Bernina Embroidery - Service Pack 1 Available

The long awaited service pack for the V6 of Bernina software is available here for download.

Details for the issues resolved in the download are available on this page as well as instructions on how to install are also on this page.

Mother's Day!

Thanks to Bird Brain Designs you can download the pdf of this delicate redwork design here. This is also a brand that we carry in the store so you might recognize some of their patterns (not free kind) that they show on their site. Use it to make something personal for that special someone this Mother's Day - May 9th. Saturday is May 1st so you still have a few days.

April Software Sampler

At your request Amanda will be ordering this jacket pattern. This was the pattern shown in the presentation in class on Saturday. Please let her know if you want one held in your name, otherwise I'll let you know the patterns are in stock.

Bernina New Design Collection

We saw this at the cutwork software training. Amanda W had stitched a letter in the frame shown and it was terrific. I can't wait for this one to be available. This will be a good one for gifts or personalizing a tote bag or something fun. I was picturing it on a sweatshirt with some fabric borders around the initial square. The weather here is getting ready to start warming up and I'm thinking ahead to cooler days already. Hopefully this summer won't be too miserably hot and humid. I hope I hope I hope!!

SOFTWARE SAMPLER

It's Software Sampler Saturday tomorrow, April 24th. See you at 1pm. If you don't yet have the Bernina embroidery software at all, see me so you can come as my guest and watch the webinar. The webinar is a demonstration of the lesson being taught that day using one of the features of our wonderful embroidery software.

Quilting For Kids

I saw an advertisement for this program in a quilt magazine, went online and signed up. Received a bag that contained everything but batting to complete a generous child sized quilt. In fact my new puppy (in October) had great fun with the plastic bag and everything in it before we found it! But I followed the instructions, completing the project in short order and returned the bag and instructions for recycling.

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This isn't my quilt I finished and sent back. In my haste I totally overlooked taking a picture of it. The fabric is good quality so you know it's going to hold up to repeated washings. These quilts are for kids that need something to hold on to. So after receiving an email thanking me for my contribution I signed up to have them send me another kit. Now, this time I figure I will purchase materials, or pull from my stash, and make a companion quilt to send back with the finished quilt from their kit. The size of the box at the post office showed there was plenty of room for a second quilt with no additonal postage !

The fabric has arrived - it's a cute Alice in Wonderland print fabric. The pattern for both that I've done is the same as the picture I inserted above. It's a basic 4-patch with a companion print in a larger square. The larger blocks are precut. The inner and outer boards come as strips as well as the strips you piece together and then cut for the 4 patch blocks. And they include the backing so it really goes together so quickly. The instructions that come with the fabrics outline the types of battings they recommend. Remember this is probably going to be washed a lot so it has to stand up to that. They provide a quilt label too. How you quilt yours is totally up to you so use that wonderful #4 stitch, your bsr, or any other method you want to use (or practice) for quilting.

Plus it will make you feel good about yourself for donating your time and skill to a youngster who will treasure the quilt you created. Oh, here's the link if you'd like to join me. It's a gift from the heart.

Your Sewing Supply Catalog

Did you know that you can peruse the same supply catalog that Amanda orders supplies for the store? And you can do it from your comfy chair at home? Yes, you can go here and look through various books or supplies and then have us order the item(s) for you. Once the order arrives we'll give you a call to come in pay and pick up your order. Save the shipping and have us order the item for you. Instead of spending your time driving around trying to find something and the gas money you would waste, you can do something more fun while you wait for your order to arrive, like sewing!!
Seriously, you can get exactly what you want this way and still support your favorite local quilt shop.

Happy Tax Day!!

Ferrari Saturday

Yesterday was Ferrari Saturday again! When I arrived for coffee at Starbucks at the Market Place the large group of owners were gathered in the parking lot there at Applebees. And when I left 30 minutes later for work they were already gone so wasn't able to take any pictures. :(

I think there was one lone yellow car and the others were that beautiful shade of red. So I never even got to hear the engines - they just have a wonderful sound, such a powerful sound. Nice to look at but what a responsibility to own one.

The Foot That Saved The Day

If you're having trouble sewing trims onto fabric, or in this case attaching a piece of our project from the Stitcher's Garden quilt to the block background you might want to try the #38 foot.

The underneath shot shows you there is one thin side of the foot and that is the secret. The name of this foot is the piping foot or the uneven foot and that's because the side with the piping is not level with what you are attaching it to. Use this for sewing trim, etc on top of your fabric.
Lilly's stitching was just perfect and she wanted you all to know that she felt that she had "Discovered America" after using this foot and getting the perfect results she was after.
I've always said how wonderul the Bernina feet
are and they work perfectly for the purpose they were created for as well as for other purposes. So see if you don't have this foot in your stash and if you don't add it to your shopping list!

I know a lot of you did the wildflower embroidery quilt with me a few years back. Just last month I decided to hang mine in my office at work so that I can enjoy it. And that's exactly what I'm doing. It's so nice to take a quick break from whatever is at hand and just gaze into the wall of color opposite my desk. This quilt is one done by another teacher. I loved the colors and thought I would share it with you all.
Let's do a showing of all of our different versions of this embroidered quilt. Either bring it in on a Saturday so we can photograph it for you or send me a picture image of yours and I will post them here.

Magic Texture

If you haven't been in the store recently this product may be new to you.  The before shot of the product is on the left side of the package in the shot below. After you stitch it to the wrong side of your fabric and give it a good steam bath the after affect is show on the right. I also am showing the pillow Annette made for a Bernina club. It truly is an amazing product! We saw it demonstrated at Quilt Market in October and knew then it was destined for some great projects. So give it a try.

Cute Little Bags

Aren't these the cutest little bags? Perfect to add an embroidered flower or a wonderful monogram to personalize this.  Mother's Day is next month so make one  for someone special! The instructions are found here. I just noticed the zipper pulls - don't let something like that scare you off. It's just a few beads and crystals but they sure add a special touch to your project. In fact, if you look closely at the bag you can tell that they used a lobster claw clasp which does come in different sizes and would allow you to make a fob to use on your scissors. The perfect way to be able to identify your scissors or find them!

Happy Easter

Pretty creative!!

Posh Pillowcases

I discovered these while reading some blog sites. Now I can't stop thinking about them.

Aren't they the cutest? You go here girl for step by step instructions on completing these, including the construction of the pillow case which is fashioned from one she bought at PotteryBarn. It's not just your Plain Jane pillow case. Notice how you don't see the wrong side of the pillow case from the opened end? That's the trick part. Then the beautiful, simple crocheted edging is the really neat treat. All cotton fabrics and cotton yarn so you know it will feel so good to use!

Well, look at that. Turquoise with a sage or lime green. PERFECT!! You just need 1 1/8 yd of fabric for a pillowcase to get you started.

When I moved into my house in 1980 I crocheted lots of edging on all my bath towels. Do you know that I wore those towels out but the edging is still in perfect condition. I think these pillowcases will last many years as well.