Happy graduation gift

My mom and step-dad totally surprised me with a new top-of-the-line Pfaff sewing machine, the Quilt Expression 4.0. Now, I've been sewing on a Pfaff Tiptronic 2040 for the past 10 years (also purchased for me by parents as a first marriage present - yes, go ahead and laugh, it outlasted that marriage!). It has been very well loved and so many different things have been made with that machine, from curtains to clothing and quilts.

A couple years ago, my mom upgraded her Pfaff machine to the QE 4.0 and I've been sewing on it when I visit. From the first time I used it, I told her I wanted one of my own someday. Well, as a reward for sticking with school, even when things got really tough, I am now the proud new owner of my very own Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0. (For the record, I would have been totally happy with basket of wine and delicious food and the card detailing how proud of me they are... this was totally unexpected!) I am already envisioning all of the beautiful things this machine and I will create and I haven't even hauled it down to my studio yet ... tomorrow morning I will!

I'm sure some of my non-sewing friends will have no idea why I'm totally geeking out over my new machine, but it solves so many of the little frustrations I had with my other - no thread cutter, free-motion quilting bobbin tension issues, small foot pedal, narrow quilting throat. It will be getting it's first test run tomorrow morning (last minute presents for the kiddos at daycare) and I have big plans for this baby in the future.

And, being the nice sister that I am, I will be handing down my 2040 to my younger sister, who has been sewing/trying to sew on two different machines of the same model for the past 10 years - both with never-ending tension issues. The 2040 should be a dream for her! I talked to her last night on the phone and she sounded psyched.

My husband might not be seeing much of me for a while, as I'm planning on living in the sewing studio and finishing some of those WIPs... I have two quilting bee quilts I need to piece the tops together that I especially want to finish up. And I always make my daughter Hannah a quilt for her birthday ... and she's turning 3 in early March and has requested a green quilt - her favorite color! So, if I'm not working - or working out - at least I can be sewing and quilting!