Fons $ Porter show today
 

.....in my area anyway.....just tuned in so I don't know what series, but I guess it's very recent...only Mary is there along with someone doing a holiday tablerunner.. The amazement to me is she is demoing how a computer program with accucut dies..she is placing them.....then will connect to emb sewing machine...I presume babylock and this will automatically stitch these die cut pieces down......now she's doing the piecing part...so I am waiting to see the finish of this project......so it looks like accucut has partnered with babylock embroidery...probably newer model machine

it sounds like they are using the babylock Destiny - about $15k
http://babylock.com/yourdestinyawaits/

Woah!! That's a bit high.

Tell yourself you want that machine and then just buy the Go and all the dies for it. Look at the money you saved! :)

Nancy Zieman has also done a program on piecing quilt blocks by machine. This is her book on piecing quilts by machine. I have not used it myself.

http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...urPicks&page=4

I was telling my husband about the high cost of the Destiny. His suggestion was to put 4 tires on it because if it costs that much we better be able to drive it.

Oh dellareya, I totally agree with your husband !!! I had sticker shock at what the prices on these embroidery machines are when I attended a grand opening at a local DSM dealer!! I am NOT expecting Santa Clause to bring me one of them for Xmas.

me neither maniac quilter I bought a brother innovis 2800D in 2007 that was over three grand that's it for me but of course that was before I started quilting and if I knew then what I know now about quilting think I would have went a different route

I like Fons and Porter but am growing tired of their shows being a "trunk show" for high-end sewing and long-arm machines and sergers. When I see it's basically going to be a sales pitch that will never apply to me, I just turn them off.

I went to a "trunk show" at a local Babylock shop and they were demoing this machine (or something similar). They were doing a GFG in the hoop. Neat, definitely, but for the price they wanted for that machine I could go on one heck of a vacation-slash-fabric buying spree!

And honestly, when I went and actually looked at it up close, it doesn't look right at all. It's more like you get "the look of a quilt" rather than an actual quilt. Not for me.

OMG! I am eternally grateful I *know* I can make beautiful, colorful, well-made, greatly appreciated quilts using my 10 year old rulers, my extensive personal stash, my graph paper, and my 20 year old mechanical Bernina sewing machine I bought on sale.

Jan in VA

I guess there is a market for that expensive machine. Keeps the economy rolling along without my help. I thought that machine was a long arm but that is not the case.

If I was able to spend that kind of money I'd get a long arm.

here, here, Jan in VA!!! totally agree!

I'm with you, Jan! I just don't understand using all these electronics gizmos and gadgets in quilt making. Seems to me you would end up with a factory made piece. One has lost all the fun in taking your time to do each step by yourself. I guess that idea comes about from being an older quilter who started out with scissors and cardboard template. I do use rotary cutter and mat, my Singer Featherweight and an old Kenmore to machine quilt now after hand quilting for many years.

Annie :)

Me, too! I think most of the tv shows today are really infomercials. My DH loves the woodworking shows but always says how they are really just a show to sell all the tools.

Personally, the more mechanical the quilt becomes, the less I like it. I'd buy a LA so I could finish my quilts a little quicker and, the beautiful LA custom quilting is beautiful..... but the hand quilting is so personal. Hand done is still what I love the most.

Can you tell us what series show number this was? I can never find the show on my TV. I was shocked at cost of new Babylock. I still sew on a Brother 2002D. Age on sewing machine does not matter as long as it sews. I also have a 1932 singer that I am renovating

There are many semi retired and retired with disposable income that if not spent will be spent by the heirs.

This comp/sm has software and the ability to outline the GO dies.....so you have to either buy the go&dies or you are a owner already...at least that's what I got out of the program. For the cost of that s/m, plus I'm sure there were extras they did talk about, I will continue to just hand guide any raw edged appliqué I may so........

I have the GO and many dies.........no where near the $$$$$ that machine is tagged at!

Mary was a newbie a couple of years ago on the show. Now she is the main host and teaches classes and has her own magazine????????? I don't watch them anymore.

I am always surprised at the beautiful garments and projects people are able to make with a basic sewing machine not the fancy, dancy ones. Talent comes from within not from a high priced machine. BTW, I am going to check these machines out at the Madison Quilt Expo just out of curiousity.

I notice this very expensive machine does not have the one feature I would insist on: A stitch regulator. So far the only DSM I've found with a stitch regulator is a Bernina. If I remember correctly the least expensive Bernina with their patented BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) is under $4,000. It's not an embroidery machine but has loads of features and the BSR. That would be for me. But this Babylock is a real beauty. Just, in my opinion, ridiculously expensive.

Mary Fons took over when her mom, Mary Ann Fons, and Liz Porter decided to retire. I'm glad the show is still being produced. What's wrong with Mary as the host? She's young, energetic, knowledgeable, and fun. And has the best expert advice from her mother. I know the younger members in my guild really like her show and magazine.

I looked at one in Tennessee-and that machine could do everything-I think it breathed on it's own-but the demo for the full machine took the dealer 1-1/2 hours, before she sent me into sticker shock-if I had known before the demo, I would have left-Maybe you should wait a few years for the price to come down-The Fon's ladies can afford one, but me I'm on limited income-nice to look at though-really pretty

Liz Porter didn't retire-she had Breast cancer, and recovered to Texas to be closer to her kids, and quilts in Austin Texas, with a bunch of quilters, and Maryann Fons does quilting cruises-she is on occasionally-the daughter has her own show too.

I looked at one in Tennessee-and that machine could do everything-I think it breathed on it's own-but the demo for the full machine took the dealer 1-1/2 hours, before she sent me into sticker shock-if I had known before the demo, I would have left-Maybe you should wait a few years for the price to come down-The Fon's ladies can afford one, but me I'm on limited income-nice to look at though-really pretty

I saw Mary at a quilt expo and I liked her. She does not think she is "all that" and knows she is still learning. We aren't getting the show on our local station right now (getting very old Georgia Bonesteel shows). I use some basic brothers and vintage machines.

I like Mary Fons. We can't expect Maryanne & Liz to be here for ever and someone has to take over.

Isn't that the truth!! Heirs and nursing homes. We have seen it firsthand where if there is money, the home gets paid with those resources before governmental sources kick in. So sad to see all that hard earned money go like that knowing if they should have enjoyed it.
DH and I have thought many times about spending savings, how to use retirement funds when we get there, etc. etc. We are of the mindset that we will use the disposable income to our liking, versus leaving it to the kids who can make their own way on their own terms without our advice. We have things to do, people to see, and places to go before we call it a day.

My longarm was only 7K brand new...for the price of the babyloc I could get two of my machines!