I love your DIY projects... i live in Indonesia and we dont have that many selections of craft supplies and ready made materials... but i get by with what we've got.

maven!

Love ya! I need help. please read my thread (haha) on duvet covers. I really dont want to be opening seams on a $$$$ cover. (as you know)

Help!

Whered you go on this site:(

It seems its changed for only the A+ crafty ppl

heya, is Curbly going to Maker Faire in Austin? if you guys have booth stuff or whatever and need someone to man it, lemme know... i'm sooo excited to make and faire and yay!

http://makerfaire.com/austin/2008/entry

Maven,

I sent an upholstery project to another blog which posted it last evening.  Is there a time lapse that I should adhere to before I post it here or send it on?

Thanks for your thoughts. Janomes is apparently a Japanese company (Ja-NO-me means "eye of the snake" which kinda creeps me out). I have no idea where they're made...but I'll ask when I test drive them. There are 4 Janome dealers that are within 15 miles of my house, so I'll make a visit when the next mail from Bruno comes.

I never visited a sewing shop...I bought my first one at Jo-Ann's. Is as stressful as car shopping? Bermina's scare me, plus when I went to the Bermina shop near me (like 4 blocks away) to ask a few questions, they were really mean and condescending because I didn't already have them. 

I'm not worried about spending $1000, but I'm currently messing with 3 machines, and all the different bobbins are driving me crazy, and I just want one machine that works and that I won't outgrow. I'm not gonna use it everyday, but when I do, I want it to work. I'm sure I don't need Porter-Cable tools, because I only run them a few hours a month, but when I use them, they work perfectly. Same idea...I'm sure you understand. 

I'm still digging on the Decor Excel model: I like that it comes with all the feet for overcasting and overstretching (should I be impressed by that?). I read somewhere that a walking foot is really helpful for home decor projects and thicker fabric: the manual doesn't use that language...I guess I don't really know what that is. I did figure out was feed dogs were...kinda like bench dogs, right? Kinda...

Best,

Chris 

Hey Mave-

I'm ready to upgrade my sewing machine, and I thought you might have some suggestions. I think you can imagine my needs: a straight-forward machine that'll last for a couple of decades.I'm willing to spend $300-400. I currently have a modern Singer, and I like the convenience;  I'm borrowing a Singer from the mid-seventies, and I like it's strength. I thought I'd want a vintage machine, but there's alot of risks, and I find threading the tension to be tedious, and the back-stitch knob is located in a strange place.  So, I think I'd like a new model that has the durability of an older machine. Is that possible without spending $1000?

The Janome 5124 Decor Excel intrigues me, because it seems to be designed for doing some upholstery/ heavier fabric, and it's in my price range. I don't need all the fancy electronic stuff, but the display looks straightforward, so I think I could figure it out. The only thing that concerns me is that it might go a little fast for my current skills.

Your thoughts?

DM

OMG-I have sooo much fabric I could frame and make such great wall art.  I need a little more spare time to get that project completed.

How do you get so many people to view your blogon Curbly, I mean 4000 some odd views of your embroidered tablecloth!!!  That's amazing.