We've got quilts to make.....

I hinted in some previous posts about a surprise that my dad got my mom before he headed off on is trip to China. I'm always finding ways to entertain my mom while my dad goes on his wordly adventures. My mom doesn't care to travel much so she doesn't mind staying home at all. But it can get rather boring without Dad so I always try to find ways to entertain my mom. I thought a new sewing machine would be perfect for her. She's been needing a new one but would never make the purchase.

I did a little research and found this Brother SQ9050 at Walmart. My sister has the previous model just before this one and she loves it. So much so that she thinks it's just as good or better than our Baby Locks that we purchased at the quilting shops for much more. I'm going to get it all set up for my mom and give it a test drive.

I'm hoping that my mom will dive right in with me and tackle two quilts that I want to complete for Christmas presents. I'm wanting to use the fabrics shown below to make 2 lap quilts for the girls' lounge room. To complete the quilts, we're going to have to work quickly. There won't be a lot of time for intricate quilt designs and patterns. My goal is to have 2 machines set up and working. I will do all the cutting and will get Mom started on simple sewing. She used to sew all the time and was very meticulous in her work. I know she'll do a great job. And she does the best binding...and likes to hand stitch it all. Awwwwlright, I lucked out there!! Wish us luck.
If you're in the market for a new sewing machine, here's what the box looks like from Walmart. A Brother SQ9050 is what you're looking for. Price range is $200 + tax. I might even consider this one for Jordan so she'll have her own machine.
It's got oodles and oodles of fun stitching functions. I'm excited about this sewing font because I think it will be great to make quilt labels. I've read that you should put your full name, date and place where the quilt was made on a label and stitch it to you all of your hand sewn items. I know that I would love to see those labels on some of the old quilts I've saved from the auctions and thrift shops.
As for the quilt designs I'm thinking of, I don't really want to use a pattern. Or if we do use a pattern, it needs to be very simple. Here's a few links to some quilt inspiration that I found on Pinterest:

Super simple quilt using wide bands of fabric

this quilt that has wide rows of fabrics sewn together randomly

this easy to make quilt based on square blocks

I'll be sure to pop in with our progress. I'm hoping to keep these quilts a surprise for the reds. That means that Mom and I will have to sew during the day and then put everything away before the girls come home from school. That will be the tricky part.