Friday, September 25, 2009

Post 250 - New Baby and more

I have a new Baby in my family. I knew that babies were expensive, and this one was more than I wanted to pay, but I love babies. And anyway a baby is such a joy.


Now I know that EVERYONE loves to look at baby pictures, and oooh and ahhh. Right? It is nice when you get a new baby in the family to have all the BABY stuff that you need. This Baby came with stuff. How nice is that?


Are you ready for the first picture of my new BABY? Or do should I tell you the BABY name I chose? Actually we brought that Baby home and haven't named it yet. For now, I am just calling it Baby. Picture time!!!

Babylock Espire, my new BABY.



This first picture is a simple "just ready to sew picture." Sorry about the glare. I told you this BABY came with STUFF so here is The Baby with the works


Now if you click to enlarge and look at my stitch practice... don't' judge the machine on it. I forgot to use stabilizer under the areas where it is required (like the letters)
Actually there is more stuff... you don't have to see it all right now. There are Quilting Feet and other feet. Including a quarter inch foot with a guide (I didn't have one of those!) There is an echo quilting foot, a walking foot, a couple of free motion feet, and all the normal sewing feet. There is even a straight stitch plate and presser foot. (Can someone explain that one to me? I don't really understand it. )

It also has this Thread thingy where you can put two big spools up top. That thing telescopes even higher. And there are two spool pins inside. I think you can wind the bobbin without unthreading it. (but I do have a Sidewinder that I love too)


This Baby has a button to raise the presser foot AND an automatic pivoting function that when you stop it lowers the needle and raises the foot. THEN when you start sewing again it lowers the foot. I mean, how cool is that?
There are PAGES of stitches, quilting, decorative, and utility. There is a USB port so I can hook it to the computer to do UPGRADES and save stitch combos. (of course it will save a number of them right on the machine, errr....Baby.)
Did I mention that this is post 250? Did I mention that I have a birthday at the end of this month?
Did Pat say GIVEAWAY? Yes she did, and so did some others. Do you love Fat Quarters? Do you ever make stuff for yourself or a fabric-aholic friend? (((grin))) Look what I found:
Can you read those little words? It says "Love those Fat Quarters" I will be giving away two prizes, each will include a FQ of this fabric and whatever else I decide to throw in. (If you win I may contact you to ask if you would want whatever)
Rules? We don't need no steekin' rules! OH yes we do! ha ha.
1. You must have a blog with real posts in it. (not one that you made up just to enter!)
2. I must be able to contact you. Either post an email address OR have it available thru your blog profile.
Entries:
1 For posting a comment.
2 for Following - let me know by posting that you started following OR are already following.
2 For blogging about it on your Blog by Sept 29 5pm CST. Comment to let me know you did - I will be checking!
so you can get up to FIVE entries. All comments MUST be made to this entry to be counted.
I will close the entries on Oct 2nd at midnight CST.
Thanks for going on this wild ride with me. I hope you stay and see where it goes next.

80 comments:

Pat said...

Oh, that machine looks just SUPER, Gene!!! I'm so happy for you and I know you are going to make oodles and oodles of gorgeous stuff on it!!! GREAT photos of Baby and all her/his "stuff"!!! As for the giveaway, I'll blog about yours tomorrow, too. I have another one that will be on my blog tomorrow, too. (Of course, I hate to blog about them as then it reduces MY chances of winning....LOL). And, of course, you know I have a real blog AND am a very loyal follower of YOURS. So.....after my post tomorrow morning, throw my name in the hat for those 5 chances, okay? Best of luck with the new member of the family!!! Build many happy memories together, okay?

lesthook said...

That's a good looking baby you have there Gene! Bet you have a lot of fun with it!Of course I follow your blog!

Pat said...

Oh...just one more thing.....WHEN did you manage to sneak in with a camera and take a picture of my fat butt to be used on that fat quarter fabric??? Darned sneaky of you! But I look pretty good there, don't I???

Gari in AL said...

Wow, I am usually #300, this time I am #3. Anyway, I have 4 Babylock machines and love them. I didn't even like sewing until I got my first Babylock. I love the Fat Quarter fabric. I have been saving "sewing/quilting" fat quarters to make a quilt for the studio. That fat quarter would be the icing on the cake.

Needled Mom said...

A baby like that will pay for itself over and over, but it may still kep you up at nights!!!!

That fat quater fabric is to DIE for. Too funny.

Well, I am a follower!

Tangos Treasures said...

OMGosh Congratulations on your new baby!! Love all the pictures!! I gotta wipe the drool off my keyboard!! LOL
I do have a real blog & I do follow you. And I will blog about you & your new baby!
You know we will expect lots of pictures of all the cool stuff your gonna whip up!

Greg said...

Nice BABY!! Do we cigars too? Do I follow you? Its more like we stalk each other, but yes I do... Will blog about your new baby and give away...

LINDA BYLSMA said...

Oh, Gene, Baby, you know I love you. I follow you and would love some pictures of Fat quarters. I'm going to put a link on my blog, okay?
Hey, nice Baby, baby.

sewfunquilts said...

Congrats. on your new Baby! What wonderful times and work we are going to see from you now!

Yes, I follow your blog. Will do a post/link to you on mine.

Have fun.

Barb said...

Wow...............what a nice shiney .... clean...new baby. I have never heard of that brand...can I ask what made you chose it? It looks totally awesome..at least you don't have to feed and change it every so often...just a little dusting.

You are my friend...and yes, I will blog about this giveaway....

CrochetnQuilt said...

The giveaway fat quarter is great! And so is your blog.

arlette said...

I just love your baby!, congrats!, wish I have one too, lol. well I became your follower and I already blogged about it, go and check me!, lol arlette0521.blogspot.com arlettelk@gmail.com

Mandy said...

I thought my new baby was cool... urs kicks my baby's butt lol!

I love that fabric though... I'd love to win it!

amandarstanley@hotmail.com

Kaye said...

I certinally enjoy being a follower on your blog. Your new baby looks great and I am sure you will do many wonderful things with it. Congratulations on your 250th blog Wow the FQ looks sooo nice, would love to win. Thanks Gene

SewCalGal said...

Very exciting giveaway. Count me in.

SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

PS - I like your jewelry too!

-girl from the bush said...

Hi gene, love the new baby! that will certainly keep you busy!! i follow your blog too. love your creations . I will try and post on my blog but im not always successful at this. thanx. sue~n.z.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Your new baby is beautiful. Sounds like she will be loads of fun :)


I'm a follower...

BROOKE said...

I'm a follower now! Love the new baby. Greg and I will have to send you a bonnet and booties for it!

szkornelia said...

Hi, nice blog, and nice giveaway! I would like to enter your giveaway. I really like to win this cool fabric. I am a follower, and also left a comment on my blog. Have a nice day.

Carla said...

Baby sure is pretty!! Congratulations!

Andrea said...

At least that baby will not keep you up at night - lol ! There is nothing so exciting as a new machine - well there are but you know what I mean :-) Hurray - drop all else and give it some welly Gene - lol !!!

JustCindy said...

Good morning, Gene and Baby! I am a new follower. Pat sent me your way. Baby is just beautiful but then all babies are beautiful. What wonderful toys for you and Baby to play with. I'll be keeping an eye on you two so I can see what ya'll are creating.

Ruth said...

Is have a Babylock also, but it is older. I joined as a follower and would like to be added to your neat drawing!

Dresden Quilter said...

Congratulations on your new baby! May you have lots of wonderful years together and if you wish late nights and early mornings.

ooglebloops said...

OOOO - color me VERY green!!!! I would need a college level course to learn how to run that Baby!!!!! Can't wait to see what you do with it!!!
OK, enter me in your drawing also - I am a loyal follower, I have a blog, I will mention it later on my blog- and does that give me 5(?) entries? Sorry Pat, this Pat hopes to win also!! LOL Good luck to all!!!

luv2quilt2 said...

I love your Baby! I've been having some machine problems, and the first thing in my mind was that I want a new machine. Ah well. That is the funniest fabric, and unfortunately, resembles me. I want it! Pat sent me to your blog, and I'm glad she did - I'm now a follower.

Jean said...

Congratulations on 250 posts and a new baby to boot. You will enjoy many hours of sewing on that one, and make us all want to have one too!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Congratulations on the new member of your family! What's your first project with it? I know you'll enjoy getting to know her.

Anonymous said...

That's a great new baby! I bet it will keep you up all night long! Named it yet?? You've got to have something to scream at it when it does you wrong. The tantrums usually come because of parental error though, or at least that's what I've found with Sophia.

So my advice for parenting, keep it clean, well fed, and play with it often. Neglect all chores for time with your baby because babies grow up and make sure to keep a sense of humor about you!

I love the way all that works for sewing machines too. Don't you?

Anonymous said...

The new machine looks *great* -- good luck with it. Looking forward to the things you will be making. I know they will be very creative, as always! I can't always keep up with giveaways, but this is one I can't resist. Congratulations on both reasons for it. I'll post about it on my blog -- incredibly unique "fat quarter" fabric prize!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Congratulation on 250 posts, but more importantly, the new BABY!! I'm a follower.

Royce said...

Wow Gene she is just beautiful. Love all the goodies that came with her. I'm a follower and I"ll post about this today. Bet you are glad it's the weekend so you can play with the baby. I have a babylock embellisher and it's a good machine, gets lots of hard work. It's a lazy baby thou and only does 1 thing, not like your little genius. Congrats on getting such a wonderful machine.

Judy said...

Congratulations on your new Baby, indeed! You will love it for years. I've got a Babylock, too and would not trade it for anything. There's not a job they can't handle.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I love mine.

O my the fat quarter reminds me of me...

Judy said...

Hey Gene,

I'm following you now...I want to see what you make with your Baby. I'm hoping to get some fresh ideas from you. :)

judy said...

I shared the news about your beautiful new baby and giveaway on my
my blog. http://apronstringsandothertiesthatbind.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/celebrate-baby-giveaway/

Just for the record, I found you via Pat at Arfully Ooglebloops.

quiltingnana said...

Gene...I'll be anxious to hear how you like your new BABY...I've looked at them often ..now for the giveaway...I read your blog regularly but never actually put it on my follow list...now I did! I'll blog about it too.

SandyQuilts said...

Congrats on your NEW baby. I hear they are the best of babies.

I have you in my google.com/reader as I don't do the follow thing. Hope that will count.

Please throw me into the pot.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

You will love your new machine. That brand is one of the best for warranties and standing behind their products. I have 3 Babylocks if you count my serger.

The straight stitch plate and foot are for a better quality straight stitch. The fabric doesn't bounce with it like it does with a zigzag opening on the plate. You just have to remember you have it on there and not turn to a zigzag stitch.

Granny Lyn said...

"I can't give you anything but Love...Baby! That's the only thing there's plenty of...Baby!"

what a beautiful Baby! I have admired these babies from afar, but haven't adopted one,,,yet! have fun with her!

Granny Lyn said...

And, I've become a follower! love your Fat Quarter, AND your humor!

isa & marta said...

Felicitaciones todo bebe es una alegria, pero este es soñado

isa & marta said...

He puesto elaviso de su regalo en el lateral del blog, donde permanecerá hasta que realice el sorteo.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new baby!! I lurk here often but rarely leave comments. I'd like to cast my entry to Pat shall I by some really awesome luck won!
Anyway...back to the baby....the straight stitch plate....love mine on my Pfaff. Just remember if you have it on the machine not to choose your other stitches or you'll bust some needles...Ask me how I know! I love using the straight stitch plate because there is just the one small hole and fabric glides through for stitching easier and not pulled down towards bobbin area. Have fun!!

isa & marta said...

Desde ahora seré su seguidora para ver sus excelentes trabajos.

Joanne Lendaro said...

COOL, COOL, COOL, new baby!! I WANT ONE TOO!! lol

New foller, and blogged about your precious one!! Check it out here:

http://splittingstitches.blogspot.com/

thanks! joanne

Nancy said...

I am now a follower...Even though I read you often..

Nancy said...

I love your new baby... way better than the kind you have to feed and educate!! LOL

Happy Birthday!!

Rachel said...

Oohh... ahhhh... what a beautiful baby. Girl or boy? What's its name? How much did it weigh at 'birth'?

Happy 250th post - was your new baby a celebration gift for reaching this milestone?

Okay... I thought I was already following your blog; turns out I wasn't but I definitely am now. Also, I am going to (in about 5 seconds) blog about your giveaway. Come and visit! ☺

Have a great weekend, Gene!

fabricartist21 said...

Say I love your NEW BABY!!! You will have so much fun playing with "IT" Com on in to by blog and become a follower and I plan on signing up on yours. I heard that you were funny.

Tudy said...

I love the fat quarter fabric. It reminds me of someone. Thanks for having a giveaway.

Betsy said...

Congratulations! I hope you are ready for some late nights and early mornings. Please count me in the giveaway. I am a follower.

Melinda said...

Great new baby you have. Congratulations on your 250 posts.

Melissa ;-) said...

Congratulations on 250, on your upcoming bday, and on the new "little one"!

I have blog, you can contact me through my profile, and of course I will follow you - Greg recommended you, after all!

hetty said...

Congratulations on you 250th post! Congratulations too on the arrival of your new baby! You are going to have so much fun! And if it keeps you up at night, you'll have something to sew on!

Sara said...

250th post! Way to go...

And I love your new baby!!! That was a wonderful new baby to have!!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your 250th post = - wow!! I would love to be entered in the give away (love that FQ fabric!)

Chris H said...

Congrats on the new 'baby'.
I was sent over here by Micki of Irish Musings! She's a tart like that!
I will enter your giveaway!
And become a follower.
There, done!

limpingalong said...

Congratulations on your new 'baby.'
The first embroidery machine I used was a friend's Baby Lock. I loved it. I bought a Viking, however, because I already had one and so many things are inner-changeable.
I have just begun following your blog --have read you from time to time but never made a "commitment" but for a prize, I'll take the plunge! I love fat quarters and I resemble the ladies on the cute fabric shown. Love your work!
Please enter me anywhere you can, with as many points as you can, and visit me at http://jesswe2@blogspot.com.
....there, did

limpingalong said...

Gene, think I put my URL wrong-
http://jesswe2.blogspot.com is what it should be.
don't want to miss a chance!
Limpingalong

Egater said...

Congratulations!
I bought new serger in summer and I'm very happy with it. I know what you feel :)

Egater said...

I dont know did you had follower from Estonia before, but now you have :)

Egater said...

And you said that following givestwo entry - I say it again :) I am a new follower

paront1222@comcast.net said...

Aye Carumba, you got a lotta hits on your blog with this giveaway!!
I LOVE that fabric....if I don't win, is there a way you could contact me and let me know how I can buy some??

Peggy in NJ

JaniceB said...

Hi Gene! Nice looking baby you have! I am a new follower. Joanne of Splitting Stitches just posted about you on her blog. I will post your giveaway on my blog too. My blog is new and not much on it yet LOL.
Have fun playing with your new baby!!
JaniceB

Diah Rothman said...

Gene, wish me luck again this time... cos I love giveaways, am old followers of yours too!

Kim D. said...

Hi Gene, Greg sent me over. Congratulations on your new Babylock. You're going to love it, fun, fun fun.. I own a Babylock Esante, but now I'm envious of yours with all those quilting features. I just became a follower and this comment gives me 3 points. Thanks for the chance to win your great give-away. I more wanted to see your new baby. Looking forward to seeing all the great projects you make. Let us know how you like it for FM.

Kim D. said...

Hi Gene, Greg Sent me over. Congratulations on your 250th post and the New Babylock. Your going to love it, fun, fun, fun. I have a Babylock Esante and I'm envious of all your quilting features. Let us know how you like it for FM Quilting.
The straight stitch plate is to prevent your fabric from getting hung up down inside. You know sometimes the fabric gets drawn down under, well it's not suppose to happen with this plate, smaller hole and all. Just don't use a zig zag stitch or any other when you have this plate on, otherwise you know broken needle. I really came over to see your new baby, but I just became a follower so I'd love to be entered into your drawing for the fat qtr. I'll be back to check out all those new quilty projects.

bingo~bonnie said...

I just entered you into my google reader and started following you tonight - this is my first visit to your blog thanks to Jeanne :) she always knows who's giving away what ;)

Congratulations on your new machine! Looks like you have months and months of fun ahead getting to know one another :) Sure hope I win that adorable "Fat Quarters" FQ!

Love from Texas! ~bonnie

Pat / Silver Thimble Quilt Co. said...

Congratulations on the new baby. I can't wait to see what you two do together.

I am a follwer and I willll be a postin about your give a way and your blog.

Pat

Terri said...

Gene,

I never thought I would want another baby, but you made me want one. *sigh*

Now, I am following you and I will blog about your giveaway on my blog. (I can't until tonight because I am at work, not working obviously, ...)

Terri

Millie said...

Lovely baby Gene and congratulations! Can't wait to see what you are going to sew on your new machine. I am following your blog and enjoy visiting your new postings.

quiltmom anna said...

Gene,
What a nice baby machine- it will help you create many fantastic pieces.
I do so enjoy seeing your creations both with fabric and with other materials.

I am not a follower but you have been on my blog list for quite awhile now.

The fat quarter fabric is very fun- Thanks for sharing your stories of your quilting experience. It is fun to see other quilters interests and process.
Regards,
Anna

Melissa ;-) said...

OK - where do I start?

Your baby is definitely one of the most intelligent young 'uns I have seen in awhile! Good luck with all those feet!

Happy Birthday to come!

And congrats on 250 posts!

Melissa ;-) said...

I blogged about your generosity!

Sara said...

I told myself I was done having babies -- but now I want another one! LOL!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!

Sara said...

I am now a follower!

carmel said...

i just gave birth a month and a half ago
and i cant belive that after seeing the pictures of your new baby that i am actualy ready and in a need for another baby!! a baby just like yours!!!

wow!!

carmel said...

and i am a follower 2! thanks!

carmel said...

and i blogged about it! thanks again!

Vesuviusmama said...

My husband and I are considering having a third baby - I wonder if I can convince him to get one like yours? I am a new follower. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks!