Welcome To The Family Sweet Sixteen

I've been wanting to upgrade my beloved Brother 1500 machine to a 

Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen machine.

I've wanted one for a few years and lately started looking seriously.

I looked at new, 

I looked for used.

There are not many used machines on the market.

I looked in 3 states and recently found one 3 hours from me.

Yesterday we took a road trip to north western Washington to test drive one.

Who am I kidding, I knew I was bringing it home with me.

She is now set up in the living room.

I played with her for quite a while last night.

I watched videos and played some more.

I'm confident in my free motion and I'm ready to start quilting.

Today I had to put off quilting to get a couple of quilts basted. 

I am so behind on my UFO Challenge list that I pulled the 

March and April UFOs off the pile and basted them.

I'm about ready to wind a couple of bobbins and 

be brave and start quilting. 

I hope to soon be moving these and several others to the finish page. 

9pm Update

The learning curve is quite curvy but I'm having so much fun!

Design Wall Monday

Not much time was spent in the sewing room last week. We did a mini vacation/road trip to Neah Bay, Washington so Ernie could go out salmon fishing. Not the best catching trip he's been on but he sure has a good time fishing. I spent some of my time stitching this partial rosette for Millefiore. (And knitting and reading and movie watching.)

I had to stop at the last 2 hexies on the left when I discovered my dark blue fabric 

was too skimpy so I finished it at home.

This little one was fun to sit down and get finished last night.

Rosette 12b is the TaaDah!

The final rosette to do.

I started with the greens, then found the butterflies 

so my selections will probably change once I get back to it.

When this one is finished,

I'll have 5 partial rosettes to sew to the Mother Ship and 

then start the fill ins for the border 

as soon as I figure out what fabric to use for that!

Pretty excited!!!

The sewing machine is starting to feel lonely.

I have some serious plans for her this week. 

Check out what's happening at Patchwork Times.

Oh Judy L, that quilt top is fabulous!!!

On The Needles

This hat is off the needles and when Corbin put it on, it's too tight.

I'll start over with everything I've learned from this project.

I had it finished with a different design on top.

It was waaaayyyy too tight so I cut yarn and pulled it out down to the black above the robots.

Then I picked up all the stitches-successfully the first time!-and added the X design.

It's still to tight.

It just barely goes on his head.

He loves it!

So I am going to make him another with the robots and

 be very careful about pulling my traveling yarn too tight!!!

Then I started on Leland's hat.

I sat down early this morning and finished the knitting.

Now I have to make a pompom.

He can hardly wait!

Too bad my picture doesn't show how bright this is.

We road tripped again last weekend.

We were gone for 5 days.

These boys are turning into really good travelers.

Yes, hubby's seat covers are camo.

Yes, I let my dogs sleep on the truck quilt. 

I love how little 6 pound Jessie takes his half of the seat right out of the middle. 

See what others have on their needles by visiting Patchwork Times-On the Needles today.