Fiberaddict's Fiber Fumblings

So. Got the embroidery machine back, sans power cord, on Tuesday. I ordered a replacement from Amazon (after calling Asurian back...:sigh:); got it Wednesday. Called Asurian back on Wednesday, since no one had called me back....they told me that "there was no cord in the box when you sent it to us." Um.....no. There WAS a cord, because how else could they turn it on to try to fix it? I didn't assume they'd have a power cord compatible with an embroidery machine.....:bangs head:

Anyway. Didn't have to work today, so I headed to the Studio at 7:30 to start work on the husband's (secret) birthday gift. Decided to test the machine on cotton, instead of fleece, so hooped up fabric for a new holster bag - I wanted to test the embroidery file for the husband's present. It turned on just fine, the hoop moved into position, I threaded it up, went to thread the needle.....and the needle is Down.

OK. I went to turn the hand wheel...and the bloody thing is STUCK. It will NOT budge, no matter what I (or Himself) attempted. Asurian has broken my machine. They BLOODY BROKE MY MACHINE.

Himself offered another loan, so we headed out to the only store within 60 miles that carries Brother machines (as an authorized dealer, I mean). I've been looking at the PE-800 for a bit, so that's what I asked about.

"Oh. We don't carry....THAT model. That's ENTRY-Level. Most people get them, then trade them in. :sniff: (No, really! There was a very audible :sniff:) I'm going to show you - THIS machine will suit you." She led us to the Brother Innov-is NQ1600E.....and dropped the "We don't sell it for MSRP, we sell it for $2600. It's a *little* over your budget...." (I had made the mistake of telling her my budget was $1500. Thing is, the PE-800 is $599 on Amazon........keep this in mind, OK?)

"Um." I said. "I like the larger hoop, but I do NOT NEED TO SPEND $2600 on a machine." ~pause~ "Oh." she said. "Well, the closest thing we have to the PE-800 is the Innov-is NS-1150E. Let me get Our price for you!"

While she was walking off, I grabbed my phone, went to Brother's website, and did a comparison. Oh, look - the 1150e is almost the EXACT same model as the PE800.....it has 1 or 2 things that I DO NOT NEED OR WANT that the PE800 doesn't.....

Himself checked in, to make sure I wasn't going to bite. "No," I said. "Unless they offer me a price comparable to Amazon's....." The lady came back. "This is the lowest we can go. Now, understand, this includes the option to take classes and Floriani software -"

"Classes won't do me any good - we live 60 miles away. I have Embrilliance, so don't want or need any other software."

"Um." She said. "Let me go see something...."

At this point, the kids and I are plotting our escape. We should have moved faster. "OK. THIS is the lowest we can go for the 1150e....$1200."

"I need to think about this.......are you open tomorrow? Good. I'll go home and think......" and we fled into the parking lot.

Here's the thing. I DID go into the store with the intention of leaving with a machine in hand. I would PREFER to buy locally. However........when someone comes in with a product (and price!) in mind, that means that that's what they *want*. Do NOT try to force them to buy something more than 4x that price, even if their budget is more than that price, and certainly don't try to sell them a rebranded model at 2x the price.

If she had said, "oh, we don't carry that model - most people find they outgrow it too quickly - but I'll be happy to order it for you! Or maybe you'd like to see our lowest-end model - I think you'll probably outgrow it, too, but it's close to what you are looking for, and we have it in stock now, and - since you don't need the extras we offer, I can get the price down to almost what you found the other model for." - I would have walked out the door WITH a machine, or a receipt from her ordering in the one I wanted.

PLUS, she would have made a sale of thread/stabilizer/bobbins, because I am all about stocking up.

Instead, she lost a sale, and a customer. When we got home, I called a dealer I found online. Unfortunately, Brother won't allow them to sell to someone who is in another dealer's area.....so I went to Amazon and ordered the "entry level, will outgrow it soon" model (it'll be delivered on Monday - gotta love Prime!)

Brother lost the chance to upsell me, all because of a very pushy sales lady and a - quite frankly! - stupid policy. See, I'd looked at both of the more expensive machines online last night (because honestly? I'd already decided to trade in the Singer on a Brother, and had just about decided to go with the 1600e - I had found it online for $1600 (but I can't find the site again. Oh, well!) We will NOT be going back to that dealer, and since I gave her the home phone number, I won't be talking to them, either (we don't answer the home phone. :shrug: She wanted a number, she got a number. It's just not one I use.)

The new plan is to get Asurian to fix the Singer, then I'll either sell it on CL, or go take it to my favorite sewing machine repair man and see what he'll give me for it. That money will be spent on thread and stabilizer.

:sigh: Instead of embroidering this weekend, I'll be sewing up what I can. Wednesday I'm off again, so I'll put the Brother thru it's paces - hopefully it'll live up to it's reputation!

At least I have some sewing to do - I have the husband's gift, and a hoodie for me (Himself wants to go to see Sonic again, and wants me in a matching hoodie. So, I get to have an Amy hoodie. :lol:), then I have to hit pants and under things, none of which require embroidery. Wednesday I'll pick up where I left off today, and see how it does.

Because.....I am no longer with loom. !!!! I posted it on CL on Monday, got a nibble Tuesday (but he never came back after I responded), updated the listing Thursday (added a BUNCH of stuff, and raised the price a little bit)....and yesterday. Yesterday a very nice lady contacted me, we emailed back and forth, and she paypal'd me the money after lunch. They are coming up to pick it up next Saturday. !!!!!

I am....well, sad. This is the end of an era for me. I'm also happy, because this is an awesome loom that deserves to be used and loved - and this weaver has been wanting *this* model of loom for a while. (Like me!) I'm glad - she got a really good deal, I got a fair price, and I will be able to move on now, without being depressed every time I look at the loom, sitting forlornly on the other side of the studio. (I'll stop with the dramatics now, I promise!)

I'm going to take it apart today, label the various extras, and start planning on the reorganization. I'm not going to fill up the space - honest! - but I am going to hack an Ikea kallax into a pressing station and get rid of the ironing board. The dress forms will be moved over on that side, and I'll rearrange the furniture.

So. That's a huge blessing for me - and I know someone else out there had to be praying. Thanks! :hugs:

In other news, Friday we headed out to hit the fabric outlets in Dallas. Last November a tornado had gone thru - according to everything I found online, the stores were "slightly" damaged.....yeah. Not so much - 2 of our favorites are...well, basically gone. The one with the awesome denim prices is half demolished (but I found out yesterday they've moved temporarily down the street...would have been nice to know that Friday, but that's on me). The one next door, owned by the.....um.......slightly overbearing but kinda endearing gentleman is totaled. He just opened an etsy shop mid-January, so we can continue to shop with him, but it's kinda...sad. He had the best button collection! And interesting fabrics - online isn't quite the same.

The largest store is still there, untouched. They have great prices on silk - but we weren't there for silk. Their clearance room has great prices, but.....the selection is a bit weird. Still, I scored 10 yards of knit fabric (5 green, 5 blue) for $0.99/yard, and Herself got some nice...I don't know what it actually is, but it looks like a silk noil for $1.99/yard. Among other things...she made out like a bandit, I spent $10. :lol:

I think that brings us up to date. I need to head to the Studio to start packing up the loom and all it's accessories, and to try to organize some of the fabric. Tomorrow is grocery day...then it's on to Tax Season. Fun stuff! :lol:

Figured I should show you what I've been working on since Hanukkah - it's quite a bit! I'm limited in what I can accomplish each day - 4 hours is my maximum, and that leaves me sore and achy for a couple of days. :sigh: I'm trying to push through, which...isn't really a good idea, but I don't know what else to do. I can't take anything for pain - allergies are *great*, aren't they? - and I don't want to just STOP, y'know? Anyway - onwards!

To be nice, I'll put them behind a cut.

( Make with the clicky for photos! )

This year, that is. 1/2/20, Mom went to the ER - it wasn't serious, Praise G-d! - with a stomach virus and possible pneumonia. I came home with a cough that is trying very very hard to become an upper respiratory thing. :sigh: Fun times!

Ah, well. In better news, Herself has decided she MUST! sew herself a new wardrobe. She's decided she's really into the Japanese Lolita style (think...living doll, with a serious Victorian vibe. VERY modest - skirts are at least knee length, and very little skin.) - we spent way too much $$ at Hobby Lobby on fabric and ribbons. Still.....SHE'S going to sew, so I won't complain. To be fair, I'm leaning towards the Japanese mori-look, myself (a slightly tighter fitting Lagenlook......basically, layers. Loose-fitting tops over slim pants, or a dress over a skirt.), so I really have no room to talk. I just need to find the energy to actually sew.....:sigh:

Himself has requested a long-sleeved PLAID shirt. Huzzah! and OhNo! :lol: He's also requested (!!!) a Sonic (!!!!) Hoodie(!!!!!!!), to be worn to the upcoming movie. I can do that! I found a shop online with fleece at what I consider a decent price (your fleece.com; 12 yards of non-pill fleece for $45 total. That's a LOT less than I can get it locally!) - it should arrive Friday, so...we'll see. Here's hoping the quality is decent!

Also, Himself bought Herself a Charizard kirugumi for Hanukkah. Basically, an adult-sized, character-themed onesie. It was.......more $$$ than *I* would spend, but a) Hanukkah, and b) it was part of a buy 2, get 1 free sale. Upon seeing how comfortable it was.....I went hunting for a pattern. :lol: Cutsew.com has them......I'm not thrilled with them at the moment. Their patterns are $20, but you have to download the instructions - they don't come with the printed pattern. :grumble: I've printed them out (I don't use my iPad in the sewing studio - I prefer paper, so I can make notes), now we wait for the printed pattern to come. I'm thinking I need to get some sweatshirt fabric....we'll see. Need to decide on what, exactly, I want to theme it as. (Why yes, I DO need a onesie. For days like today, when all I want to do is sleep. The rest of the family won't be able to con me into leaving the house if I'm in a silly onesie, now will they? :lol:)

Not much else is going on. I was hit with a massive "Must Clean All the Things!" bug the last of December....my kitchen has been decluttered and reorganized, and I've started on the breakfast area. Herself has started organizing her Studio, and Himself, not to be outdone, has been working on his shelves. I hope THIS bug hangs around - I'd like to get the rest of the house decluttered, but this chest bug has kinda slowed me down. :sigh:

so. the kids and i talked earlier this week - they are my chore buddies, and i value their opinions - and we have decided to *not* breed any does this year. no kids, therefore, no milking.

this means, of course, no fresh milk for us. it also means, of course, i don't have to try and hand-milk 4 does. machine-milking is out, for now, because i can't hook up 2 inflations at once right now. we've done 1 at a time in the past...it's not fun, because the does tend to get antsy when only 1 side is being milked, and dance when you try to attach the other inflation. honestly - it's faster to hand-milk 4 or fewer goats than it is to machine-milk them. the actual milking goes faster on the machine, yes - but then you have to haul water to *clean* the machine. that's not an option for me, right now, so - i take a year off, try to strengthen my hand and wrist, and try to regain some range-of-motion.

soap-making *will* happen, but i'll buy the milk. :shrug:

i'm also seriously thinking about down-sizing my loom. i'm not ready to give up weaving, not yet, and i'm not using the full width of my current loom anyway. honestly - i haven't woven much this past year or so, anyway; i've been more focused on sewing. i just.....i'm not ready to *not* call myself a weaver. i need to sit down and see how painful/difficult weaving is before i make any solid decision - but at the moment i think down-sizing is the right thing to do. maybe. i love this loom.........we'll see.

i'm currently in full declutter mode, for some reason. the kitchen was done yesterday - got rid of 2 trash bags of stuff that, while usable, isn't donate-able (i'll use broken/faded/not fully-functionable things, but i won't give them to people.) today is an ikea run to get a few organizers to finish the drawers, then i'll start on the cookbooks. i have SO many cookbooks! i need to weed them, then go thru the other bookshelves and make a run to the used book shop. they'll give me credit - yes, more books, but less than half of what i brought it, so it's still a win. then i'll start on the family room.....

herself is doing a major overhaul of her studio space. 10 trash bags so far, and she's just started. the goal is to get her space clean and set up so i can get my dining room back. himself is working on his room - guess my mood is infectious! hope there's no vaccine for it - this really needs to be done. :lol:

i've got herself's Hanukkah present started - a scorbunny hoodie. pattern is by choly knight - she's awesome. her patterns are well-written, go together pretty easily, and she has "hacking" packs for some of them to customize them. the hoodie pattern was already traced off (herself made her Bakugo hoodie from it), so all i had to do was print 2 copies of the scorbunny add-ons and cut them out. i have all the small parts cut out of the fabric, just need to cut the back, front and sleeves then i can start assembling it. i'm working on a scarf for himself - it's not the one i started back in june; this one is a simple 3-cable one. it's taking me ages - i started this back in october. i can only knit 2 or 3 rows at a time...but it'll get done eventually. then hopefully i can go back to his "real" scarf........:sigh: (he saw fox paws and got intrigued. i got him to give me the 5 colors, i ordered yarn, and cast on. i got almost to the end of the first repeat when the dog nation attacked :lol:.....i can't do the 5 stitch-decrease or the multiple increases right now. hopefully soon.....

And - I'm DONE. In fact, the husband is - no shit! - about to quit his job over this. :sigh:

So. Our enrollment period was 9/1/19 - 9/25/19. I wanted to stay with the plan we had, so we a)didn't have to DO anything and b)already knew what we were dealing with.

Nope - that plan is no longer offered in our area/by the employer. OK then. We stuck with Cigna (yup - calling the b*****ds out), because I *thought* our new plan would AT LEAST offer what we had. Boy, was I WRONG.

(As a quick aside - I was chosen BY CIGNA for a focus group, which was held 11/5/19. In it, we were shown a "fake" email discussing "local networks". I flipped out, said it was a HORRIBLE idea, and if I had gotten said email I would have dropped Cigna like a hot potato and run fleeing into the dark. I was told by the moderator - "oh, no, no - this isn't a thing. It's just a mock-up." Keep this in mind, OK?)

Monday I got a bill from my lovely hand specialist. I owed $110. AFTER my copay of $60. Cigna paid $29. I was incensed - what in the hell was going on? So I called......only to be told that my doctor, who IS with Cigna, who hasn't changed ANYTHING on his end at all, is no longer in MY network.

See, he's outside the limits placed upon me by my zip code. So - he's out of network, and they will pay 40% AFTER I meet my new deductible of $1500.

:sigh: Self-pay will cost me $199 for the visit in October and the upcoming one in December. Cigna will happily charge me $700/month + $170 PER VISIT.

So - go on, tell me again that I must keep this piece of shit insurance. Go on - tell me how much I will SAVE in the long run by paying $8,400 in premiums, $1,500 (per person, NO family cap!) deductible (even if it's an accident carry-forward - they don't give a shit, just pay up!), PLUS $170 per visit. (Let's see...6 visits @ $170/each, plus the previous.......$10,920. NOT including any surgery or extra visits. Cash pay = $1,200 for the same 6 visits. Um........anyone see a problem here????) Please note I only included 1 deductible - even though it's quite possible that you have to pay *2* of them, depending on the timing of your accidents. :shakes head"

It really isn't going to matter, though - husband has already told me that he's DONE dealing with the crap at work and this POS insurance. HR will NOT drop me - he is forced to keep me on, even though we CAN NOT AFFORD TO USE IT - so, he wants to quit. I told him go ahead - we'll figure something out.

And for the record - his gross pay is $30K. Think about that, if you will. Approximately $5,500 comes out for withholding/FICA. Subtract the insurance premiums from the remaining, and he has a NET income - or, for the accounting-challenged, Take Home Pay of - wait for it - $16,100.

We can live on that without too much difficulty. (No, seriously. NO credit cards, no splurges. :shrug:) But not when you add in the lack of coverage by Cigna.

Oh, and telling me to "find someone in your network".....yeah. I live in a rural area. There are 2 doctors' offices in town, neither of which are....er......very competent. We have *1* orthopedic doctor who believes that x-rays can't see thru swollen tissue (so tell me why, exactly, you want to hit me with a dose of radiation if it's not going to show anything useful? Seriously.....) The hospital is best avoided - the ONLY reason I went there with the bite is because I had bled through a dishtowel in under 40 feet and was afraid I wouldn't make it to Dallas (60 miles away. For the closest *decent* hospital.) This hospital doesn't deliver babies any more, because there are NO OB/GYNs within 40 miles. The closest nephrologist (for Herself's thyroid condition) is approximately 35 miles away - pretty sure that's not in-network, either (good thing she's got her own insurance that doesn't care how far she has to drive to get to a doctor) - not that it's a GOOD nephrologist. :sigh: Same for Himself's allergy doctor. There's not a lot of choice here, doctor-wise - which hasn't been a problem up until now. (And the orthopedic doctor? Isn't a specialist, and I really don't feel comfortable with a non-specialist looking at my HAND, y'know? I kinda need my hands........although at this point, it's moot. Can't afford surgery, so I guess it doesn't matter.)

I love it here. I love the peace, the land, the livestock, the fact that my closest neighbors on one side are COWS. I do NOT like living close to people. I hate crowds - and traffic! Ugh! I don't think it's fair that I am penalized by an insurance company I am forced to pay, just because I like living with less pollution.

Ah, well. I will muddle along, like I always do. I need to try a few different knitting techniques, because the lack of a sock in tow is starting to wear on me. Knitting keeps me sane, and keeps me from smacking people with a clue-by-four when they are being especially dense. :sigh:

1. lizard habitat is still not done. to be fair, it was raining friday, then saturday it looked like rain. brother and niece came out to play with lizards; we talked a lot and watched detective pikachu. fun times! i did start the hammock stands for the new habitat - so at least i did *something* for the lizards. :lol:

2. wrist - same. oh well.

3. sewing - working on laptop case for cynthia. i just need to assemble it today; it looks good. i found some cute owl fabric for the exterior - hope she likes it!

4. husband. has suddenly realized that this job sucks. doesn't pay well, hours are stupid.......but he is still *not* doing anything about it. :sigh: he had to borrow the kids' savings to pay for a water leak repair at his house......and he suddenly realized that taxes are, in fact, due *every* year. no, really? :bangs head: my small savings took a hit friday - we had eye exams and 2 of us needed new glasses. i had hoped i'd get my last contract check...but no. ah, well.....when i do, it'll go back into savings. :shrug: what do you do?

not much else to report. i'm backing up my air - soon as it's done i'll go out to the studio to finish the bag.

hope it doesn't rain........

so. went to the doc today about my wrist. he took x-rays.....seems the bone is NOT healing. i still have a nice gap between the 2 pieces - herself says it looks to be 3mm; i dunno. doc mentioned surgery....not fun. i go back 12/13 to see if it's gotten any better. he's concerned, since the pain hasn't decreased at all.

good news - i have more range of motion now. i think i tore scar tissue, which is why i can move it more. it's still not back to where it should be, but hey - i can move it more! we won't discuss how much it hurts, right? or the fact that it still takes me about 10 minutes per row on my sock...which is ridiculous. it took me 2.5 hours to knit half a toe. :sigh: i've got presents to knit - this is NOT good.

i still have a few exercises to do, but......they won't help the bone heal.

ah well, we'll see. i will keep plugging away at the sock that's been on the needles since JULY. (normally it takes 10 days to complete a pair of color-worked socks. this pair is plain - no pattern, no color, no texture...just knitting. :sigh:

let's see....a lot has happened over the last..2 weeks or so. himself decided he wanted to work on cars - i think i mentioned that. he replaced my stereo (excuse me, "head unit"), then this past sunday he installed the backup camera. works a treat!

we did a run to mom's. on the way there, he started kvetching about how he was going to be bored now, and he wanted to do something with cars. the husband had talked to his dad about having himself work on his dad's vast collection of collectible bugs, but - as usual with the husband - nothing further was decided. anyway...on the way home, we passed a house with an older model jeep cherokee out front with "for sale" written on the windshield. we stopped, talked....$500. NO motor - it was blown. body in decent shape, interior in good shape - just needs a headliner. all the motor parts are there.......

i heard a goat, so i jokingly asked if they needed another one. free. they said sure! so we said we'd bring biff back after feeding. off we went to discuss.

fed the critters, packed up biff. himself and i discussed, decided ok, this was a good project car. dropped off the goat, told them we were interested, but needed to get the funds....and the husband took $100 off because we gave them a goat. :blink:

so. tuesday we ran to the bank then to their house, and himself is now the proud owner of a $400 (+ 1 goat) jeep. yes, it'll be a ton of work. yes, he's aware - but he WANTS to do this. so, he's going to start with the small stuff- replace the lights/headliner/etc, then start breaking down the engine. he's excited - this is good. very good.

only thing - it's a 5-speed. it's been 30 years since i've attempted to drive a stick......at least i have time. :lol:

today is errand day - hope you have a good one!

so. the nerve test was yesterday......the motor nerves are fine, thank God. the sensory portion....are, sorta, barely. still - good news!

i am out of the brace.....again, sorta. doc wants me in it as much as i need it - the bone is not fully healed, and we don't want any set backs. the therapist wants me out of it. um......ok. i decided to try to only wear it when feeding critters. we'll see.

my range of motion has increased ever so slightly. i still can not flip my hand over - which is very worrisome. the therapist told me to not do the exercises if they hurt.....i hurt all the time. so.......:sigh: she didn't like that answer, but it's the truth. so now she says do them up to a 3 on the pain scale.....i decided it wasn't worth telling her breathing rates a 2 - she wouldn't have appreciated it. (yes, *breathing* hurts. i can ignore most pain under a 5/6.....but i am living with 2 right now. everyday activities? solid 5 or more. so stopping at 3? means i don't do much. i'm trying to decide how much to deal with........)

i have managed to make myself 3 hawaiian shirts (victoria jones pattern # 220. i am a medium. my 3rd shirt i added .5" to the side seams, and it fits the way i want it - i was going for a nice, slightly loose fitting camp-style shirt, and that did it. shirt #2 was .25", and it's nice, but not quite loose enough.) pics forthcoming.

himself funded and installed a new stereo in the jeep. he wants - he thinks - to work on older cars, restoring them, and figured this was a good way to start. he has a backup camera for me, but hasn't quite figured out how to route the cables. that's this weekend's project.

gotta skitter!