A bit behind with blogging

It has been a while since I posted and there has been some quilty things going on so here we go...

The MBIII hosted by the Quilting Pirate is on it's way along with the matching dish towel. Looking at the other blogs-my dish towel is sad sad sad....I had no idea and faced such a creative block when faced with that project. Anxiously awaiting my MBIII package!

My parents came down fro m Upstate NY (the real upstate ate-not just Albany) for Easter weekend. Like last year we bribed the boys (Dad , Hubby and Son) with a trip to Miller Smorgasbord if they would accompany us to Lancaster. Which of course would include a quilt store stop, or two.

We wanted to visit Sauder's but they had a death in the family and were closed that weekend-mom and I regrouped and headed to Brubakers. Last year we LOVED it and wanted to buy bunches. This year we walked in , around and out-hmmmm. The boys had a nice nap, which my husband informed me he took only because he could not get a signal on his Blackberry-he had no choice but to nap. Yeah right!

We left Brubakers and headed to The Old Country Store-well if you have a chance to go to the Lancaster area be sure to stop in this little town to not only visit this shop but the pottery shop, P. Buckly Moss Gallery, the little gift shops and the Kitchen Kettle Village!!! I found Triangle Paper at The Old Country Store-I have heard about it and seen it online but an too thrifty (cheap) to order it online without truly knowing what it's purpose. I bought finished 2" paper - thinking this would be a good test size having just used 2" finished Thangles for my MBIII quiltlett.

While in the little village of Intercourse-some day the 9 year old will find it funny-there was gift shop that showcased a quilt blowing in the breeze that was absolutely amazing . It is called Star Spin-amazing. I was determined to find the pattern or stand there long enough burning it to memory. A few shop stops later tucked in a corner and marked $5 was the PATTERN!!! Eureka! I will do one of these as it is stunning-here is an example: http://www.amishcountrylanes.com/Pages/hs118.shtml.

After that the boys were at their limit and we had to go feed them and head home-that and it was 6PM.

Saturday Mom and I went to Our Gathering Place so that I could pick up my months of BOM and then to Verna's. We found fabric at Verna's to put together a little something something that would test the Triangle Paper vs. the Thangles all for a mere $40. You have just GOT to LOVE Verna! While there I found that she had the Zippity Doo Dah line, so I picked up some 1/2 yard pieces of what she had-for what you ask....who knows.

That night we cut out our Verna's fabrics and tested the two products-for onsie twosies we like the Thangles but for bunches and bunches we like the Triangle paper.
After Easter weekend the hubby, kid and I headed to NC for the week-more on that the next blog.
Hope all is well in blog land-

Realization.....

The pre-story......I bought a new sewing machine last summer because after 14 years I wanted more features-stitches actually. The plan with the new machine was that some day I would buy a frame and put that on it and keep my 310 to piece on....well I LOVE the new machine. I love the features, I love the quiet, I love the size, just love it love it love it......SO I think that I will just move the machine back and forth from the frame. Yeah Right-sounded good though didn't it. In the mean time I gave the 310 to my step daughter. So I felt bad for not using my frame so I loaded the new machine on the frame, got quilt loaded, was ready to go and realized that I had forgotten the kitchen towel for the MBIII! I was afraid that if I took the machine off the frame I would postpone using it even longer than I have already. What was a quilter in desperate need to piece to do?????

BUY A NEW MACHINE! I thought about this for all about 10 seconds-just something simple, forward and backwards-Wal Mart surely will be able to fulfill my need for less than $100 (my limit without asking permission-and did I truly want to run it by the hubby???? Not so much). So I come home with a Singer Simple (yeah he noticed but has yet to say much 10 stitches all for $97!! Well a little bit more because of course I had to buy bobbins and needles that would fit.

I am excited now I can keep the new machine on the frame and still have something to piece with-a quilter's dream right????!!! NOPE!

I am a SEWING MACHINE SNOB and I want to piece on my Sapphire and I still want a Long arm on my frame (Bailey-waiting for Cowgirl Quilter to give feedback)!

The Singer is noisy, the needle does not go up and down on it's own, I have yet to find where I can get a 1/4 foot for it, what is up with the strange way the feet attach, it does not automatically cut the thread, it does not go as fast (sure sounds like it is speedy).......My hubby even commented on the loudness of it....oh well.

It is serving a purpose and so far it pieces quite nicely but this will be short term! The drive to save my $$ for the Bailey is heightened! Hurry on the reviews!

PS-this is not intended to offend any Singer sewing machine users-I am a Viking/Husqvarna type of girl. Apologies.