The lights are up and working - makes it really nice and bright. We attached the stitch regulator and put the sewing machine back on the carriage (I have a place to plug it in now). Hopefully in a couple of days (we have Max's Mom with us now) I will be able to load some fabric and batting and start practicing. I messed around with the machine and it really moves smoothly and "appears" that it will be easy. I am excited to give it a try.

Later . . .

Okay - so I know that I do NOT need another hobby, but I saw someone using one the other day and it looked like fun. I am in the process of making Max a beautifully soft blue scarf. God knows I will always have something to be working on.

Max did the wiring in the garage tonight and we hung up half the set of track lighting. The lighting is awesome - each set has four halogen lights that you can direct where you want the light to go. They are very nice and it will make quilting on my frame really nice. I have my quilting machine in the house right now because previously there was no way to plug it in. I worked on some embroidery most of the day putting some designs on sweatshirts for some gifts for the late Christmas we are having this Saturday. I plan to work with my new machine tomorrow to become familiar with it. At this point I do not even know how to thread it or wind the bobbin. I watched the video and it seems like it will not be difficult, but I do need to get familiar with it before I put it on the frame - and I am really looking forward to doing that and loading some material and batting and try my hand at some free motion quilting.

I will take pictures tomorrow of the completed lighting and give my opinion on my new machine.

Later . . .

Yikes - once again I am way behind in postings. Max, Kathy, Paul and I took off for a week in Genoa. We had some wonderful weather (if you were looking for snow and winter that is). We did a bunch of museums and sight seeing and had a really relaxing nice time. We had to use the chains (cables) for the Vue and it went very well. I was feeling pretty bad that we did not have four wheel drive, but it worked out pretty well with the cables.

went down on Thursday afternoon and came back on Sunday. We had a great time with the family and Denise, of course, fixed an amazing meal for our Christmas dinner. Max and I are doing Christmas with her family on the Saturday before New Years - so this was our Christmas. The kids seemed to be pleased with their gifts and Max and I were both amazed by the wonderful giftsNext on the agenda was a trip to Duane and family for our early Christmas. We we received.

While at Duane's we went and picked up my new quilting machine and frame. It was time consuming, but not really that difficult to put together. We put it together on Monday and I am dying to give it a try, but we have to do some wiring and also put up some type of track lighting so I can see. I think we are going to start on the wiring when Max gets home from work. I also need to remove the sewing machine and actually thread it and work with it a bit to become familiar with it. I am really excited about having the ability to do free motion quilting with ROOM!

Later . . .

Christmas Shirt

DSC02834
Originally uploaded by msdrae

I was busy at my sewing machine the other day making these designs on the back of a white over sized shirt. It turned out really cute with the different reindeer. Had to see what they actually look like without close up shots - which I have but am not sure how to link it to this page. I think if you click on the msdrae above it will take you to the flickr site and you can see all the pictures for the shirt - or you might have to click on the picture itself. I have not figured out the Flickr site yet. Okay - click on the picture and then when it takes you to the Flickr site click on the msdrae and then click on the Christmas Shirt set.

Later . . .

We spent a nice quiet weekend - after a trip to Fry's on Friday night! I picked up a new wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse for my Mac (beautiful white and silver instead of the normal black). Max's hard drive on her computer was doing some serious clunking and she needed to get a new hard drive before hers bit the dust entirely. Then there was the "need" for a new DVD RW. I also "needed" to get a new USB port hub. We also picked up a "needed" 2G jump drive. At the tune of about $400 we made it out the door. I will say I love my keyboard and mouse, considering I have always used Logitech in the past - it is familiar and I never did like the "mighty mouse". I am having a slight problem with the keyboard as I cannot find the "F" key lock to be able to program the "F" keys. Since I have had good luck with Logitech in the past I will give them a call tomorrow and see if there is something I am missing.

We have one week until we take off on vacation (David Walley's Resort and Spa) for a week. We are looking forward to the trip, but this is the first time we will be venturing into the snow without a 4x4 option. So sometime this week I will have to go out and buy chains for the Vue. Then we will come home for a week and then take off again to Duane's to celebrate Christmas with the grandkids. Then New Years with Max's family and 2007 is over. Now that is hard for me to believe.

Later . . .