New Brother Embroidery PE-770

If someone had told me how much fun I would have with a new embroidery machine, I would have bought one a long time ago!  As it was, it was just kind of one of those ideas I had of something I might like, and with retirement about one year away, I decided it would make sense to buy it now while I still had a paycheck.  I could have purchased the machine on Amazon for about $75 less than I paid, but I wanted to keep my dollars local, and have a resource to go to if I had questions, needed lessons, or needed repairs.  So, I went to Riverside Stitchin' Quilt about 30 minutes from home and talked with the very knowledgeable Chuck Kennedy who steered me in the direction of the Brother PE-770.  What a great little machine!  It was relatively easy to learn to use right out of the box.  I tried several of the included embroidery patterns, and they were fine, but what I really wanted to do was applique'. So I started searching online for downloadable applique' patterns.  I found some really cute ones at www.secretsof.com.  I decided to put the "crazy gecko" pattern I choose on a denim bib since I already had all the supplies.  It wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done, but it was only moderately difficult to pull off, and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the result.  Do you agree?

Research and development

I've been having some fun doing "research and development" (translation - playing at my sewing machine) in trying to find the type of items that I will sell on Etsy when I retire.  Even if that never comes to fruition (which I really think it will), I'm still building a lovely inventory of baby gifts for future babies of friends, or even future grand babies!  I'm still working on appliqued onesies...I just can't get enough of the fun colors and shapes.  Yesterday, I made my first denim bib.  Naturally I found the idea on Pinterest, which can be seen here.  It was actually one of my first pins back months ago when I first discovered Pinterest.  The pictures are below.  Let me know which ones you like and what  you think the selling price should be if it were for sale on Etsy....be a part of my research and development!