Welcome Back
I just had to share a picture of my birthday present. Back in March, I had attempted to use my late mother’s sewing machine, there was a bang and a lot of smoke and it never did start. I have plans to try making my own bags, mainly as gift bags for my books but also I would like to learn how make totes. I had been so upset, at the demise of the last sewing machine, that the search soon began for its replacement.
After much research, I chose this Brother machine and my wonderful husband and Mother in Law have very kindly contributed to its cost for my birthday. I am truly grateful and hope to make beautiful things for you. I think my late Mother would have approved, she was an avid sewer and in the 1970s made almost all my clothes for me, on a huge beast of a Singer sewing machine. I dabbled but wasn’t interested in sewing….until now.
My First Sewing Machine
It was watching Tim Holtz DVD where he uses Color Wash ink to create a silk scarf that got me thinking. I wonder if I could dye cotton and create a tote bag hmmmm. Having also seen Sue Bleiweiss video on dying silk it looked so much fun. Still NOT doing silk, far too scary! I wonder if cotton will work with these dyes. Much experimentation to come I think.
Links
For anyone wishing to know more about this machine here is a link to the Brother website.
Brother EU sewing area of manufacturers site, choose your country from the list.
BM2600 I bought mine from Coopers.
Wish me luck on my latest adventure, if I make anything worthy you will get to see it on here 
Can anyone recommend any good websites/blogs for new sewers? I’m looking for project based tutorials friendly forums, that kinda thing
Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon
Billie
Since you posted pictures of presents, I assume it is/was your birthday? – All the best for the next year to come, then, have a wonderful year with joyful moments sprinkling every day. – Happy Birthday!
Hi Hilke
Yes it is my birthday today, thanks so much for your birthday wishes. It really made my day.
Wishing you a fabulous year too, just because
hugs
Billie
Hi Billie -
It’s Monday, June 21 here in the states, so I’m hoping I’m not too late in wishing you a beautiful birthday. I hope you had a lovely day my friend!! Saturday, the 19th was my sister’s birthday and the Saturday before (12th) was mine. Aren’t we Gemini just lovely people – LOL!!!!
Can’t wait to see what goodies you create with your beautiful birthday gift. Have fun experimenting.
Hugs,
Elaine
Hi Elaine
Nope you aren’t too late, and thanks for your birthday wishes
Happy Belated birthday wishes to you too.
As a fellow Gemini – do you have trouble making decisions too? It takes me FOREVER to decide between things hehehe.
Definately hoping to make bags with the sewing machine, and maybe book covers of some kind later on
Hugs
Billie
Hi Billie -
Lord yes! Sometimes I bobble back and forth on deciding things until the last minute! And then there are times when I can make a quick decision and never second guess myself (mind you, those are few and far between – LOL!). And like you, I find (so does my sister) that my artistic interests vary widely. For my birthday present, my husband gave me a metal working class in July. There is a beadshow sheduled on a weekend in July and he heard me saying I really would love to learn how to maniuplate sheet metal and learn to make rivets, so he said “Happy Birthday, go and register!” Like I said, sometimes they are keepers!
Hugs
Elaine
Hi Elaine
Glad it’s not just me who sits on the fence on things then hehee. Many congrats on the metalwork class, have you seen any of Sage Reynolds stuff on You Tube, he mainly posts about bookbinding but he also does metalwork, silversmithing???? I think its that. Have a look through his vidoes. He has more detail about it on his blog, I think there is a link to it from his You Tube page.
Have fun at the class
Billie
Happy birthday Billie! That sewing machine is beautiful, I hope you create lots of wonderful things with it!
Love,
Helena
Hi Helena
Thanks
I’m looking forward to having a play, once the toothache subsides! I must send you a message on Twitter 
Thanks for following me on there, your posts are locked so I must message you to ask if I can follow you too 
Best wishes
Billie
What a wonderful birthday present – you’ll have such a lot of fun with your sewing machine. I’m not much of a sewer so I don’t have links but I’m sure there must be heaps out there. good luck!
Hi Carol
Thanks, its a great colour too isn’t it hehehe. I’m not much of a sewer yet either, time will tell if that improves. My late Mother was a superb dressmaker, so I just hope some subliminal teaching soaked in from when I was a kid
Best wishes
Billie