Janome MC 8900 Review

A couple of months ago I purchased a Janome MC8900 from my local sewing machine store, Moye's in Savannah. I had started out to purchase the 7700, but my dealer bumped me up to the 8900 and gave me a great price on it! They retail for $4400, but I paid about half that. It's a long story, and unusual, so plan on paying at least $4k  for one! I love mine so much that I named it after a lady I truly respect, whose quilting, sewing, and crafty heredity has been passed on to me, my Grandma Bernadine. I just leave out the Grandma part, cause she's still very young. :)

The MC8900 is a real workhorse, geared toward people like me that do A LOT of quilting and sewing. It has over 11" of space to the right of the needle that provides plenty of room to roll up a king size quilt and finish it on a home machine. This machine is loaded with features from its 9mm stitch width and over 250 different types of stitches to its ability to change needle plates with the push of a button, auto tension, knee lift, 1000 stitches per minute, Accufeed flex (for those stubborn thick projects like jeans and 2" batting!), and so much more.

I have used my Janome for more than 4 months and I have had it tangle up on me one time. That's compared to my Brother hybrid (SE400) that I bought a little over a year ago that tangled up so much I became a machine repair expert! The tangle was actually caused from me not pulling the needle thread out to start sewing and I really knew better. I have finished everything from a twin to a queen size quilt on this without any problems. I am no longer afraid to do double sided t-shirt quilts with free motion embroidery. Even my stippling, which uses many different directional changes and can be hard on a machine, has come out beautifully every time with very little effort. This machine is truly made for quilting. I love my Janome and even with 4 months I have not had a chance to use everything that it offers. I am currently working on a log cabin block quilt made from jeans, t-shirts, and dress shirts. I have an order for a KitchenAid cover that will employ many other features of this machine. I'm looking forward to a long and happy relationship!

Full size quilt completed on Janome MC8900

Stippling

Double Sided Full Size Quilt on Janome 8900

So if you're looking for a high quality machine that is worth the money, I recommend the 8900. Janome also makes a hybrid sewing and embroidery machine, the MC9900 for those of you that want the best of both worlds. I do not own nor have I had the pleasure of using one (YET!), but you should check them out at your local dealer. 

Fresh new products

Since I have been an online seller of fine crafts, I have always heard that pictures sell the products. And it is true. A bad picture does not do a product justice in any way. People just do not want to spend money on something they can't see clearly. I have had an HP camera for the last 10 years that I got with a printer that I bought. You have heard me talk about it before on this blog. Well, after doing a tad bit of research I knew that I wanted a Canon. I finally found one to do what I needed it to do and put it on layaway. Six weeks later I was able to get it out and take some nice pictures.

What I ended up with was a Canon A490. It didn't cost me a ton of money, but it is probably the best little camera I've ever had. It takes clear, beautiful pictures and had enough adjustments on it that I can take pictures in any light so they still show up good. Photography is not my greatest asset. So after a few weeks I finally got a chance to re-photograph some of my items.


Here are some "before" and "afters." The top pictures show the first camera and the second ones show the new camera.

 I can't believe the clarity that comes through. I am able to take close shots without blur and distortion that I couldn't take before. Now, I can't give all of the credit to the camera. I also have to give a little to my photo editing program, Lunapic. None of the images were retouched or auto adjusted. I added text and cropped them. But Lunapic can do it all - for free. Yep, free. No subscriptions, no limits, all functions are free. I hated paying for a few more megabytes on Photobucket or a few more functions on Picnik. Neither of them were able to do what Lunapic does, either. Now, this might sound like an advertisement, but this is honestly what I have used and thought I would pass on.

So take a look at my website and tell me what you think about the new stuff. I have a new bracelet and earring combo called "Starry Summer Nights." There is more to come in the next few weeks as well. Hope you are having a fantastic summer.

Bounce (r) Dryer Bar Update

Well, the Dryer Bar lasted! I was pleasantly pleased. Even with the excessive amount of laundry that we do on a weekly basis, the bar lasted through two months of my family and thier messes. Actually, at the end of the 60 day countdown, the Dryer Bar still had a little bit of bar left on it. I think I could have used it a few more times, but kids were anxious to change it out. What an awesome product from this company. The plastic refuse is minimal (and I'm sure some smart somebody somewhere can figure out a way to recycle it into something pretty cool), and the mess from all of those used up dryer sheets is just not there! So, onward Bounce(r) Dryer Bars!

Bounce (r) Dryer Bar - Product Review

There are not a lot of commercially produced products on the market that I take the time to review. One reason being that they never really live up to what they claim. They have tons of money and a big name behind them, and that's what keeps them selling. Anyway...before I get into a long discussion of why you should buy independently handmade items, let's review the Bounce (r) Dryer Bar.

I bought the Dryer Bar because I thought it would be a good investment into saving some cash and the environment. It kills me to use all those plastic bottles or the dryer sheets, but I live in one of those climates that requires something be done to combat the static cling and freshen the loads. So being the savvy consumer that I am, I looked into the new Bounce Dryer Bars. I picked mine up for the super-low cost of $4.77 from my local Wally World. I bought the 2-month Fresh Linen bar so I didn't have to invest too much time and money if it didn't work. The 4-month option was $7 and some change.

It has only been 2 days and I can honestly say I am very impressed. Not only do my clothes smell great, but they are static-free and smell good coming back out of the drawers and closets. We do A LOT of laundry - probably close to 20 loads or more a week. No kidding. So with that in mind I am wondering if this bar will last 2 months. Most likely not, but probably only due to the large amount of laundry that we do. So with that fact in mind, and knowing the average laundry load of a 4 person family is about half of what we do, I will approximate it lasting a month. But just to prove myself - and the Bounce bar - I am installing a widget to countdown how long it lasts. It is due to run out on August 21, 2010, exactly 60 days from the date I put it in and the approximate time of 8 am. I will give you updates on how it's working and how long it lasts. So hang in there, and keep checking back! If you'd like to join in with me, post a comment and let me know. Grab my widget, figure out your start and end dates, and post it on your blog. Let's see if P&G can live up to their claims...

Anna Pereira - Product Review

On this blog I have done numerous feature write-ups for artisans and their products. I see things that I like or do interviews and product giveaways. Very rarely, though, do I have the pleasure of sampling these products. I would quite literally go broke if I bought everything I saw. However, a few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to retweet a message for Anna Pereira and get a free sample of her soaps. I got my soaps and have been in love with these slivers of heaven for the last couple of weeks. My kids love them, my husband loves them, and I love them. I'm not a soap person. I get in, get washed, that's the end of it. But this soap, my friends, takes showering to a whole new level .

Now you may think I am exaggerating, but I really am not one to be easily sold on a product. I bought Proactive a month ago and think it's the biggest waste of money I've ever spent. That is to be discussed later. I also switch products and brands to try out new things. Very rarely do I ever become so hooked on a particular brand because I like it well enough to continue buying it. Things just don't live up to what they should be, end of story.

Anna Pereira soaps do. These soaps are lightly scented out of the package and they don't bowl you over with perfumes. You can smell them, but they are not overpowering. However, once you get them lathered up a whole new sensation envelops you and there is no turning back. The first soap I tried was the Blackberry Sage from her Angel Kissed Line of soaps. The scent took me back to when I was a child, strolling through the acres of blackberry bushes that bloomed and grew on our property. I truly was in heaven. Delicious and reminiscent of the wild herbs and thick luscious berries dripping from the vines, the relaxation was immediate. The caress of natural and essential oils from a rich, thick lather left me feeling pampered, but when it came time to rinse, there was no oily residue left behind. My skin felt clean and refreshed - like it should after taking a shower.

Anna uses only natural ingredients in her soaps, and no animal by-products. The link gives a great break down of what she uses and their benefits. Her ingredients range from lavender, patchouli, and tea tree essential oils to nut and olive oils. You feel good using it, and you feel good about using it.

Anna was kind enough to fill out my interview form and this is what she told us:

Tell us a little about what you make.


I have been making hand painted and printed clothing since I can remember. I have been making soap for a while and just recently introduced them to my customers as well. My studio workshop in my home has been completely converted to a soap making facility since I have decided to expand on this area of my business - for now - until I get the itch and go back to making clothing. I'm sure other artists know what I'm talking about :)

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration spiritually comes from wanting to make a positive difference in someones life. My artistic inspiration comes from nature, faith, wellness and beautiful things.

How did you get started making your product?

I have always been creative and made things for myself. Since I was young enough to string beads I would make bracelets and sell for .75 cents. Once I moved onto making and painting clothing, people would ask me to make custom creations for them and that's how it all started waaaay back when. Creating the Angel Kissed line of soap was purely for indulgence! I love all natural soap and made it for myself, friends and family. Because everyone loved it so much I now make enough to sell to the public.

Please include additional information or anything else you would like us to know here:

Be happy. Just remember you are blessed. Have gratitude and be thankful. Live life with purpose. If I can make one person smile through my handmade products or kind words and they can pass that smile on ... then I have gotten up today for a reason.
 
Now friends, there is a great deal going on in her Etsy Studio. All of her soaps are $3. If you buy 5, you get a sixth one free. I don't know about you, but $15 is a great deal for these Angel Kissed soaps. They would make a great gift or stock up and keep them all to yourself!
 
Where to find Anna:
 
http://www.annapereira.com/   and http://www.etsy.com/shop/AnnaPereira