I can use it on something else eventually I am sure.  But now I have to rearrange it a way I can stand, and put it together.  But! I have decided to stitch my X's with decorative stitches and that should add the pizzazz that I am looking for hopefully, lol.  Soo how was this for a long post about nothing?  I am hopefully going to finally be putting that quilt together today, and hopefully going to have a conversation with the gal from the original shop that will thrill me to hear that the stitch regulator WAS included, and all will be well.  For now, let me show the name and the decorative stitches.

KIND OF HARD TO SEE HERE AS I STILL CAN'T WORK MY CAMERA VERY WELL BUT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CHOICES HERE..PROBABLY GO WITH THE BIGGER ONE, AND I HAVEN'T DECIDED IF I WILL GO WITH THE WHITE THREAD WHICH IS SHOWN HERE, OR MAYBE A DEEPER BLUE?

HERE IS THE NAME.  I WAS THRILLED WITH THE WAY THIS CAME OUT AND IT WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE QUILT.  IT DOES SHOW HOW THE BLUE WOULD LOOK SHOULD I CHOSE IT.

Hope you are all having a good week, and are enjoying these early days of summer.  The weather has just been gorgeous.  Low 80's with nice breezes during the day, and cooling off into the mid 60's at night.  Can't get much better.  I KNOW the heat is coming, so I am enjoying this while I can.  Still REALLY REALLY REALLY missing my mom, but I know that is going to take a while.  I am glad I have my mind occupied right now even if it is on these trivial things.  Blessings to you all! Debbie