Wow! I’m amazed at what Internet technology allows us to do! Did you know that Bernina offers webinars on their website teaching you about different techniques on embroidery software, different models of machines and lots of different projects?!?!?! Do you know that that means? You can sit at home, in front of your computer and learn new stuff that your software or machine can do!! Yay!!! In fact, right now, I’m listening/watching a embroidery software lesson on applique–it’s great!

Now, the software and machine classes are showing you techniques and features on Bernina machines, but many of the same functions are very similar to other machines, so even if you don’t own a Bernina, you can still gain from watching these webinars. You can see the list of webinars being offered at berninausa.com and you’ll receive the latest news if you’re signed up for Bernina’s newsletter list. One of the even greater things is that these webinars are usually scheduled for one day, but at several times that day. AND they are live! Which means as you are watching and a question pops in your mind?? Simply use the email link in the webinar window and ask your question! How great is that?!

But sometime those times don’t always match our schedules or you’ve registered and it’s totally slipped your mind until 50 minutes already into the webinar! So, guess what?! Those webinars are archived for two weeks to two months on Bernina’s website so you can watch them later at a time that works better for you!

And the even better thing about these webinars? I can watch those while I’m doing something else! Ummm, hmmm….if you’re a multi-tasker (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), it’s a perfect solution for squeezing one more thing you want to do into a day!

Isn’t the online world great?!

New Diamond Layout – The new diamond layout is neat, although I’m not sure how much I would use it. Since I’m not a traditional quilter, but prefer to work with larger pieces and incorporate embroidery, I have used the square and on point layouts quite a bit. One item to note: A diamond and square on point look like the same shape, but nope, they aren’t! A diamond is a skewed square where a square on point is actually a square that has been turned 45 degrees, making it much simpler and easier to add pieces around it.

Block Editor – You can draw and create your own custom blocks to import into your block library. Cool feature! What can I see doing with this?? Paper piecing! I don’t do a lot of paper piecing but have done a little and created a couple paper pieced blocks for an embroidered project I taught. So I can definitely see using the block editor to create paper pieced blocks specifically designed with an open area for embroidery. Yep, I can see that.

One thing I do like to do is use the quilter program to bring in a design and place it in a border and resize the design so it will fit in the space I want it to. There are other ways to do this on the embroidery screen of the software, but if I do it on an actual border, it’s a bit easier to visualize and see what will and won’t work.

The basic key to Bernina’s Quilter program is that you can see it before you stitch it! If you are having trouble envisioning the fabrics together or knowing what embroidery designs to add in or where to put them, the Quilter program is a jewel to use because you can see it and play with it before you go to the work of cutting and stitching it.

This webinar will be available on Bernina’s website for about a week if you would like to watch it and they are always scheduling more webinars which are always informative! So be sure to sign up for them!

One of the next webinars I’m looking forward to is on the new CutWork Tool & Software. That will be neat to see!

What can I say? I’m already addicted! I’ve just seen a little of what Bernina has packed into their new version of embroidery software and I’m just thrilled! Of course, I knew that V6 would be on my “want list” as soon as I heard that Bernina was introducing a new version of software.

With every version Bernina has released (and I’ve been using it since V2!), there are always so many creative tools that I think there just can’t be improvement on what is already so great! But there always is and Designer Plus V6 is no different – just much better! I can’t wait to get my hands on it on my own computer!!

If you want to see the new color wheel tool, the lettering that makes you think “WOW” or find out what the halo and ripple effect can do to your designs, take a peek at Bernina’s Designer Plus V6 webinar. The webinar will be on Bernina’s site until Monday, August 17th, so don’t miss out on seeing what’s up and coming!

Did you know that Bernina has a new webinar every month and YOU can join in on their seminars? Be sure to sign up for Bernina’s newsletter to be informed of the upcoming webinars.

Fabric Freedom is a fabric line that Brewer Quilting & Sewing Supplies carries and one that I have been wanting to try. Their selection of marble/batiks looks perfect for an embroidery background, so I picked up several fat quarter bundles to try some stitching.

Fabric Freedom Fat Quarter Bundles

I have had the Latte Quilt on my mind the last couple of months, partly because I am getting ready to teach that quilt next year. So it seems that everywhere I looked, I was drawn to neutral colors. But I found these medallions that looked so neat and see the colors I picked out – ivory, taupe and brown! :)

tassel medallions

This little beaded purse and colorful butterfly buttons are a just because. I didn’t really have a reason for purchasing either one…it was just because they caught my eye. Don’t you ever have a “just because” purchase?

beaded purse and butterfly buttons

Benartex has some beautiful new collections coming in the next couple of months and I picked up several bundles. These fabrics are not even listed online yet, but there’s a cute collection from Mary Lou Weidman called “happiness is…” with some fun little children themed prints. Plus Marianne Elizabeth has a breathtaking collection entitled “Laurel Cottage” of florals in a pink and blue colorway! Just too gorgeous to pass up!

Benartex bundles

These little take out boxes caught my eye and I just couldn’t resist. Snuggled inside are several yards of cording in various colors to be couched on or various other uses. I have to admit the packaging is what sold me on these. Oh and notice the ivory/taupe colors again! :)

cording take out boxes

I was making my way to the door, finished for the day and then I spotted the RJR booth with this soft, elegant collection. Oh my, I’m just itching to be making something with it! It’s called Sumptuous Living by Robyn Pandolph. I can just see a MarJen for Error quilt created from these fabrics. I really don’t need a third MJE quilt, but oh is it hard to not think of stitching another one with these fabrics!

Sumptuous Living by Robyn Pandolph

International Quilt Market
George Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas

Joanna and I spent part of our time Friday setting up Bernina machines for classes to be held through Market and Festival. We did manage to sit in on a couple of classes and I was able to attend Sample Spree that evening. It is always such a crazy place Friday evening…lots of people trying to crowd into every booth to see what’s available! But still a fun adventure!

We spent quite a bit of time with some Bernina staff members and looking around at the Bernina booth. And especially the new BERNINA 830! Ok, I admit, I fell in love with that machine from the very first time I heard about the jumbo hoop and large embroidery area back in April/May. And then when I actually saw the machine on the Bernina webcast in July, I was totally hooked!

Can you just imagine what I felt like when I actually saw that wonderful machine in person?!?! You know it’s a large machine and you can read the dimentions, but you don’t fully realize just how big it is and just how large of an embroidery area you have to stitch until you actually SEE it. Not only is it great for embroidery, but also so helpful in getting a large quilt in the machine!

Bernina Booth – the Bernina 830 with Jumbo hoop

Just look at that huge hoop!!! Can you just picture the designs that could be stitched within that area! My mind is swirling with so many possibilities!

One fact that I found especially neat is the ability the 830 has to backstitch with decorative stitches. In the past when stitching decorative stitches, the secure function must be used to tie off the threads at the beginning and end of each row because simply hitting the backstitch button would continue the pattern of stitches with stitches piling on top of each other, creating a rather undesired look.

But with the 830, when you hit the backstitch button, the machine tracks back and follows the exact same stitch pattern, eliminating the need for the securing button. Yes, it backstitches the decorative stitch in the same place so you still have a wonderful row of stitches! Now, isn’t that just too wonderful?!?!

Bernina Booth – the Bernina 830

Oh, and see that little green outfit behind the machine? Gayle Hillert from Bernina designed it and I never have met someone as creative as she is. She is an amazing lady! It’s amazing the number of decorative stitches and techniques she used to create such an adoreable children’s outfit. Gayle shares some of the techniques on the Bernina Blog.

Bernina Booth – the Limited Editions Machines

Bernina also has a set of limited editions machines which I seen photos of, but also got to see the machines in person. The activa White Pearl is my favorite! The elegant printing on it just enhances the look of the machine. And the fact that it is a limited edition makes it all the more enticing!

Bernina Booth – activa White Pearl

Jeanne Delpit from Bernina is such a joy to be around! She is such a burst of joy and excitement that there is no way you can be down and discouraged around her! Joanna and I met Jeanne at the Bernina Teacher’s Retreat in Chicago last year and she is so sweet!

me, Jeanne, Joanna

Joanna and I had a wonderful time walking the market floor, seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new ones as well as gaining way too many ideas for new projects!

Joanna and I