Mammal Chupie Studio: sewing machine repair

Ta-Da!
In the midst of my frustration over the FMQ foot dilemma, I finished the Colorful Bunting in a flash. And better yet, I mailed it to my sister for her (belated) birthday gift package! I'm so happy to check off another project from the list, only 18 more to go!
Speaking of my Q1 list and that FMQ foot.....I FINALLY found a solution and was able to make progress on projects that have been patiently waiting in a pile for free-motion quilting....
Here's some stipple quilting on another Q1 item (studio sign), almost done as well!

The solution...plumbers tape! I know I tried it before, wrapping it on the screw. But it turns out it works much better if I cram it in the hole and tighten the screw into it. I also put a bit of clear polish on the screw that's semi-stripped. All in all, I can now attach and tighten my free motion foot! (YAY!!!)
It may not look pretty, but it's working. And I can continue sewing....phew!

In other news, I'm almost done with super secret baby/mama gifts! Here's a peek at the table from last week and a custom made pattern. (It turned out sooooo cute, can't wait to share it!!)

And a nice little doodle I did and have been thinkin' about making into a quilt..."Bird Vision" is a tentative working title...

Happy sewing!

I've had a bit of a frustraiting start to the week.
My regular sewing machine, the Husquvarna Lily has been recently experiencing some screw tightening issues where the foot attaches. You know, that metal bar that holds the feet. Well when this first happened about a week ago, I almost had a heart attack. Why wouldn't my screw tighten in the hole?!?! Then I realized there was some strippage (my own word) going on. The screw lost some screwy-ness. So I hunted for another screw. Problem solved. Or so I thought!

Yesterday I was gleefully enjoying my new machine cover and was so ready to jump into some FMQing of my art quilt on the wall. (Another from my FAL Q1 list!) I innocently unscrewed the regular foot to replace it with my FMQ foot, and then it happened again! My new screw would not be held in the hole!!! Dear Lord, how I almost lost it. I wasn't in the greatest mood to begin with, and this just about killed it. I promptly went on a search for some of that screw tape stuff plumbers use.

Found some! Merrily returned to the studio feeling good about my improv solution, wrapped the screws and tried them out. Surely this will work, I thought.
No. It did not.
I had to find something else to do before my brain exploded. There's nothing worse then something not working at the exact moment you feel inspired to use it!!!
So I brought out my featherweight which had been giving me serious tension issues the last time I attempted to use it. Fearful that I'd have another failed fix, I crossed my fingers, got out the manuels and took a deep breath.

After a little tinkering, I found that the stupid needle screw thingy wasn't tightened on the opposite side. DUH! I got her working in no time, easily. Crisis averted. Whilst sewing up new doll bodies for the sad paper mache heads that have been floating around, I thought of another temporary solution to my screw tightening dileima on the Lily. I clear coated the shaft hole (pardon my language) with clear nail polish. A couple coats. I've let it dry and will reattempt a screw tightening tonight!