Madame Samm invited me to do a guest post even though I do not have a blog.
Love that about her. We were sipping some coffee at her home a couple of weeks ago, she made me these homemade buttermilk biscuits with fresh blackberry preserves,
(she is one heck of a baker and hostess, did you know that?) Well, this one day we got talking about all the tools that I
(we) have purchased , that I thought I had to have and simply put = are useless. She thought this would make for a light topic for me to share with all of you. My name is Alex,
( short for Alexandra) and I have been quilting for ------ this many years. I hate to admit how long, since you would think I would know better. So work with me, and let's just say decades. Ok, here goes, are you ready?
Show of hands. How many have purchased this? They call it the
Gypsy Gripper. I think back when it first came out it was over $25.00 and let's not forget shipping , let me add that too, total cost almost $35.00- way too much. You put this on your ruler to stop it from moving. Yep, I had to have it only to find out that little dabs of glue on the back of my ruler will do the same thing, cost for dabs of glue, oh I don't know pennies, if that. M.Samm shared with me that tidbit!
(after I bought it, thanks Samm)
Next on my list was-again had to have it was this
bobbin winder. How many purchased this? Don't be shy?
Oh dear, I had to have this, it takes a lot of batteries, and yes it has an adapter, but by
the time I find it in my sewing room, (and the adapter, lost it) in a box somewhere covered with piles of must have patterns and books, I had to have. ( more on that later) here it is a bobbin winder. And yes my machine ( new one) has a terrific bobbin winder, and I don't have to dig around to wind my bobbin. I think I paid $ 32.95 for this and shipping. let's not forget that I used it once! and that was years ago, I think it was the PINK packaging that got me. mmm, I am noting something here..."STAY away from everything PINK"
And now yes the bias tape maker with all the tips.
Had to have this too!
Oh this was a doozy, you thread your fabric strips through these tips, ( which cost $10.00 for each size bias tape you want to make. Yep, I bought all 5 of them, so that was $50.00 just in tips.) The same tips in a sewing store, $2.00, are you hearing me, I sometimes don't do my homework till after. And-did I mention the machine cost me $109.00, why I know this is because I taped it to the inside of the cover? As soon as it arrived I knew this was another brilliant purchase I would regret. I did and I do and what do you know..it is not Pink but it is Orange...isn't that YOUR favorie color Samm? ( Oh, btw she has one of these too)
( editors note, NO I don't)
I conclude that my iron, does a better job because it gets hotter, AND I find I can do this in less time than this machine can do it. Are you hearing me ladies, you can buy 3 cheap irons for the cost of this blunder. Did I just say that? I am really talking about silly old me, for falling for these commercials. So yes, another had to have purchase- and tell me I am not the only one who purchased this? ( besides Samm)
editors note: I sold mine! and no not to Alex.
I am waiting. Ah, show of hands!
the tips you need to use this machine, those were all extra. !
Yep, have them all.
NEXT,
Oh yes some of my magazines, and btw all of them are quilting ones. And this is just some of them. Quick calculation, each pile has around 94, (I counted them) there are 5 piles ( I am showing you) Average cost per magazine, I am rounding it off to $7.00 dollars, some are higher, and a few under that. But on average
$ 7.00 ea. I have my calculator so the total cost per pile that I spent, because I just had to have them all is, are you ready?. $658.oo for one pile x 5. Oh just shoot me dead now! I could have purchased completed finished quilts for the cost of all these magazines- or at least kits to make one or two or three...Madame Samm said to me this would make me feel good, I am not feeling it. Ha. Ha.
Can you take some more? How about this Quilters Fabric Calculator. Again one of those gotta have me one of those. Still have no idea how to use it. Never have used it, probably will never use it. But had to have it. Cost $39.00 (no shipping with this one) NOW ask me why? go ahead and ask me? I actually purchased it in a brick and mortar store and the owner told me, she uses it all the time.( been there on many occasions, never seen her use it)Are you listening to this ladies, I have never even seen it on her counter, on her table, oh, but I have seen them on her display in the package!.
So again I am not sure if I feel any better, to be perfectly honest with you-I am feeling a bit like a dope.
Please don't ever ask me to any market for quilters, on second hand
it would certainly give me a pass to come back again and entertain you
because you know I would be making purchases on must have tools
that I will never use. (especially if they are pink)
Madame Samm, is this where I thank you?
I think I will feel better if I know I am not the only
one who has any of these in their homes! Show of HANDS?
What have you purchased that you just had to have but never used?
I won't tell! Listen ladies, I won't even tell- you know?
Love Alex xx
p/s I hear there will be a giveaway that will certainly melt my heart
if I win tomorrow, these will be things we could all use...
