my (kinda sorta) new toy!

Ever since Quilt Market in November, I've been absolutely pining for a new sewing machine, particularly one that starts with a B and ends with a ernina. I've really been wanting to give free motion stitching a try and I don't have the option to drop the feed dogs on my machine and that new fancy BSR thing-a-majig seemed, well, fancy.... So I did lots and lots of research into multiple kinds of machines, asked MANY people about different brands (including some back and forth with many Janome lovers!), and did some general poking around; by the way, thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions and feedback! In the end, one suggestion helped me make my decision: look into buying a feed dog cover for my current super old but completely trusty and truly loved Singer 6105. And I did just that!
And it fits perfectly, even though my machine is 20+ years old! So, free motion experimenting, here I come! Was it hard to resist shiny and new? Yes, of course. Will I continue to pine? Probably, but investing in a new machine and saving to buy a house - well, the timing is just bad. What did Violet think of my decision? I think she'd give it the thumbs up if she had any...here she is with her cheese-eating-est smile on instead!

virtual quilting bee, round #1

Here is installment #1 of my round with the Common Threads virtual quilting bee. What fun! I love the colors Amber chose... It'll make it hard come my turn. I think my favorite part of both blocks is the tone-on-tone blue stripes. I'm thinking I'll have to put that technique to use again sometime soon.

Unfortunately, these blocks have done the unthinkable: they have killed my sewing machine. Well, actually, it was probably the 20+ years of steady use without a servicing. Either way, I'm taking her in for a checkup: fingers crossed. Gosh, I never thought I would get so emotionally attached to a machine.

And I can't help but share some lovely shots from our weekend camping in the mountains. We camped at Lake Santeetlah - which was still warm enough to for swimming (oh, moonlight swims!) - and did a little bit of hiking at Joyce Kilmer. And Baby took her first canoe ride... like a champ! Admittedly, we were trying to extract one last flurry of summer fun, but the nip in the air is nice, too.