10/26/14

An Ordinary Day Goes Wild

It was a mild-mannered morning. Mike and I were drinking our coffee and catching up on email. After a while I started doing some stitching on my embroidery project. We were, all in all, being our boring Saturday morning selves. Then Mike casually mentioned that he thought he'd go to the local electronics outlet and get something he'd seen on sale.

So I said, "I could ride along, and we could stop off at the local sewing machine shop and look at the Baby Lock Tiaras they have on sale there."

And, amazingly, he said, "Okay."

Well, shut my mouth!



For just a moment, I considered the possibility that he was sick. But then I figured I could probably use this brief moment of insanity to my advantage. So, I did what any red-blooded quilter would do. I dropped everything and got ready to go, trying my best to look ever so bored with the whole affair.

I've been looking at these machines for quite a while actually, ever since I took the all-day long arm class and decided that standing at a long arm machine was definitely not for my tired old feet.

My friend Marei wisely steered me in the direction of a mid-arm sit down machine, and I've been looking at them all along. There isn't a whole lot of difference from one brand to the next, and so I was just waiting...biding my time...until somebody offered me something that would make the old man of the family sit up and take notice. Finally, I receive an email with a steal of a deal from this particular store that carried the Baby Lock Tiara II



So we go to said sewing machine shop and Mike seems loaded for bear. He looks at the price and says to the store manager Shelley, "It says on your website that you're having an anniversary sale and that all new sewing machines are 20% off."

And Shelley does a quick calculation in her head about what the machine in question would sell for at that discounted price and says (and I'm not kidding here), "Whatever." And the price includes all the goodies: stitch regulator, bobbin winder, table, smooth table overlay, and she goes on to say, "I'll even throw in the Martelli Gripper Rings." And for a little more, we can even get the fancier Tiara Studio Table by Koala.

So we did. We had to drive to the other side of town to get one from the main store, and the studio table is still on order. They gave us the basic table, and when the studio table arrives, they'll switch it out for me. Also, a woman is going to come out to the house to give me some instruction. The machine is not terribly complicated, but I always think those free classes are a good idea with a new machine.

So geez! I wasn't expecting that! And it's all set up now.


I considered moving things around in the sewing room, but then decided instead to put it in my office upstairs. My sewing room is in the basement where I have no windows. I'm grateful for my space, but I decided the quilting machine could have a window seat upstairs without being too inconvenient. 


I'm imagining that over time, her space will evolve so that I'll have an extra set of essential tools beside this machine just as I do next to Big Bertha. All of my thread is downstairs, but I can work with that as needed.

Here's what the stitch regulator looks like. 


Unlike the Bernina where the stitch regulator is on the foot, this one is separate. The little disk to the left attaches to the quilt. In the image below, it's plugged in and charging, but it unplugs and operates wirelessly. I tried it both with and without the stitch regulator in the store, and I preferred it with. On the other hand, I had no problem stitching without it. We'll see. It came with the machine, and so what the heck?

Also included was the separate bobbin winder. It uses the larger "M" class bobbins. That will be nice.


It has a cool touch screen. Pretty straightforward.


And a nice brightly lit workspace. Wicked looking, isn't it?


Speaking of wicked, you didn't think we could set up something like this without Mr. Nosy Pants getting involved, did you?


Hm...and just how is this going to affect my window-sitting capability?


I think this has potential. I could hang a noose here and have a game of volley mouse.


This also has outstanding chin-scratcher potential.


So, phew. It passed inspection and is now apurroved for use.

Of course, it was late in the day by the time we got it all set up. Besides, I take my cues from the Wicked Witch of the West (there's that "wicked" word again).



I've found that these things are best handled delicately. To that end, I haven't played with it at all yet. So far, I've just kind of tippy-toed around it. I'm giving it time to settle into its new surroundings...making sure it doesn't explode, or jump out the window, or something else even worse. One never knows about these things.

Tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow I'll be bold and thread me some needles.

44 comments:

Donna said...

WOW! Go, girl!

Michele said...

Congrats on your new toy. I'm sure you will have a blast with her and having more quilting space is always a good thing. Now it is time for you to start stocking up on the large cones of thread. And she needs a great name of course!

Ann said...

Beautiful. Love you new toy. Have lots of quilty fun.

Donna said...

Congratulations! As I was reading along I was wondering when Smitty would show up!

Debbie said...

You are going to love it! Be aware there is that learning curve to get the tension thing under your belt, but once you understand it....go for it! BTW....Mike is a keeper for sure! What a treat.

Mara said...

Awesome Wild day, doesn't it just kind of freak you out when the guys agree to do something you want, Congratulations on your lovely new machine.

Quilting Babcia said...

It's a keeper! Have fun! I see a king-size quilt in your future.

gpc said...

Oh my gosh! Are you sure YOU aren't sick and Mike just hasn't told you yet? Whatever, enjoy that puppy. I can't wait to see what wonders you create now!

Dana Gaffney said...

Wow, congratulations! I think you're going to have so much fun with that and Smitty has his place all picked out to supervise.

Frog Quilter said...

Congrats. Use it and enjoy!!!! Remember practice, practice and more practice. Been there and love it!

Sherry said...

I am so excited for you I know you are going to have a great time quilting with it. I see more fair and show ribbons in your future!

Denise :) said...

How fun and exciting!! Smitty needed a new toy. LOL! :)

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Oh fun!! IT IS a little intimidating at the beginning...but just drop in, thread that needle and go for it!!!

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Oh fun!! IT IS a little intimidating at the beginning...but just drop in, thread that needle and go for it!!!

Carol Swift said...

How sweet is that! Lucky you to get such a cool toy...have fun playing with it!

Rina Mason said...

Congratulations! I know you're going to love it. My question is,did Mike get his electronic thing that he originally set out to get?

Vicki W said...

Awesome! What a treat. Have a great time with it!

Teresa in Music City said...

Wow! It looks so professional and downright capable sitting there! So glad Smitty approves :) I can't wait to see all the wonderful creations the two of you are going to show us!

Quilter Kathy said...

So exciting! Christmas came early at your house!

Marei said...

She looks good sitting in her new home. Now let the fun begin!!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Oh my! What a beauty. I've never had an interest in a long arm but these are sooooo intriguing. Have fun and I can't wait to read ALL about it!

Lynn - JnL4God said...

That is so awesome. It is so purrty.

Debra said...

Oh my - an EPIC day! Congratulations! I am so jealous! If I were to by a long arm machine, it would be one of these sit-down models. Happy quilting! Deb

Vicki said...

I've been drooling over those mid-arms at every quilt show in the past two years. You are living my dream come true! Be sure to tell us all about your new toy!!

Betty said...

Congrats on the new machine! You will have sew much fun with it. Looks like Mike has scored some major points. I think Smitty approves also.

evelyn said...

Awesome new toy! What did you put in hubbies coffee? Can I get some for mine ?

barbara woods said...

congrats Barbara , have fun

Janarama said...

I'm so glad that Smitty approved of the new contraption in the room. It would be a shame if he didn't and you'd have to return it. ; ) That looks like one sweet machine. Mike gets the husband of the day award, for sure.

SJSM said...

What a wonderful and lovely day! When my husband does something like this I am absolutely 100% pleased. Usually he has in mind something for himself, too. What did you pick up at the electronics store? Did Mike bring home a new toy?

Gotta love these guys with a sense of fairness and in bringing joy to our lives. Enjoy your new adventures in quilting.

quiltzyx said...

Bwah hah ha ha ha!!! The quilting has taken over ANOTHER room in the house! I'll be looking forward to seeing what comes next...you are going to be having so much fun with the new baby & I can picture the Smitster sitting on the window sill overseeing the work too!
Yay Mike!

Christine M said...

How exciting for you, Barbara.

Vicki H said...

All I can say is WOW. Your husband is a real keeper.

Lee said...

Ooooh-Wheeee Girl, all that wonderfulness just for Mike wanting to go to the local electronics outlet, and did he ever get there for his purchase? Or was that a ruse to get you to local sewing shop? We know where you're going to be a lot :)

Cherry said...

WOW!! What a fabulous day it turned out to be! She sure looks happy in her new home. Glad to hear it already has the cat stamp of appurroval - very impurrant, you know. BTW, did Mike ever get over to the electronic store? LOL

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Oh my, Barb, what a jewel you have there. And I love the new quilting machine too. Rock on my sweet friend.

Sarah_L_N said...

Oh wow, look at that! I've never heard of a mid arm before, it looks brilliant :)

DaniQuilts said...

Lucky!!!

kc said...

Happy birthday, happy anniversary, merry Christmas, and happy Valentine's Day, all wrapped up in onw! Suuuuweeet!! I've been looking at them too, but, alas, no place to put one here, unless we build an addition or I just take over the barn (which just ain't gonna happen!). I've already got one bedroom, the hall closet & one bay in the garage...and mailing supplies in another bedroom closet. I've been cut off, or so I'm told.

I totally agree with you on the whole stand-up thing, tho...while it's fun & certainly versatile, longarms are definitely a back/knee killer.

I'm so happy for you, if I could jump, I'd jump over the moon!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Congratulations!! Certainly take those free lessons to help you get use to this new toy. Your go girl!!

Kate said...

CC says to tell Smitty that thread dangling like that is AWESOME to play with and chew. (So beware!)

Dar said...

What a beauty. Sure glad that Smitty approved too. You will have fun playing and creating on this baby.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Now you have to start a lot of new things, so that you'll have things to quilt on the new machine. Darn, you might even have to buy some new fabric. Oh the sacrifice!

Brown Family said...

Congratulations! I know you will enjoy putting it through it's paces!

Kate said...

Congratulations! You definitely did have a wildly productive day.