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New Prada America's Cup collection in green. These Silver and green leather sport sneakers are the best selling Prada style. Made in Italy by Prada. Comes with Prada packaging, authenticity card and elegant sleeper bag.
Black and white statue face on yellow background, Piero Fornasetti was born in Milan, and is now famous as a painter, sculptor, interior decorator, engraver of art books and organiser of international exhibitions and events. He has designed more than 11.000 types of product (such as ties, scarves, waistcoats, umbrellas), as well as articles for the home such as china, furniture, lamps, etc.) inspired by common or unusual sceneries and cultures. His work is characterized by a combination of rigorous attention to detail, a strong sense of imagination and an elegant and mystical sense of humour. Made in Italy by Fornasetti, Milano.
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Baby Flash Cards 2 HD is currently "In the Spotlight" on the iPad App Store, under the Education category. Hurray!!
Up to now the sales of Baby Flash Cards 2 HD has been doing very well, so here we would like to say thanks to all of you. Remember if you have any comments and suggestions, do feel free to drop us an email and let us know.
Baby Flash Cards 2 HD is a Baby Cortex product and now available on iTunes for US$1.99. There's also a preview version, Baby Flash Cards 2 Lite HD, which is free to download.
Don't forget to download our free app Baby Memory Cue Lite on iTunes. There's also a paid version Baby Memory Cue that comes with more different game modes and is avaliable for US$1.99.


In Australia, a member of the public - including a shop owner or employee - can make a "citizen's arrest" if a person has just committed an offence or is in the process of committing an offence, such as shoplifting. But you need to know your rights and responsibilities.
Bear in mind that the police do not advise that a citizen's arrest is made except in extreme circumstances.
1. Did you see them take the item? Courts have confirmed that a member of the public cannot detain someone on a suspicion. You must be satisfied that an offence has actually been committed.
A citizen's arrest must also be made at the time of the offence, not the day after or a few days later.
2. You should confront the shoplifter, show your identification and explain that you wish to talk to them about items they may have taken from the store.
3. Ask the shoplifter to accompany you back to the store office. If you speak in a firm, confident and polite manner most shoplifters will cooperate.
4. Balance the risks. You should consider whether the shoplifter poses a danger to customers or employees in the store.
If an employee is injured while carrying out a citizen's arrest, they may have a civil claim for damages against the shop owner, particularly if they have not received adequate security training.
5. If the shoplifter refuses to accompany you to the store office, you can tell the shoplifter why they are being detained and use reasonable force to detain the shoplifter.
Reasonable force is any force that a reasonable person in your situation would use. However, what seems reasonable force to you may not be what the courts deem to be reasonable.
6. You should advise the shoplifter that the police are being called and call the police immediately. The person making the arrest must present the shoplifter to the police as soon as possible so they can be dealt with according to the law.
7. You should ask the shoplifter to hand over any property that does not belong to them. If the shoplifter refuses, you are not allowed to conduct a search of their person or their property. If a search of their person is conducted against their wishes, you could find yourself charged with assault.
8. Do not leave the shoplifter unattended, as this may give them an opportunity to dispose of any stolen items before the police arrive.
9. You may be required to give evidence about the incident in court, so you should make notes about what you saw, the time, what you did and what was said.
The police will rely on your observations to determine whether there is enough evidence to arrest and charge the shoplifter.
10. You can release the shoplifter at any time. However, if the shoplifter is under 18 years of age, you should only release them into the care of the police, their parent or guardian.
If a citizen's arrest is made, you must remember that you will owe a duty of care to the person you are detaining. If you use too much force, the shoplifter could bring charges of assault against you and you may be called to court.
Candice Fraser is a senior paralegal in the dispute resolution team at Colin Biggers & Paisley.


"Thought leadership" involves a far vaster and more complex labor system than first appears.
CEOs with great online presences have quietly become the new rockstars of the meme-flooded Internet age. At the time of publication, T-Mobile CEO John Legere has 2.9 million followers on his personal Twitter account — more than three times that of the official T-Mobile account. He's loose, he's likable, and he ends his Twitter bio with #IAmBatman. There's Sophia Amoruso, Nasty Girl CEO and self-proclaimed #GIRLBOSS, boasting an impressive 390K following on Instagram alone — a modern feminist icon for myself and many in my demographic. And we can't forget Mark Zuckerberg, whose Facebook following currently stands at a cool 37.2 million. But last week I came across an interesting article that changed my perception on how critically I should be reading the social feeds of my favorite CEOs.
Recently, data scientist David Robinson analyzed the entirety of Donald Trump's official Twitter account, distinguishing between content written by the candidate himself and that written by his staff. Robinson found that tweets coming from Trump's phone used "about 40-80% more words related to disgust, sadness, fear, anger, and other 'negative' sentiments", while his younger staffers stuck to more positive campaign hashtags. Of course, he isn't the only politician who uses millennial workers to help craft his brand. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama aren't strangers to the practice, though they definitely go the more transparent route, signing their personal tweets by a simple initial at the end.
So, where is the rest of the content coming from? It's being outsourced. Just like the career of ghostwriting has never been secret, neither is social media work. Far from it, actually. From 2010 to 2013 alone, the number of social media jobs increased by a whopping 1137%. And if you Google "ghostwriter social media", seven results on just the first page are ads for agencies who can set you up. A search on LinkedIn brings up 6,491 results — and those are only the people who publicize it. Most don't. In fact, the majority of ghostwriters I know personally declined to be quoted for this article. It's a strange kind of invisible work force, and not one people know much about.
What we do know about this workforce is that most of them are women, and they predominantly run the social media accounts of public figures, brands and newsrooms. In fact, the majority of professionals in the public relations sector are women: a study by the Colorado Women's College at the University of Denver found that women account for 55% of leadership roles in social media, but only 23.3% in media at large. Yet the heavy majority of CEOs are men. White men. It's easy to see that an imbalance this vast in the creation and maintenance of personal brands isn't just significant — it reeks of inequality. And the persistent gender wage gap tells me they're probably not being paid the same as their male counterparts, either.
There are a lot of issues with this.
The first is the loss of work credit, of women failing to get the recognition they deserve for their contributions to social media brands, cultures, figures and phenomena. The silence of ghostwriters is secured by one paradox: the nature of the work forbids you from revealing yourself. What exacerbates the problem is that you can't count on others (like your boss) to give credit where it's due, either. Will Kelly, a technical writer and analyst, writes that while "the manager or executive may acknowledge the role of the ghostwriter in team meetings," "the exact contributions of the ghostwriter go unmentioned when that person is talking to their manager or even getting together their list of accomplishments come annual review time." I have read stories of ghostwriters out there who do their job so well, their boss claims to have written those thoughts themselves. The intellectual anonymity of the space (what's considered "the norm") thus ends up perpetuating a vicious cycle of sexism. A space where women aren't heard, where they stay stuck in certain roles against the top of their glass ceiling, left to be the anonymous voice of another who receives the vast majority of the credit, benefits and compensation.
An online being must be nurtured, and social media workers are at the wheel.
So, CEOs — just like us? Not exactly. Their thought leadership is a part of a larger, professional strategy, and involves a far vaster and more complex labor system than first appears.
Either way, there's no indication that social media ghostwriting will cease anytime soon. In fact, the opposite is likely true. A Forbes article I found titled "The Entrepreneur's Field Guide To Using Social Media Channels" recommends "Hir[ing] a college intern to run Snapchat for you. They'll figure it out much better than you ever will." It's currently at 34,000 views. But who knows? The next time you tap "Retweet" on a good piece of content, you might consider the name on the handle isn't the one we should pay tribute to.


Warm weather is approaching which means it's officially vacation season for many families. While traveling to a new place and experiencing a new location is exciting, it can also be very dangerous. Without the proper preparation your vacation could turn into a long-term hospital stay. What's the most important part of that preparation? Vaccinations!
Travel vaccinations are a type of vaccination used to protect you when you enter a country that isn't your home. Other regions of the world can carry illness and disease that we don't see here in the United States. Since the diseases aren't present here, we hold no natural immune defense against them.
Before embarking on a vacation to another country, you should discuss what vaccinations you need with your doctor. By getting the vaccination 4-6 weeks before your trip you will have the peace of mind that you're protected the entire time you're away.
Travel vaccinations serve an important role in not only your personal safety, but the safety of everyone around you after you return home from your travels. To give a better understanding of their importance, let's take a closer look at each level of protection.
Personal safety – travel vaccinations will ensure you have a happy and healthy trip. Without vaccinations you could end up hospitalized in a foreign country and, in sever cases, dead. Without vaccinations you can easily catch an illness from something as simple as eating and drinking in the local region you're visiting.
Peer protection – if you become ill during your time away and return to the states carrying the disease with you, everyone you come into contact with is at risk. They haven't been vaccinated because they weren't the ones traveling. That means it's your personal responsibility to get vaccinated in order to protect those around you. Because of this, you may even be unable to re-enter to country if you can't show proof that you received the necessary vaccinations before your travels.
Receiving your travel vaccinations is quick and easy. The CDC offers vaccination clinics in areas all around the country. If you have a family doctor or primary care provider, they should be able to administer the vaccination as well. The process is quick and comes with little to no risk of any side effects. To learn more about what vaccinations you need, how to get them, and what to expect, visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.


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Home · Celebrity
'Celebrity Apprentice' Episode 8 Recap
It's Monday morning and we're still recovering from last night's episodes of "Celebrity Apprentice" — which drew out the claws and fangs from the ladies team! This week's task was to put together a four-page editorial ad for Trump hotels. Though both teams had good intentions, both failed miserably — leaving Trump not to declare a winner but rather who did less worse. After that, the boardroom was lit on fire by NeNe, Star and La Toya. Check out the show's top 5 moments including who was sent home packing...
By Derrick Bryson Taylor · Updated October 28, 2020
It's Monday morning and we're still recovering from last night's episodes of "Celebrity Apprentice" — which drew out the claws and fangs from the ladies team! This week's task was to put together a four-page editorial ad for Trump hotels. Though both teams had good intentions, both failed miserably — leaving Trump not to declare a winner but rather who did less worse. After that, the boardroom was lit on fire by NeNe, Star and La Toya. Check out the show's top 5 moments including who was sent home packing…
In an odd moment before the teams recieved their challenge, Trump asked if he ran for President, would they vote for him. The looks on team's faces were priceless! It's clear that they don't want Trump running this country, and we agree — he needs to stay in his lane! He can barely run "Celebrity Apprentice." But it was interesting how the timing of the episode coincided with his recent remarks on Obama.
Coming to Jesus Meeting
Right from the get-go, NeNe had a nasty attitude. Girlfriend was still upset over La Toya's comments from last week's episode. While the team was sitting down planning their new challenge, they decided to have what Star calls a "coming to Jesus meeting," where they put all their emotions on the table. NeNe quickly realized that she hurt La Toya over and over again during the course of the show. After sharing words, the two came to a truce and ultimately kissed and made-up. But just moments later NeNe was insensitive yet again to Star. NeNe needs to wake up and stop being so rude to her teammates. She's there to raise money for a charity not to make friends. Girlfriend is straddling the line of sophisticated/smart and hot ghetto mess/drama queen!
Presentations Gone to Hell
The women's team put on a God-awful presentation. It looked more like a elementary school pageant than anything else. Under Star's control, the team players looked more like puppets popping in and out with random words to describe the Trump experience like "elegance," "beauty," "luxury." Could it have been any worse? But La Toya had the best word of the night: "Corny!" It was a total mess — they needed to go back do it all over again. On top of that, their photo shoot ideas were a completely boring! They lacked originality and spunk — perhaps someone else with more creative juices should have taken on this challenge. And the mens' team had so many issues, where do we begin?
Star Runs the Circus
Of course when Star Jones rules, she rules with a heavy hand. But now we're starting to see that Star is slick and, may we say, manipulative in her ways. While sitting with her team across from Trump, she decided to pull both NeNe and La Toya into the boardroom after learning her team did worse than the men. She was hoping NeNe would co-sign with her to fire La Toya and that's what happened. But we have to admit, it was shady! Our question is: why didn't Star pull Hope into the boardroom? That "broad," as she refers to her, isn't worth a few dimes in our book.
Boardroom Cat Fight
The three enter the board room. Star suggests beforehand that they all tell the truth and "let the chips fall where they may." But we know Star had other plans — meaning she wanted La Toya out! The entire time Star was working like a slick fox dodging being fired. The conversation shifted to who was weaker and who needed to be eliminated so a strong team could move forward. La Toya tried her best to defend herself and she made some valid points, but it wasn't enough — she was fired. Upon her exit, she didn't say anything to Star but gave NeNe a hug. After this episode, our feelings towards Star have changed big-time — she's not as nice as we all thought.
Next week, NeNe looks like she's about to explode. She gets in Star's face and lets her have it! Oh the drama! Catch it next week and join our conversation on Sunday night at 9pm on both Twitter and Facebook.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Dutch wallpaper manufacturers NLXL, founded in 2010 by Rick and Esther Vintage, specialise in innovative, premium quality wall décor.
Each collection is put together by a designer or artist like Piet Hein Eek, the people behind MERCI, or Piet Boon. Wall covers by NLXL are characterised by their unusual non-repetitiveness. Individual planks of wood, tiles, or details of concrete will never be duplicated in a roll of wallpaper, creating structure and tension that captures the eye.
The award-winning NLXL range is also present in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York.


As time goes on I seem to accumulate more and more sewing tools. Nothing wrong with that of course. I always am quite frugal with my spending though and wondered about whether it is worth spending more to get a 'better quality' tool that would give me 'better' sewing results or last longer. What do you think?
So I thought I would look at some of my budget sewing tools and some of the more expensive alternatives, and consider if it was time to upgrade. Let's have a look at the differences and I'd love to know from you if you think one is better than the other, where it might be worth investing more money or where the budget option is good enough.
Ok so this seems like a very obvious place to start, with our home sewing machines. Mine is a basic Brother that I brought back very carefully in my hand luggage from a weekend shopping trip to the USA. I got it in Walmart and it cost about $150. The exact model is discontinued but its very similar to this one, the Brother CS6000i which is the number one best-selling sewing machine on Amazon. When people write and ask what machine would be good for a beginner on a limited budget I always recommend this one. One of my sewing blogging buddies has it and swears by it.
Now I LOVE my machine, but you could say I really don't know any better. It's the only one I've ever used. I know that you can spend a LOT of money on a sewing machine but does it make your end results any better? Will your sewing be better if you have a 'better' machine?
I recently attended my first ever sewing event, at Sewing Holiday (review of the event here), and all of the machines there were provided by Babylock. My first chance to try out another machine. I used the Rachel, which is a lower end beginner machine, similar to my Brother. In fact it looked very similar, had all the same features and stitches, worked the same. It was nice to use, smooth, perhaps a little quieter although that was hard to tell in a busy classroom environment, but I didn't notice that my sewing on this machine was any better than on my machine at home.
The price for the Babylock Rachel – list price is $599, although dealers will often discount or give you a special at around $500 I'm told. So that's 3-4 times what I paid for mine, for a machine that does exactly the same things. I'm going to be controversial here and say the Brother is my choice because of the great value for money if you are looking for a starter machine. Mine has lasted me 3 years in a very salty humid environment, still works perfectly, has never been serviced, and I don't see myself outgrowing it any time soon.
That's not to say that there aren't other machines worth investing in. Some machines are undoubtedly better than others and some will deal better with certain applications than others. Plan to sew a lot of bags, home decor or thick layers? Then you'll need a machine that can bust through those layers easily and feed them smoothly, and not all of the lower end machines can do that well.
If you are lucky enough to have a larger budget for your machine, the sky is pretty much the limit on how much you can spend, and which of the premium brands you can pick from. I know someone who actually owns this Brother Dream Machine – can you believe it! Built in lasers and all sorts of other cools things she told me about that I can't even imagine – sounds space age to me. She tells me that this machine will certainly improve your sewing because the stitching is laser guided, has a digital dual feed for total accuracy (and lot of other amazing features), but with a price tag of around $12-14,000 dollars, that's not something I'll probably ever be able to afford in this lifetime.
Brother USA – if you are reading, I'd love to try one. Send it over for me to 'review' 😉 I'll send it back, maybe….
Modern or 'vintage'? Plastic or metal?
When we talk machines in the sewing chat group, many still swear by their older or vintage machines for reliability and quality. As the saying goes, they don't make 'em like they used to. Does heavy still mean quality when it comes to machines? Is an all-metal body/frame/workings better than the more modern materials? I once read an article from a sewing machine repair man that argued that many of the more modern plastic components were better these days than the older ones, but as usual I can't find that again now when I want to link to it.
I cant say and would have to leave that up to you to decide.
If you want to take a good look inside the Brother CS6000i linked to above, here is an excellent discussion on Pattern Review where you can look inside at all of the parts. You might have to login or register to see it though because I think it's in the forums section. There are a lot of comments both in support of budget machines and totally against them, so it's an interesting read.
No, you don't need an expensive machine to sew well. I think I do pretty well, although obviously I'm still learning and have a way to go, but my budget machine enables me to create things beautifully and I'm very satisfied with it for my current level of expertise and the projects that I am likely to make. That's not to say if Brother, Babylock or Bernina or someone else called me up and asked if I would like a free top of the range sewing machine, that I would turn them down (still waiting on that call…) but the less I spend on my machine the more money I have left to spend on fabric!
However if you have the budget and can afford it, yes, treat yourself to a really nice quality top of the range machine with all the bells and whistles, dealer support, good warranty, sewing lessons included and more. You won't be sorry and it will probably last you a very long time with very little trouble.
Feel free to disagree with me in the comments. I love a healthy honest debate. Tell me about your machine, and why its worth paying so much more for it.
Affiliate disclosure 😉 Nope, I'm not a representative of Brother, Babylock or anyone else and don't earn a commission if you buy a Dream Machine! But if you do, let me know what it's like!
77 Responses to Tool Tip. Do quality tools lead to better sewing?
I learned to sew on my great-grandmom's old Singer machine. Expensive at the time, at 100 Dutch silver florins. It is still working fine.
My mom later bought a cheap electric machine. It was a drag.
My own first sewing machine was an all metal fantasy brand, made by Brother. At 500 silver Dutch silver florins it was the most expensive and best I could afford. Maintenance is a breeze. It is so easy to take of the outer parts, for cleaning and oiling. That was about 5 years ago and is is still working, though I have used some repairparts from I recently bought secondhand twin that has cost me 20 Euro. There is no way to obtain parts for this machine otherwise. Now and before no sewingmachine shop wanted to service this machine, since it is a fantasy brand. But I can do it all myself.
A newer 'computerized' machine was gifted to me. It is the expensive Brother Pacesetter PC8500. Only about 20 years old, but a tiny litle part is worn out and Brother Europe says the machine is to old for servicing. They do not deliver parts anymore.
I will not buy an expensive new machine, for it is not an investment.Just throwing money out the window. The wellknown brands think it is O.K. to let the customers pay a lot and refuse service after a couple of years.
For automatic buttonhole and many automatic stitches, I recently bought a Singer 6180. Definately a low end machine, but with the modern features that I missed in the old machine. I know plastic does not last as long as metal. It is not designed for easy repairs. Difficult to get inside and the plastic will not survive taking apart often. But it will do for now.
This Singer was bought at Lidl for only €100.- and it came with a flow. The factory setting was wrong: the needle was set to low. But with adjusting a screw that was repaired. Now it works well. This machine is made in Vietnam. Spareparts can be ordered in China for cheap. I expect that service will not last long, so I have ordered some parts in advance.
I know there are nicer machines, but in the absence of good service, for how long will they function well?
I think it is not wise to buy expensive machines from an industrie that does not maintain service.
I think you are so right, service seems to be the problem everywhere you look.
The all-metal fantasy brand machine was not bought 5 years ago, but 50 years. So, it is a vintage machine. Actually, it is the Vendomatic B785 that is the same as Brother Pacesetter XL.
I have never heard of such machine, would you share a picture with me?
An her you find a michine like my great-grand-mother had, plus my own vintage machines inside, https://vlierbloesem.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/singer/ That is, after an artist had its way with a machine like mine.
Thank you I had a look what a wonderful machine!
I learned to sew on my mom's old singer. It would zig zag and straight stitch and that's it. when I got to Jr high, they had machines that went so fast! LOL. After being without a machine for 20 years, I bought a cheapo Brother from Walmart, a more frustrating experience I can't remember It couldn't hold tension, stitch length was uneven, what a piece of junk. I hardly sewed, hated it. When My mother-in-law passed, I inherited several machines, mostly to old and complicated to bother with, and her wonderful school model Singer (she taught Home-ec!) I love to sew, now, this machine is such a pleasure. My skills have improved enough, I'm considering a new machine with more bells and whistles, but I know I'll keep this old girl set up for basics, can't go wrong with her.
Passing this on from a seamstress who literally puts miles or kilometers on her machine: she uses a good basic machine. When it wears out, she just replaces it with another $100+ machine. She will buy several when they are on sale. Not worth the hassle doing otherwise.
At this time i am 64 years old so I have had some experiences with machines. I started out with push pedaling my grandmother's old singer i did the pushing and she did the sewing. Once she realized how keen i was on sewing. She taught me on the other old singer with a knee bar. my feet would have never reached the pedals. And i must say, I sewed my fingers then and i have never broken that habit. Then as time went on, we moved to portables. The first one, I don't know what it was, was wonderful, but i kinda missed the table singer with the push bar. The top of this one (it was bought in the early 60's) had light blue "textured cover". It really screamed 60's. The sewing machines in school where singer's and another brand, White maybe. I can't remember.
When I started buying my own machines, i bought a singer, and i was really disappointed and gave it away, then I got a kenmore, and another and another. My oldest still has my last one.
Then I went big and got a MC Janome. I forget the number. After a few years the step motor went on it and I gave it to my second daughter. She still hasn't fixed it. We have to have a talk about that. And I bought a MC5700. I had also realized by that time that janome made kenmore and Elna. The Kenmore and Elna didn't quite match to the memory craft 5700 so I stayed with Janome. But today i want to try and order a brother CS6000i to take camping with me and my horse. All in all mistakes are usually driver error, but don't get me wrong, there are crappy machines out there. But before getting rid of it…service it and keep it cleaned and oiled especially the mechanical ones. Oh. I have a mechanical school Janome too.
gee, certainly talked to much.
I have a cheap brother also and it is well over 10 years old. I love it. There's nothing I can't do with it. I make bags, clothes, stuffed animals, you name it.
Buy the best machine (metal parts) you can afford and it pays off. My experience shows to buy the best machine with metal insides is the way to go. 30 years ago and just out of school and on a low budget, I bought a Singer for me and one for my mom as a gift to replace her worn out old Singer. Total garbage, would not hold tension at all pretty quickly. Learned the hard way – plastic insides!! I bought a little better Singer as a gift for my mom and it was garbage also. Total waste of money! Learned my lesson and about 27 years ago, I saved up to buy a computerized Bernina – heavy as can be a perfect machine all of these years. Almost no maintenance and cleaning and it runs like new. The last time I got it serviced, the guy told me I could sell it anytime for big money. So it has cost me very little per year and per project.
When I give advice or gifts now for machines, the best deal is the Baby Lock BL9. Excellent beginner machine or extra machine at a low price. I have bought and recommended many.
I too have a Bernina, an over locker that is a trusting as a labrador! But, I most say nothing equals experience when it comes to machinery. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Like Deby says in this post, she does well with her machine, and I am so happy for her! But no amount of sewing experience (or money) can overcome a machine that does not work well or cannot hold tension and adjustment. And it is just no fun! The repair costs can exceed the cost of a new machine, and beginners are likely to quit.
I agree I also 30 years ago bought a brenina computorised sewing machine and to this day I have had four different machines in my life time and the brenina is by far the best ever and it still runs perfect with no defects and matnence once every five to ten years. My new dream machine is 3years old and needs to go in for a fix on the threader wow what a sad thing it was tripple the price and I use this machine daily as i have with my brenina this one will not last 30+ years but someone will get my Brenina when I die I am sure it will still run for them all metal and the computer still works like a charm. I love to sew everything from Quilts to clothing, home furnishings bags just about anything and I also Embroider whic is why I bought the Brother sorry now should have bought the Brenina, oh well live and learn.
I think there is definitely a difference in quality between cheap and expensive machines. I have a metal 1974 Elna which I bought second hand 20 years ago for (then) about US$175. I have had mine serviced maybe two or three times and it is still going and doing well for "normal" use (clothing, lights bags and totes including denim and supple leather). My daughter had a cheap plastic one which did not even last three years with light use! But there are limitations to my machine. It has only four different feet and no automatic button hole maker (I avoid button holes like the plague), and it has no adjustable foot pressure. I like the really expensive modern machines that do embroidery 🙂 If I bought another one I would probably still prefer a "better" machine second hand than a new machine for the same price, but I would make sure it came from a reputable dealer with some sort of warranty and back-up support. I agree that to cope with heavy leather and furnishings you probably need to spend six to ten times what you would spend on a mid-level machine, or buy a dedicated second hand industrial machine.
Budget or higher quality – it all depends on what you want to sew and what you really can afford.
If you sew "basic" things, mend a few garements, maybe home decoration or even a bag or purse (when you do not mind using the handwheel as soon as you have to tackle more than 6 layers of normal "quilt weight" fabric) – a machine for 150 to 200$ will do the job.
But: once it comes to high precision work, like intricate piecing where 1/64″ matters, or, lets say, sewing leather purses and bags, sewing the most delicate fabrics like thin silk and so on, a budget machine will not really be able to give you any satisfying result at all.
In fact: Try sewing 4 layers of leather with a budget machine and most likely they will even break – without the option of having it fixed because fixing would cost more than the machine is still worth.
Now, where does "budget" end and where does "pricey" start?
If you are really shooting for high quality, you need to save up to 1500$ to 2000$ to get you something that will last you for 15 to 20 years (when you get the machine serviced regularly and take good care of it).
I am a Bernina girl these days, since Pfaff just isn't what it used to be any longer.
My trusty Bernina aurora 440 has gone many ways with me – though the most delicate fabrics like thin silk, loads of jeans that I have sewn for my twins up to mending my leather pants that I used to wear riding my motorcycle.
Surprisingly, you were showing the "mostly metal" interior of exactly this machine in your post. There is no way for the little mechanics to shift and move within that solid metal frame. The machine sits on the table like a rock and just does its job.
In my classes, I have had loads of students having trouble with their "discount" machines, especially when it comes to "heavy duty" seams when we are sewing bags. The nice ones among them, who blame themselves first before blaming the fabric, the thread or even the machine, usually get the chance to give the same seam a shot on my machine – which usually teaches them the lesson that their machine just isn't made for making bags.
It happened quite often that the same ladies came back with a new, pricey machine for their next class with me 🙂 So there must be something about it.
If, however someone is completely new to sewing and has never had a sewing machine, I usually recommend that they go asking around family and friends if someone has an old sewing machine that is no longer in use.
Most of the time, there will be an old lady with a good old "boat anchor" from the 60s or 70s that is still a great machine – which you mostly get for nothing… clean it, oil it. search for the user manual online and have ablast with a sewing machine that will tackle most beginner sewing up to intermediate sewing, and no fuzz with purses or thick fabrics.
All in all I agree with your post: 150$ or 500$ – it makes no difference.
Differences start at 1500$ for new machines.
A trusty Singer "boat anchor" from the 70s is worth more than any new plastic sewing machine that you can buy for up to 750$ these days.
Jane, your experience matches mine. when i was a kid (i'm 70 now) our budget was so tight we sewed with Kenmore and Montgomery Ward machines. At one point, Mom and i would switch machines depending on the weight of our fabric. Using those basic machines taught me a lot about sewing things that are now done automatically. A lot of those old macines are still around and would, imho, make better first machines than a basic new machine. After a few projects to get the feel of sewing, buying a more modern machine will feel less daunting. But research carefully. My favorite research technique is to read tons of reviews on the internet, skipping 5star reviews altogether, reading lots of 2's and threes to what kinds of problems users have, and 4's to see if users like the machine in spite of complaints in 2's and 3's and why. Also, if you can get an experienced sewer to try out a used machine with you, that would help.
I was just considering a new Brother sewing machine! For the last 25 years, I've been sewing with Pfaff machines, and I'm thoroughly disgusted. I recently paid over $200 to have my Hobby 1040 repaired, and now the feed dogs don't work! UGH! My favorite machine of all time was my Viking 990. When I purchsed it, it was considered the top of the line, but price was no issue to me since I lived with my parents and had a great job as an RN.I wish I had kept that machine, but the motherboard was shot and I wanted a similar machine that had embroidery features.I couldn't afford another Viking, but the Pfaff wasn't cheap, either! On a brighter note, I've had no issues with my Pfaff Coverlock serger.I love that machine!
The price one pays for a machine is not as important as the reliability of the manufacturer — the overall quality of the full line of the machines. I spent 20 years using an inexpensive Kenmore just fine, until the clutch gave out. That said, I now own a Janome Horizon MC 7700 — a rather more expensive machine than my old Kenmore, but much better suited to quilting — both the piecing and free motion quilting — than a lower end machine. I could have spent more for the same features from a different company, but Janome had the right price point with the reliability reputation I desired.
Note that the model of Brother you use is indeed very popular, but other Brother models are not. Brother has a very uneven reliability reputation — some are great, some are disappointing. Sites like PatternReview provide good critical guidance in choosing a machine to suit one's particular needs and budget.
I learned on old singers – one grandma had a 500 series Golden Touch & Sew and the other had a 403A. My first machine was a 70s Singer. I upgraded from that to a mechanical Viking & have since moved on to a new Viking Sapphire. I miss the no-nonsense workhorse nature of the mechanical Viking. It just needed TLC (generous lubrication) of the stitch selector – a known issue with that particular model. I love my sapphire, but I refuse to mend dirty horse blankets with it (a task that my mechanical Viking did willingly with the promise of a cleaning).
I've since purchased machines similar to my grandmas' machines for the nostalgia, but I intend to use them to teach my daughter on. I appreciate the fact that I have been able to service them myself while the Viking sapphire may be self-lubricating, but it isn't owner-serviceable.
Outside of special stitches and button holes, the differences between the modern and vintage machines is like the difference between driving a car with an automatic transmission and a stick shift – if your skills are lacking the more expensive machine isn't going to help.
n the one I can get in York.


The polytunnel is full of life!
The polytunnel is complete and now full of tomatoes, melons, courgettes, salad and much more. Thanks to everyone who helped raise the polytunnel. Come along to see it in its full glory!
As well as that the children set to building a den under the tree platform and also made substantial progress clearing out a lovely space and starting to lay a floor. Any ideas/offers of materials to make the walls will be gratefully received.
As ever, there was also substantial progress on the various beds and many weeds are now no more, while new beds are fully planted up.


text:
Q: ASP.Net 3.5 AjaxControlToolkit CollapsiblePanelExpander in Master In UpdatePanel partial postback woes Long time reader first time poster
I have a content page linked to a master page.  The master has the toolkitscriptmanager.  On the content page, I have a nested repeater within the item template of the parent repeater, I have a CollapsiblePanelExtender for the child repeater control.  Upon partial postback, if the collapsed attribute is not set, then all of the panels expand.  If the collapsed attribute is set to true, then all of the panels are collapsed upon partial postback.
The databinding of the repeater is occurring in the page_init section of the code behind, and I am checking the state of the panels by iterating through the items in the page_load event.  Nothing appears to be working, while debugging the code, I do see the properties being appropriately set, but when rendered in the browser, all panels are open.  The edit event that triggers the partial postback is preformed in a modalpopup.
I have attempted to move the panels into their own update panel, remove the update panel, place the modal outside of the update panel to no avail.  The ViewState is not maintained.
Page Code:
<asp:Repeater ID="rptrConsultants" runat="server" OnItemCommand="rptrConsultants_ItemCommand" OnItemDataBound="rptrConsultants_ItemDataBound">
                            <HeaderTemplate>

                                    Your Consultants (Click on the image beside the consultant to view their group memberships)

                                    Official names are listed. Expanding the consultant will show the name assigned and the related groups.

                                            Actions

                                            Consultant information

                            </HeaderTemplate>
                            <FooterTemplate>

                                <asp:Label ID="lblNoConsultant" runat="server" Text="You have not created any consultants" Visible="false"></asp:Label>
                            </FooterTemplate>
                            <ItemTemplate>

                                        <asp:Image ID="imgConsultantExpander" runat="server" ToolTip="Click here to toggle consultant details" AlternateText="Toggle Consultant Details" />
                                        <asp:ImageButton ID="btnDeleteConsultant" AlternateText="Delete Consultant" runat="server" CausesValidation="false" CommandName="DeleteConsultant" CommandArgument='<%#DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "IndividualsID")%>' ImageUrl="~/Styles/Images/Icons/remove_consultant.png" ToolTip="Delete consultant" />
                                        <asp:ImageButton ID="btnAddConsultantToNewGroup" AlternateText="Add consultant to a new group" runat="server" CommandName="AddConsultantToGroup" CommandArgument='<%#DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "IndividualsID")%>' ImageUrl="~/Styles/Images/Icons/add_user_to_group.png" ToolTip="Add consultant to a new group" />

                                        <%#DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "Name")%>
                                        (<%#DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "UserID") %>)
                                        <asp:Label ID="lblGroupCount" runat="server" />

                                        <asp:Panel ID="pnlConsultantExpander" runat="server">
                                            <asp:Repeater ID="rptrConsultantGroups" runat="server" DataSource='<%#Container.DataItem.Row.GetChildRows("ConsultantGroupRelation") %>' OnItemCommand="rptrConsultantGroups_ItemCommand">
                                                <HeaderTemplate>

                                                                Actions

                                                                Membership

                                                                Nick Name

                                                </HeaderTemplate>
                                                <ItemTemplate>

                                                            <asp:ImageButton ID="btnEditConsultant" AlternateText="Edit Consultant" runat="server" CommandName="EditConsultantInGroup" CommandArgument='<%#Container.DataItem("GroupID") & "|" & Container.DataItem("GroupMembershipID")%>' ImageUrl="~/Styles/Images/Icons/edit_consultant.png" />
                                                            <asp:ImageButton ID="btnDeleteConsultant" AlternateText="Remove from group" runat="server" CommandName="DeleteConsultantFromGroup" CommandArgument='<%#Container.DataItem("GroupID") & "|" & Container.DataItem("GroupMembershipID")%>' ImageUrl="~/Styles/Images/Icons/delete_fromgroup.png" ToolTip="Remove from group" />

                                                            <%#Container.DataItem("GroupName")%>

                                                            <%#Container.DataItem("nickname")%>

                                                </ItemTemplate>
                                                <FooterTemplate>

                                                </FooterTemplate>
                                            </asp:Repeater>
                                        </asp:Panel>
                                        <asp:CollapsiblePanelExtender ID="cpepnlConsultantExpander" runat="server" TargetControlID="pnlConsultantExpander" CollapseControlID="imgConsultantExpander" ExpandControlID="imgConsultantExpander" CollapsedImage="~/Styles/Images/Icons/user_info.png" ExpandedImage="~/Styles/Images/Icons/user_open.png" ImageControlID="imgConsultantExpander" EnableViewState="true" CollapsedSize="0" />

                            </ItemTemplate>
                        </asp:Repeater>

And then the code behind method that occurs in page_load:
Private Sub setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(ByVal rptr As Repeater)
    For Each item As RepeaterItem In rptr.Items
        If ((item.ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem) Or (item.ItemType = ListItemType.Item)) Then
            For Each ctl As Control In item.Controls
                If (TypeOf ctl Is AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender) Then
                    Dim cpe As AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender = DirectCast(ctl, AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender)
                    If (Not IsPostBack()) Then
                        cpe.Collapsed = True
                        cpe.ClientState = "true"
                    Else
                        Dim isCollapsed As Boolean
                        If (Request.Form(cpe.UniqueID & "_ClientState") IsNot Nothing) Then
                            isCollapsed = (Request.Form(cpe.UniqueID & "_ClientState").ToString() = "true")
                        Else
                            isCollapsed = True
                        End If
                        If (isCollapsed) Then
                            cpe.ClientState = "true"
                            cpe.Collapsed = True
                        Else
                            cpe.ClientState = "false"
                            cpe.Collapsed = False
                        End If
                    End If
                End If
            Next
        End If
    Next
End Sub

Note that the initial load event works!  The panels are all collapsed on page load
Also note, that the repeater is nested in a tabPanel
Thank you in advance for your answer!
sorry for the long winded explanation
EDIT:
Update:
Attempted the Javascript Route -- Still no avail
    pageLoad = function()
    {
            CheckStatusOfPanels();
    };

    function CheckStatusOfPanels()
    {
        var allBehaviors = Sys.Application.getComponents();
        for (var loopIndex = 0; loopIndex < allBehaviors.length; loopIndex++)
        {
            currentBehavior = allBehaviors[loopIndex];
            if (currentBehavior._name && currentBehavior.get_name() == 'CollapsiblePanelBehavior')
            {
                var myID = currentBehavior.get_id() + '_ClientState';
                var isCollapsed = document.getElementById(myID).value
                if (isCollapsed == 'true')
                {
                    currentBehavior.expandPanel();
                    currentBehavior._ClientState = isCollapsed;
                }
                else
                {
                    currentBehavior.collapsePanel();
                    currentBehavior._ClientState = isCollapsed;
                }
            }
        }
    }

** UPDATE #2 **
My Rep is under 100 so I have to wait 8 hrs for the ability to answer my own question:
Here is my "fix" after working almost all day on this:
Ok finally found a solution.  Here it goes:
Using the SetCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater method posted in my original post, I added the call to this method in the updatePanel prerender method, and Voila the panels now preserve their state....
Protected Sub updtpnlMain_PreRender(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles updtpnlMain.PreRender
    setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(rptrGroups)
    setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(rptrConsultants)

End Sub

For Clarity for others Googling this issue, the method that sets the panel events is:
Private Sub setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(ByVal rptr As Repeater)
    For Each item As RepeaterItem In rptr.Items
        If ((item.ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem) Or (item.ItemType = ListItemType.Item)) Then
            For Each ctl As Control In item.Controls
                If (TypeOf ctl Is AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender) Then
                    Dim cpe As AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender = DirectCast(ctl, AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender)
                    If (Not IsPostBack()) Then
                        cpe.Collapsed = True
                        cpe.ClientState = "true"
                    Else
                        Dim isCollapsed As Boolean
                        If (Request.Form(cpe.UniqueID & "_ClientState") IsNot Nothing) Then
                            isCollapsed = (Request.Form(cpe.UniqueID & "_ClientState").ToString() = "true")
                        Else
                            isCollapsed = True
                        End If
                        If (isCollapsed) Then
                            cpe.ClientState = "true"
                            cpe.Collapsed = True
                        Else
                            cpe.ClientState = "false"
                            cpe.Collapsed = False
                        End If
                    End If
                End If
            Next
        End If
    Next
End Sub

A: Toolkitscript manager at master pages causes real problems. You may find your solution as using at individual content pages.
Also are you sure that you have enabled viewstate at content pages like this
<%@ Page EnableViewState="true" Language="C#" AutoEventWireup="true" CodeFile="myfile.aspx.cs"
    Inherits="myfile" %>

This is for C#

A: Ok finally found a solution.  Here it goes:
Using the SetCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater method posted in my original post, I added the call to this method in the updatePanel prerender method, and Voila the panels now preserve their state....
Protected Sub updtpnlMain_PreRender(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles updtpnlMain.PreRender
    setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(rptrGroups)
    setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(rptrConsultants)

End Sub

For Clarity for others Googling this issue, the method that checks the status of the panels and collapses / expands them is:
Private Sub setCollapsiblePanelsInRepeater(ByVal rptr As Repeater)
    For Each item As RepeaterItem In rptr.Items
        If ((item.ItemType = ListItemType.AlternatingItem) Or (item.ItemType = ListItemType.Item)) Then
            For Each ctl As Control In item.Controls
                If (TypeOf ctl Is AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender) Then
                    Dim cpe As AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender = DirectCast(ctl, AjaxControlToolkit.CollapsiblePanelExtender)
                    If (Not IsPostBack()) Then
                        cpe.Collapsed = True
                        cpe.ClientState = "true"
                    Else
                        Dim isCollapsed As Boolean
                        If (Request.Form(cpe.UniqueID & "_ClientState") IsNot Nothing) Then
                            isCollapsed = (Request.Form(cpe.UniqueID & "_ClientState").ToString() = "true")
                        Else
                            isCollapsed = True
                        End If
                        If (isCollapsed) Then
                            cpe.ClientState = "true"
                            cpe.Collapsed = True
                        Else
                            cpe.ClientState = "false"
                            cpe.Collapsed = False
                        End If
                    End If
                End If
            Next
        End If
    Next
End Sub

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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We are very excited to announce that our team has grown! Dan Broadbent has joined the team as the WYI Programs Manager. Dan has recently returned from leading two back to back Nurses in Action programs in Kenya in June and August this year as well as two programs in Nepal in January and March of this year.
Dan's connection with World Youth stretches back to 2007 when he participated on an Overseas Action Program in Kenya and has continued in various roles and capacities ever since, including having taken on the role of Team Leader six times (we think this must be a record!) and co-facilitating the annual WYI Personal Empowerment Program for the last few years.
Outside of WYI, Dan has spent the last ten years working extensively in program development and delivery roles, including three years at a national not for profit supporting young people living with cancer, and before that, twelve months in the remote Central Desert community of Papunya.
We are extremely fortunate to have Dan on board along with his skills, experience and his disproportionately loud laugh.
Welcome Dan!
Nurses in Action Kenya, August 2018
"In August, nine incredible and gifted nurses landed in Kisumu full of excitement about their Nurses in Action adventure.
Over the four weeks that followed, this group did some amazing work! From driving down to the beaches along the edges of Lake Victoria to deworm the hundred plus young people in attendance, to delivering dynamic and engaging education sessions to health centre staff which resulted in, and with no word of a lie, a senior nurse throwing her hands in the air and joyously exclaiming that she had learnt something new and that they would never do things the way they had previously again!
These nurses gave freely and generously of their time, effort and knowledge to anyone and everyone they met. There are countless other moments like these to share, where lives were touched and individual's worlds were shifted because of the care these amazing humans provided, but I could never do them all justice."
Dan Broadbent, Team Leader.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Team Leaders Dan and Sophia and the team; Nicole, Kylie, Jessica, Brooke, Renee, Toni, Mica, Abbey and Shaeleigh, for their amazing efforts!
"On vulnerable children's day, this beautiful girl spoke words to me that will forever be in my heart. She said 'I will never forget you, even when you go back to Australia'. I don't think she will ever know the weight of these words or that I will never forget her either. The people of Kenya have changed me forever and I am all the better for it.
It is so hard to briefly summarise my time spent in Kenya, but what I can say is, leaving the beautiful people and country was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am already planning when I can return to Kenya to visit new friends who now feel like family!"
– Toni Trevor, volunteer Nurses in Action Kenya, August 2018.
Thank you to our August nurses!
Dorca lives in Odede, Kenya and regularly cooks up delicious meals for our volunteers, as well as offering cooking lessons!
During the August Nurses in Action program, Dorca was near her home when she collapsed and started having intense seizures. Charles (her husband) carried her back to the house, but as soon as the nurses heard her cries of distress, everyone leapt into action. Some taking vitals, some putting her into the recovery position, others occupying their children and providing them comfort. The team carried her into the yard and managed her seizures so she was safe.
The team called Fred, the in-country coordinator, and got his car sent down. Three of the nurses jumped into the back and transported Dorca up to Mama Ann's Odede Community Health Centre for oxygen, fluids and care.
It turns out she had a bad case of complicated malaria, and had the team not intervened as swiftly as they did, there is a high likelihood she wouldn't have made it through.
The team continued to check on Dorca throughout her time in the Health Centre and once she had returned home. She is now doing much better.
It is extremely fortunate that the Nurses in Action team were there at the time and we are incredibly humbled and thankful for their efforts!
Already been on an NIA program?
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If a friend or colleague applies and pays their deposit, we will reward you with a $50 Coles/Myer voucher! Not only that, but your friend will also receive $50 off their program fee! They will just need to mention your name in their application.
World Youth International is celebrating 30 years of operations and we have just exper…
Reflections from Kenya, March 2018
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August 2018 Newsletter Nurses in Action to the Rescue! Reflections from Kenya, March 2018 Reflections from Nepal, March 2018 World Youth International Drives Maternal Health Improvements
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