End of the wanderings

My long absence from home finally came to an end last Saturday when I returned home after being away about a month. I have to admit this was probably my first time that I was away from home for such a long period. Thanks to the wonderful world of wireless…. I was able to keep in fairly good touch with friends and various groups. This was perhaps my last trip for 2007 and I hope to stay put at home until the holidays.

First stop was Pleasant Grove, Alabama which is in the suburbs of Birmingham. I was fortunate to have a lovely hostess, Mary Edith, who arranged a gathering of friends for a trunk show and a hands on learning full day event. Meeting new people always excites me and ofcourse a chance to show some techniques and to visit is an added bonus. A full day was spent teaching various techniques of cutwork, freestanding lace, and patchwork. I had already prepared the class lessons and was pleased that all were able to understand and comprehend the various techniques that I taught.

My next stop was Atlanta, GA where I spent about ten days with my dear friend Carolyn. I did get to visit with some other friends, Evanlee and Cookie as well as visit friends at Southeast Sewing. Cookie is absolutely one of the most vibrant people that I know of. Energy simply pours out of this lady. We both decided that we needed to educate ourselves by visiting Ashby Sewing which is a Pfaff dealership in Atlanta to view and learn about the “Dream Machine”. Yup, you guessed it…the Pfaff Creative Vision!

At first glance one has to wonder if the machine ever quits, it is that long…actually it is the longest bodied home embroidery machine that I have seen. And ofcourse, the “Dream Hoop” measuring 17″x14.5″ is indeed a “dream hoop”. I can see some salivation going on….LOL.  To begin with I had a look at the carrying case for the machine and its hoop system and I have to say if you intend to travel with it…well…let’s just say don’t try and carry any extra carry-ons. The travel kit is impressive and quite large…has to be, to accomodate that long body. To begin with, the machine comes with a built in computer unlike any other home embroidery machine out there. That means,  you can read “ALL” machine embroidery formats…except ART. You can also type in a word document if that makes any sense. Believe me, I was confused here and didn’t understand at all why one would want to do that, but I am sure there is a definite reason for it. It has a screen saver, actually several built in and you can upload your own if you like. It also has a music system and you can add to it. Listen to your favourite tunes/songs while sewing! Incredible indeed.

The machine comes with three hoops: 4×4, 7×11 and 16×8.5 (measurements in inches). The dream hoop is an extra and has to be purchased as an extra. I was impressed until I understood that the dream hoop can only stitch the width of 8.5″ at a time. So if you have a design that is 12″x12″, well, just a push of a few buttons and the machine’s computer will split it for you with alignment markings etc for the dream hoop. All you do, is simply follow instructions. The hoops are spring loaded so it is a dream to simply slide the fabric and keep on embroidering. One thing that totally impressed me and I do hope other machine embroidery companies will think about it and that is the shape of the embroidery foot. All hoops usually require a clearance of 1/2″ which means that one cannot digitize a design that would go to the extreme edges of the hoop. Well, due to the interesting shape of the embroidery foot, this machine needs no clearance and you can literally embroider right up to the hoop edges. As the foot is not attached to the needle bar, rather it floats via a special ankle, your needle bar problems are over. That is another feature I would love to see in other machines as well.

Ofcourse the IDT stitching system which allows the machine to automatically sense the thickness of the layers and adjust is a Pfaff specialty and after seeing it in action I had to admit that it is definitely a plus. Well… I know what you are thinking…did I buy one. Alas No. The price of this baby is quite hefty and even with all the bells and whistles, my last impression was that it is an interesting machine. The 9mm stitch length (being the only machine in the market with that feature) is impressive but not feasible. I guess I am spoilt by the quietness of the Duetta and the stitch quality. The price tag of this baby is indeed impressive but I did not see the finesse that I have seen in the Brother/Babylock machines. The only part that had me wowed though were the variety of decorative stitches but after comparing them to what I have in the Duetta I am comfortable with what I have.

Speaking of price tags…I  have to wonder if the manufacturers are imagining that world economy is at the up and up and a price tag that can perhaps purchase a small car is equivalent to purchasing an embroidery combo machine. In my opinion, I forsee the decline of the home embroidery market due to the oversaturation of the variety of machines, designs, supplies. Not only do I see oversaturation in variety but also in prices. Meanwhile….if someone was thinking that machine embroidery is only for the fortunate few…well, they got the message across. Just brainstorming and wondering here, so please do not be upset.

Before leaving I was feeling a bit like I had nothing new for myself so I spent my last night at home making myself a duffel bag. This was a purchased pattern which I have no idea as to the company. I was a bit disappointed in the instructions and further more when I found out that there was no lining. I used the Vintage Quilts I designs and ofcourse quilted the whole bag using my embroidery machine with metallic thread! The bag is quite large measuring approximately 22″ wide and about 9″ tall and approximately 7″ wide. The pattern was quite simple and easy yet I had a bit of a time putting it all together.  I think I know who my favourite pattern maker for the bags and I think I will stick with her patterns….did you hear that Carolyn! LOL.

My visit with Carolyn was fun and we did do a lot of work together planning some interesting concepts. Now just imagine creating the most light weight lace via your home embroidery machine…  Envision light as air and dainty yet sturdy for years to come. I believe it was some while back that I had mentioned about Carolyn and myself doing a project together. I promised Carolyn that I will not reveal our combined project just yet and I don’t intend to but I can showcase a little something…. More to come on this later on in the year…fingers crossed.

Coming home, I had a lot of deadlines to meet and I’m still trying hard to meet them. Not too long now I hope to release “Farsi III” which is quite unlike the past two collections yet has a definite Persian influence. I had hoped to have it up by now but life got in the way…Oh well. The designs are a variety and can be used not just for  home decor items but also wearables. I had envisioned creating the designs in multi-color and also mono-color but with already about 26 designs I decided it was to remain multi-color and stop right  there.  The collection has a variety of techniques and designs that lend to almost hand look embroidery. Ofcourse I couldn’t resist creating a couple of cutwork edge designs. Unlike the previous Farsi series, this collection is not applique rather it is straight embroidery. While creating the designs, I kept envisioning the wonderful architecture at Granada and how closely it resembled the Persian artistry. The stitches that I created for the collection are yet again quite varied from what I have done in the past and have an extraordinary hand look. Ofcourse, I have to put in a bit of twist of my own.

Tonight while talking to Dianne on the phone I commented how very tired I was of meeting deadlines. My way to cope with tiredness….make something for myself. Some while back at the ASG National Convention I had purchased a few of LJ Designs patterns and one in particular had caught my eye. For a long while now I had been thinking of making something for myself. What better way to overcome tiredness…..so I cut out the jacket pattern and adorned its lapel with some of the designs from Farsi III. The jacket is not quite finished yet and I’m contemplating whether to make a pair of slacks or a skirt to go with it as I have plenty of the fabric left over. The fabric is a wool blend linen and has such a lovely hand. Hopefully by tomorrow night I should have the jacket done. The pattern is really very simple and easy and if you have never been to Leah’s website I strongly urge you to at least try once. Her website is http://www.ljdesignsonline.com/ and the pattern that I am working with is called the “Sassy Jacket”.

My monocolor dream of Farsi III will perhaps not materialise but here is an example of what I had envisioned if the collection didn’t get too large…which unfortunately it did. Oh well! I am sure friends can change the colors to give the monocolor effect. Hopefully the collection should be out soon and it probably will be my last collection for this year.