Commit-Take Action: The way to happiness and a long arm machine?

I just wanted to share something with you all.

Caroll over at The Attic Window (who is also a Michigander--I hope to meet this blogging buddy this weekend!) posted an interesting article today that is very timely, given that it's almost New Year's Day and time for resolutions.  (I'm not realy big on New Year's resolutions, but more on that later.)  Hop on over and read it.  The article suggests that the way to happiness and getting what you want is to dream it, commit to it, and start doing it.  If you start on the path to what you want, then the universe seems to deliver.

I thought it was so timely, because I have long wanted a long arm quilting machine.  Two years ago, I went to the Home Machine Quilting Show in Utah and test drove a whole bunch of machines.  It was so much fun.

I found two machines I really liked.

One was the Tin Lizzie 18.  I liked how it "drove" and it was in my "somewhat affordable" category.  (It's all relative, right?!)  I liked how you could be winding a bobbin while you quilted.  Cool.  It seemed to be a really good option for the "hobby quilter."  (I don't plan to do this for a business.  Just for my own enjoyment.)  My SIL just got the Ansley 26, also made by Tin Lizzie.  Color me green with envy.  No, seriously, I am sooooo happy for her.

The other was the APQS Millennium.  This is my dream machine.  I REALLY loved this machine.  But it was expensive (again, relative--they are all expensive!).  To own this machine, I would feel like I'd need to be a professional quilter--be doing it for a business--to justify the expense.  But it is an amazing machine.

Now Linda, over at The Quilted Pineapple, is getting an A-1 (click here to read about it), and there is an awesome dealer right here in Kalamazoo, which would give me great support (click on the "click here to read about it" link above to read Linda's account of the dealer here).  That would be important to me.  And, it appears to be priced somewhere in the middle....  So, I will definitely give that a closer look.  I remember at the show, I barely looked at the A-1, because by the time I got to it, there were only 15 minutes left before the doors closed, and the dealer was busy talking to someone else.  I knew someone in Idaho who had one, though, and she loved it.

So, I have been wanting one of the se machines for 2 years.  And I'm not any closer to having it now than I was 2 years ago. 

I keep thinking, everytime I send a quilt out for quilting, that I could have the machine half paid for by now, for what I've paid for quilting.

Yes, I know, I could solve this problem by quilting my quilts on my home sewing machine.  But I really do NOT enjoy quilting big quilts that way.  It is just NOT fun to me.  I have tried long arms, and I really enjoy that.  I don't want to spend time doing things I don't enjoy.  I am mildly excited to free motion quilt on small things, like wall hangings (you all know about my reluctance there)...but not big stuff.  And I like making big quilts as well as smaller stuff.

Papa Pea and I have been talking, and he said he sees us being ready for it in about 3 years.  (Honestly, we will need to build an addition to our house to house it.  We want to build an addition anyway, to add a dining room and remodel the kitchen upstairs, and to increase the size of our family room.  At that time, we can enlarge my sewing room, which is beneath the kitchen.)

I started thinking that I want to be ready in 3 years.  Therefore, today, I opened up a new savings account at my local bank.  It's called a "Goal Setter Account."  You set a savings goal and when you reach your goal, the bank will match any interest you've earned along the way.  Not much when interest rates are so low, but as my banker said, "It's enough to go buy yourself a celebration dinner for making your goal!"  Cool.

Also, the account is not linked to my checking account, so no temptation to transfer money from savings to checking on-line.  And no ATM card for the account.  You have to actually go into the bank to make a withdrawal.  But you can transfer money FROM checking INTO the savings if you want to.  Just not the other way around.  I like it.

I had a little extra money this month due to some consulting I've been doing and got paid for.  I thought this was a good time to start the savings account so I wouldn't piss that money away.  That is what I started the account with.

So, there.  I committed.  I took action.  Now, perhaps I will actually achieve my goal of owning a long arm machine in 3 years.

As you ponder your New Year's resolutions (if you make them), what are you going to commit and take action on?  Food for thought.

Thanks, Caroll, for the timely post!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

 

 

Comments

[Lynn]

Good for you!! I've been thinking a lot about what I want recently. It is surprisingly hard for me to decided exactly what it is that I want for myself.

[Little Lizard]

Good luck with the goal! I love the steps you are taking to make this work. AND, when you start looking, check out Craigslist. I think that's where my mom found hers. Those suckers are huge! I understand why you'd need an addition.

[Maggie Szafranski]

Steph, I like that you have a goal and are going for it! And that Papa Pea is right there with you! And even the bank is helping you out!

[Shelly]

That bank account sounds like a great idea! I'm glad you're finally going for it . . .

[sisLH]

Well, my goal was to get more fit. Not Twiggy thin-but 'fit'. I have been doing a two-mile 'power walk' almost daily. It takes 25 minutes and is actually enjoyable. The best part? Since tearing my rotator cuff (muscle) over a year ago, I have had limited motion and hooked my bra in the front, then turned it. The past three days, I have hooked it in the back as I can now place my right arm back that far again. Hurrah!!

[Linda]

YES! YES! AND YES! I'm so excited for you! I know that you'll have your LA now that you have a plan!! Girl, we are going to have so much fun!

[sisLH]

P.S - If you're not going to be using that Mario quilt, pack it away and take the money you would have used on quilting it and put that into your special savings account. Same for any others that you make. Then in maybe two years, quilt them all yourself.

[Terri]

Wow, a LA. That rocks. The only reason I don't make big quilts is because I refuse to pay someone else to quilt my quilts (I fancy myself a 'true' quilter (ha!) because I quilt my own, yet I hate to quilt the big ones on my machine (did one and won't ever do it again). I like sisLH's advice.

[Myra]

Yea Stephanie! That's a great idea!

[Caroll D]

You are on the right path and I'm sure will reach your goal. Maybe not exactly as you had planned, but the universe and your mind will get you there. Thanks for the link. Stay positive!