Business has been picking up!

Up and up and up, and that is a great thing. I wish I could tell you what to attribute it all to, but I really can't!

I've done a set of cheer bows for a squad, I've done a set of monogrammed hair bows for a great consignment shop that I LOVE to shop with.

I've done a Tupperware party.

I'm getting ready to do a Scentsy party next weekend.

And I'm getting a lot of requests for embroidery work.

The embroidery work really excites me because I love using my machine. My husband purchased me a Janome 350e and I'm in love with embroidery! I'm self teaching myself which probably isn't the smartest way to go about it, I've made plenty of mistakes... the upside is that when a pattern isn't sewing just right, I can usually pinpoint the problem real easily... although I will say once I almost went to the dealer to find out what the heck I was doing wrong!

I love my machine. There are people out there who equally love it's competitor and counterpart the Brother PE 700 II. I'll be honest, that really was the machine I was after, but they had sold out. And I'm kind of glad they did. After reading the differences in my machine and it, I think I got the better end of the deal! Consumer reviews have said that the Brother is loud, and VERY picky about the thread you can put in it (Brother only). I've found a great thread that isn't so expensive and my machine loves it. The other thing I read was that particular Brother model had to have the computer attached straight to it to add designs from the internet whereas I only need to plug in a flash drive into mine. Very convenient. The only downfall I've found personally is my machine is very picky about the tension. It has to be just right. But, that may be the case for all machines, I don't know, this is my first one.

I flirted with buying my machine online because I found that I could get a great deal from a particular store and a huge start up of thread and optional hoops for VERY inexpensive. But, since I have never owned an embroidery machine, I was thinking it may be smart to hit a dealers shop local to me to learn a little bit first. It turned out my trip payed off. I was able to snag a machine that retails for about $700 more than the original one I was looking at for about the same price as the original one. I got a KILLER deal. My Janome retails for right around $1600. A gigahoop set retails for around $400 (Gigahoop is a software and hooping program for doing much larger designs that a normal hoop wouldn't support on my machine.) So, this is my scoop. A lady had purchased the machine and the software at full price. Then, she decided it was too difficult for her to use and brought it back. The dealer purchased the machine back from her. Instead of reselling it to me, they sold it to me at a "used" price. A brand new machine! Still in the box, still in the packaging, all the parts, and even the gigahoop program and hoop! For $950. YEP.. I got $2000 worth of machine and software for $950. Is that a steal or what!

Even better... my dealer offers free classes since I bought my machine from them! Yep, if I want a class on my machine all I have to do is call, schedule, bring my machine, and they will teach me how to use it! The dealer even services all types of machines, and they know exactly who I am, what my favorite projects are to do, and what I'm looking for when I walk in the door. As a caveat, I can say I supported a local small business in my area. That gives me a great feeling all around. Now don't you think that everything I've received is much better than purchasing the machine over the internet?

In my mind I've only really begun to play around with what this beauty can do. I started with words, monograms, and have done some more sophisticated designs. I've embellished purses, bags, towels, aprons, blankets, clothes, hair bows, and I have a million more projects lined up. Time Time Time... that is the only thing I'm lacking! Isn't it usually though?

My next project to learn is quilting. There is a great lady at my church who has the passion for quilts and is going to teach me all she knows for Free! She took classes to learn what she did... and paid for those classes. I in exchange am going to do some embroidery for her for a quilt she is making her daughter as a Xmas present.

I love to craft! I love the business of it on the side! I hope I've helped some of you in a future decision regarding a machine. Oh... and my dealer also sells, sewing machines, sergers, and quilting machines! When my sewing machine needs and upgrade, you know where I am going!

Have a fantastic day everyone!