The machine and I

There she is, finally in her home place after a trip to Arizona and back to Utah after her arrival on my birthday.  She mostly rested in Arizona.  I was too excited to leave her behind in the box in Utah but once removed from the packing I mostly felt dread.  The first time I turned her on it sounded like a plane ready to take off.  I quickly pushed the off button.  What if I were to damage this expensive machine.

Finally a few days later after turkey and all that I put the instructional CD in my computer, cruised through the how to manual, and turned her on again.  There was a RPM control all the way up and things quieted down once I moved it to the left.  I threaded it, gingerly loaded the fancy bobbin (holds 80 % more thread than the common bobbin), and proceeded to play with all the fancy stitches and alphabets while the rest of the family napped.  I still felt intimidated.

I had a quilt top ready for quilting.  I brought the new machine home with that in mind.  Guess where I found myself?  Yep, in front of my trusty 30 year old Bernina 830 with walking foot feeling my shoulders burn and shoving fabric through the harp because it was still too scary to initiate that new Bernina 750 QE.  Would I just have to leave it be until scheduled classes in January?

When it was time to return north I made a brave decision.  I packed up the 750 QE and left the 830 in my Arizona sewing room.  I also packed a box full of Christmas projects.  It would be do or die.  There would be no Christmas presents from Grandpa and Grandma  if we did not become working partners.  I'm proud to announce that we are making progress.  The manual is in that open drawer and I am constantly referencing it. We've bordered some quilt tops and even machine quilted a small quilt.  There are things sewn and stuffed.  Yes, every day it gets a bit better and now I'm wondering how I ever lived without the automatic cutter and needle down and dual feed and 10 inch harp.  And that bobbin, 80 % more really is nice.  I'd show you more of the projects but my granddaughters have discovered and now read my blog.  I determined that my machine is a her.  Any ideas for the grand dame's name?

Birthday gift for this and all future birthdays

Look what I just took out of the box.  A new Bernina sewing machine, the 750 Quilters Edition.  I put my name on the wait list a few weeks back.  Miracle of miracles it actually came into the Bernina shop on my birthday!  I was so excited.

We were leaving the next day to Arizona for Thanksgiving, so Glen put the box back into the car and we brought it with us.  I just couldn't wait to play with it and I knew my sister would enjoy playing as well.  Its permanent home will be in Provo and a Roberts sewing cabinet awaits.

My Bernina 830 is now 30 years old.  I still love that machine.  It will now get to stay in warm Arizona and rest from the monthly trips to Utah.  Based on that machine's longevity, I expect the new 750 to get me through the rest of my life.  It better based on price :)

Why I have not blogged much

I began to blog in November 2007 when my DIL set up a google account and designed a blog for me. She said, "Enough of commenting on everyone's blog. You have enough to say to blog yourself."

Turns out it was one of my best gifts ever. No more feeling guilty about not keeping a consistent journal for I found that I loved the blogging format. It was a fun way to share parts of my life with pictures and to connect with family, friends, and even strangers. It was a place of reflection as one has to think before one writes. I love that it also organizes my life. Type a search term up in the corner and there is the recipe I need away from home. Click on a name on the side bar and then cry as you realize how quickly those grand babies are growing up.

So, every time I upload a picture there is a little message saying how much storage I have left at the bottom of the page. I ignored it for over 4 years until this month when I learned that I was probably going to have to "pay the piper." Yup, I had used most of my 1024 GB. Yesterday's post was one I was going to write a month or so ago. I finished it because the pictures were already uploaded. Today, there was only room left for this cute little origami "Google."

Speaking of origami, if you are interested in apps which demonstrate doing origami in 3D, check out Learn2Make created by son #2. He's finally making some money based on his college degree in Computer Animation by designing apps. You will also find balloon twisting and he has also created a few games. They love his games in Brazil, and I don't even think they know that he has a beautiful Brazilian wife. The Brazilian beauty received great news last week. She has been accepted to dental hygiene school. She decided that was a better route than trying to become a licensed physical therapist in the United States as her training in Brazil in physical therapy was so much different than in the States. She is so excited and so am I!

Back to Google. While I was in California helping with my daughter's family (yes, I'm going to be a grandma #11 and yes, just like pregnancy #1 & #2, nothing seems to stay down) she explained that my free days were over and explained my options to me and helped me figure out how much storage I might need a year. This morning I got out the credit card and purchased additional storage which automatically renews each year on this date (unless I cancel.)

When I called my hubby and told him blogging was going to cost him money he told me it was worth it. Yes, unlike some fellow bloggers, my husband loves to read my blog and I even pretty much tell him everything in person every day, too. Sweet man!

Welcome to Quilt Market

It just so happened that the Spring International Quilt Market was at the Salt Palace Convention Center in 2011. It just so happened that I was going to be in Salt Lake City at the same time. Finally my chance to go to Quilt Market!

I represented Sally's "Tuft Love" fabric business (see my sidebar for link) and enjoyed every minute. Here is the entrance to the exhibit hall. There were literally acres of booths from small vendors and designers to the large national fabric and notion companies.

On Thursday I attended "Schoolhouse" where one could pick from 20 or so presentations every 30 to 15 minutes. I found myself race walking through the convention center trying to see and hear as much as possible for six hours.

Designers shared their latest fabric lines and projects.

This is Tula Pink showing her "Prince Charming" line.

Can you spot the frog?

Liesl Gibson was introducing her new "Oliver + S" children's clothing patterns.

I have been following her blog for some time so was delighted to see her in person.

Her husband also gave a great strategy marketing lesson for the shop owners.

Darra Williamson presented a modern take on "Sunbonnet Sue."

I loved the bright colors and her ideas for each month of the year. Martingale & Co. is publishing Darra's book, "A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue: 12 Small Quilts."

I loved all the Riley Blake fabric designs and products. Lori Holt designed this fabric line titled "Sew Cherry." I particularly liked this line and all the projects that Lori had prepared.

It looks like hand applique but is really patchwork.

I loved the bold checks.

And polka dots.

Cherries anyone? I have always loved any fabric with cherries. Probably has something to do with my love of the color RED.

Adorable, right?! Once again, patchwork and not applique.

And then Lori blew me away with all the aprons using different fabric combinations and Riley Blake trims but the same pattern which uses just one yard of combined fabrics (that is the total of all fabrics used is just one yard.)

How

Would

You pick

A favorite????

Eleanor Burns is famous for her "a quilt in a day" patterns. She is also hilarious!

The presentation was entitled "Strips to Stars" and she went all out with a "Star Wars" theme.

It was entertaining

and the piecing technique inspiring.

Princess Lela and Grandma Nyborg would both be impressed!

More Riley Blake Designs fabric, this line designed by Cyndi Walker.

The "Daydream" collection had a "fun and fresh vintage look."

The designer pointing out the impact of a dark touch of brown.

She also included Riley Blake's giant ric rac trim and this quilt has yo yo's as well.

Michael Miller fabric lines were also introduced. Sarah Jane Wright introduced her line of Children's Novelty fabrics.

Entitled "Children at Play" it includes whimsical designs

as well as a collection of hand embroidery patterns.

Sarah Jane pointed out her use of red with pink for the little girls.

Charming!

Sandi Henderson also designs for Michael Miller. Her fabric design career began with bringing her fabric designs to Market four years ago, showing them around, and being signed up by Michael Miller.

Her newest collection is "Secret Garden."

Notice the subtle scalloped edge on this quilt. Kari M. Carr demonstrated not only how to make it easy but also demonstrated an easy technique for perfect mitered borders as well.

Her book, also published by Martingale & Co., is called "Just Around the Corner: Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders."

Kari is a former home ec teacher and lovely quilter. This began as a tree skirt but ended up a table topper.

It was interesting to see how she combined fabric with wool applique. The poinsettia is made of wool.

Perfectly mitered, scalloped border in a frame.

Amy Butler was beautiful and charming. She gave a lovely presentation introducing her new organic cotton and fashion fabric substrates.

The substrates include small wale corderoys, voiles, organic cottons, and laminated fabrics.

She introduced some of her old patterns with new fabrics.

Such whimsy!

Seriously, she was the "rock star" of Market! There were lines for her class and booth.

Organic cotton with low impact dyes seemed to be a new wave on the exhibit floor.

The camera battery ran out or you would have been subjected to more "photo booth" shots. Seriously, I was so amazed at the talent, color, and design represented on the exhibit floor. It was a feast for the eyes and a creativity booster.

Thank you Sally for making my first visit to "Quilt Market" possible and I have fabric sample brochures galore for you to cruise through once you are through cruising :)

Quilt Market update:

*For more booth pictures go here.

*Next Spring Quilt Market will be in Kansas City on May 18 - 20, 2012. Lynette, are you listening?!!!!