Autumn's In The Air!!

The weather is finally changing. You can just smell it. This morning when I got to work I put my tennies on and took a walk around the block. That was just before 7:30am this morning. It was nice starting out because the first half was still in the shade of the trees along the sidewalk. But I did it. Now 29 more times and it will become a habit. At least that's what the experts say. I'll get back to you on that one.


HALLOWEEN FUN

This is a fun project that you create by embroidering some basic designs with the Halloween theme. I used fun fabrics - like minkee, glitter fabrics, laces, and sheers. Even varigated threads. The width even fits on minkee so you know what the backing on mine will be. Now to make mine really fun I found these cute ribbons and charms that I'm going to use. The blocks are basic so use the walking foot for quilting the blocks and then perfect to practice using your BSR to embellish the applique designs. Then stitch the ribbons through all layers. Next is to tie the charms on. The charms can be removed for cleaning.




For the borders I thought stitching the same block 50+ times would just be wayyyyy tooo boring so here's what I did. Use your Bernina embroidery software to create the border using the mega hoop. Took 4 hoopings and each one takes 15 minutes. That's much more efficient use of your time, in my opinion. I showed those at Embroidery Club last Saturday how to hoop these but if you're interested see me and I'll show you how I created this in the software and I used version 5 for this. It's way cool that our software allows us to create an embroidery design that is 50 some inches in length when my hoop is only 14 inches!





I am also finishing up a quilt made from the bears paw block. I purchased the pattern from a gal in Australia and converted part of the sewing construction to embroidery using our software. My goal is for this to be a software class and also a quilt project class for those who just want to make the top. As I was sewing the borders on it yesterday a thought occured to me to enter it in the CottonPatch Quilt Guild quilt show in 2010. Maybe I'll get it done in time - if I do it will have been a totally unplanned event! So watch for a class on this one next year.



When we went on vacation in September can you believe I took 2 machines with me? While my 730 was embroiderying I used my 630 for piecing. I worked on at least 4 projects in the week were gone. One of those projects is my red silk quilt, all in various shades of red. I purchased the kit while at Bernina University in June. I have the backing, the border and a good number of the blocks constructed. The blocks are very basic but the hardest part was deciding which 2 colors to pair up for the blocks. If I remember correctly there are 14 different shades in all. I started off by fusing the armo weft interfacing to the back of all of the fat quarters in the kit. This provides support to the silk fabrics and stops the fraying - all without adding bulk. Silk can just unravel something awful. It sure is beautiful but I haven't worked on it since returning from vacation because I've been focused on trying to get my Halloween and the bears paw quilts done.



VERSION 6 BERNINA EMBROIDERY SOFTWARE


Yes, Bernina has finally released the latest version. This one is awesome! The introduction classes will be starting soon. If you haven't placed your order for the update contact the store so we can get your copy ordered. I think we may have finally gotten in a good majority of those that were back ordered due to the popularity of this release!

EMBROIDERY CLUB

I enjoyed everyone that brought their projects to September's embroidery club. Terry finished up her 2008 Halloween project in time for 2009! I'll tell you more about her projects later.

October Project

Shadow work guest towel. I can't find the towels locally so will need to get them ordered. Please let me know if you will be attending so I can make sure I have a towel for you. I will provide the embroidery for use during class. This is a wonderful embroidery project from my Jenny Haskings training session that I will be sharing with you all on October 24th. I'll get a picture of my towel posted very soon.

November Project

Birdhouse embroidery. One of the early projects in my embroidery days was a fun collection of birdhouses that form a village. I stitched these on the bottom of a dress that I just woreout. I will have these designs for you. When I first stitched these out I had to hoop them twice because my only hoop size was no larger than 5x7, can you believe it? Now they will fit in our regular (large) Bernina hoop sizes. Ahhh, I love the direction of our hoop sizes! I hear the 830 calling me. My Mom still has her denim shirt with the designs on it so will get a picture posted as soon as I can.

So find a shirt - denim or something along that line and bring it to stitch out some or all of this collection. They are darling.


December I think we will pass on Embroidery Club since it will be the day after Christmas.

Question for you all is if there is any interest in sewing again on New Year's Day. Do you want another mystery quilt?

BRAGGIN' CORNER

Ok, back to Terry. If you've attended any Embroidery Club you know Terry. She's the one that had her embroidery module in a box for about a year after she had purchased it. Now there's no stopping her.

The one on the left is a shawl, the middle a small table cover, and remember the project on the right? Yep, just in time for Halloween this year!!





Terry had sent these to me last year about this time.