Well this week I've really been on a roll sewing.  I've just finished making my second bag.   I decided now to use some form of batting to make the bag stand up more.  For some reason this in addition to the lining make the bag look more durable there by lasting longer.  Of course when ever I sew I make sure stuff is not coming apart. It can be sewn wrong, but at least I know those stitches are locked in, isn't that terrible?  I have a phobia about tearing.

The bottom of the bag is made out of heavy canvas, and for some reason this stuff really freyed bad, but maybe it's because it is old.  The lining is just thin fabric, and the straps were grey and I decided to do a contrast with some type of colored ribbon.  I was going to quilt the entire bag, but found out the hard ways that I should have done the quilting before I sewed the sides together.  I wanted to see what it would look like with some stippling on it, and as you can see the white thread is not showing up.  So I decided against it, but was just in a creative move and went with the flow.   Now that I know what a bag will look like with some type of batting I think that I will use this process from now on.  Now I have to think of another project. to come up with............did I say how much I love this machine!  It's fab! I will use this bag if I wear my blue jeans.  I also noticed that the handles are too close to the rim of the beg, and the handles could have been a little more closer together, thereby giving the handles length.  I should have known better.  But who cares, I'm the only one that's going to use this bag.  I might stop in at Ikea and look at some of their fabric.

sew productive

Today I went to the place I purchase my sewing machine.  I had a few questions of some of the things that didn't seem clear.  Basically I am surprised at how much i am familiar with the machine.  Much to do about nothing.  I was so tense in doodling on that fabric for the purse, that my neck and shoulders were sore today, and I couldn't figure out why until I watched a quilting video.  The lady did say learn to relax.
Even though my sewing people are far, they are really nice to work with, which really makes it easier mentally to go out there, but it's still a pill. But I'll do anything for a sewing machine. Guess I'm just a sick broad and I get worse with age. What is about these machines?  Thank goodness I am not the only person with this illness lol!  I didn't get home until six.

Last night I psyched myself out just to get up and go, and of course I left the house at 10:30 and got home around 6:00............traffic was bad. Now I can get on the machine with a little more confidence.  Even though I may have missed out on another hour of stuff. Time flies by so fast, and then you really can't think of the questions to ask, but of course my brain must have been frozen, because I should have written the stuff down last night.  None the less I got the two most important questions asked, so now I will really have to start practicing more.  I'm looking forward to the next thing I think up.  FMQ is like drawing, so that's the way my brain perceives this, so the sky is the limit , and no telling what might come into my mind, since I have the tendency to go off the path. Now I understand why women like the quilting, for me it's the sound of the machine and the speed I can go, for some reason I am more concentrated, and just zone out, and I notice I am more focused.  I will start tinkering around with the machine at 11:00 and the next thing you know it's 3:00 and I've not even come up for air.

  Today I wore my those flowered blue jeans I made and got a compliment. I was really shocked, I wasn't fishing at all mind you.  I figure that since I made they would look like they are made.  However that's the trick to try and make things look store brought.Making stuff with no patterns is really challenging.  I am just going to have learn to have more patience with patterns. Who knows I could be making that harder than what it really is, but then again .........maybe not.    My next challenge is going to be working on making blouses. Lord knows I need some shirts.  I think it's time for me to get out of tee shirts.  I stain them so bad, and then put embroidery designs to cover the stains isn't that ridiculous?   

Well I finally finished my bag this morning.  It came out very well, although I really am going to have to change how I put the lining in, never the less this is a sturdy little bag, and I will be using it this week. Developing a more pronounced pattern of FMQ would have been more satisfactory, but rome wasn't built in a day, and I am going to have to be patient with myself with this learning curve. I am enjoying it though.  I almost thought about reinforcing the straps with a cover stitch but dicided against it.  I had to change thread three times, looking for a way for the straps to be not so noticable with stitching.  I am going get some snap magnets for bags in the future.   I have another bag now in progress, and you can see it in the back of this bag.  I really am loving my machine.  It sewed through these thick pices like butter.  The Janome 7700 is really a strong machine.

 I know that Bernina is heavy duty, but I think the Janome really is better.  You can actually feel the power of this machine as you sew.   Also Leah Day who has youtube videos, has a valid point about the feeddogs being down.  I really was afraid to put the feed dogs down, because I don't want to have to adjuct tension, or anything else for that matter.  That's where the sliding pad comes in.  Also she has a valid point about changing the speed control.  I think she is right in letting the machine  stay in the fast mode.  I noticed that with just a control of the foot peddle I had to slow down a bit when trying to manipulate the fabric under the foot.  Tues. or Weds I am going to take another class for the machine.  I really want to feel comfortable about using the quilting foot. 

As you can seee I squiggled on my first attempt, and of course the picture is not clear, you get the idea.  This is going to take some practice and now I can see why ladies like FMQ, because it's almost like driving once you get the feel and know the direction you are going in. There is a slide that I must get, this will make it easier for me to control the fabric.  I'm not willing to pay 65.00 for the slider supreme. Found one on Amazon for 20.00 but it should work just as well.  The one that cost more money is for the larger quilts.  I had no sense of direction as you can see...........

This is the design, and I did try cutting the fabric up in squaares but couldn't wrap my head around it, first I was going to sew four squares together, and then put in a diamond shape and alternate the colors.  Placement is really crucial here.  Yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble to see what new sewing books they have, and also look for the quilting bible of books.  I went through about two or three and this will be my next purchase; well really I am going to have to put a dress form on lay-a-way and i think I will go with AllBrands since they have more choices. I am making a bag by the way, and it looks like it's going to turn out alright. This will be my first quilted bag. I just have the straps to put on, and sew the lining.

I should have sewn it so that the front doesn't match the back just for contrast........in other words the bottom of this piece should be another pattern of color.  Just my opinion.  I will finish the bag more than likely tomorrow.  I was working on this from 11:00 and looked up at the clock and saw it was 3:30 ......that's just how absorbing this can be.  I kept cutting the sides down because I didn't quite measure the batting.  Next time I will cut all three at the same time.......lining, batting, and then the fabric.  I have some electric scissors that I've not used.  They are so noisy, but I think I will use them because of the thickness of layers.  Don't want to dull my sharpened scissors.

Well yesterday I finally finished up two sleeveless tee shirts.  Just something to knock about, and again I used no pattern. These fit very well.  The grey one should have been made a little more loosley but that's alright.  Chances are I will probably wear it on the balcony or something.  Maybe with my jeans. 

I wanted to make a slight contrast with some material to go around the neck line.  I could have used basting tape, but the material is a light knit.  Needless to say I tried flaring this out toward the bottom of the shirt, and it looks alright, I can get by with it, more than likely I will wear this with my jeans.   Will have to go to mill end fabrics in July, and I will make two more pairs of jeans.  This time I will try another color other than blue.  By the fall I should have this down to a science.  I will more than likely join another craftsy class.  My Janome is smoothe like butter.  Now I am working with some pieces of fabric to make a kinda of quilt purse.  This is more than a notion, and I don't know where to begin, so I'm going to play around with the color scheme of the bag.  So I will take pictures of stuff in progress.  Maybe that will help me to decide in how I am going to do this, because I picked up the little sqaures of material for 2.99 a bag.   Going to have to use my imagination.  More than likely I will take a course on piecing.  Doesn't make since to have this fine machine and not take it through it's paces.  This will be my first time doing FMQ and I am looking forward to it.  The videos say it takes a while to get the feel of the direction you are going in. The speed in which you move has a lot to do with the pattern of your stitch designs.  Over 1,000 stitches per minute.   Also I will have to get a pair of gloves.  That's must, it helps with holding the fabric, and also from keeping the oils from your hands not transfering over to the fabric, and of course keeping it clean.   It's always something.  A little here, a little there. But I enjoy it all.  So far it seems I'm on a roll.

This is the beginning of the dresss, and that is a sheet that I cut out, so there is not pattern.  I just wanted to see how this was going to go. Was really surprised of the outcome.  I like the material, although I don't think it was a good choice for me.

This looks much better on than off, but you can get the picture.  I really like the color.  I was surprised on how this was going to look on me.  I believe I will make the neck line just a little lower, and more open.  I haven't a clue when I am going to wear this, I just wanted to make something other than pants. I tried to take a picture of me without the flash, but the picture didn't turn out too well.  I didn't want my face to show.  I think I am going to invest in getting a camera that i would be able to use a tripod. 

I wanted to show some contrast on the bottom of this dress, so I cut the dress shorter, and then turned the material around to give a contrast appearance.  I learned the hard way that working on knits or shears it's best to use the dual feed foot must be used on fine fabrics and knits.

This is my first time using the dual feed foot and also with sewing knit fabric on the Janome 7700.  Because I was lazy I didn't use the foot the first time in test run while sewing the fabric.  The machine devoured the fabric.  Which is the reason for the single whole device.  This way the fabric isn't eaten up.  I had to carefully cut out the fabric, remove the plate.  Once I put the dual feed foot on everything was smooth sailing.  Although I am going to have to figure out the stitch length. 

I thought I had taken the flash off.  There's got to be an easier way of taking photos with my finished work.  Needless to say I am surprised how this turned out, just happen to be on a roll.  There are so many reruns on television until you have no other alternative but to sew, or read.  This week it's going to be hot........in the 80's well I don't do well in the heat. So I'll be sitting at the sewing machine.  I am really glad I got this machine, and now I am going to do another sleeveless top, no pattern but just something to knock around in, and then I will try doing a quilt bag.  I've not begun to touch the surface with this machine.

Well May was really a hell of a month with all the hacking and everything going on.  I am still trying to find a way to transport my blog.  However it looks like I am stuck with the old address for the time being.  I am going to have to get an external hardrive.  In the mean time I've been doing some sewing and made two pair of really nice jeans.  They are not perfect, but they will do, now that I have a picture in my head of how they should go.

These pants turned out really well, and I copied them from another pair that I took apart.   In Kenneth Kings course he shows how to do this with the organza, and he made it look so simple.  Somehow my taking a pair of jeans that I got at a second hand store for a buck, and taking them apart seemed easier.  The tracing looked easier with him doing it on line than actually doing it; I even brought some type of clothe crayons and that helped a bit with tracing, but the pencil didn't glide across the cloth like Kenneth displayed in the video.  I may have been better off just using a #2 penical on the organza.  With these pants,  made a simple quilt stitch at the bottom, so that the pants would frey.  It worked perfectly.

Dadburn that flash but you can just seen how the pants fit my boxy frame.  I thought I had taken the flash off.
This is the first pair of jeans that came out really nice.  I was really surprised at the out come.  I will try and do better.   They are very comfortable.  Right now I am working on a blouse for some.  Just something to wear with some black shorts I made.   I am truly a work in progress.  Since there is nothing on the boob tube and there are all reruns I probably will do some more sewing.  I am really spoiled with the Janome and now it seems like something is wrong with the Brother because it sounds funny.  I'm really long over due for a check on this machine.  

Kenneth King

I am taking a class with Kenneth D. King from Craftsy.com.  They have a lot of course on there to take, for 39.00 I figured it couldn't be all that bad.  I'm on the 6th chapter.  You can work right along with him or do what ever you wish.  I prefer watching it all the way through.  He is teaching us how to copy a pair of pants from you favorite pair of pants, without taking them apart.   I need some silk organza.  He states this is really good for copying from a garment.  It makes sense since you can see straight through it, and you can write on the other side of it as well.    I need some color pencils.  He states they are always good for marking.  Especially if you are working out details on the same side of the fabric.  I guess you don't get confused.  Pretty interesting so far.

  I have two more DVDs coming from London, and these are about dressmaking from scratch.  Seeing is really helpful in that I can retain what I see in addition to using my reference books.   Guess I am just killing time, but at least I am spending it constructively.  Still tinkering around with machine.  It's almost time for me to take her in for a check up, and I think I will do that around spring.  I should also have the embroidery machine checked out as well.  Never need to with the Brother.  I purchased and ebook from Kennth King through threads, but didn't really care for it, I like this better because it is filmed, and I can start and stop whenever I wish. 

Just wanted to post something today

I

This is just a mans tee shirt that I picked up at the thrift shop.  I decided to put a little design on it, and also change the neckline.  I did this last week after talking to a friend of mine......who just told me to do something.   Of course I felt like not doing anything at all.....but forced myself.  I'm pleased with the outcome of the tee shirt.  Wouldn't you just know that the shirt is see through.  That's the last thing I need.  Although I will ware it around the house or something.  In the mean time fell in love with my Janome again.  Thought I would work on a skirt.  I changed my mind on the jeans.  However I am going to save the pockets and add them to another blue jean pant I make in the future.  Never can tell when it will come in handy.  In the mean time I am coming across some very good classes........just trying to decide which one I want to take, or whether or not I just want to do dvds or both.  Haven't a clue yet.  There's nothing like the hum of a good sewing machine. Perks you up.........now I wonder what I'm going to do tomorrow? mmmmmmmmm

video day

This morning spent watching my newest sewing videos.  Threads: insider Techniques, and Clair Shaeffer Coutoure Techniques.   I really enjoyed the second video more.  It was very much in depth.  Even with the hand sewing techniques that are done on the high designs suiting.  St.Laurent, Channel..........and when you look at the hand sewing it can't be seen from the outside.  Shaeffer had haute couture dresses from the 40's 50's and some sixties.  Good work never goes out of style.  She did background on the stitches and when to use them.  This was a two cd package, but worth every penny.  If she has any other DVD's I will be sure to get them.   The Threads Dvd only showed three techniques, even though they were insightful, I believe the DVD could have shown more techniques, at this point a person can be nickled and dimes to pieces just for three inside secrets.  So I don't think I will be getting any more of those DVDs probably would be better off signing up for a class. The instructions were well demonstrated and filmed.  Good close up and explanations.  I enjoyed that part...it just should have had more.

blue jeans in progress

 This is my first time working with stretch denim.  So far I don't like it.  However I finally got the hang of making the zipper flap.  This is not perfect, but looking at the video I finally got how it's put together.  On Youtube of course.  I have been working on these pants since November.  Really have not been into doing them.  Decided to use decorative stitching for the pocket, instead the serpentine stitch that is used.  Most of the past month has been spent looking at some videos, just ordered some tutorials from Threads after watching the sample demo.   I decided to wait on signing up with the two sites previously mentioned, because I know that I would have to dedicate at least an hour or more each morning. I just wanted to make sure that I got this seam right on the sides.  I had to hand sew it down, because the fabric was not that yielding, and then go over it with the machine to put the stitch in place.

I am looking at or ordering the tutorial dvds from Threads.  Then I will either get Islander or Peggy Sagers, can't go wrong with either of them.  I can either watch the entire thing or go along with the dvd.  Either way I can stop anytime.  I know that I can do the same thing on the classes, but for the time being I am going this route.  It's cheaper.  Maybe in the some I will go the other route.   I just finished the inseam of the jeans.  The next pair will be made with regular denim.  Maybe I just have to get the hang of working with this fabric.  I used a Denim needle, since the fabric is stretch I should have used a ball point needle.  I didn't want to take a chance on possibly breaking the needle going across the inseam, however in certain parts of the paints you can plainly see the stitch change slightly.  I know to use a ball point needle on regular stretch fabric, but didn't know that I would have to use it on Denim.   So you live and learn. 

video classes

Last night I was up till two in the morning looking at the sites for internet classes. There is a lady from Canada that I might join and another guy from London who does tailoring and couture sewing.   Both seem like they would be worth my while.  This would keep me busy way into the summer months.  So right now I am trying to figure out which one of them I am going to sign up with.   The lady has more videos to see than the gentlemen.  His is broken down into suits, and for women dresses and skirts.  His program is 66.00 for six months, or 99.00 for an entire year with access 24-7............and the lady is 97.00 for a year member ship.  You can even download the lesson.

  Man will wonders ever cease.  I just heard from and old friend.  So delighted to hear from her, sometimes there are people who leave and imprint on you.  You lose touch and then hope that someday you will hear from them again.  Well I heard from her..........it made my day.  Things are not going to well for her, but she will be in my prayers and thoughts now.   I haven't been to Vancouver since 2001........man that's a long time.  I love that place.  Believe it or not I am pinching off of some of the fabric that I brought from there.  My friend always drove me to the places.  She knew her way all around town.  Just so many beautiful places to go.

  I will search around for some other sites.  Sandra Betzina has a site as well.  They are pretty much all the same.  I just have to identify with a teaching style.  It's nice to have a sewing library, but it's better with the video.  I get more out of it.  I get my inspiration from the ladies and looking at what they do, no doubt maybe some of them have taken these courses.   Their work is impeccable.   I am just going to keep trying.

Ideas

Lately I've been looking and reading blogs from Italy and Germany.  Pretty interesting.  They really do some pretty stuff.  Most of it is crafting and very intricate work with lace.  I managed to look at a blog from Japan but the designs were a little too young for me.  Right now I am still working on a pair of jeans.  Just found an embroidery yahoo group for my Brother Ult2003.  It appears we are still out there, and I got some information on various designs and how to use them, and also the best software to use with my machine.So far it looks like Embird with the iconizer is the one to use.   One of the things I've learned so far is that one should buy in bulk. Reading and article called:  The 5 effective habits of a successful sewer that you should know.  The points are well taken. 

For the simple reason being you never know when or how you are going to use the items purchased.  It makes sense to a certain degree.  So just going into a store getting a bunch of zippers or whatever is on sale, may be cost effective later on down the road.  Since this in an expensive art.  I've also been watching videos, and really taking my time reading the pattern for jeans I am working on at the moment.  If I get frustrated I just put it down and go back to it later.  In the mean time surfing along the sight for different things keeps me busy. I am glad though, that I came across the yahoo group for Brother.

I also was learning about the copy rights of designs, and how the women have used and abused them.  So now there are all of these protections against copying a design and trying to sell it in mass production for self profit.   I am really falling in like with machine.  I love the way it works. This was a good investment and I 100% sure that working along with my Brother Ult is going to work out just fine.  I also looked a site on natural fabrics.  I like that one as well.  I would like to work with Bamboo batting.  This does cost a little more, but the reviews are really great on the wear of the product.  But first things first.  My next thing is my dress form.  In the mean time I am using sheets from Uniques in place of muslin.  I should take a picture of the jeans in progress but would much rather wait until I finish.  Right now I am procrastinating on doing something today.  The lighting is really bad in my sewing room, and I am going to have to find another lamp that covers that gives me more light.  I wouldn't mind working at night time if I can't sleep.   

skirt

This is one of the skirts that is one of my books.  Since this is a summer skirt and I am working on something for the winter months.  I thought I would try something with a fringe.  Then I am going to line the skirt.  I am really surprised just how far the sewing community is runs.  I wanted to get an idea of what the going trends are and have been surfing the net, and going to other countries to see what the ladies are sewing.  I am seeing some really interesting things.

fashion surfing

This morning I am looking at fashion from Paris, Germany for the fall.  I just happened to notice cloth bags.  I was going to post a picture of the bags or send the youtube video to this site, but couldn't figure out how to do it.  I didn't know what it meant by saying embed.   So I didn't send it..............there are a lot of good ideas out there, and so much creativity.  Maybe something will strike my fancy.  Right now I am not seeing anything for the more mature women.  Who knows maybe I could be the one to do something like that, right now I am on another track.   A friend from Germany sent me sights to look at on youtube.  I wouldn't even have thought to go there.  I will continue on later in the afternoon.

  Also last night I checked with the ladies to see what they are making.  It seems folks are getting ready for the fall.  I am half hearted in working on a skirt right now.  Thinking about putting a lining in it so that the skirt will hang right.   In the mean time I've been looking at dress forms.  I believe this will be very beneficial for me, and will take the next step in purchasing one.  Of course this may take another 5 months to do so........but I figure with the dress form I can do a lot of draping, and shaping on the dress form.  Another idea occurred to me this morning in that I can go to a second hand store and purchase some sheets since I am out of muslin, and cut and fit them.  This should work just fine.  The problem is working on a flat surface.........at least it seems to be my problem right now. 

Quilting with Patsy

This morning I decided to watch some video of quilting with Patsy Thompson.  She was very straight forward with what not to do on first time quilting.  This entire process looks like there will be more practicing on how to FMQ.  It seems quite relaxing.  Now that I have the machine in which to work with; it will be an easy cross over in learning.   Looking at the way she was handling this queen size quilt through such a small space now lets me know why the companies are making larger throat spaces.  It seems so cumbersome to push the quilt through.  I watched all four videos.  There's a lot to learn out there.  Again the main things is buying the stuff to work with in order to have the best out come.  I love the way she brought a door for her table, and placed to cheap filing cabinets at either end.  This gave her plenty of work space.  More than what she would have if she brought a Koala table.   This is something I thought about doing some time back.  I still have not ruled out doing so.   I will try to get some batting, and a bundle in which to practice on. 

still brainstorming

Last night after fiddling around with some new stitches on my new baby;  I decided to reread some of the directions on the Helen LeMay sunburst pattern.  I swear this things looks like it was made for an engineer.   I know I am missing something on this program....maybe it's just an visual overlook on my part something is not registering.  I am determined to see if I can draft a pattern.  In the mean time; the skirt that I thought i was going to make is now history.  It's not complicated, but the measurements are way off.  Even though the pattern is giving the right measurements that's not what come out, and this is not a surprise.  Why do I bother?  The pictures look fantastic on the pattern, and I can see myself in them.  

  I am  now considering the Dress Shop 4 software.  There is another by Ginger software I've read about, and the women say they get more success with the outcome on the patterns.   This might be another avenue.  In earlier posts I do believe that I may have mentioned the software.   I am going to give the LeMay course another try as I did pay 198.00 for it, and have only drafted a vest.  The directions do say practice.  I just get frustrated easily.  The way this course is written stuff seems to be all over the page.  Of course this is just my take on it, someone else might see it differently.   Nothing beats a failure but a try.  So back to the drawing board I go. 
Another annoyance is the lighting is my room.  I have the lamp near the sewing machine.  That works fine, but it is the light that I need for the cutting table.   It would be silly to put a lamp on the cutting table.  I've got to find a way to get anther stool near the cutting table giving off enough light.  

Had I continued playing around with machine last night I would have been up at two in the morning.  I also corrected the thread problem.  It was user error, the machine was not threaded correctly.  I  hit the panic button too early.  So far the verdict is out on the 7700..............the women say they wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China.   I still can't believe it's here.  So many things have been racing through my mind lately regarding this machine.  Every time I test a design stitch I can think of way of putting the stitch to use.  Still not there yet on what i am going to do, but I know that I've got to find a way to make this work.    In the mean time the girls are giving me some type of mental stimulus in regards to ideas.  Sooner or later something will work.    

friday report

Last night for some reason..............maybe just fighting sleep; I decided that I would play around with some of the decorative stitches on my new friend.  I really like the above stitches and I am sure that I will be using them.  I am also learning that my machine might like certain threads.  I experimented and changed threads using gutterman.   My Bernina loves this thread no problem.  However when I tried using it on this machine the stitch seemed to change and the stitches were too close together.  So I changed the stitch length........still nothing.   Then I changed the thread back to the first spool of thread I used.  The stitch came out perfect.  Then I tried with the Egyption thread and the wt. is 20 cotton thread.  No problem with this thread either.  As soon as I rethreaded the machine with the Gutterman thread the stitch changed.   So I am thinking that my machine has attitude.  I might have to buy thread with 20-40 wt.  Which I plan on doing.  They say each machine is different.  I wrote the girls on yahoo and they said, "don't get panicky" just keep experimenting and getting to know my machine. 

After I played with the machine a little while, I decided that I would play with tissue paper and make draft on a skirt pattern from my book.........still not sleepy yet.   That didn't work out so well.........so now I think I will make another attempt to read from a manual that is some what like the luttorlogh system.  Sunburst pattern system by Helen Lemay.  I've spoken about this pattern system before.  Each time I will pick it up, and run into a gliche, and then put it down. I keep going back to this system because it allegedly works with all of the persons measurements. I just have to figure out how to use it.  Should I get this down pat I will be able to branch out.

Yesterday while in the doctors office I took an outdated Stitch magazine to keep me entertained for my office visit. It seems waiting time is shorter when I bring anything related to sewing. Any other time I would have waited an 30 minutes or more. I forget what year this magazine is from, however the article was, "We trial computer software" and article by Helen Mcbeath.   Dress shop I've pattern program as being the easiest software to use, followed by Ginger which is a little more detailed in software, but the outcome is just as good.  It's a few pennies more.  In each of these programs it literally makes it easy for the sewer to just key in the measurements, print them out and there you have it, your own custom pattern.  I don't know why I forgot about this system.  I still am determined to get my monies worth.  So just going to keep plugging away and sooner or later something is going to click.

In creative mind funk

I am suppose to be sewing, yet my drive is down low for some reason.  You really have to be in the mood.  Last night though I played with some more stitches on the machine.   It really is really nice.  I guess the newness of getting the machine has died down.  Sometimes I just look at it............I guess in my mind I am trying figure out just how I am going to make this machine work for me.  Don't regret getting it one bit, just haven't been in the swing of things lately.   That's alright I am entitled to one of these moods.  My mind is in overdrive with fabric choices now that I found a way of transportation that might aid me in the winter months.

 I will be going to my favorite store SR Harris, but have to wait a couple of weeks.  Right now I've been doing researching on the products I would like to use on the projects that I am thinking about making.  Giving myself some type of time frame.  This means I'm going to have to back to my dream board and picture what I want, I had purchased some fashion magazines just to get an idea of how I want to about creating something.  Right now the women on the 7700 group talk about batting.  Well I know nothing about that, however having this machine I am going to have to learn about it; so bamboo batting seems to be the best, but it's also expensive.   So for that reason I would think about using it on a jacket.   The possibilities are endless.  Guess that's why my mind seems to be in overdrive. I will tinker around with the machine today.  So far I've noticed a difference in the stitches.  It appears that this machine doesn't like Guttermen thread, or I've got a bad spool of it, or my bobbin is not wound correctly.  It just might be the latter.  So back to the drawing board.

what a day

Today I am just plum worn out.  I went to Champlin for my little class.  Turns out  I had a little more understanding of the my 7700 than I thought.  It was really nice to kind of walk through some of the feet I've not tried.  It was even better standing in the midst of someone I know is sewing machine savvy. A guru of the machines. When you surpass more than 10yrs. in this field that's what you become to me.    I just really admire any woman who works in this field.  Meaning I would admire myself greatly if I ever got the chance to work in a sewing atmosphere. You know that if they know the machine they are truly a craft person of sort.   Not to mention having an arsenal of sewing machines.
 
  I left at 8:20 this morning didn't get back home until 5:30.   I think from this point on I will have to build my own confidence in this machine.  This is a good dealership.  Just don't know why the good folks are so far out.  Sometimes it makes a person think two or three times about a purchase.  In my case I didn't think at all, just wanted to have a Janome.  I looked around the shop at some of the older models of machines.  I love looking at machines.   Carolyn takes her Janome to a class............but of course she has a car.  If I had to cart this machine around I would be in traction.  I sincerely hope that this dealership continues to allow lay-a-ways.  I don't think some of the dealerships know how much money they are probably losing by not allowing a lay-a-way.  I am religious with one.  So I am thankful for being able to get the machine.  Now just one little machine for a class.  I am not going to own 9 sewing machines, although I must admit I understand this addiction very well.  I think I being a fabric junkie and sewing machine junkie is worse than any drug.  But there is the creativeness that goes along with this madness. So we can justify purchasing our machines.  I told one lady not to beat herself up over buying the 7700.  I figure we deserve it in some way.  I can always make an excuse on buying a machine.  I've been really, really good all the way around the board.  I must admit..........that finances will make you rearrange how you want to buy sewing things.  This lady is going to bed.  I will try to work on this blouse tomorrow.