Bernina Academy

Augusta Sewing Center hosted Bernina Academy on November 9 and 10, 2018.  Tame That Technique, taught by Bernina Educator Kate Tomey, was extensive and intensive.  I learned a lot and am ready to put this new knowledge to use.

Kate is outgoing and energetic, an excellent representative of the Bernina brand.  You know she is going to be fun as soon as you see the red highlights in her short black hair.  RJ and his staff were customer focused the entire weekend.  They could not have done more for us.

Bernina provided the machines; one less thing to pack and worry about.  ASC staff set up the machines and were right there to help when we broke a needle or received an error message.

I did overhear a couple of students express displeasure that they were sewing on a different model Bernina than what they own.  The pattern numbers may differ from model to model; but, the basics remain the same.  In my opinion, this is true even if you sew on Janome, Baby Lock or another brand.

The class fee of $129 covered all materials; a book of instructions with space to insert your projects and make notes, a tote bag, additional materials, great door prizes and meals/snacks/refreshments.  All included, I received at least, if not more than what I paid for the class.  RJ showed his appreciation by offering huge discounts on fabric, notions, machines and Bernina accessories.  If you were in the market for a new Bernina, this was the time to buy.

I can’t wait to attend the 2019 Bernina Academy which will be on the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator).

Stitch Recipe.  This is not an embroidery machine design.  It was made using the decorative stitches that come with most machines.

Sew perfect. . . . no it’s not misspelled

Some of you may recognize the fabric(s) you have generously given to me to share with The Ladies Freedom Project.

Ghanaian Mothers' Hope

Last summer I received a Facebook message from a friend from my days at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Timonium, Maryland. Susie Necker and I had been former choir members and our children had grown up together in Springdale. Now she lives in South Carolina and I’m in Florida.

Our daughters reconnected us on Facebook and Susie was curious about my work in Ghana after seeing photos. We agreed to talk when I returned.

Susie run the group you see in the photo above. This group was formed to begin sewing reusable sanitary pads for teens and women in Africa who do not have the money to purchase sanitary pads. Girls will skip school during that time of the month.

This project fascinated me. I am all about giving girls what they need to go to school. She told me they also make pillowcase dresses and boys shorts. Well now I…

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Team Work

Several months ago, Quilts to the Rescue sent an email requesting help to piece a quilt top. Donated by a quilter with macular degeneration, the quilt was a block of the month published in 1990 and included fabrics from the same era.

Four Quilts to the Rescue supporters offered to help. I nominated Beth K as our Team Leader because I know she has the personality and organizational skills to keep us on track.

Beth and I live in the same area; the other two ladies live elsewhere in the US. Beth and I spent a couple of days sorting, copying, measuring and organizing fabric, instructions and assignments. The other ladies love appliqué which is a blessing because neither Beth or I do. We added flags on our calendars to get status updates from the other volunteers – everyone finished ahead of schedule eliminating the need for friendly reminders.

After dealing with fabric shortages, obsolete instructions and a few other issues, we are excited to have finished our mission. With a unanimous dislike of the included calico fabrics, we replaced several with batiks. The top will go to Quilts to the Rescue for quilting and then to an animal shelter/rescue/sanctuary to raise operating funds.

Proud to be part of this team.

More Carolina Charm Finishes

Julia also finished this top for Quilts of Valor.

Day 4 at Carolina Charm

Kumbaya my friends…….we left Carolina Charm and Tabor City, NC, after brunch; but, not before making our reservation for 2019.

A few more works in progress from our time together.

Prest-O, Change-O!, pattern by Aby Dolinger.  A gold mine of orphan blocks picked up for $5.00 at a garage sale.  And one block finished by Jane.

A great time was had by all.

Day 3 at Carolina Charm

A Judy Neimeyer work in progress; pinwheels for a future grandchild; scrappy quilts and a Christmas table runner.  Fun times at Carolina Charm.

Day 2 at Carolina Charm

We are busy, busy, busy.  Well, some of us are.  Pinwheels, Gifts, paper piecing, scrappy quilts, Dresden plates, handbags and more!  Some are surprises so I can’t show them; but, they are all gorgeous.

 

Frank keeps our tummies full.  It seems like we spend more time eating than sewing.

Day 1 at Carolina Charm

A group of quilters checked in to Carolina Charm yesterday.  Except for meals and little sleep, we are here to have fun and sew-sew-sew.

Day One is done.  It takes me a few hours to get my brain in gear for complicated tasks; until that happens, I worked on some scrappy blocks and then finished 41  kennel quilts.

The kennel quilts are just in time.  We received a request today for Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar, CA.  If you would like more information on kennel quilts, check out their information page and join the team.

Talkin’ Turkey!

Talkin’ Turkey August 2018

Talkin’ Turkey, from the book String Fling by Bonnie Hunter, is finished.

When you say “Turkey” my mind immediately thinks of fall colors.  Many quilting friends have made this quilt with fabrics of red, yellow, orange, magenta and brown, fall colors.  My scrap bins were overflowing with blue.  The pattern calls for 5 yards of (red) blue scraps; Talkin’ Turkey would certainly put a dent in my collection of blue scraps and strings.  It did not.

This quilt top was pieced as leaders and enders while working on other projects – one of the reasons it took three years to complete.

If you follow instructions in the book, Talkin’ Turkey will finish at 84″ X 97″.  This is too large for my personal use.  Prior to adding pieced string border #3 and flying geese border #4, I decided the finished size of 73″ X 86″ perfect.  Another quilter, working on a scrappy blue quilt, was happy for the gift of borders #3 and #4.  I can’t wait to see how she uses them.

Quilted by Donna Royson.

Two More UFOs Quilted

Two more charity quilts completed.

The stars are a kit from my guild.  The finished size meets the requirements for a NICU quilt and after changing the bright color backing fabric to a Kona black, it is perfect for an isolette.

The 4X4 quilt is made with extra  blocks from  Happily Scrappily Irish.  Backed with a bright fabric of sea animals, this quilt will bring a smile to a young child.

Happily Scrappily Irish completed 2017