I suggest you consider these factors. You will get your investment out of your labeller if it's simple and straightforward to use. 1) PC connectible. Essential. The user interface on the keyboard labelers is lousy to inexcusable. 2) Width of tape the unit accepts. A 1/2 inch tape is virtually useless for two lines of print because the print becomes microscopic. You didn't mention what you'll put these labels on. You may be thinking that you'll just run two tapes for two lines of print. You're better off buying a unit that accepts wider tape, as it will look neater and use less tape. Those tapes ain't cheap, at $12 each. 3) Buy an AC adapter. It avoids wasting money and resources on batteries. Brothers makes a PC-connectible labelers that are just the printer, none of the keyboard stuff. I think this is smart, as I find the keyboard useless if you don't use the machine every day. The 1230PC you mention is one of those models. My issue with this model is that it only runs tapes up to 1/2 inch wide, whereas the next model, Ptouch 2430PC, runs tapes up to 3/4 inch. I found that once I label a rose, I want more than one line of print. I list name and class and then hybridizer and date on the second line. That makes the print very very small on a 1/2 wide tape. The Ptouch 2430PC is what I'd buy if I were replacing mine. Count me among those very happy with the Ptouch label makers. My model 2600 is discontinued. The software interface works with my Mac, so I use my computer the set up and print the labels. This is very helpful, as the Brother's keyboard is too complicated and counter-intuitive to make any sense at all if you don't use it daily. OTOH, with the pc connection, I find I use the labeler much more. I use it to label files and to label those pesky little items that seem to disappear when you have big kids, like your cell phone chargers. I also use it to label adapters, as I find they become separated from their device and all look alike. That new unit, Ptouch 1880 looks comparable to mine, except it doesn't mention being able to connect to your computer. It's worth the money to have the computer interface. The Ptouch 2100 or 2110 seems like my unit: connect to the pc with USB cord, comes with a case and an AC adapter, and print on both sizes tape, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch. HTH.

Just in case people are still travelling to Victoria, do not miss the rose gardens at Government House. There are two gardens, one of David Austin roses and a much larger one, with trellises & beds. Government House gardens are open from dawn to dusk, unless the Queen or other Royals are in residence. No charge for entry. Good place to meet locals walking their dogs in the early am. Ginny in Winnipeg Thursday is particularly good day to visit as the volunteers are gardening in the Am 10 - 12.00 so they will answer your questions.

I can relate! I have a number of WIP that take more than one year to finish. I usually put the completed date on the quilt, however, I recently finished a WIP that was 7 years old. The front of the quilt had the date the baby was born. I was too embarrassed to put the completed date on it, because it was so obvious that it was seriously LATE. I figured it was dated on one place, so I didnÂt need to date it again. At least that was my rationale. (By the way, I still gave the quilt to the child and he and his mother loved it!) I usually put info on my labels like who the quilt was made for, who designed and quilted it (sometimes IÂve collaborated with others in the design process and I always like to give them credit), and the city and state where I live. Kate (Solstice98) recently posted a picture of one of her labels. It was great. (I think it was on a QOTD thread, but I canÂt find it now.) But here is another link where she talks about including some fabric for repairs  great idea. Here is a link that might be useful: one of Kate's label ideas

Those copper tags are cute! I like that they go into the ground 10 inches. Maybe my chickens couldnt pull the tags off and run off with them as easily lol. I currently use those silver metal tags that you can press on with a pencil and kinda engrave them. They hold up pretty good. I have had some like 10 yrs! The wires end up breaking before the tag. I have to place tags up high via a wire onto the plants. Short plants around here, may not even have a tag due to critters.