Getting Started !

We've been busy shopping these last weeks. January has been designated shopping month and we are making progress. Things are getting crossed off of THE LIST! My sewing room has been put on the back burner for a while, in fact it is being used as the play room, but things are changing. Back in fall we had stopped in at a store in Kelowna that sells sewing machines and I found the one I wanted, but we decided not to buy it out there even though the price was good. Warranty issues , etc, and we weren't really ready yet. But now we were and so we started researching some more and it was still the one I wanted. Last Friday we went in to Wpg with the intention of buying a sewing machine. We were waiting at the store before they even unlocked the door, and wonder of wonders, they had one in stock and I could take it home right away. As you can see, it is a JANOME. Kristy had bought one about a year ago, a Janome machine, that is, and she recommended it as she was very happy with hers. I of course had to go for the top of the line and pay more but it is supposed to be a good machine. I wanted one that could hem jeans, and mend pants, do regular sewing and fancy stuff as well as quilt. Well this one is supposed to fit the bill.

Here it is, my Janome Horizon. It is a pretty new machine, hasn't been on the market for very long yet, but is selling well. I hope it lives up to expectations. I could have gone back in the next day for my first lesson, but it was too soon. I don't even have any fabric in the house to experiment on. Sunday I watched the video included with the machine and learned how to wind the bobbin, thread the machine, and then, finding an old bandanna, I sewed a few seams. I only had thread because I had taken some spools with me last winter when we went south. It felt good, even if it was only practise.

Then on Monday, we were shopping again, and Kerry dropped me off at a fabric store and I bought some flannel. I had stacks of it before to make rag blankets, and so I started my new stash with these pieces you see here. Luckily there was a sale on! I love fabric! but I should have also bought the tools to cut with. I am itching to get started, but cutting each square with a scissor is a bit tedious, and not so precise, so I guess I will have to go shopping.........AGAIN! There are lots of sewing notions and things I need to make the playroom into a sewing room, but I've made the start. Maybe that new grandchild we are waiting for will be able to have a new blanket to cuddle in.