Sew...How's it going?

So... there I was, rocking back and forth in my beautiful solid wood rocking chair, texting my mom, checking my Facebook on my phone, visiting bassmaster.com to get my fantasy fishing team lined up, (yes, there is actually such a thing!) when all of a sudden, my phone sounded that glorious sound that now gets my heart pumping every time since I began my journey... I had received an email! Now, on any normal day, I would not have paid much attention to this beautiful chime because the chances of it being something that truly deserved my body going into adrenaline overdrive were slim to none. However, since I began my journey, every buzz in my pocket, every sweet email chime is worthy of a party and gets my full attention, because you never know when that next trade offer is going to come through!! And this time, it was sweeter than ever.

One thing I have learned from this experience is that you never know the answer to five simple questions: Who? What? When? Why? Where? And each opportunity to trade is an adventure in and of itself. Well, Sunday evening, I answered these questions regarding my next trade! I got an email from one Angel Qualls of Midland, TX who had an incredible deal to offer me. (I have a feeling that it was the Fabio voice in her head that told her she needed my rocking chair!) As soon as I saw it, I knew that it would be the absolute perfect thing to have!

I have a confession to make... I have always wanted to learn how to sew... and fortunately, Angel, eager to help me realize my dream of being on Project Runway (only joking...), offered up her Savant serger, fully equipped with everything one would need to become an expert seamstress! It is a 3 year old model that to my knowledge has only been used one or two times. It is basically BRAND NEW! How awesome is that?! BUT WAIT! It gets better! It comes with about $100 in replacement parts just in case it wasn't sweet enough already, the owners manual, a VERY useful (as you will see in a minute) expert sewing book, brand new carrying case and so much more! Before I go any further and show you pictures of this masterpiece, I want to give a shout-out to my wonderful sister-in-law Megan Greathouse of Greathouse Photography for taking the pictures of the serger! You can see more about her and how awesome a photographer she is at greathouseportfolio.com!

 

Here is a picture of everything that comes with this. (from left to right: 10 year limited warranty, owner's manual, replacement ruffling foot, replacement beading, piping and cording foot, Savant serger, replacement blind hem foot, something that looks like a loooong needle, and a serger guide to help you learn to serge!)

It also comes with a foot pedal for added convenience!

Here is a sample of at least one kind of stitching that it does.

This bag is basically brand new! Still has the tag on it and everything!!

Ya know that feeling when you get that one thing, the thing that is going to take you to the next level? Maybe it's a set golf clubs made out of adamantium that are claimed to hit the ball a solid 5280 feet or maybe it's the world famous Paula Dean's cookware that will cook dinner for you. Well, this is my adamantium golf clubs... this is my cookware... I decided that before I traded this amazing machine away, I had to give it a go! So, I busted out the "Serger's Guide" and got to reading! 

 I read and read, learning all that I could. But, you can only learn so much by reading; you gotta get out there and try it! I found the perfect piece of scrap cloth and got to work. 

I stitched until my hands wanted to bleed!

Finally, I started to see some progress...

This machine was so efficient and professional that it only took me a few minutes before...

 I had made my very own shirt! And let me tell you, if I can do it, you can do it! 

I can't express enough how incredible this is. I mean, think about it. I started with a busted water-pistol two weeks ago and now, I have a machine worth hundreds of dollars! From what I can tell, this machine new was $899 retail and even though it is a few years old, it is barely used and likely still holds most of it's value! Not to mention, it comes with over $100 worth of accessories and replacement parts!! It is absolutely amazing and takes generous people like you all who have the vision to see vision! Thank you all for getting behind me as I travel down this incredible, exciting road! Allow me to repeat myself, but I can't wait til I get to log my last entry with the news that I have officially traded up to a bass boat!

If you would like to be part of my journey, first I encourage you to follow my page here and second, consider what you might have to trade me! I am open to all offers as long as it is at least a little bit better than what I have! Feel free to email me at cag04f@acu.edu or call/text me at 432-twoeighteight-four7zero6! 

One more shout-out to greathouseportfolio.com and to Greathouse Photography for the incredible pictures! They totally tell the story! Way to go Meg!