QuiltCon Swag, Vendors, and Thoughts on Sit Down Long Arms

My last QuiltCon post, I hope. I've talked about my days 1, 2, 3 and 4. Posted about the city downtown area, all the places I enjoyed eating at, including indie musicians. Even a critique on the show itself.  I was away from home for just a few days and had way too much to post about it.   Before returning home, I tossed a number of flyers, gave a magazine away, and lost a few bobbles in a TSA search.

The Swag, Take Homes, and Make and Takes

I guess there could be a few more posts related to the items I've finished from QuiltCon, but, surely, that  doesn't count.  Lots of things came out of the swag bag, but a most of the fabric bits came from make and takes and giveaways at the different booths.  Overload right?

Some of the pamphlets will be turned into collages.  A number of internet shops and websites to check out from their business cards.

Vendors of awesome.

I visited every single booth, most of them multiple times.  Of all the booths, all the businesses, and all the fabric, there was only one booth that I spent my money.  I didn't have much to spend, but Bunny's Designs had the most interesting fabrics that I can't find anywhere else.  Kawaii!  Fabric!  Before you click the link, she's out of town until March 14th.  Terrible timing on my part.  

Angela, the owner of Bunny's Designs, is super sweet, nice, and fun to be around.  I adore her business cards. Fun and great inspiration on where I want to go with my next business card design.  I loved the heck out of those buttons.  Buttons are my thing right now.  I should consider to investing in a button maker.

Bunnies kissing?!?!  Red Ridding Hood?!?! Snow White in a b&w&red print?!?!  Too much adoration.  I could have spent more, so much more, but one must restrain themselves.

Everyone at QuiltCon was nice, but nice is to be expected.  I'm the type of girl that could chat up anyone,  My favorite vendor for sewing machines was the APQS ladies from Over The Top Quilting.  Susan was fun to chat with.  I checked in on George a few times because he was a hunk of quilting loving.  Susan gave me the strangest compliment I've received in some time, and I've gotten some weird ones.  Get this, I have great diction and elocution.  I've spent the last few years learning to accept (and give) words of affirmation, one of the five love languages.  I was taken a back a little, but very thankful. 

dic·tion  

/ˈdikSHən/

Noun The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing. The style of enunciation in speaking or singing.

Synonyms elocution - delivery - enunciation - utterance

el·o·cu·tion  

/ˌeləˈkyo͞oSHən/

Noun The skill of clear and expressive speech, esp. of distinct pronunciation and articulation. A particular style of speaking.

Synonyms diction - oratory - eloquence - enunciation More info - Wikipedia - Dictionary.com - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster

In case anyone needs to know, I've found the best way to take a complement is the Southern Lady Way.  The SLW involves looking directly at your complementer, big smile, maybe even cock your head to the side, gentle touch to upper arm or shoulder, and thank your complement your complementer for being so sweet, generous, and ever so observant.  Works every time.

The Sit Down Long Arms.

I looked primarily at the long arm machines that were set up for sitting down.  They are closer to my price range.  I've spoken a bit on wanting a larger throat machine and wanted to see and experience the difference in what 16 extra inches could do.  I love having the control of sitting down and moving the fabric, having more control on the diagonal.  That makes me more of a sit down rather than a frame girl.  Don't get me wrong, long arms on a frame have their place.

Meet George.

My first stop was APQS.  Check out George in his sweet little table.  George has some spiffy LED lighting.  George is exactly what you'd expect, solid, no frills kind of man, bright, quiet, and a real workhorse because the job comes first. He's not into electronics, computers, or anything fancy smancy.

  Very solid machine, smooth running, and didn't falter from the pebbles to angles.

Meet Tiara.

On to Baby Lock.  I've heard so much about Baby Lock, seen lots of ads in magazines, and wondered about the brand.  I failed to get a picture of the computerized screen on top of Tiara's head (similar to the HQ Sweet Sixteen), but she's got all the bells and whistles.  Would have preferred a solid fabric so the stitches would be easier to see.  My first attempt with Tiara was with the stitch regulator.  Not a fan of stitch regulation, I'd rather be in control.  However, even with the stitch regulation, Tiara threw up bobbin thread on the back of the mini sandwich.  Could have been a fluke, but after getting the cost breakdown, Tiara is so out of my league and, possibly, too temperamental for my taste.

After getting the machine bobbin re-threaded, I gave the machine a go without the stitch regulation.  The results were better.

Meet HQ Sweet Sixteen.

My biggest shock was how similar Tiara and HQ Sweet Sixteen looked and felt.  Table size, shape, thread holders, paint texture, even the little computerized head on top had the same screen settings.  The only difference was the price.  The HQ Sweet Sixteen was half the price of Tiara.  I didn't have any problem with the HQ Sweet Sixteen, ran a little smoother than her high priced doppelganger.  I'd given up on trying stitch regulation and I really enjoyed the ride.  I had a little more time to play with a HQ lo.ng arm on a frame during my machine quilting workshop.  Pretty solid set of machines.   

My thoughts.  The low down. 

In my past life, I worked in the world of computers, servers really.  Things change so quickly and having computerized function is pretty awesome, but there are a few instances where having a computer wigs me out a little.  Anywhere that is moist, prone to dust, and constant vibration are locations that are hard on computerized parts.  Lately, with computers being slapped on about everything, we are at the cusp of a computerized change.  The parts are easily accessible.  

Do I really need a computerized long arm machine?  The computer will control stitch speed, needle up and down, and tension.  The computer will then cause the machine parts to move into position.  I could easily move the dials to a non computerized machine to move the machine parts into position.  So no, I don't need a computerized sit down long arm.  I'd prefer to have a workhorse with little else to get in the way.

me: Honey, I met someone in Austin.  He's wonderful.

Sasquatch: ...

me: I want George to come live with us.    He could make me really happy.  He can stay downstairs in my workroom.

Sasquatch: (uncomfortable pause) Oh, that's that long arm sewing machine. I was worried for a second.