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.