... my beloved Bernina 1630 sewing machine began failing just as this was ready to go. I have replaced the motherboard in it, twice, at Hinkletown Sewing in PA. They charge a couple hundred, the other stores charge thousands. I am no longer near Hinkletown... WAH!!!
so... no quilting for me for now. Do you quilters love your domestic machine? what is it??? help! I'm not paying 22,000 for the new Bernina y'all, but I need to be able to quilt my own quilts!
Oh and my personal color of the month for RSC is gray, so I started the EPP circle this week by hand,
I didn't have a gray dotted fabric for the hexies so I'm shopping from my small stash of gray scraps! I like the different values and patterns here though!
I'll share some of my paintings instead...
I like the moody nature of it, the way paint blended when wet, the idea of little birds
and the moon! clap clap clap! whee!
AMAZING! and fun!
Have I mentioned Sketchbook Revival is free online, Karen Abend brings together about 30 artists to teach us each year. A close up...
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| magazine on top, my interpretation under that |
I'm doing it again since it's so fun!
This workshop got me to use supplies I had but haven't tried yet, like gouache. I am a watercolorist and gouache is a water based paint that is opaque. Like acrylics without the plastic binder to give me migraines, and flat not shiny.
I was afraid to try them! wha???
Are you ever nervous to try a new tool like a specialty ruler, a different kind of paint, a technique?
The teacher squeezed a large amount into cups to mix into new colors. I don't have that many plastic cups, so I just used a few yogurt lids as a mixing palette...
Oh I have just watched the lesson video so far... afraid to go whole hog into them but I will before the time is up...
I draw and or paint a thumbnail of each teacher on my page too. This was a lesson to make bold random abstract marks first, then add blobs of paint, then collage on top, then paint, write or whatever you think of....
looks like a hot mess from here but in person you see the tree, the vignettes of flowers and sun etc. Yep, that pink/coral flower was from the leftover gouache on the lid, along with the purple. I cut words into a flower shape, glued it down and daubed gouache over it.
Not fine art but lots of fun, and it was very different from the teacher's work.
Michaelangelo said, "I'm always learning"
I did more lessons to share, that I'll save for another post later, some will go on Thursday's "I like" post
19 comments:
I love, love, LOVE the moon you painted. And that quick 'n easy cropping tool is pure genius!
I'm sure it will be difficult for you to shop for a new machine since the best way is to go to every dealer and try every brand! And every person will recommend their favorite brand......I shopped by local dealer that I trust. Try that place you liked, ask about used, less expensive machines or do it locally if you can. See if you can get a deal that way.
You can ship your machine to Hinkletown and they will fix it. I’ve done it. Totally worth it! I love them.
I've had 2 Berninas, a 1230 and an Artista 730. Also had a Janome 9400. Last spring I bought a Pfaaf Performance Icon after using it all day in class. I haven't done anything but piece with it so far but I'm loving it, especially the IDT. I don't have the issues with thick seams that the other machines have. Pfaaf wasn't even on my radar until that day.
LOVE that moon! I am hopelessly old school - all mechanical sewing machines for me!
I love the moon painting. Nice job! I also love both of the ideas... using the square to find small chunks of the whole and the strokes then blobs. I should try those. You say it's "not fine art." I find that my appreciation for not-fine-art is growing all the time.
Oh no! Worst news ever -- a broken sewing machine. If you're going a new machine, have you thought about the B08? It has a nice throat-size (not super-large) but does a straight-stitch only. Not super expensive either. Otherwise, maybe call some of your local shops to see if they've got a decent trade-in machine.
I love Bernina’s and they last forever! They have ones that are less expensive or check out trade ins. Good luck. I faithfully read your blog and you have given me hope many days. I love your thankful Thursdays.
I've had a Juki straight stitch machine for a few years - maybe 10 - that has a longer throat for quilting. All mechanical and sews really fast. Not a bit of problem with it. It's a TL2010Q. If you can get by without fancy stitches, it's a workhorse. Great for piecing. It was about a thousand dollars when I bought it. Susan mckie2@gmail.com
My 2 Berninas are from the old school era of mechanical machines. my favorite is Bernina record 830, bought decades ago, a reconditioned model that was used once upon a time Home Ec classes.
" Bernie" does the free motion quilting for me. she has easy to change feet. i also have a older Bernina ,"Bernadette" , she was gifted to me by dear old friend.
i keep one of my featherweights up also for straight /piecing sewing at the other side of my studio. works for me.
love you paintings
Oh bummer on your machine being on the fritz!! We just bought our granddaughter a small Singer - just right for a beginner. I've owned Singers, Berninas, Janomes, and Pfaffs over the decades and loved sewing on all of them. Hopefully you find a solution you like. Your paintings this week are really great.
I love my Bernina 570, it was an upgrade from my 440. Each series gets a wider throat, which is of course, the thing that makes quilting on the domestic easier. I use some of the fancy stitches and the embroidery unit - not often enough - but often enough that I don't regret getting them. Also, a lot depends on who is nearby and can service a machine. I also love some of the Janomes, but we had no dealer close by then. And, if you just want a workhorse, lots of folks love their Jukis. I would go for the biggest throat space..and since people are upgrading, Bernina dealers may have some nice used machines available.
So sorry to hear about your sewing machine. Is it possible to find a good one used on ebay? Where you could maybe not pay so much?? Love how colorful the quilt is, so hope you're able to get it quilted soon. Not usually a fan of grey, but I like the variety you found and are putting together. The paintings made me smile, we're having a wet, cold, gray day here...so the color put a smile on my face.
Traveling Suitcase
Sorry to her about your machine. I sew on a Elna Quilter's Dream 7200. I do love it and it has a larger throat for quilting on your own. I bought it as a classroom sample from a quilt shop some years ago at a reasonable cost. Maybe you can find some similar deal?
I really like the art tip of cutting out a square to mask off just the part of a picture you want to recreate. Must try this!
I hated basting. I began with safety pins. Then I tried a method that "rolled" the quilt and was hand basted with long stitches. Better, but still a pain. Not sure when, but over a decade back I began basting my quilts with fusible. LOVE IT! No stopping and restarting to remove the basting pin/stitch. The layers don't shift. It's a win win solution. My DOM sewing machine is a Bernina 1260, but I quilt my larger quilts on a George by APQS. Not $22,000 but not cheap. Also, no computer to break down.
I enjoy your blog immensely. This is my first time to comment. Doing so because I have a 1530 which "they" tell me cannot be repaired. Quite disappointing! I should be thankful that I can still at least straight stitch and use the walking foot. I also appreciate your drawing and painting. This week's moon painting is one I would hang in my home. Beautiful!!!
So sorry to hear about your machine, LeeAnna. I have two Berninas - a 730 and an 830 and love them both. I also have a Pfaff and a Baby Lock. I would love to have the new Nina, but that price tag is a LOT!!! Beautiful painting and I love the one with the moon! Your RSC gray hexies are great too! Thanks for linking up with Monday Musings!
Donna, I don't see an email to contact you. I found a lot of stores said they couldn't repair my 1630 if they didn't know how... but Hinkletown will repair just about any problem and economically.
thank you SO MUCH for commenting. I love getting to know people and am isolated at present. LeeAnna
The moon you painted is simply gorgeous! Love that you are able to create again. Sorry to hear about your machine but it sounds like it's time to replace it. I love my Janome 9450. Well built, precise 1/4" seams, and deep throat for quilting. Most of all I recommend shopping locally so you have a dealer when things go wrong. I bought my original machine a Bernina, a state away at a quilt show and regretted it for years because my local dealer was awful. Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2024/10/16/wednesday-wait-loss-402
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