Apparently I really broke my Brother 1500 while quilting the Tshirt quilt, and my trusty sewing machine technician who has fixed and maintained my machines for as long as I can even remember, tells me that he is going to rebuild it.
Here he is - my therapist sewing machine mechanic... Reza at Triangle Sewing. He is always so reassuring..."yes, don't worry, I will fix it for you". He's so nice to me, maybe he saw me crying in the parking lot when I had to drop off my baby sewing machine for an undisclosed length of time. Of course they don't make the parts anymore (it's 12 years old) so Reza has to substitute other parts, which he has ordered.He hopes to rebuild the shaft and the something something...I don't remember what all he has to do. But he says that this is an industrial machine, and should last me a lot longer than it has, and he is sure he can figure it out. Okay Kathyrn - take a deep breath and have some faith! So today I take out my back up machine Janome Jem Platinum, which is lightweight and easy to take to classes. I was trying to sew my Temecula star block, and the seam looked like this. What a mess! So I think to myself, I will just open up the side and see if there is a tension or thread issue, and guess what happened?
OMG I broke this one too! I am totally jinxed! This part fell right out...yes, it did! So I call Reza in a panic and guess what he said? "Don't worry. Bring it in and I will fix it for you". I drove over immediately and you can see in the top photo that now he has both of my machines on his work bench! But thankfully this one was a quick fix. It was just a thread guide that fell off (or maybe I jammed the case into it and broke it?) which he put back in place with a little glue to hold it together, and a tissue and some reassurance to hold me together, and we were good to go! For a minute there I thought I might have to go to a quilting detox centre if I didn't have a machine to sew on!! Is there such a thing?!?
I have had days like that. So glad you have a superhero to rescue you. Just pretend you sent your beloved machine to a spa, she will come back so refreshed!
I like Carla's thinking! The brother is at the spa getting some pampering and the backup is back in business. Sounds like you have a true hero available to fix machines.
Spa...like that. Don't you wish you could go to the spa too!!!You could look at this a different way Kathy....maybe it is time for a new machine. I know we love our machines and it is hard to replace a beloved one. Good luck hope your baby is home soon! Northern Blog Stalker!!
Okay Kathy----your advice is the BEST: "just breathe and have faith" (and a WHOLE lot of patience).
I remember when my Bernina was in the shop for WEEKS needing new parts and a repair that my 'therapist' had never done before. The machine came back ... and we were back to making beautiful quilts in no time. My backup is not my favorite....so Angela gave me some GREAT advice (even though I really didn't want to hear it at the time)....
Perhaps this is a calling for you to spend some time cleaning up and organizing your room. Imagine how INCREDIBLE you would feel once your machine is back...and you've had the chance to come up with SO MANY more ideas while tidying...pulling this fabric....maybe feeling the urge to cut... :)
Only a fellow quilter can understand the feeling of "whad-do-i-do" while a beloved machine is in the shop. I will be thinking of you girl!!!!!
feeling your pain and panic-that's why we keep a 'back up machine' so as to avoid the meltdowns. maybe 2 isn't enough for the hard core quilters! deep breathes...deep breathes
Oh Dear! This sounds like you need a root beer float-magic medicine. How stressful is this! Sorry you are having machine problems. I would probably fix this by buying a backup for the backup. And then maybe buying another, you know-just in case.
Aww, poor thing! Is it time to start with some appliqué? It's so hard to find a machine we really bond with! If my good one broke I would have to think for a while about how to use my backup it's so ancient...oh wait, the 4H group sewed it to death last year so I have no backup!
If there's not such a place there should be! I don't know what I'd do if my machine broke down :( I love Carla's suggestion to pretend your baby is at the spa, and it will come back home all refreshed and ready to sew up a storm!!!
You are lucky to have such a reliable repairman. The timing is lousy, but hopefully you will be back up and going before you know it. Hugs and good wishes for a speedy recovery for both machines.
And non-quilters wonder why we need more than one machine. I do like the rootbeer float therapy suggestion - might have to try that this evening. Thanks for sharing. cindy
I hope you get your Brother back soon, and better than new. Meanwhile, the Janome is a nice little machine, thank goodness it didn't have a major problem. I loved the pictures of your favorite tree and the poem, what a great post.
In our area we have Tom for the newer machines and Jake for the oldies! I hope your Brother is back to his normal happy sewing self soon! You could work on some hand sewing projects while he is having his spa time...just think...you could have enough slow sewing blog posts lined up for a month or more!
So today I take out my back up machine Janome Jem Platinum, which is lightweight and easy to take to classes. I was trying to sew my Temecula star block, and the seam looked like this. What a mess! So I think to myself, I will just open up the side and see if there is a tension or thread issue, and guess what happened? 
I have had days like that. So glad you have a superhero to rescue you. Just pretend you sent your beloved machine to a spa, she will come back so refreshed!
ReplyDeleteI like Carla's thinking! The brother is at the spa getting some pampering and the backup is back in business. Sounds like you have a true hero available to fix machines.
ReplyDeleteSpa...like that. Don't you wish you could go to the spa too!!!You could look at this a different way Kathy....maybe it is time for a new machine. I know we love our machines and it is hard to replace a beloved one. Good luck hope your baby is home soon!
ReplyDeleteNorthern Blog Stalker!!
Oops, sorry Kathy...time for slow sewing!!
ReplyDeleteOkay Kathy----your advice is the BEST: "just breathe and have faith" (and a WHOLE lot of patience).
ReplyDeleteI remember when my Bernina was in the shop for WEEKS needing new parts and a repair that my 'therapist' had never done before. The machine came back ... and we were back to making beautiful quilts in no time. My backup is not my favorite....so Angela gave me some GREAT advice (even though I really didn't want to hear it at the time)....
Perhaps this is a calling for you to spend some time cleaning up and organizing your room. Imagine how INCREDIBLE you would feel once your machine is back...and you've had the chance to come up with SO MANY more ideas while tidying...pulling this fabric....maybe feeling the urge to cut... :)
Only a fellow quilter can understand the feeling of "whad-do-i-do" while a beloved machine is in the shop. I will be thinking of you girl!!!!!
feeling your pain and panic-that's why we keep a 'back up machine' so as to avoid the meltdowns. maybe 2 isn't enough for the hard core quilters!
ReplyDeletedeep breathes...deep breathes
Oh Dear! This sounds like you need a root beer float-magic medicine. How stressful is this! Sorry you are having machine problems.
ReplyDeleteI would probably fix this by buying a backup for the backup. And then maybe buying another, you know-just in case.
Aww, poor thing! Is it time to start with some appliqué? It's so hard to find a machine we really bond with! If my good one broke I would have to think for a while about how to use my backup it's so ancient...oh wait, the 4H group sewed it to death last year so I have no backup!
ReplyDeleteOh no - Kathy I'm sorry you're having sewing machine woes. As I was reading your story I was starting to panic.
ReplyDeleteYes, breath and have faith. Sounds like your machine will come back almost new. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a hero repairman that was so reassuring, like yours.
ReplyDeleteI like Judy D's advice--root beer float therapy! : )
If there's not such a place there should be! I don't know what I'd do if my machine broke down :( I love Carla's suggestion to pretend your baby is at the spa, and it will come back home all refreshed and ready to sew up a storm!!!
ReplyDeleteSending good wishes to you and your sick machine. Hope the major surgery goes well and your 'baby' is soon fighting fit again :)
ReplyDeleteI have a backup too! People asked me why I was keeping my old machine when I got a new one, it's because you just never know!
ReplyDeleteI definitely go into panic attack mode when my machine is not working anymore. Very, very stressful.:)
ReplyDeleteOh, no! how frustrating! Hopefully your guy can fix it and it won't cost to much.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have such a reliable repairman. The timing is lousy, but hopefully you will be back up and going before you know it. Hugs and good wishes for a speedy recovery for both machines.
ReplyDeleteAnd non-quilters wonder why we need more than one machine. I do like the rootbeer float therapy suggestion - might have to try that this evening. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletecindy
I hope you get your Brother back soon, and better than new. Meanwhile, the Janome is a nice little machine, thank goodness it didn't have a major problem. I loved the pictures of your favorite tree and the poem, what a great post.
ReplyDeleteI need a Reza, can I borrow him?! :D
ReplyDeleteHope he gets it all sorted soon.
In our area we have Tom for the newer machines and Jake for the oldies! I hope your Brother is back to his normal happy sewing self soon! You could work on some hand sewing projects while he is having his spa time...just think...you could have enough slow sewing blog posts lined up for a month or more!
ReplyDeleteThat is definitenly not a fun day to have both machines on the fritz. Glad that he got your back up running again. I hate not having a machine.
ReplyDelete