so grateful.

Hello Gorgeous.

It's still not quite real to me that this is mine.

I had outgrown my old machine for the second time (the first time was a couple years ago), and was looking. 

But, as many of you know -- 19 month olds don't pay so well, so I wasn't sure when I would be able to get a new one. 

A few upcoming custom projects (that will be too big for my old machine to quilt) became the catalyst.

I had originally thought I would get the Juki TL-98Q, (and even got to borrow one for the weekend to quilt this little number from Debbie...yes, she let me borrow it... quilters are good people). :)

Even though I liked the machine, I wasn't in love.

Before I make any major purchases, I like to try to do my research, so I had my mom take S and I to Sacramento to try some more machines out.  

My friend Amy had told me about her babylock, and I had tried an Espire that I really liked at our local sewing machine shop.  The girl at the place in Sacramento was great, and gave me what felt like a really good deal (almost the same as I would have paid for the floor model Espire at our local store).

My mom said, "Box it up."

My mouth dropped.  

I coughed and sputtered and got that giddy, clenchy chest feeling.

It's my birthday and Christmas gift for the next 10 years, or for as long as it takes me to to make and sell custom quilts until it's paid off. 

I said it before, but it is the closest I think I will ever come to that wedding dress shopping feeling again.

Thank you Mom.

All tucked in to my sewing space. :)

I have already finished one quilt on it that I delivered to my mother-in-law as an early Christmas gift (you can see it in progress in the picture above (Shirley -- if you're reading this, I'm going to have to get pictures of that soon, or you can send me some if you'd like...I was in a rush after I finished it Saturday morning). :)

The extension table is great.  So much better for quilting.

Overall -- I am one grateful girl.

Jay having time off + Healthy family + New sewing machine + time with a friend + 2 finished projects + pie + Grandparents who babysit + Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, & Ron Weasley = Perfect Thanksgiving week.

♥

P.S. I'll be selling my old machine if you're interested -- it's actually the "Heart Truth" version pictured here, but the same in everything except color to the Janome DC2010 -- it's a great machine for everything except free motion quilting on big quilts -- I'll be a little sad to send her away)