Quiltingboard Forums - I Need to Share!

I'm being "creative" and I need to share. I'm so proud, I can barely stand myself.

A few years ago, I bought a floor display model of an aluminum Grace frame; then bought a Janome 1600DPX to go on it ... this being the closest I could get to a long arm machine set-up (then & now). When my son moved out of this house a couple years ago, I set everything up (with a practice quilt on it) in his former room in the basement. As I am caregiver to disabled husband (& his dog), I never got much quilting practice. Then the economy tanked and my son joined the ranks of the unemployed. When his apartment lease ran out last month, so he could come back here to live, I dismantled my frame and stashed everything in "safe places". Here's where I confess that the "safe place" in this house is a black hole into which stuff disappears forever. But, in this instance, I have not lost anything except my machine oil.

A few days ago, I re-read on this board about the styrofoam boards cut to fit around one's sewing machine and covered with vinyl. So I said to myself, "Self, your Janome 1600 is sitting going unused, your designs & instruction book, ditto, so what to do????"

During the past 3 days, I rearranged EVERYTHING in my downstairs sewing/cutting room. Then I removed all tools & "guy" junk off a heavy duty rolling table (bookstore discard) which my son then took apart, moved into my sewing room and put back together again. Everything just fits perfectly! Just a few minutes ago, I plugged in the 1600 and sewed a little bit and did a satifactory job. So there is hope! All I need now is the foam board bought & cut to fit; I already have the vinyl; then I can get back to practicing FMQ. (The machine also does other stuff - straight stitch only - but I bought it primarily to do FMQ.)

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you. I surely do appreciate you.