I touched it..I am using it....The Quest has begun..

The Quest to become an expert machine quilter.  I was recently reading an article in this months "Quilting Arts", that talks about practice.  Apparently it takes 500 hours of doing something to become proficient in it.  I know from my other readings that it takes an whopping 10,000 hours to be considered an expert.  So, I am going to dismiss the past few years of machine quilting, and consider logging my hours from my brand new machine. 

Yes, I know, I should credit the endless hours of sewing, piecing, and quilting on my other machines, but this one is like sewing on  a cloud (when compared to the other two machines).  It just feels wonderful, smooth, easy.  I am still experiencing a snafu or two, user error of course.  But that is the beauty about learning a new machine.  So what you see above is my first attempt at machine quilting with a free motion foot on my new machine.  There are any number of mistakes, but whose keeping tabs.  I am not, any more...

While sewing last night, I had to remind myself to breathe...I found myself holding my breath as i went along, and when not focused broke 2 needles on my safety pins.  So, I realized, I am not perfect, and although i love this fabric I will just quilt away and love the final product.  It was a very freeing thought.  I must admit, it made things a lot easier.  I am learning to listen to the machine, to know when it needs dusting, more thread, etc.

And so the journey begins.  I have to find some counter of sorts so I can record my hours.  Well, I began last night with 2 and half hours.  Only 497 and a half to go for proficiency.