Greetings from Kansas City! Missouri that is.

This is looking towards the downtown area from my window in the Hyatt. All I can say is humidity is here in full force. I walked to a shoe store everyone was raving about today during lunch. It was a little overcast so wasn't too bad. Until about half way back when it started to sprinkle. At least it never was a full downpour so I didn't get soaked.

Anyway, the big news here is the new 830 and all. If you have checked Suzanne's blog she has pictures there so check them out!

I had a class this morning where we constructed a Christmas stocking in short order! I mean really pushed us so we didn't dilly dally. Gave me an idea for a class project. We did some decorative stitching, added some embroidered peppermint candies, used the ruffler to add a ruffle trim around the top. It was a cute stocking and I gave it a good pressing tonight with the steam iron and it looks a whole lot better. Wonder how it will look by the time the Delta baggage guys are finished tossing my bag around going home tomorrow!

Then in the afternoon had a couple of lecture classes. The first with Pat Bednar, if you own the serger book you purchased in the store no more than 2 years ago that is the same Pat. This class was Couture Touches. Good ideas for classes. She really likes the My Label software and had a Chanel style boucle jacket on that fit her very well that she'd made using the software.

Then the last class of the day was with Michelle Griffith - from michelles-designs.com fame. Finally, another California gal! Wow! Did I get some class ideas from her and her Bernina side kick in the class was Nina McVeigh from the Bernina videos from the Quilt Show. Between the two of them there were lots of wonderful ideas flowing. The room was packed and no one said anything when they went into overtime! As soon as the class was over we all 'hurried' down to her booth to check out her books and all. I wasn't aware that she had created instruction books to go along with her designs to help with projects. So I'll be checking those out too with the intention that we might be able to get some of these projects and all in the store for us. I first met Michelle about 7 years ago when she did her first embroidery convention in Las Vegas. Her designs are wonderful! She filled a void that there was then and it's wonderful to see her designing is now full time for her as she's retired from her Interior Decorating business.

Tomorrow morning I have a class with Louisa Meyer from South Africa. She's the lady that brought tassles to machine embroidery. Psst....there's even a new grouping of stitches in the 830 that are her tassles - for sewing stitches! Anyway, am anxious for the class because we really don't know what the project will be. In the BU store they had a new embroidery collection complete with a project book so of course I had to purchase that because it might be something I need for the class! I must try to remember to have her autograph it for me.

Then the last class for this gal at the 2008 BU is with Kaye England and Vicki Tracy. I think you all know who Kay England is. Vicki Tracy is a Bernina shop owner from Texas who has just a large Texan sense of humor! You may even own her first embroidery collection she did for Bernina - the little clutch made in the embroidery hoop. I was looking through the OESD booth this evening and saw that she has one or two more embroidery collections coming. One is Travel 'N Style. I think this will be a lot of fun projects so we'll be watching for this one.

Anyway, back to my class. This should be a another fun class but using the serger for a project. All I know is that we had to bring about 64, 7 inch squares so we'll see if this will be something for a serger class. A serger is a wonderful accessory and we're sorely lacking in classes to show their potential.

So tomorrow I will know! Unfortunately I will have to leave before the class is finished so I can get to the airport in time.

I'm all packed and ready for my last day tomorrow so time to call it a night and get some sleep.

Take care all.

Following are just a couple of shots of garments displayed that will be featuerd in the fashion show tomorrow night.