Monday 2 June 2008

A new toy and a real bargain (49)

On Saturday we went to Brighton to have lunch with our younger son. We had lunch in a lovely cafe called Bill's. As well as the cafe - scrubbed wooden tables - they have a produce store where they sell fresh fruit and vegetables as well as tins and jars. There was a real buzz about the place, a great place to eat. 

Afterwards I wanted to find a fabric store (surprise, surprise!) and spotted a sign that said sewing centre. I was actually after dress fabric, not quilting fabric. I went in to ask if they knew where I could buy material and found a whole range of sewing machines, as well as a very knowledgeable chap. I had been thinking of buying a new machine since the one I bought last year -before I started quilting - just doesn't cut the mustard. Well, before you could say Jack Robinson I'd bought one! DH offered to go halves, as an early birthday present, so that was that. It's a Janome DC4100, and seems to do all that I want. It's got needle up/down (worth the money on its own I reckon), automatic stop/start and a whole raft of embroidery stitches and enough feet for a centipede. It makes the most perfect button holes - and the buttonhole foot has a place to put the button then it sews the button hole the exact size you need for that button! Brilliant! And it's so quiet and well behaved. 

Of course when I started playing with it on Sunday morning I realised that I'd ordered the extension table, but completely forgotten about a quarter-inch foot and a walking foot! I'll have to phone and sort that out. I'm full of ideas now for embroidering features on the clothes I'm planning to make (after I've made DH a thank you shirt) and hope to be able to practice my free-motion quilting with greater success. Such fun to have a new toy.


And now to my bargain. I came across these baskets in the Lakeland catalogue for £2.49. I couldn't believe that price, so I ordered 4. They're heaps bigger than I expected and came in two huge boxes, but I reckon a lick of pastel paint and some new fabric and they'll be perfect - for something or other! No real ideas yet, but I'm sure they'll come to me. 

14 comments:

Candace said...

I wondered which machine you bought. I have never heard a bad word about Janome's, everyone seems to love them. I have the Janome Jem, and it is a great machine. Hope you love yours, as well. I'm sure you'll find a use for your great bargain baskets. It's funny, my son lives outside Lakeland, Fl.

merete said...

Good for you, - a new "toy" for your sewing adventures!
Happy sewing!

Amelia said...

How exciting...what a combination, lunch, son, and purchasing a new machine and only having to pay half. What a way to spend the day.Oh yes, must have the foot for quilting to get that perfect quarter inch.

Have fun with the make over on the baskets...what color are you going for?

Have a great week!

Lynn said...

Congratulations! A new machine! I'm sure you are going to enjoy exploring with it the next few days. Have fun.

Julie said...

Good for you! Every quilter deserves a great machine. I have 13 sewing machines b/c I don't know when to stop!! LOL

Kay said...

I'm so envious of your new machine. I'll have to buy a new one since I gave my Bernina to my daughter. Good luck with your baskets. I know they'll be gorgeous.

scraphappy said...

Congratulations, finishing quilts is so much easier with the right machine. It sounds like you've got lots of ideas about what to do with your new baby. Happy sewing!

Colleen and Jason said...

I am sure you will love you Janome as much as I love mine, the previous one I had was 8 years old and never once had a big issue. Big means something that can't be fixed with a little lint removal, thread removal or a dab of oil. Just wonderful machines, I hope yours makes you so happy.

Amy said...

Oh yah, yah, yah :0) Doing a lil' 'ol happy dance for you Amanda!!! I bet your first thought in the morning is about getting on your new machine, and your last thought at night is about what you'll accomplish on the new toy the next day :0)
How exciting!!!
Within the next month, I hope to do the same, So, you'll need to keep us (me) posted on how the machine works. My MIL just bought a Janome for Christmas and loves it, (even though she says there are too many choices for her and she has a hard time making up her mind!!!) ;0)

Journeying said...

Brilliant day all around, I'd say!
Hope you enjoy exploring all you can do with the new machine and know you'll enjoy making the baskets be what you want - for whatever.

Linda said...

Amanda, I have had three Janome's or New Home Sewing machines. I only have one now. It is my back-up machine. They are very good, hard-working machines. My New Home machine is an 8000 and is about 15 years old. You can't go wrong with these machines. I know you will enjoy it...hugs, Linda

Katie said...

Woohoo! Congratulations. :-)

Rhonda said...

Congratulations on your new toy!!

Helen in the UK said...

Hope you continue to enjoy your new machine. I've had a Janome for over 4 years and find it excellent. Keep the bobbin area clear of lint and it pretty much looks after itself :)