Brother PC-420 PRW Limited Edition Project Runway Sewing Machine Review

I am something of a self-taught sewing expert and also have two sisters that have run a small tailoring shop for several years. Any self-respecting seamstress is aware that a good sewing machine is an essential investment if one is to produce high-quality work, particularly if one sews professionally. The Brother PC-420 PRW Limited Edition Project Runway Sewing Machine is an impressive achievement by Brother. Combining market-leading efficiency with a vast array of creative options, this will soon be the go-to choice for professional tailors.

Although some may balk at the 0+ price tag, keep in mind that the Brother PC-420 belongs to the lower end of the sewing machine price range. Though admittedly higher-priced than most other cheap sewing machines, which are usually budget sewing machines for beginners, the sheer volume of options and the quality of this machine's output justify the price.

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In today's technology obsessed world, the name of the game is features - and the Brother PC-420 offers tons of features at a reasonable price. Take for example the stunning 294 stitch options, ranging from quirky decorative stitches to your most basic utility stitches, or the ten different buttonhole styles to add a little creative flair even to the most workmanlike shirts. As a tailor, I deal with customers of extremely varied taste, but with this machine I am confident in satisfying all of them. In fact, business has improved significantly since my customers enjoy playing a small part in the tailoring process, mixing and matching the different button and stitch styles to create wholly unique workpieces that both the manufacturer and consumer can be proud of.

Computerized sewing machines are increasingly common and the Brother PC-420 has many automated options for greater efficiency. For example, you can save pre-programmed stitch combinations through the My Custom Stitch feature so you don't have to toggle the options all over again. Furthermore, I really appreciated the programmable thread trimmer which severs the thread at both ends automatically to save time. Little innovations like this aren't game-changing, but they do help to make the sewing process a lot faster and more enjoyable.

The Brother PC-420 is capable of handing complicated fabrics, including fake fur and silk-cotton interlays with its twin needle function. The free-arm is very easy to operated with the built-in LCD screen and customization according to your fabric of choice is quickly accomplished, especially with the help of the instructional manual which I found thorough and informative.

I have already purchased 2 additional sets for my sisters' shop. This machine may well be the Holy Grail of lower-end sewing machines. As far as sewing machines for beginners go, this isn't a bad choice. Although one flaw may be the confusing amount of combinations which may initially overwhelm a novice, the little bit of extra effort put in pays off as you will be exposed to a larger variety of sewing techniques and get to exercise some creativity in design. If you're on the fence about buying the Brother PC-420, you'd better jump off it now and get one of these!

Brother PC-420 PRW Limited Edition Project Runway Sewing Machine Review

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Atlanta Schools' Wellness Workshops Project

Atlanta Schools' "Wellness" Workshops Promote Nutrition and Physical Education

When Atlanta Schools opened at the end of August, a new project was initiated. The "Wellness" Workshop Project kicked off the school year with a workshop that included Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers, author Yvonne Butler, 300 students from the Atlanta School District, faculty members, and community leaders. This was the first ever Atlanta Schools' "wellness" workshop. Atlanta Schools' Margaret Fain Elementary School's Wings of Eagles dance troupe performed to illustrate how much physical energy is used in dance.

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The first "Wellness" Workshop was co-chaired by Dr. Marilyn Hughes, the director of nutrition administration for Atlanta Schools, and Billette Owens-Ashford, Atlanta Schools' director of physical education and athletics. The goal of the "Wellness" Workshop Project is improve the health of the students by identifying health-related problems. It has been proven that health related issues can often have a direct affect on a student's academic achievement.

The inaugural "Wellness" Workshop for the Atlanta Schools had a variety of speakers and displays that provided resources on nutritional based activities and physical education activities. The keynote speaker was Dr. Yvonne Butler. Dr. Butler is a noted author whose book, "Healthy Kids, Smart Kids," discusses the impact of diet and exercise on learning and academic performance. Other speakers included Olympic track-and-field gold medalist Gail Severs who spoke about importance of exercise to health and how to stay physically fit.

Atlanta Schools' "Wellness" Workshop Project is part of a broad program that aims to provide both fitness and nutrition strategies for students and staff in all Atlanta Schools. Innovative strategies that will be used include yoga classes for teachers and students, vegetarian cafeteria lines, and walking trails. The overall plan was developed by the Atlanta Schools' Board of Education. The Board of Education will offer guidelines on how to implement the program and how the schools will be evaluated.

A major part of the plan is establishing wellness councils. These councils will be comprised of teachers, parents, administrators, students, and community and business partners. The council will assist Atlanta Schools in integrating nutrition and physical education into the current curriculum. The wellness council will also have a presence at events throughout the Atlanta Schools.

Recently, Atlanta Schools' wellness plan received a boost from the involvement of an Atlanta Schools' parent. Linton Hopkins has two children attending E. Rivers Elementary School. Hopkins is concerned about the nutritional value of cafeteria offerings at the E. Rivers Elementary School but unlike other parents, Hopkins is the executive chef of Atlanta's Restaurant Eugene and winner of this year's Atlanta "Iron Chef" competition. Hopkins has joined the Local School Wellness Council to help evaluate the school's cafeteria. Hopkins isn't the only trained chef to join the E. Rivers Elementary School's wellness council. Elisa Gambino, owner of pasta emporium Via Elisa, has along with eleven other parents joined the wellness council. Parental involvement is an important element to the success of the wellness councils. Currently, approximately 90 percent of Atlanta Schools' elementary and 65 percent of high schools have parents actively involved with the wellness council of their school.

Atlanta Schools' Wellness Workshops Project

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