Machine BOUGHT (sorta)

Presenting---Bernina 440QE
The trip to Rhinelander took 2 hours and 45 minutes. Within 10 minutes, Karen (owner) and I were sitting down---me with a big grin, and her with a knowing giggle! Put it this way---I already knew I would be buying the machine within 15 minutes!!!

For about the first hour, she demonstrated many of the bells-n-whistles (OH MY---are there LOTS!!!!) Then, I/we took a little break and I headed to Subway from a quick lunch. I arrived just before noon and hadn't eaten since breakfast. I wanted to do nothing more than "play," but my stomach had other ideas.

15 minutes later...I was back at the machine. (The Subway shop was in the same block, and I'm a fast eater ;0))

So, for about the next hour/ hour-n-half, I played; she watched; she reminded me "don't forget to raise/drop the feeddogs"....."don't forget to increase/decrease the foot pressure/tension".....and so on. Oh my----it's like trying to learn to ride a bike for the first time! I was actually a bit skittish to try anything alone when she needed to help out a customer or two. And in fact, there was an analogy that a lady shared at QuiltvilleChat: "The Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR) is like training wheels. After enough time, you won't even need it anymore and will be able to free-motion all on your own." How cute :0)

So, by 2:00, I told her to go ahead and start any paperwork. When suddenly she said...."I can't believe I didn't THINK of this!!!" She went on to explain that Bernina is having a Sizzling Summer Sale and customers can earn percentages off based on the "scratch off" tickets chosen. {But I don't think it starts officially until Thurdsay} Regardless, she fanned a stack of scratch-offs to me------25%! THIS is when she told me all my options.

Option 1: Take the floor model at the 25% today (the original game plan.) {She's closing up one of her shops, so she's offering her floor model at 25% off manufactor's price--it's 4 months old.}

Option 2: Wait ONE MORE WEEK at get a brand NEW machine for the same price! {She didn't have any 440's in stock and would need to ship one out to me}

So the agony of making a decision......walking around the store; she's filling out paperwork; I'm admiring 30's fabrics and choosing some fat-quarters. Finally-----"alright! I'll make the right choice!! Option 2----EVEN THOUGH I would like nothing better than to just get home tonight and play, play, play."

So.....Final bottom line---a few bobbins and needles to go with the machine.....~$3100.00. (Plus an additional $50.00 that I bought 'on the side') She should be getting one in the store Tuesday; she UPS's on Thursday, so MAYBE by Friday the machine should be here; {worse-case-scenerio: Monday.}

I actually am okay with the wait! This way, my goal this week is to clean up my sewing area. You saw on my last post that I have scraps all over that need sorting. Plus, I have two baskets of fabric that need ironing and folder----(remember about a month ago when I decided to wash all of Grandma's fabric????---yeah well.....I haven't touched the stacks!)

DH was surprised I was "disciplined" enough to choose the better deal :0) He knows how excited I am for a new machine; and how impatient and impulsive I can be :0)

By 2:45, I was back on the road. And about 5 minutes later, I got a cell call from the In-laws; they were just leaving the "Farm" at the northern part of the state. I wasn't in a huge rush to get home, so we decided to meet "close to the middle" of where we were for Dinner. I can't BELIEVE how "ON" our timing was! They and I seriously both turned into the restaurant's parking lot at the same time. So "yada-yada" and filled them in with the machine story; had some dinner; and then headed off again. At 6:45, I rolled into the driveway.

I've tackled a BIT of the ironing this morning, but have taken a break for lunch and to watch a movie with Candace.
Happy sewing----