Me & My Stitches

Me & My Stitches
Click on the picture to go to my website. These are 1 1/4" pendants.

Monday, August 5, 2013

A New Baby in the House!

Who would have thought that at my age I would have a new baby?  Haha - nobody would have thought that, that's who!  Some of you probably think that I broke down and got a new kitten.  But no...Callie and Ozzie are plenty to handle right now.  So just who/what is the new baby?  She's a beauty, that's for sure!

A new Viking! And it's RED!!  My favorite color...how could I resist?  I love my old Viking machine - it's a Quilt Designer, and I would never give it up.  But...I gave into temptation and bought another one!  I looked at this machine a few months ago.  It is a Tribute 140C - and is a 140th Anniversary model.  The anniversary was last year, which means that I got a good deal on this machine. I really had no intention of buying another sewing machine, because there is nothing wrong with mine, and I really do love it.  In my opinion, Viking machines have some amazing features that just aren't available with other brands.  The sensor system is one of them and it sure makes my life easier when I'm piecing tiny jewelry.  No presser foot to be constantly putting manually up and down.  It is all automatic, you just push on the gas pedal and go!  Another thing that I like about the newer Vikings is that all of the stitches are built in.  My other machine uses stitch cards, which I recently found out do not last forever.  The card with the 1/4" stitch no longer works, which is why I was visiting the sewing machine store in the first place.  I can still stitch with 1/4", it's just not as convenient as it was when that card was in working order.  By the way, I bought this machine in Burlington, IA, from Alice at the Sew N' Sew Shop.  She has taken really good care of me and my machine over the years.

I couldn't wait to get home and play with my new toy.  It is really very similar to my old machine, but there are a few buttons in different places, which takes a little time to get used to.  Now I want to make something to use some of my fancy stitches, but not sure what that will be yet.

In the mean time, I'm working on the same things as always - more jewelry.  When I introduced this different size (1" x 1 1/2") a month or so ago, I sold out of them pretty quickly, which is always a good sign and reason to make more!  Here are just a few (with some other pieces mixed in)...

The pieces below are made from Glory Gatherings fabrics by Primitive Gatherings.  I've had a bundle of these fabrics for awhile, but just hated to break into them - they were such a pretty stack!  Does anyone else do that?  Geesh - I buy them to use, not to look at!  I do really like how these turned out.  I love a good stripe!
 And a scissor fob with Glory Gatherings (I dirtied up that tan stripe with Instant Antique!)...
That's all for now.  I have some quilts to show you, but will save that for another day!

Have a great week!

18 comments:

  1. Congratulations...she is a beauty!

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  2. Congratulations is right!! Now more fun begins.

    And, yes sometimes I do have a problem using special fabrics...but trying to get past this :)

    Love your jewelry!

    :) Carolyn

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  3. Ahh....can you curl up on the couch with her???? LOL!

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  4. Congratulations on the new addition to the family! What fun it is to break in a new machine and learn all its little quirks and features :*)

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  5. WooHoo! Fun times in the sewing room! My first machine was a Viking--still have it. Still works great! It is my backup now.
    Love the new jewelry items--especially the patriotic stuff!!

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  6. Oh! I love the Old Glory Gatherings scissor fob. I looked on the website but it wasn't there. Is there another one I can buy? I have the stack of fat quarters and haven't opened it yet, either. I LOVE it.

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  7. Baby, baby, baby... the kind that beckons you with humming sounds... easy to get up every morning to that! Enjoy!!! She's a beaut!

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  8. Julie - Congratulations! For us quilters it's like when someone gets a new car!!!! I love my Viking and upgraded to the Quilt Designer Limited Edition a few years ago for the same reason - those darn stitch cards. It's great to have the built-in stitches. Enjoy it!! - Debra (debraharryquilts.blogspot.com)

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  9. LoL...I rarely use my fancy machine stitches....someday. Enjoy your new machine.
    Love the jewelry.
    I too thought it was going to be a kitten announcement :-)

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  10. Your new machine is so cute! Love it! Love those new oblong charms too...especially that middle one in the top pic...very cute!!

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  11. I don't think you can ever have too many machines. I'm on the look out now for a singer 301 long bed.
    Happy sewing!!!!

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  12. ENJOY your new baby! That is so exciting! We must have good tools! Love you new pieces!

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  13. I'm a Viking Girl - but a red one? How cute!
    your ornaments are lovely, the flag is just great :)

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  14. Congratulations on your new baby!

    Gorgeous jewelry, as usual.

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  15. Does your pretty new baby have a name yet, Julie? She is gorgeous! I once had a Viking and loved it - especially the sensor foot and the drop in bobbin. Sometimes I wish I had never given it up! I hope the two of your have a long and wonderful relationship! Gracie and Sasha really thought they were going to look at a new kitten!
    Cheers!

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  16. Congrats on the new machine! My first one was a Viking and what a work horse!!

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  17. Julie, I am sure you will enjoy the 140C. I spent most of last year saving up to purchase mine and am still learning all that it can do. Congratulations.

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  18. Julie, your new machine rocks that red !~!

    How can I purchase from you the middle pin in the top row of the header photo on this post? The Greens and Yellows with a bit of Blue is the prettiest pin I have seen yet and you make the best looking jewelry in the blogosphere.

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