Time Flies (whether you’re having fun or not!)

I can’t believe how quickly the summer has flown by…it seems like just the other day my husband tore the brick off of our family room fireplace.  And, through a series of unfortunate events, the summer project has now turned into a fall project.  Our original time frame of having it done by Memorial Day (and, then, by the Fourth of July and then by Labor Day) has now been transformed into a hopeful Thanksgiving deadline!  Sometimes this is how a sewing project goes, too.  The block of the month quilt from 2008 is not yet pieced together, and there is a sweet jungle inspired quilt on the frame now at the store with a hopeful completion of “yet this week”.

The good news is that it’s really busy here at the store!  Lots of new products have arrived and continue to arrive, and the fabric, well, it’s ever-expanding.  So, I’ve put together a little picture show of what’s new!

It was an exciting day when the new Koala Studio cabinet came in!  I was so grateful that it was not raining because this box is enormous and I needed to call for reinforcements to get the cabinet inside the store.  Thankfully, Roy miraculously appeared and we rolled that bad boy into the back door.  These custom designed, by YOU, studios are made right outside Chicago, so with every purchase you can proudly say, it was “Made in the USA!”  Available in 8 colors and many sizes and custom heights, there is home delivery available for these beauties.  Because the cabinets weight over 400 pounds, I highly recommend the Top-Drawer Delivery, because the delivery men will move the studio up/down a flight of stairs and set it completely up for you.

We stocked up on machines and that’s a good thing, because we already have to reorder.  Baby Lock’s fall serger promotion is simply great, and if you ever wanted a Baby Lock serger, now is the time…our package includes the serger trolley, 6-foot kit, Inspiration Guide AND the exclusive Baby Lock Gold Standard!

As far as events go, we hosted Baby Lock educator, Emily Carter in September with a terrific turnout of standing-room-only!  Emily showed the features in the new upgrade for the Ellisimo, as well as some of the great things you can do with your Evolution serger!  Janet and Pam are going to Sew Special this weekend, in Peoria, to teach a class on Trims & Tassels on your Baby Lock Serger.  You should see what Janet has created.  I’m hopeful she’ll do a demo for us this fall!  Kid’s Club keeps going strong.  The girls created a handy cover for a treat jar and used machine embroidery on Sofia.  The projects were really cute and the spider web embroidery glows in the dark!

As far as sewing goes, check out the serger quilt Brenda made.  She used the Wave stitch (wow!) and the new Metroflock serger yarns for the ruffles.  Brenda also made a sample using the Kaffe & Brandon Mably fabrics we carry in the store.  Her first try at stippling on the Jewel was a huge success, don’t you agree?

And, we didn’t forget the dolls either!  Check out the adaptation of Mini-Kyoko as a witch costume.  It is so sweet and perfect in the new print from Dan Bennett.  Mini-Kyoko also shines in Patty Young’s new line of fabrics, Sanctuary (you know I got to sew samples, so I’m sneaking a peek to you!)

Come by sometime soon to see the newest Baby Lock sewing machines like Symphony, Melody, Tempo, Elizabeth and the rest!  You’ll see why the pros like Nancy Zieman, Eleanor Burns and Fons & Porter CHOOSE Baby Lock!  Shouldn’t you?

 

 

For the love…Ellisimo!

I’m getting ready for Baby Lock Tech in August, so I have to practice the “for the love….” chant that Steve Jeffrey will lead throughout the opening ceremony.  It’s kinda corny, but really, Baby Lock’s tagline, “for the love”, really captures the essence of the Baby Lock commitment to its products and customers.  Yes, everything they do in these machines is “for the love”…of sewing, embroidery, serging, whatever.  And, frankly, sometimes we forget these little nuances.  So, when I recently checked out a customer’s Ellisimo, I rekindled my romance with Ellisimo.  You know, sometimes your loved one will give you that secret look that makes you swoon all over again.  Well, that’s what Ellisimo did for me!  This is one of the smoothest operating machines I’ve ever seen.  The sound of it humming along, while sewing or embroidering, is sweet.  If you don’t believe me, you should come in and test-listen for yourself!  What else did I rediscover?  When I took her embroidery unit out of the carrying case, I gasped at the “seat belts”.  I had completely forgotten about them.  And, they’re set up alternately, so you can fold them over and out of the way without that crazy velcro looping and getting stuck on itself.  How clever?!  I discovered a whole page of decorative stitches that would be terrific for machine smocking and remembered the cute character decorative stitches, including ladybugs, that’d be great for embellishing (try variegated threads for this!)  There’s a cool feature under the sewing alphabets, too.  You can actually control the spacing of the letters, without increasing or decreasing the actual size of the letters themselves.  This is a new twist and the machine remembers what your “favorite” spacing setting is, even after you turn the machine off!  The little door that covers the connection for the embroidery unit closes on its own, and what about that little screwdriver?  It sure is much better and easier to use than a nickel!

Maybe it’s time that you rediscovered the Ellisimo, too…for the love!

Yes, You Can!

With the help of this month’s issue of Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine, you can re-work a denim skirt that was a garage sale find or rendered too short by this winter’s growth spurt!  On Baby Lock’s Ellisimo, with the large 8″ x 12″ embroidery field, it’s easy to do.  I used the built-in design, repeated 3 times for the length of my ruffled piece.  It only took about 30 minutes to do that.  Then, I chose a built-in design from the applique section on the Ellisimo to add a cute burst of color on my denim.  Nancy Zieman’s 1″ Create-a-Strap makes a perfect child’s width belt, and by using the triple cover stitch on my Baby Lock Evolve serger, I added a triple cover stitch over the raw edge of the strap interfacing.  This mimicked my triple cover stitch hem on my gently used denim skirt.  Some lucky pre-schooler will enjoy wearing this skirt with a dramatic splash of color this spring.  And, it was so easy with my Baby Lock machines.  And, yes, you CAN do it, too!

 

 

First Impressions OR You CAN Judge a Book by its Cover!

We’ve had the new Baby Lock Ellisimo in the store for about a week now, and I apologize that we’ve been so busy, I’ve had little time to really sew on it until yesterday.  I know many of you want some review of the machine–is it really all that?  I say, yes, and then some!  From the minute you see this machine, you know it is something special.  More than one customer has come in and remarked about how really beautiful it is.  It could be the gold cover, but the screen is winning over many, as well.  The size of the throat also draws comments.  The designers paid strict attention to detail, as a designer of a fine automobile would.  From the gold lettering, elegant script logo and tagline “from inspiration to reality”, Baby Lock has hit a home run with this machine.  Every visual detail is as you’d expect:  the mouse is color-coordinated, the 1 GB memory stick is the same gold as the machine cover, the cloth that cleans the screen is also gold, embossed with the Baby Lock logo…let me say, first class all the way.

Of course, you’re now saying, “Beauty aside, how does it perform?”  A customer’s husband was in the store, sitting while I demonstrated winding a bobbin.  He was sitting off to the side, so he couldn’t see what I was doing, and finally asked, “is it winding?”  Of course, it had been winding for a bit, and was nearly done, but was so quiet he couldn’t even tell.  Then, with the largest hoop on the machine, 8″x12″, I began to embroider some of the exquisite built-in designs.  He again remarked at how much quieter and smoother it sounded, even better than his wife’s Ellegante 2.  I agree that the smooth operation of the machine during embroidery is unparalleled.  And, my embroidery in that large hoop was several designs with uneven edges, a project that might be compromised on some machines because of stabilizing issues in the hoop, and tension problems.  But, the Ellisimo performed perfectly, and I might be bold to say it, but it might be some of the best embroidery results I’ve seen on a machine.  I’ve had experience with many different brands of machines over the past 11 years, and this machine really is superior.  (I’d like to also mention the pleasant “ringtones” that alert you to change colors, check your bobbin or that the design is complete.)

Sewers and quilters alike will enjoy the large base of this machine and all of the extraordinary features that this machine offers on the sewing side.  I love the pivot, the sensor system, and, it goes without saying that the needle cam adds a dimension to both sewing and embroidery that is beyond compare.  This is one machine you really need to see and experience; the literature tries to convey its possibilities, but falls short to a live demonstration.  I invite you to come in and sew on the Baby Lock Ellisimo yourself.  You will not be disappointed!

Ellisimo is HERE!

The big Fed Ex freight truck pulled up this morning before we were open and dropped off the first of many new Baby Lock Ellisimo machines!  We are so lucky to get ours in the first shipment, and you can be assured that the Baby Lock Quality Assurance Team has inspected these machines at the factory, to guarantee the best quality product to you, our valued customer!  I’m so excited unpacking everything and invite you to stop in for a demo on this great new machine.   Remember that we have a great Sew Much More package and 48-month, interest-free financing.  Now is the perfect time to get this machine at a price you can really budget for, making your sewing and embroidery adventure a reality over the coming years!  Another Ellisimo Open House is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, from 1 to 3 PM and we hope you’re able to attend!

Thursday Photos

Thought you’d enjoy some photos of Ellisimo and some of the fun we had on Thursday!

Count the Ways

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways. We had two special Open House events on Thursday to introduce Ellisimo and most of us fell hard for Baby Lock’s new machine.

1. It’s a Baby Lock!  Baby Lock’s commitment to quality and excellence is really the top reason to buy Ellisimo this fall.  With every major sewing machine manufacturer introducing their new top-of-the-line machine, the choices can be overwhelming.  But, with Baby Lock, you can purchase with confidence!  You’ll get the latest technology and unsurpassed quality with Baby Lock!
2. The ease of use is unparalleled.  The menu screens are logical and easy to navigate, making sewing and embroidering a breeze.
3. It’s a beautiful machine.  I hear we have Steve Jeffrey to thank for that stunning gold lid!
4. The full-length handle with easy grip is so practical.  The machine’s weight is distributed evenly and your fingers don’t get cramped when you tote the machine.
5. I love the black soft cover that’s embroidered with gold metallic thread.
6. And, while I’m mentioning covers, I also love the hard case for the embroidery unit and hoops.  Great outside with the full Baby Lock “for the love of sewing” logo embossed into the plastic, but inside–seat belts for the embroidery unit and hoops!  What a terrific idea!  Now, the “stuff” won’t fall out when you open the case.
7. No, the accessory feet won’t fall out of their storage container either, even if you tip it upside down, or move the machine.  Great little grippers hold each foot in its spot.
8. There are 3 USB ports to use, including one specific for the cute little black & gold mouse that comes with Ellisimo.  Connect it directly to your computer, or use a memory stick–your choice!
9. The screen is unsurpassed in both clarity and size.  The icons are clear and colorful.
10. That 8″ square hoop is terrific.  It actually could be the perfect size for machine embroidery.  It’s not too long (no stabilizer woes here) and just wide enough for nearly every design you’ll choose to embroider.  And, the Baby Lock stabilizer will fit all of the hoops with Ellisimo, even the largest one, which is the same size as the largest hoop on the 6-needle BMP8.
11. Stadium Lighting!!  There’s enough light here to sew in even the dingiest basement sewing rooms, although one customer remarked that Ellisimo was too beautiful for her basement, and should be upstairs for everyone to see!
12. Pleasant ringtones to alert us when the design is finished or when we’ve made a selection on the screen.  No more annoying buzzer!
13. The customizable screen saver is just plain fun.
14. Did you think I forgot the needle cam?  Not hardly!  You can use this feature in many ways in both the embroidery and sewing functions.  I cannot describe how fascinating it is to use the edge-stitching function while sewing.  Yes, perfect topstitching, parallel rows of stitching and even zig zag edge-stitching is possible.  How’d they think of that?!
15. Beautiful built-in embroidery designs, the exclusive Baby Lock script alphabet, the exclusive Nancy Zieman embroidery designs and so many more embroidery features make this an enviable embroidery machine.
16. Did I mention quiet?  Yes, it’s extremely quiet.  In fact, we were winding a bobbin (with adjustable speed and on/off) and it was so quiet, I thought I had forgotten to select “start”.
17. More exquisite sewing stitches than I can list are built into Ellisimo.
18. The sensor system and pivot features are awesome and you can activate free-motion quilting settings with one touch for more consistent free motion, even for beginners.
19. At least 2 customers covet the little screwdriver that’s included with Ellisimo.  Just another little improvement!
20. Never-Miss Threading–fast, simple and yes, “never miss!”

The full list of features that will make you “fall in love with Ellisimo” is even longer.  And, we’ve put together a great package of items, including a Sew Much More shopping spree and the Baby Lock Gold Standard, so you can enjoy a brand new Baby Lock Ellisimo as soon as they arrive.  They’ll be here soon!

Drop Everything! Our new “Baby” is Coming!

Well, our new baby, the Ellisimo, is making an unscheduled arrival at the store tomorrow!  Isn’t that like all babies, coming when you least expect it?!  We’re hurrying to schedule our Open House, so you can be the first in Central Illinois to get a glimpse of the beauty in action.  Please make plans to join us on Thursday, September 11th at either 2 pm or 6:30 pm for a look at Ellisimo…from inspiration to reality!  Our afternoon social will be casual and our evening soiree will be a bit more refined, but both will feature food and door prizes.  You’ll be able to try the machine yourself and we hope you’ll agree that this is one machine that needs a spot in your sewing room!  Please RSVP to the store by phone or email, so we can get everything going.

Fall in Love

The phone’s been ringing off the hook and customers have been streaming in for the past 2 days since my return from St. Louis.  I’ve had a few minutes to get (slightly) organized and thought I’d share some more tidbits with you.

Baby Lock’s new top-of-the-line sewing & embroidery combination machine, Ellisimo, is scheduled to begin arriving in early October.  At our Open House Reveal, we’ll be taking reservations and deposits on these extraordinary machines.  There’s a waiting list forming, and you’ll want to reserve your machine soon, so you’ll be guaranteed one of the first machines. I’ve posted a few pictures below of the screen that show the camera in action.  It is my favorite feature.  (Or is it the threader?  Or, maybe it’s the variable speed bobbin winder?  Remember, it’s always the little inconveniences made simple that I truly value!)  We’re going to package this machine together with useful & valuable necessities so you get out-of-the-box excitement and ease of use!  The built-in designs on this machine are wonderful and you’ll especially enjoy having the exclusive Baby Lock script alphabet! We’ve also got an EXCLUSIVE cabinet that was specially made for Ellisimo.  It has the extra large opening and the lift is specifically engineered to carry the weight of this machine over time.  If you want it ALL, we can make it happen!

This year, we’ve got 2 top-end machines being introduced!  Jewel, Baby Lock’s EXCLUSIVE 18″ long arm quilting machine, will also begin arriving in October.  We’re also going to package this machine together with the necessities so you’ll be able to get quilting right away!

Palette 8.0 is available as a complete software version now, and the upgrade from Versions 5, 6 or 7 will be available in September.  If you reserve your copy before Tuesday, you’ll get special pricing!

The Eleanor Burns limited edition Espire is just that–available in limited quantities, while they last.  Be sure to reserve this machine in advance if you want to help celebrate Eleanor’s 30 years in the quilting industry!  This is one of my favorite sewing machines and the anniversary edition is beautiful!

This fall, we hope you “fall in love” with Baby Lock and Sew Much More.

Behind the Scenes

I really tried to photograph some great pictures on opening night at Baby Lock Tech, but I’m afraid I was unable to capture everything.  Lucky for you, I’ve found a little video clip of opening night with Steve Jeffrey introducing our fabulous new Ellisimo and our new Jewel.  It isn’t exactly like being there, but it’s close!  Enjoy!