gardnergal970

Jeanie..what an invitation! Even a place to park your RV. Quite a drive to get there I must admit. I love your blocks this week.
Mirabelle, you are a artisan/craftsman! What beautiful quilts. Did you use your EQ at all for designing or just let the quilt tell you what to do next? I do some of that but the results aren't always spectacular.
QuiltE...maybe you should ask your Janome dealer about stocking LA. Mine does here although I've never looked at them to see what kind they are. I know I don't have room for one so I'm not letting myself get the "wants".
I know that changing the plate back and forth from single to dual hole and attaching the walking foot is a nuisance. I know the Janome 7700 does it automatically so you might want to consider a larger upgrade if you stick with Janome, Carrie. It has a 11 inch harp. I do like my 6500 for the way it handles different threads, etc but I would love to have a 7700. But Mirabelle makes the Pfaff sound so good. That's the first electic machine my DM bought when I was a kid. It was a wonder after the treadle.

QuiltE

To continue the machine discussion ..... I have absolutely NO interest, want or desire for a LA. And add to that, I have absolutel NO interest, want or desire to do quilting for others! However, Jan's Sweet 16 is getting my attention which is basically a LA, just you sit down! That being said, I don't think I can justify the $ for just a quilting machine. I'm kind of thinking that surely the other companies will come out with a bigger throat yet still do the other things in order to compete and satisfy the needs of a large portion of the quilting population.

I know I could jump to the 7700, though am hesitant, as I thought the 6600 had so much space ... and would I only be happy with the 7700 for a short time and want even more space! Interestingly enough the Dad of the dealership talked me out of that idea! And too, he even took me away from thinking of a Bernina 820 this summer. When things settle and I have my "brain" in the right mode, I will go in this winter and sit and test drive. And now with all the other discussions, I might do a tour of other dealers and makes for comparison .... of course, that's IF they should get them in stock! I must admit, it kind of sends off bells ringing and red flags as to how committed they are, if they don't keep all in stock, all the time!

So MiraB ... what about the more space saving type like Jan's?
Lucky daughter ... and glad you are claiming one of the quilts for yourself!

QNSue ... what type of machine is the one you have your eye on, across the way?

JeanieG

Oh Mirabelle, you've done it again....I am drooling at your beautiful quilts. They are all spectacular!

Thanks everyone for the kind remarks on my blocks. I am sooo happy to be caught up again. I want to get my two BOM's done, then start on next weeks PC blocks.

I'm getting anxious for cooler weather (today is 90* here in Southern CA), as I get so hot when I am quilting. I have a number of quilts that need to be sandwiched and quilted! I want to get my last year's Bonnie Hunter "Orca Bay" quilted so I can use it in our RV this winter, and before her next mystery starts. She is suppose to let us know the fabric requirement early next month. Her Mystery Quilts usually start the weekend after Thanksgiving.

mirabelle

Oops sorry QNS I got you and QuiltE mixed up (it was very late when I posted my pics)

Another point of interest on different machines, I did not like the fact that the Janome did not have a free arm, not that I do dressmaking but I do make bags and sometimes you just need to be able to have that feature. Also it annoyed me that I had to have the little box of accessories on the desk whereas with the Pfaff all your bobbins are in the free arm at the front and if I lift the bobbins holder I can fit my spare needles under them. Also in the back of the free arm is a place for all the other goodies like screwdrivers, lint remover, unpicker, buttonhole foot. the less "stuff" on my desk the better for me.

Also the Janome 6600 was very heavy and difficult for me to lift into the boot of my car, the Pfaff is at least 3lb lighter. Not a lot but when you have back problems every little bit counts

QuiltE

Some good food for thought MiraB ... I think when I haven't had the other options and the deluxe features, I didn't know about them .... so didn;t miss them!!!

I believe the 7700 does have the free arm.
ITA it would be nice to have more things stored as part of the machine .. and I "think" the 7700 has that too.
Because of all the odds and ends, I have a set of drawers right next to my machine. Also for storing my thread stash!

Yes, weight of the machine can be wicked when taking it on road trips!! And worse still are some of the even bigger machines. I see some of the ladies who bring them into the sewing machine store and I am turned right off!! I can set mine right into the back being that I have an SUV/truck, not down into a trunk/boot. However, it's not as much of an issue for me as the only time I expect it to leave home would be for servicing. Though even then, carrying it up the stairs and back down, I am always nervous! I kept my previous machine, so it gives me a nice back up as well as one to take to classes etc.

QuiltingNinaSue

Good news from across the street; they are keeping their machine!!! (My prayers were answered!!1) Its the $10,000 plus about $4000.00 more in extras Gammill that can be computerized and you sit down if you want; it goes out to 120 inch quilt size...has the zippers on the side. Too much of a machine for me.

We went into a local site to meet the guild that was there; they asked us to introduce ourselves at the end of their business meeting, and before they said anything about dues or joining them, they were handling us raffle tickets to sell!! We looked at one another, and I quietly handed the tickets back after the meeting, saying , "No thanks". We will not go again; they were not very welcoming (have their own groups and interests going on) and we were a bit put off by them handing us raffle tickets to sell so quickly. So we can save on the gas and not make the trip again. Will try the cross stitch group next month.

mirabelle

QNS I agree that some groups can be off putting, the one here in my town is so clicky, they have been together as a group for about 20 years and when we first moved here I enquired into joining then and was told that the club "had limited space" (they meet in the Church Hall) and there are 10 of them and thath they would contact me in the future.

Well guess who they contacted when they wanted their raffle quilt quilted and it was a big NO from me

QuiltE

QNSue ... that's good news that it's staying! And I hope you have reserved spots for your quilts to be done! OMG that they nabbed you with your first visit ... wouldn't sit well with me and I'd have been out that door pretty quick too! I just can't believe the nerve!!! Well, actually I can believe it and am proud of you two for turning the tickets back and saying adios!

MiraB ... good for you for knowing the value of saying NO!

Stories like these are why I have not made any efforts towards matching up with a Guild. There are several around me that could be potentials and could be compared and decided upon if I chose. I don't care much for clique-y groups and honestly, I don't really want to be in a situation where I must be somewhere the 3rd Thursday of a month (or whatever their schedule is).

I know I miss out on some of their speakers and class opportunities ... but IMHO I really feel I get a broader scope of education on the QB than I can IRL. Plus the meeting is when I want it to be ... as often or as seldom as I choose!

So Ladies ... you are my Guild!

mirabelle

QuiltE I agree with you 100% my chat time here is so important to me.
I travel 60 miles every Thursday to sew with a group that are wonderful but I still feel like an intruder sometimes because I don't live in their area.
When I tell them I chat with you in Canada and my other friends all over the US they just don't get it. I suppose they are not on their computers like me

QuiltE

That's all because they think everyone on the internet are green and weirdos! And we're going to reach out and choke each other!

What a dedicated soul you are to travel to that group every week! You truly must enjoy being with them, to do that!
Do you have a travelling sewing kit that you don't use at home, so it's less work to pack up and leave each time?
Or better still ... just leave it in your vehicle each all the time?
And what do you work on together, each week?

It's amazing how we can all feel "close" while being only "virtually" connected!