Hi, I Have A Long-Arm Quilting Machine

I'm struggling to get the time to make

a great post about my super big surprise

so I'm just going to put it out there.

The short story is:

I just happened to see one at a price that I

absolutely could not refuse.

I'm not sure I ever thought I'd really get one,

and certainly not before we were empty-nesters!

So, for at least a couple years it will sit in our

sunroom.  Taken down to half-size, it's not too bad!

When I woke up the next morning,

I texted my sister (who also quilts):

"Hi, my name is Cheree and I

have a long-arm quilting machine."
(Would it be too weird to greet complete strangers this way?)

It was all just so unexpected!  So out of the blue!

Two weeks later, I'm not sure the realization

has even hit me but I guess I have my whole

life for that.

Some features:

18", up to king-size, stitch regulation,

pantograph laser, Phoenix frame, etc.

It has only been used for 4 quilts

so it is practically brand new.

Now, before you ask,

it did not come with a computer attachment--

I'm not convinced I want one.  I've been burned

by technology becoming outdated before.

(which is why I have a pricey little embroidery machine just sitting in my closet)

 I also don't feel like pushing a button to

let the machine go on its own

is going to feed my creativity very well.

(If I were doing it as a business,

things might be different!)

It's a little humbling to have learn a whole new way

of quilting--almost like starting over.

And maybe the biggest struggle is that I just

haven't had much time for it.

Fortunately it's quilt season for me

(even if football is taking most of my time!)

and I hope to learn very quickly!

I want to put an order in for some pantographs

soon, and maybe make some of my own--an

idea that I'm very excited about.

* * * * * * * * * * *

I do have a question for any long-arm owners

out there:

I have two quilts basted already

that I was planning on doing with my regular

sewing machine.  Is it possible to put these on the

frame somehow?  What if I attached each with the

basting in them and stitched all around the very edges

and then pulled the basting pins?  I didn't leave

enough excess around the quilt on the batting

or backing that everything says I need for a long-arm

but maybe I could at least quilt the main part there

and then move back to my other

machine for the borders?  Hopefully stitching

those layers together will avoid any layer/space

issues?  Help!