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Tuesday 6 December 2016

My Special Delivery

First of all thank you everyone for your so lovely comments last week.  To be honest I was moved to tears by some of them and they evoked such poignant memories.  The first time I found out I was having a baby was early December,too many years ago, my beautiful daughter was born the following July, then three years later I had a Christmas baby born December 18th.   My third baby was an Easter present born a few years later on Easter Monday.  But I was a little confused by some of your comments.

Second, I have to tell you, my special delivery....,,,


IS HERE!!!   What do you think?  Isn't she lovely, all shiny and new, my Bernina 770QE.  Like her?
She has a 10 inch throat and a 9mm stitch with.  She comes with a straight stitch plate and the Bernina Stitch Regulator.  She also has the new Bernina Hook and the bobbin in 70% bigger than normal, AND she has the Bernina Dual Feed, so I don't need a walking foot, although I do need the special feet but some including a quarter inch foot came with it.
She is a huge investment for me, Gary was so shocked when I told him how much she cost, although I got £200 off as a show special.  Would you believe he couldn't remember me talking about it?  As if I would make the decision to spend so much money without discussing it with him, even if it was my own money.  Now if we had been taking football, meditation or his upcoming book he would have been able to quote me word for word.  I didn't take the decision lightly, I thought about it and talked about it for months before, I love my Bernina 440 and I had to make sure my new machine had everything I would ever need, I think this one has.

Baby, what baby?  You wouldn't think that SmilesfromKate would tease and deliberately mislead you would you?  You surely don't think that SmilesfromKate is a BIG FAT LIAR do you???????

I'm sorry, actually I really am, I was so moved by the comments, I almost wished things were different and I wasn't misleading you.  But there again I didn't fancy going in for the title of worlds oldest Mum.  And I haven't had any fun since my Bluebell Woods posts.  Should I tell you about my best ever tease?

Hehe, it was my husbands 50th birthday coming up, he has a reputation for guessing his gifts, he does it so often and it takes all the joy and surprise out of giving, this time I wanted to surprise him. Sure enough he started quizzing me about his birthday present, I just said it was something he always wanted,  and after that I just said ‘ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies’. Something he always wanted?  He started quizzing, my son, his daughter, his parents, my sister, then went on to friends and employees. He had it in his head he was getting a dog?????? I never said dog, all I said was his present wouldn’t be at home on the morning of his birthday as I had arranged for it to be delivered. The closer is birthday got the more concerned he became, he rang the vets and checked out vaccinations for his 'puppy’.   The day before he got the vacuum out and vacuumed his office for paperclips and elastic bands, we were shocked, we didn’t know he knew what a vacuum cleaner was for.   A customer came in and he told her about his birthday the next day and how he was getting a springer spaniel bitch liver and white and he was calling her Ella, after Ella Fitzgerald. He even consented to her bringing her son at the weekend to see his puppy. Gary went to work on his birthday, I stayed home for the delivery, his parents came over for a birthday meal and arrived before him, his present was quiet in the corner. As he came to the door his Mum put her hands over his eyes so he couldn’t see, and as he came in his Dad pressed the button, and his new electronic piano played ‘Happy Birthday” to him. Oh I got him good, he couldn’t even sit on the seat and play it for twenty minutes. The thing is everyone knows what Gary is like, and EVERYONE, except the customer, was in on the secret. It was so funny. Five years ago he eventually got his liver and white springer spaniel bitch named Ella, and guess what? Ella decided she was my dog, and that was that. We now have another, Ella’s half sister Indi, black and white instead of liver and white, I chose the name but she is Gary’s dog, Ella makes sure of that!

 
Moving on I've been playing, not a lot, I haven't had much time, but just to get the feel of her first before I had a serious look at what she can do.  (Tell the truth I don't know how most of it works yet either).


So I decided to 'make' some fabric with scraps.  It was harder than it looks, there is the temptation to add bigger and bigger pieces.  This needs more thinking about.

I did start doing Decembers Meadow Mystery instructions though.


But I had a bit of trouble and this is the only one of nine I have finished.  I wasn't happy with one of my joins you see, I unpicked it and re stitched it three times until it was perfect, then I realised I had put one piece in upside down.  Time for a three minute breathing space before unpicking it and doing it again, perfect.  You would think that I'd quit while I was ahead?  No, I started on the second block, I got six stitched together.........and I'd turned one piece around 90 degrees, that's when I gave up.  I'll let you know when I have the courage to get back to it.   Sometimes it just isn't your day!

I must say though with my new machine and using the quarter inch foot and straight stitch plate which is in imperial measurements my seams have much improved in consistent accuracy.  I also did some more secret sewing, it was tricky, but it's turned out lovely, except of course I can't show you, yet!


It did need a lot of fabrics though and I had to pull a lot of stuff out before I was satisfied with it, I made a bit of a mess............ (Shhhhh I tidied up before I dared take this)


Neither is it helped by the fact that although I have my perfect table and chair and my beautiful new machine I still haven't got any storage.  So the books are still piled up in the corner and I still have cardboard boxes and bags on the floor.  Most of my fabrics are in big boxes under the beds, some are on a shelf in a wardrobe.........  Only I've spent my budget so I need to save some more first.  Unless I can con  persuade my lovely husband to help me finish it off that is :-)

Before I go I have some other news, I have a place in Stash Bee next year, oh yes time for a happy dance.  If you don't follow Stash Be I suggest you check it out.  It is quiet just now as the 2016 Bee Groups are ending, but just wait until January 1st when the Bee's start buzzing'.   I'm in Hive 2 and my month is February, so, as I am so slow, I had better get choosing and planning now.  But one things for sure, whatever I chose I will tell you all about it.

'till next time
With smiles from,
Kate

Linking up with:
Lorna @ Let's Bee Social
Kelly @ Needle and Thread Thursday
Anja @ Anja Quilts hosting TGIFF
Sarah @ Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?
Myra @ Finished or not Friday




26 comments:

  1. Looking back at your earlier post - it sounds as though you are expecting a baby, not an um sewing machine. *grins*

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  2. Fun post, Kate! You are the MASTER teaser! It sounds like you and I both had "one of those kind of days" with our mystery quilt. I swear there is a mystery quilt gremlin traveling around out there!

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  3. That is a beautiful baby you have there. Have you named he/she yet? I wish you many enjoyable, even frustrating days ahead. And good luck on finding storage space, but no matter how much you have, you always need more. Fabric expands to fill the space allotted. Have a fun week!

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  4. Hahaha - you got me good kate. I'm one who thought you meant a baby. Congratulations all the same. :)
    The story of the birthday surprise is really funny. Wow Gary is persistent. I bet you were glad he vacuumed anyway. LOL.

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  5. Congratulations on your new baby!! But she's a large and powerful one. I love my 740 that just turned 1 week old on Sunday. Is the stitch regulator built in on yours? I had to buy mine separately and it attaches when doing free motion quilting.

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  6. She's a beaut, Kate. Now, is she imbedded in that table, or sitting on top? I worked on some improv piecing with scraps last winter, too, and I didn't think it was very easy, either! I only got so far, and then I put it away. This winter, I'll probably just turn the pieces into zippered pouches, and call it a day. Have fun learning your new machine! XO

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  7. This looks like a great machine Kate. Interesting that you're calling it a she. I have a machine with similar features, mine is a brother so I guess that makes it a 'he'. Love the story about your husband's birthday. Hope Santa brings you some shelves. Looks like all is forgiven ;-)

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  8. Ah, what a wonderful addition to your sewing room. I wish you a long and happy relationship with your new machine.

    What a cute story about the puppy. Made me smile.

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  9. So exciting to lay hands on your new machine. She is indeed a beauty. You should have many hours of bonding time with her. LOL

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  10. She is a beauty and I am sure she is going to bring you lots of lovely sewing and fantastic project! Congrats!

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  11. Oh lucky you! Getting a new machine is so exciting! I love the playing around sewing Kate, you are getting some nice shapes in there and as for the mystery....your joins are better than mine. I had a lot of trouble with lining up the edges of the hour glass and at this point I've just given up.

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  12. Congrats on the new machine! I have the Bernina 710 (same-ish model but without the stitch regulator and a few other things) and I love it!

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  13. Your new baby is gorgeous and she doesn't cry or wet-a win win!

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  14. Ooh, lucky you! I hope you have lots of fun playing with your new 'baby'.

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  15. Well , I hope your new baby gives you much pleasure and not too many sleepless nights ... I think Gary just blocked it all out of his head , isn't it amazing how expensive some machines can be

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  16. Congratulations.......and Snap!
    My Bernice (440 is Bernie) arrived two months ago and we are fast becoming besties, she is an Amazon and that extra large bobbin........well, it makes me swoon. She sits in a Horn cabinate but I do rather like your table. Enjoy getting to know her.

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  17. I have only one suggestion: that you name her Baby after all the baby fuss you caused. ha! My Bernina 440QE was more than I ever thought I'd spend on a machine, but I love it and have no doubt that you'll become fast friends with your new baby.

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  18. Congrats on your "special delivery"! I love my 15 year old Bernina QE. Wishing you many happy hours of stitching on your new sewing buddy.

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  19. You are freaking HILARIOUS. Yay for the safe delivery of your Bernina (I have an Artista 180 from 2003 and LOVE that girl). The birthday joke on your husband?! PERFECTION. Glad to hear you did eventually get, uh, two Springer Spaniels. Funny how they choose their human isn't it? Our first dog, Rex, was a SS/Samoyed cross, terrific dog. Black and white. Okay just what is liver and white??

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  20. Hysterical! Had to go back to read your previous post. Enjoy your new baby!

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  21. I'm a July baby and have a cousin with a December 18 birthday. Your new machine looks great. Have fun playing. I finished my mystery blocks on the weekend. Thanks for linking up with TGIFF hosted @ Anja Quilts.

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  22. Hi Kate! Oh boy I enjoyed your story! Poor guy clening and preparing and picking the name and then it's a piano! I'm happy he got the puppy too, or you did! and then he also! Your new sewing machine must be amazing! x Teje

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  23. Congratulations on your new machine, Kate. I'm sure you will have hours of fun with her! Loved reading about your prank, and I'm glad you got both your dogs .... eventually!
    Hugs, Barbara xx

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  24. I'm glad your accuracy is improving; always a good reason for a new machine. Enjoy.

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  25. Hearing the whole story, I am glad to know the ending. Okay, a little disappointed in it not being a baby, but most definitely a precious, new treasure to love and dote upon. Have the Merriest Christmas, Kate!

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With smiles from,
Kate