ozcountryquiltingmum

Remind me he doesn't have to stress about Christmas.

Wandered past the local sewing machine shop a few weeks ago, saw a sign in the window saying, "come and try the new Husqvarna Inspira quilting frame". Unusually enough, DD was actually at school and I was at leisure, a dangerous combination!

Now, some people are quilters, they race through the patchwork to get to the quilting stage....they quilt wholecloths, something i appreciate the look of ...and may even try one day....but the love of the quilting process is not why I cut up my little pieces of fabric.

I love the patchwork of it, the sewing together of the little bits, (like the pixels that make up a photo) to get the big picture. I adore using the discarded and giving it a second life but I equally love holding a beautiful fabric range, like my Roman Holiday pieces, in my hands to play with.

I have all this fabulous creative fun...then the basting and finishing comes along and spoils it for me, wrecking my knees, further upsetting the old scoliosis and generally bringing the whole process to a halt....amd I hate a slowed finish.

I tried the wooden quilting frame and was very happy with it-until I went inside the doors of the sewing machine shop.

I saw, I played, I took a brochure and went home.

I told DH I had a new project for the egg money, yes, it may take until DD goes to University but it is fun to save.
Put the brochure on the office fridge, told the quilting girls and pretty much left it at that.

Then, the Saturday after shearing, DH turned to me and asked where he needed to order my Christmas present, I hazily asked what he meant and turns out he meant this.......

I said, "but i was going to save!' and he answered, "don't worry, you can always think of something else!!"

And of course if the deal is far more reasonable with the Husqvarna Viking Mega quilter machine and a DH thinks that you have had a tough year...etc etc, then you may even have this as well......

It can be used separately to the quilting frame, but i doubt it will ever be off.

It all arrived yesterday, the shopowners husband and DH spent hours setting it up, I just have to add the laser for following the patterns ...and the practise fabric and batting...and it will be right to go- after i watch the DVD of course.

It is on a moveable slide so it moves forward and back and up and down, you quilt all the one length, then just roll the quilt on the the next section. It can be done with the laser, following patterns, or free hand, using those handles you can see at the top of the machine. It is not quite a longarmer, but then I have no intention of taking other work in-I would lose my patchwork time- probably just letting my quilting girls have a go. It will make a lot more sense when you see it all set up with a quilt loaded.

So my husband is smelling about as sweet as this rose at present, he wasn't sure about me getting it pre-Christmas, says I will be disappointed on the day!!! But i just have so many quilt plans/tops, I couldn't wait 7 weeks!

Will I be disappointed on the day girls?? I shouldn't think so, but that is where you better remind me!

Off to go and dream happy quilting dreams! Tracey

Gratitudes: Need you ask!