Tuesday 30 March 2010

Number 300























Well, here we are at post number 300. And it's just over two years since I first started blogging on 10th March 2008. When I pressed the 'Publish Post' button on that first offering I had no idea if I was writing a personal diary that would be read only by myself, or if I would be starting something that would become huge. I'm glad to say that neither of those things happened!

Through blogging I've met a large number of people, some of whom have become good friends. Luckily, not too many of you comment on any one of my posts, as I've discovered that I'm not too good at keeping up with replying! But those comments are hugely enjoyed and appreciated, and it's great to be able to talk to Christopher about my friends in America, Australia, Tasmania (I know it's not really a different country, but it sounds so exotic), Hawaii (ditto), Japan, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and, of course, the UK.

I've taken part in swaps, and BOMs, and I'm taking part in my first virtual bee. I've been lucky enough to discover some wonderfully generous people who are happy to share their designs. I've learnt a lot, enjoyed being able to share what I've made or places I've visited, and look forward to continuing blogging and getting to know you even better.

I still haven't decided what to put in my prize package, so I hope that Jo in Tas will be able to wait until I make up my mind. Yes, Jo's the winner. So if you let me have your address Jo, that will push me into getting my act together. Thank you to everyone who commented, I wish that you could all have won, but c'est la vie.




















Now, if you haven't stopped reading now that I've announced the winner!!! I'm after some help. I've decided that I need a new, top of the range(ish) machine. Sewing has become such a huge part of my life in retirement that it seems daft not to have a really good machine and thankfully DH agrees. So, if anyone has a recommendation, or a decommendation (if that's a word, and the spellchecker doesn't think it is, but you know what I mean) please let me know.

17 comments:

Jo in TAS said...

WooHoo! Congrats on 300 posts and what a surprise to see my name as the winner! I'll send you an email with my snail mail address.
As for machines, yes I do read the whole post, I have a Pfaff but I think if I had to choose I'd get a Bernina as it has regulated stitching, good for free motion quilting. I'm told that some people love it and some people hate it.

Anonymous said...

Well I would always buy a Bernina, I used to have the 1260 Platinum edition and now have the Bernina 440 Aurora and love it.

Good luck and congratulations to Jo in Tassie

cheers
Christine

Anonymous said...

Well I would always buy a Bernina, I used to have the 1260 Platinum edition and now have the Bernina 440 Aurora and love it.

Good luck and congratulations to Jo in Tassie

cheers
Christine

Kerry said...

I love my husqvarna!!

maria said...

300 posts wow, that's a lot, well done. Congrats to Jo is Tas.
My machine isn't top of the range but I'm very pleased with it. It's a Bernina and I'd go for another Bernina if I was getting another machine.

Heckety said...

Congratulations to Numero 20! Even if she doesn't know what for! You are as bad as me!
I've been catching up on your posts- the big 300 is some milestone huh? As is the timeframe!
You table runner and bag are lovely but your Angel Stories Quilt is a STUNNER! I saw that pattern somewhere and loved it but knew I'd never keep at it, so congratulations on finishing it! If it was me I don't think I could bear to part with it, but I'm glad it'll be hung to be admired by the grand public.
I haven't any opinion on a machine I'm afraid as I'm still on my first one-22 years and counting!A Toyota but has given a lot of trouble over the years and still does- more important items than new machines though when girls are still in education- guess you remember those days!!

jabblog said...

I don't do a huge amount of machine sewing or embroidery but have a Husqvarna which does everything apart from dance. I keep telling myself I must get it out again . . . and there are all the cross stitch things I've started and not finished, or finished and not framed that keep calling to me ;-)

Pia said...

I've had several Husqvarna's over the past 30 years and have always been satisfied.
If I were to spend money on a new machine now I guess it would be the big Husqvarna Sapphire 875Q.
Hugs Pia

Amelia said...

That will be exciting shopping for a new machine...I have a Singer that I really like...it has lots of design stitches - but only use about three or four of them.

Off to the big city to pick up a wedding gift for a friend of ours...also run by daughters place for a while...will probably eat out...regardless the day will be a busy one.

scraphappy said...

Amanda,
Congratulations on post #300! I didn't enter the giveaway as I already won one you fabulous giftie packages and didn't want to be greedy. I do love my Bernina sewing machine, although she needed a couple of trips into the doctor during her first year, it was all under warranty. I know that Pfaff is also popular as well as Viking and Babylock. I found that going in to test drive was very important when I was shopping. Have fun with the process. A good machine has made it all so much easier and therefore more fun for me -- I hope it works the same for you.

Lori said...

Congrats on 300!

As for the machine, have fun and enjoy the process.

Rhonda said...

Congrats on your 300th posting. Isn't blogging fun and addictive....LOL......1000 will be here before you know it.
Take care.

Lynn said...

#300!! Congratulations. Good for Jo. You are right about exotic places, the UK seems exciting to me when I read your (and Melanie at Jellybean angels) posts. So happy to have become blogging friends.
I have a Bernina, a base model without many bells or whistles. I love it, a real workhorse.

Amy said...

Oh Amanda! The past couple of years has been exciting for me as well! Reading about the lovely places you visit and wishing I could magically transport over to England!

As for machines----Oh girl! The BEST thing that happened to me was when I upgraded (BIG TIME) to a nicer machine. Your quilting/sewing will take on a whole new exponential level!

I am with Christine and Angela---I own the Bernina 440. As you may have read, she recently needed some maintenance, but the parts were covered by the 3 yr (or 5yr?) warranty. There's also some parts covered by a 20 yr warranty (I don't have my paperwork handy--sorry!)
I love it! It is ENJOYABLE just letting the fabric literally glide over the quilting table and through the needle.

My MIL has a Janome and enjoys it. I am also looking at a new machine, more of a frame/machine combo to take my quilting to the next level.... The Juki TL 98 is leading that race right now.

The SELLING POINT for me to purchase the Bernina 440 (literally my DREAM-LIST machine)------FREE FINANCING for 18 months! Otherwise, I never would have been able to afford it.

Finally, definite advice: buy from a local dealer. That way, if anything DOES happen to go wrong, you have someone local and don't need to ship it off anywhere.

Good luck in your research!

Simone de Klerk said...

Congratualtions on your 300th post and congratulations to Jo!
And now about the sewing machine. I would always go for a Pfaff, but that is very personal. Go to a sewing machine shop where they sell all kinds of ranges and use them. You will soon feel, hear, see etc. which one fits you best. I think the sound and the look is very important too and that is very personal. Good luck!

Jude said...

Congrats on the big 300 and even though I have only been visiting you for a short time i have found you blog interesting. I have a Janome Memory Craft 6600 series and it does every thing a quilter needs, as well as everything for general sewing. It was not too expensive $2000.00 Australian and worth every cent as I usually sew every day and i even have friends come over to use it as well. Good luck in your research and choose the one that best suits your needs.

Tanya said...

Congratulations! I'm interested to see what type of machine people are recommending. I'll have to go upstairs and check. I DON'T EVEN KNOW. As long as it sews a straight line, has a drop in bobbin case, is heavy enough so that it doesn't move when it sews, and has a foot pedal I am happy. (And I like the automatic thread cutter but feel guilty using it because I kknow I could be making leaders/enders.)