Dreams Do Come True...

Just when I didn't think it would ever happen... my dream came true. Back up four years ago, Paul and I were on our second date, we'd gone to Mt. Rushmore and were coming back to town. Mom called to say there was a machine she thought I should look at. The Sewing Center was having a big sale for Veteran's Day weekend and she really thought I should look into a new machine. I had gotten a sewing machine for my college graduation, but I had used it a lot and I needed a better quality machine with more features. Since I didn't have time to go to my vehicle and back before they closed, Paul went with me. This was the first time he met my mom. She said we both had puppy love looks on our faces and she knew we really liked each other. So I made the decision to buy a Janome 3050DC. It had a purple front too, but that's not why I bought it!
About two years ago this week, was the Grand Opening of the Sewing Center in it's new location. I had been through a lot in the year before, both my grandparents on my mom's side passed away as did my grandma on my dad's side. I had joined the 6500/6600 list during the summer and kept checking out both machines every time I went to the store (about once a week). It was really out of my price range, but I loved them both. The 6500 because of the purple, the 6600 because of the built in walking feet. I was trying to figure out which one I wanted and I was saving for a new machine. I was given a gift from my moms inheritance toward the purchase of a sewing machine, because my grandparents had bought my first one and mom thought I should upgrade. The only thing I had to do was give up my 3050 as a trade in. I knew I would prefer to keep it for a class machine, but I wanted the 6600 way more, so I traded it in. I love my 6600 and I wouldn't trade it for the world, okay maybe for the next machine, but I really truly love it. I sew every Thurs. night at the store with the girls. It's been getting to me hauling my big heavy machine back and forth.
A few weeks back I talked to the owner of the Sewing Center about buying a class machine. I looked at the Jem, but it's almost too lightweight for me, my MIL has the heart and it's not really what I wanted, and the new Marie Osmond is a little more than I wanted to spend. I told him what I really wanted was my 3050 back. Well, not mine, but I would like to buy one used if he ever got one in. On Sat. his tech came and told me he had one. Today was the first day I could get to the store after work. I picked up my new Janome 3050. Meet Ms. Marie... the newest machine in my sewing family. It looks as new as if it had been just pulled out of the box and the book doesn't look like it was even used. So my dream of having this machine back came true. I'm so excited!

I had to sew something on it when I got home, so I whipped up a gift card holder. This is a pattern in the new Fons and Porter Love of Quilting Easy Quilts Winter edition. It's so simple and went together in less than 15 min. I could see making a lot of these for gifts. They just take a few scraps of fabric which is what I used. I took scraps from the Miranda's I made.