Sewing Machine Survey---

Well it is sewing machine month over at the Sew, Mama, Sew! Blog. I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to brag about my fabulous sewing machine. Although it isn't expensive or fancy it is worthy of much praise. I have been sewing for many, many years and have used many different kinds of sewing machines during that time. When I purchased this one I was looking for something relatively inexpensive yet durable. I also wanted a basic machine that was fully mechanical and had a foot pedal that worked like a gas pedal and not merely as an on/off switch as some of the newer models tend to have. I also thought I would probably get more for my money if I bought a used machine. I figured the safest route to go if I was going to buy used would be to purchase it from a sewing machine shop. I told them what I had in mind and they pointed me to exactly what I was looking for! I have been more than happy about it ever since. This is what it looks like.

Following are the questions from the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog......

What brand and model do you have?

Janome Decor Excel 5018

How long have you had it?

Only about 9 months.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?

Between 2 and 3 hundred used.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?

I mainly sew handbags and accessories for my Etsy shop.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I sew some most every day.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?

I LOVE my machine. She has no name though.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

It has POWER! It can go from two layers to many without blinking! That really impresses me. Never do I have to turn the hand wheel to get it through a thick part as I have had to do with most machines before this one. I have NEVER changed the needle since I brought it home!!! With all of my previous sewing machines a broken or bent needle was a regular event. I have a medium sized needle in it and it sews just as smoothly as it did the day I brought it home even though I have put this machine to the test! One of the things I really love about it is its sleek appearance because the thread spool is hidden underneath a cover on the top. Also to my delight, all of the extra feet except the button hole foot fit into their very own slots under the top cover also. On the flip up lid is a fabulous chart showing all the proper settings to use for each special foot.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

Absolutely not! It is a pure delight to use!

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?

Absolutely! For the reasons I stated above. It has plenty of bang for the buck. Everything one could need in a basic machine at an affordable price. It is an extremely reliable machine!

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

You need to consider what you plan to use it for. It is important to have a machine that has power and runs smoothly no matter what kind of sewing you have in mind.

Do you have a dream machine?

Nothing in particular at this time. I am fully satisfied with what I have for the kind of sewing I am doing right now.

If you sew I would love to hear what your favorite machine is and why. You can also take part in this survey if you want by clicking on the link in the first paragraph of this post.
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Father's Day is Coming Soon!

Well that time of year is here again. Time to honor the fathers in our lives. Finding the gifts for fellows is definitely no easy task. To help you out I thought I would share with you a really novel gift idea for the fellow that likes to drink hot teas. This very masculine treasure was something I stumbled upon while cruising about on Etsy. I got this for my hubby just for one of those out of the blue surprises. He loved it. It was so worth the look on his face when he opened it up! He really got a kick out of it. If you want one for the man in your life you can find it here. They have many different designs to choose from if road kill is just a little too much for you. They delivered my order really fast too so you should be able to get it in time for Father's Day.

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Keeping Those Purse Organizers Coming!

I've been able to get somewhat caught up with my Etsy shop inventory. I've been concentrating on getting more purse organizers made and listed. I still have a few left in the works. Hopefully I'll be able to finish sewing them up and get them listed before the weekend comes along.

I really like the soft watercolor look of this floral print.

I really like this beautiful lavender floral one also.



It sure is enjoyable to be able to work with such lovely fabrics such as this blue heart patterned fabric.



Which one do you like best?
I better get back to my sewing! I still have lots more to do!
I'll be going on a little fabric run tomorrow evening. I would love to hear any suggestions you may have for fabrics I should use in the future.

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Update on Victoria Bushfires

The above video has just been brought to my attention and I had to share it with you. Please have a look at this video and also go to their website for more information and to donate to help feed the animals that have had their habitat destroyed by the wildfires.
There is a link on their site so that you can donate by PayPal if you would prefer. This is the method I used because it uses US dollars and I could easily use my Etsy earnings to donate with.
Please also have a look at my April 24, 2009 post about the fires if you haven't seen that yet.
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We Are On a Winning Streak Here!

We have been very very busy as usual. I haven't had much time to be on the computer. Last week our son competed in the Grand Valley State University 20th/21st Century Piano Competition and was a Second Place Winner in the Junior Division! His winning piece was Golliwog's Cakewalk by Claude Debussy. He played in the winner's recital there later in the afternoon. It was his first time playing on a Schimmel piano. One of his most current projects now is a Haydn Sonata.
I am a winner too of a different sort. I just found out that I was the winner in a blog give-a-way! I won a cute Buttercup bag from Sevi Designs blog. Yeah! How cool is that?
I've been trying to catch up on keeping our Etsy shop stocked up with the essentials. So much left to do with that! My hubby has a stack of Recycled notebooks that haven't been listed yet. Hopefully we will get that all caught up soon.
The last few days I have been trying to make up some purses from a new pattern I created. I am so delighted with how it turned out! Tell me what you think. You can click on the photo to get a better view. I already have several fabrics picked out to try this pattern on.

This is a small bag because that is what I usually like the best. I like to be able to just run out the door with the bare essentials without having to tote around a burdensome load everywhere I go. I like a bag that is small enough to throw into a large tote for those times when I might need something larger. I hope to put some in my shop soon using this pattern so be on the look out for them!
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If Ever There Was......

.....a picture that could say a thousand words.....I think this has to be it! A real "Kodak Moment" for sure.

I first saw this picture in February of this year when the fires were still raging in Australia. I was so touched by the picture I had to find out more.....Who was this compassionate hero and what became of the precious wild critter? It wasn't very hard to find out more because the story was so special that it was being reported everywhere. Just in case you haven't heard the details I will share them here. The hero in the picture is David Tree a volunteer firefighter from Victoria, Australia. The little wild koala, nicknamed Sam despite being a girl has been rescued and is recovering at a Wildlife shelter. I was even able to find a video of the experience. The poor frightened koala was running away from the firefighters at first and then stopped and sat down. Mr. Tree called for someone to bring him water and the exhausted animal desperately drank up three bottles of water. Mr. Tree said that the koala put his paw out to him and he took it in his hand. That image adds such preciousness to the photo. Normally kolas do not spend much time on the ground and they move very slowly on such an unnatural terrain for them. They also very rarely drink water because they usually get enough fluids from the leaves they eat. Also a wild koala is reportedly a rather grouchy critter and would not choose the company of a human. Despite the foreign nature of the whole experience the koala drank from the water bottle as naturally as if it were an old hand at drinking that way. When I see this picture I see the koala thinking "I am so frightened of you being a people but I am so distressed and weak and frightened and thirsty. Not only that, my paws are burnt and it hurts so to walk. Can you help me Mr. people?" They estimate that up to 1 million native animals died in those devastating fires. That is so sad to think about. Mr. Tree has since been recognized the world over as a hero. They expected the koala to make a full recovery in about 5 months.
I would love to hear from you. What does this picture say to you?
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Slipcovers That Fit Over Your Shells

Please note that most of the slipcovers in my slide show have sold but more are being added to my shop on a regular basis. Click here to see what I have available now.

UPDATE--UPDATE--UPDATE--UPDATE

Due to popular demand....I am now offering a pattern for making a slipcover like the ones shown here. My pattern is very unique in that it is made of a medium weight fabric and can be laid down over your fabric for cutting out your slipcovers without using pins or by using very little pins. It has all the pieces necessary in full size and ready to use with an instruction sheet included. The cost for this pattern is $12.00 plus $2.00 for shipping. You can obtain it from my Etsy shop by clicking here. This update added on May 12, 2009.