Sewing ... Not What It Used To Be

This is NOT your mother's sewing machine.  New friend Pat (Patty's bestest sewing buddy) picked me up at 7:15 and we were off to new adventures, especially for me.  I've thought about embroidery machines for years, but there was never anyone around to show me the ropes.

This class I signed up for was in posh Oro Valley at the Hilton Tucson Conquistador complex, an hour's drive away.  We arrived just in time for a continental breakfast in a huge, beautifully decorated room. In all, 80 people signed up for the first two days.  The second session will have over 120.  I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly everyone was, coming up to say hello and welcome me.  I'm not really used to that.  I even got four recommendations for realtors, if I'm interested.

We sat three to a table in front of this amazing piece of equipment.  This is probably equivalent to a computer when I'm still using an abacus!!  There are two things going on here ... Cathy's store is selling the machines and Anita Good Designs is selling the designs for embroidery.

At first, I wasn't sure exactly what I would do with the machine ... now I have hundreds of options, not to mention it's a regular sewing machine too.  That screen on the right works like a computer ... or the apps on your phone.  It's so user friendly, you can't make a mistake.  MY kind of machine!!

I know what you're thinking ... it's a BROTHER.  Didn't they make typewriters?  Not very good ones at that.  Now however, they make one of the nicest embroidery/sewing machines on the market.

Don't worry, I'm not setting the RV tire issue aside.  I've been saving up money for those ever since I purchased the motorhome.  This will come from a completely separate account of MAD money.  How can I do that?  

I set up a spreadsheet with all my big expenses across the top, then worked out the monthly deposit so I would have enough to pay them by the due date.  Every month, the Savings Account money goes in first, even before I pay bills.  I keep the spreadsheet updated with every deposit and expense and check it against the bank.  After paying the bills, everything left over (if there is any) is gravy ... that's my MAD money!!  It's worked very well for me for 30+ years.

Back to Anita Good Designs ... they don't teach you the basic embroidery, they teach you everything ELSE you can do with this machine.  Once they were done explaining, we sewed the small projects.

By noon I was starving.  Lunch was a spinach and strawberry salad, along with roasted vegetables over pasta and a huge chicken breast, cooked to perfection.  These big hotels know how to do it up right.  I tried to remember which fork I was supposed to use and kept to my best manners.  No slurping allowed here.

Dessert was so amazing I almost forgot to take a picture.  This is the chocolate-iest (I'm sure that's not a word) piece of dense cake I've ever eaten.  With raspberry sauce and whipped cream with mint, I was in heaven.  You'll be surprised that I didn't scarf up every plate left by the others because it was too rich!!  After all, this is a posh hotel, and even though I'm in levis and boots, I'm trying to be prim and proper.

Okay, I couldn't resist.  THIS is the bathroom ... the loo ... the John ... the fanciest I think I've ever been in.  Remember, I'm a country girl and all we have is Motel 6 in my town.

In between sewing, we gathered up design packages we wanted, which were placed in bags with our names.  At the end of the second day, you check out.  Here was my first project. In the interest of time, I didn't change the thread colors.  This is actually material on heat shrink (the irons tripped the circuit breaker several times), then it's stitched down.  It knows right where to go, where to stitch and how much.  I was impressed, to say the least.

In the end, I along with 8 other people, purchased almost ALL the available machines.  Too bad for the people who come to the Friday/Saturday session.  Last year they only sold 4!!  In return, I actually received $2200 worth of free goodies.  Hard to believe, right?  But it's true!  Today there will be even more prizes as everyone eventually wins SOMETHING.  If you buy a machine, you get even more and there's still the Grand Prize drawing!  

So this morning we are again off for the last day.  I'm still exhausted from the FIRST day, but I'll muddle through.  I can sleep Saturday!!  I will pick up my machine on Saturday at 5:00.  Since Sunday is Super Bowl day, there won't be much sewing, but I'll whip up something to give you an example.  Probably a good idea to pick up a shirt or two at the thrift store to practice on.

I'm so excited I can't STAND IT!!