I originally set up this blog to keep family up to date on our build and move. That happened 5 years ago.
Last year I started quilting and fell in love with the whole process. So I started to blog about it to keep track for myself of what I was doing and what I had done.
So I've decided to use the M&JAltomare blog for family stuff and start a new blog to keep track of my quilting fun.
So I have started Cocoa Quilts If you would like to follow along, please head over there and start to follow me.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Quilt #18
I picked up my new machine just in time to do a quick quilt to take to Charleston this weekend.
I picked up some fat quarters at AQS on Saturday, when I picked up my machine. I had the yellow and white left over. So I wanted something quick and decided on Bijou Lovely Color Block pattern, I used this pattern for my first and second quilts.
Spent Sunday cutting and piecing.
Spent Monday quilting, straight line 1/2" apart.
Tuesday did the binding and washed. Here is the finish.
I decided to get some labels and start labeling my quilts. Once I decided that I wanted to label my quilts I knew I needed a name. So I looked at my daily shadow and thought Cocoa Quilts. So here is Cocoa, she is a senior, 14 years old in November, Hungarian Vizsla. Now that I have started to use Cocoa Quilts, I need to figure out how to change my blog name. That is for another day.
I ordered labels from lillalotta she was very helpful and quick. Although she is in the Netherlands, I received them in less than a week.
I had several quilts and labeled the all. Here they are in a fun pile.
Four of them are headed with me to Charleston, SC this weekend.
Quilt #5 is going to my Aunt for her 90th Birthday.
Quilt #10 is going to my sister.
Quilt #16 is going to my niece
Quilt #18 is going to another niece as she graduates as a Physician Assistant.
It will be a great weekend. Hubby and I are flying out Friday morning and won't be back until Wednesday next week.
Monday, August 15, 2016
I have a new Baby
I've been missing for a bit. Got back from vacation and did the binding on one of my unfinished quilts.
Before I headed out on vacation, I returned my (not really mine, it was on loan) Viking Platinum 930 to my sister. She had loaned it to me last winter.
I've known I wanted to get a new machine, but just couldn't decide. So AQS was coming to Grand Rapids, MI, which is about an hour from home. So I decided that would be the best time to get a new machine.
You all know how tough deciding on a new machine can be. Of course, you can't check the pricing on line, other than how much others have said they paid through internet searches, which takes a lot of time. The local shops that sell machines I was interested in are about an hour from home, so it was plan to go check them out.
I narrowed the choices down to the Viking Platinum 960 or 965Q, BabyLock Crescendo or the Janome 9400QCP. I really wanted the 10" plus for the throat, also wanted the thread cutter, stitch lock, foot down. Wasn't as sure on the mass amount of stitches, but would be great to try them out. So I made a day and drove to the two shops that carried these brands, luckily they were about 1/2 mile from each other.
Went to http://www.gallsewingvac.com/ first and checked out the Janome and talked with Becky. Really liked this machine, the auto threader was great. The pull out LED light was very nice. But if any one knows me, they know I am cheap, so price did not make me happy. I knew an approximate price before going to visit, but as one of my former CFO favorite money phrases was "My pocket is better than yours".
Then it was on to http://www.lakeshoresewing.com/ and met with Carol. She walked me through the Platinum 960Q and the BabyLock Crescendo. As we all know the price on the Vikings are less than the both the BabyLock and the Janome. Carol even unboxed a new Platinum 965Q, which is replacing the 960Q, and we walked through that machine (couldn't really find any difference between the two machines). The BabyLock laser pen was very interesting.
Both of these ladies and both dealers were great!
So got the AQS show prices on each of the machines and spent about two weeks scouring the net for reviews and problems on each of the machines. At this point I was leaning toward the Janome, but that little voice kept saying "My pocket is better than yours".
Hubby knew I was looking at machines, but had no idea of their price. So as I was fairly sure I was going with the Janome, we started talking about me seriously getting a new machine. When he asked the cost, I told him it was about the same as three hunting guns. How can he question that? When he asks to get a new gun, I always say if you will use it and it will make you happy, go ahead. You know what goes around comes around, so he said if you'll use and it will make you happy, go ahead.
I was signed up for a FMQ class (my first) at AQS and the machines we would be using were the Janome 9400, so I was excited to work on this machine.
Once we finished the class, I went down and bought one of the classroom machines,
So here is a pic of my new baby, what shall we name her?
Well we are off to Charleston, SC to visit family, celebrate my Aunt's 90th birthday and my 60th this week, so until next week. I'll be a sewing fool once I'm back.
Before I headed out on vacation, I returned my (not really mine, it was on loan) Viking Platinum 930 to my sister. She had loaned it to me last winter.
I've known I wanted to get a new machine, but just couldn't decide. So AQS was coming to Grand Rapids, MI, which is about an hour from home. So I decided that would be the best time to get a new machine.
You all know how tough deciding on a new machine can be. Of course, you can't check the pricing on line, other than how much others have said they paid through internet searches, which takes a lot of time. The local shops that sell machines I was interested in are about an hour from home, so it was plan to go check them out.
I narrowed the choices down to the Viking Platinum 960 or 965Q, BabyLock Crescendo or the Janome 9400QCP. I really wanted the 10" plus for the throat, also wanted the thread cutter, stitch lock, foot down. Wasn't as sure on the mass amount of stitches, but would be great to try them out. So I made a day and drove to the two shops that carried these brands, luckily they were about 1/2 mile from each other.
Went to http://www.gallsewingvac.com/ first and checked out the Janome and talked with Becky. Really liked this machine, the auto threader was great. The pull out LED light was very nice. But if any one knows me, they know I am cheap, so price did not make me happy. I knew an approximate price before going to visit, but as one of my former CFO favorite money phrases was "My pocket is better than yours".
Then it was on to http://www.lakeshoresewing.com/ and met with Carol. She walked me through the Platinum 960Q and the BabyLock Crescendo. As we all know the price on the Vikings are less than the both the BabyLock and the Janome. Carol even unboxed a new Platinum 965Q, which is replacing the 960Q, and we walked through that machine (couldn't really find any difference between the two machines). The BabyLock laser pen was very interesting.
Both of these ladies and both dealers were great!
So got the AQS show prices on each of the machines and spent about two weeks scouring the net for reviews and problems on each of the machines. At this point I was leaning toward the Janome, but that little voice kept saying "My pocket is better than yours".
Hubby knew I was looking at machines, but had no idea of their price. So as I was fairly sure I was going with the Janome, we started talking about me seriously getting a new machine. When he asked the cost, I told him it was about the same as three hunting guns. How can he question that? When he asks to get a new gun, I always say if you will use it and it will make you happy, go ahead. You know what goes around comes around, so he said if you'll use and it will make you happy, go ahead.
I was signed up for a FMQ class (my first) at AQS and the machines we would be using were the Janome 9400, so I was excited to work on this machine.
Once we finished the class, I went down and bought one of the classroom machines,
So here is a pic of my new baby, what shall we name her?
Well we are off to Charleston, SC to visit family, celebrate my Aunt's 90th birthday and my 60th this week, so until next week. I'll be a sewing fool once I'm back.
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