Memorial Day

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend but remember and appreciate our military personnel and their sacrifices to protect our rights  for our freedem we have enjoyed for hundreds of years. And hope to continue to do so for many more hundreds of years!

SHOP HOP

Today was the first time that Mom and I had a chance to see what all this hubbub was about the quilt shop hop. It's different when you're on the shopper end of the things for sure.
We started out about 8am this morning. Getting on the road to Visalia for first stop and what a treat it was at Thimbletowne. Reconized shoppers from Strawberry Patches! Friends in new places is a great way to start the day out. Every place we stopped was great fun, lovely goodie bags from the shops and a wide variety of treats for the eyes as well as treats to eat! The shops all showed their appreciation to the shoppers who took time to travel to their shops to purchase the block material for the quilt project. I have to say that the completed quilts we feasted our eyes on were so much better than what we saw online. Maybe it's because it's really hard to get a good photograph of something in black.
Some shops were small, others nice and roomy but it's really hard not compare them to our favorite place!! I suppose it's like taking a vacation to a fun vacation spot - it's fun and exciting to go someplace new and different but after awhile it is good to be home again too. While we won't be able to enter the prize for visiting all the shops we entered the drawing for a lovely prize basket at each shop. So tomorrow I will be on the other side of the flurry of shoppers as I take my shift at the shop for a few hours.
Plus I need now to find the perfect handle for the new bag pattern and fabrics that found me in Hanford.

So if you haven't yet checked out the shop hop give yourself a treat and visit some of the shops!

NEW OESD EMBROIDER DESIGNS

Found some terrific new design collections at Embroidery Online site that are on my "must have" list.

I love these monograms, they're so old world looking. Lots of possible uses for these. As a reminder if you don't have the Bernina software download the design format that your machine needs. Also, at the Bernina USA site you can now download a freebie version of the softwre - artlink - that will allow you to send a design to your embroidery machine via usb connection or by use of a usb flash drive.

This collection is also on my list. These are great for quilting, through embroidery, your own quilts, tablerunners and other creations. Gotta have this one!!

Are You Brave Enough?

 



Are you brave enough to send a picture of your sewing room to Bernina as a chance to win a make over for your room? If you're up for the opportunity then go to BERNINAUSA and get the scoop.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY BOUQUET

Happy Mother's Day wishes to everyone.

I loved waking up to cloudy skies and a cool breeze this morning. What a welcome break from a couple of warm days. Herbie made French toast this morning for us. We've gotten away from drinking milk but he's been drinking "silk" a soy milk product and used that for the French toast. Have to say they were wonderful!

Will be getting with Amanda to get a date on the calendar to kick off the Chloe quilt project so watch for news on that soon. There's time to get your kit ordered so if you're interested please let her know.

Janet Sansom

One of our favorite embroidery/quilt designers has a stunning quilt in a recent issue of "MACHINE EMBROIDERY" magazine. This one is Parterre Garden and currently the designs are 25% off here.
The complete quilt instructions begin on pg 56. It lists the finished size at 82" sq but I'm considering a wallhanging version, ending after the smaller blocks on point for the final border.
She is the designer of Queen Anne's Diamonds which we did nearly 4 years ago. Her designs stitch out so wonderfully they are fun to watch ast they stitch and bring your thread to life.  Have to start focusing on fabrics for this one. I really do like the full sized quilt though with those large embroidery squares. Will be fun to stitch this one out, although the first part of fabric selection has to be completed first! Oh dear!

A Different Pinwheel

I thought this was really cute and the perfect use of a cute embroidery design that needs a home. The one on the left she cut from some embroidered fabric or something along that line. These would be great little gift item for your sewing friends. Check out the details here so you can get started creating your own.