My machine made me do it and other Tall Tales

Let's talk sewing machines shall we?  Janome will always be my main squeeze (besides my hubby of course).  Like all sewing machines, though, they need some extra TLC.  In walks Mr. Tuneup guy or sewing machine repair guy to the rescue!  I have put it off and put it off.  Excuse after excuse as to why I do not need to take my machine in quite yet.  Until this random starting and stopping while I was happily sewing along entered in.  This went on for a few months because as I said I was not going to stop my projects to take her in pssshhhhh!  Well now we are in the beginning of December.  What better time than now I say to myself.   The plus side of this,well, one of them is that it only cost me $65.  This is a bargain from what I have seen others were charged whom spoke about it online.  I took it in Wednesday and had it back to me Friday!  How is that for speedy service?!!   The service guy thought there could have been something wrong with the sensor.  Nope.  Just 4lbs of lint sitting on the bottom, on top of the sensor.  Oh so lucky!  Lucky me!

Now you think I would have had the decency to sew something on my newly cleaned dream of a machine.  Nah!  As ya'll know already we are nearing the best holiday of the year and there are just things that need to be taken care of now!

Starting new traditions with the family...

Wrapping handmade presents...

Making cookies...

 Looking at Christmas presents online for moi;)

I ordered the Alicia Paulson ABC crewel work pattern...

The directions are so nice.  Very detailed which makes everything pretty darn clear to follow.  I picked out all my colors to go with the color scheme Alicia picked out.  She used wool yarn though and I am using Precencia perle cotton.  This pattern came out years ago,but that actually works to my advantage.  This way I can browse other blogger's blogs to find out what they did for this pattern as far as color choices,material used and how they liked the pattern overall.  I am looking forward to starting this,but more than likely after the new year.

I also did some fabric shopping on fabric.com and picked up some minky on sale at 15% off for Jade's quilt backing and some nice flannel for another baby quilt in the making.  To round out the total and incur free shipping I added on a spool of Aurifil thread in bubblegum and some Sulky Solvy paper I have been wanting to try out.

Then I had an Amazon gift card from my B-day so I went over to their website and picked up a new 8" embroidery hoop and rotary cutter blades AND I was able to order the much sought after Vintage Quilt Revival book by Lee Heinrich, Katie Blakesley and Faith Jones.  I have to wait until the end of the month or beginning of Jan. before I see the book,but that's fine by me.  As long as it gets here safely!

My final splurge for Christmas entailed Wee Wanders by Sarah Jane.  I ordered 1 yd each of 5 different prints which should be be shipped to me at the end of Jan.  The fireflies and footprints lured me in---I couldn't help myself!!!!

After my overindulgence, I thought hmmm....maybe I should get some fabric for a changing pad.  Well..........laminate fabric is quite expensive and I knew I could get a changing pad elsewhere for much less.  I know, I know....but it won't be unique and handmade by mommy,but I DO have my limits.  I wanted laminate due to one obvious reason of keeping it clean easier.

Today it was the day to get that darn Lucky Stars December block finished and out of the way!

BTW....my Janome is working beautifully and I am oh so eager to do some real sewing on it.....not this 5 minute type stuff;)

Sara