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My mother was a hoarder. Her favorite item was paper of all kinds. She died last November and we are slowly cleaning out her house. My sister who will inherit the house is in no hurry to leave Florida for the weather we are experiencing here (14 inches of snow, followed by another snow storm, and temperatures in the teens). For those of you in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Alaska, I can hear the "you weeny", LOL but I digress. Last week when cleaning out a drawer, I found a birth announcement for a childhood friend along with a picture of her in the hospital bassinet which looked like a wire basket. My daughter, who has been helping me, tells me it is like a treasure hunt. That's one way to look at it!

Hello all, I relocated to Idaho and am in the process of building a home. I could not wait until a house was built to start quilting so I had a shed built. We finished the inside and this is now my very happy place. Jamie Bennett Quilts & Clay

I’ve always had to back the tension off for Glide. Try one of these things at a time until you have success. First check the pigtail guides for grooves. For the three hole guide above the tension thread under the first hole and down the third hole, next I would back off the top tension one of two turns until the thread stops breaking then adjust the bobbin tension to balance. Also slowing down a little may help. That is what has worked for me in the past. Nigel

Pamela, I too have this. I am cleaning my head out under the oil wicks and found lots of oil and black residue that might have gotten on mine or customer quilts (lucky it did not). This is productive time to inventory or work on embroidery, piecing, cutting with AccuQuilt out new projects. I joined a Quilt Along at the beginning of the year on Facebook under the AccuQuilt Facebook group that I am a member of, and we are on our second block this week. So it would be fun, and you need a qube, any size, and the angles companion to the qube, and the corners companion qubes. I am happily cutting and piecing these. It's normal to relax a bit now and then, and it keeps it fresh for you. I know, because when I moved there was a time of not really using it much. Each year, I often get so busy with my own Christmas quilts and clients that I feel like it's a burden to start another on the machine. So I take a week or more off. Usually from Dec. 10 - Jan. 6. This year's no different. Call me if you want to talk. You are my dearest friend, and I am always available.

MEB: Don't turn on your machine until you've removed the needle from the hook, and it turns easily by hand. If you do , you'll just blow the fuses again. Pull the needle with the pliers and rock the hand wheel back and forth until it comes out, and the machine turns free. Jim

I rocked the fly wheel back and forth, with the machine Off as I also blew 2 fuses! I used a large needle nose pliers to pull out the needle, moving the fly wheel slightly as I tried to pull up the needle. Good Luck !

I got Millie in September and did two small quilts with a meander stitch. This one I went all out and did my first custom work with rulers and free motion. So thrilled with the turnout. Each stripe has a different pattern( stripes, plaid, cross hatch, meander, loops). The first border is wishbones and the outer border is piano keys. @quiltedjoy

Today, my mojo is saying "Don't bother me - I'm resting." I don't want to start construction on the new quilt, I don't want to quilt. Lately, I have been sorting through the small fabric stash of my dearest friend who passed away about a year ago. Getting it ready to sell. Today all I want to do is sit with her fabric. I miss her. I have things to do for the new quilt, though. I make patterns and construction handouts for my quilts so I can teach a workshop on them. So there are a few files I create to document yardage calculations, cutting table, etc., EQ8 file to update, make sure I have all of the border sizes correct, etc. So today, I have my computer with me in the studio. I get to sit with Dorothy (her DNA is all over the fabric), and get some documentation going -- maybe. Or just sit. I will have a satisfying day either way.

Pamela, It's okay for your mojo to just sit down for a while. It is not required to "be productive" all of the time. You have just come off of the holidays, coping with your husband's surgery and recovery, and whatever else may be going on, and your energy and coping reservoir have been drained. It's okay to rest. When I complete a quilt or have no customer quilts staring at me, I sometimes feel a little lost. I have been known to just go into my studio, sit down at the sewing machine, talk to Miss Margie (Millie), or just look around. Usually, there is something to put away or to read or to touch or something, and my interest begins to be renewed. If you really want to get moving - invite a quilting buddy (someone you don't have to clean house for) to come and spend the day sewing. You will enjoy the company while you get to play with fabric. Blessings!