Carbo Brain

Sunday was supposed to be my fun day. After a lecture, workshop, 2 days of hanging with Henry, getting ready for Passover and prepping lots of the food, I needed a day of fun. This fat quarter assortment, called Prisma Elements, was sitting in my studio calling my name.

The pieces were too small for the initial project that I was thinking about, so I thought it would be fun to make a ditty bag with a drawstring closure. I started out with a bang, appliqueing the Curvalicious strips, adding the circles and quilting it all, using Annies Soft and Stable. It's an interfacing that really adds body. The bag can stand on its own.

Then my plans went awry. I blame it on my brain that was overloaded with carbs from the Passover Sedar and the leftover goodies. I swear, my brain was in a fog. I wish I had taken photos of all my mistakes. And it wasn't just once.

My first effort resulted in an elongated basket shape. I was so confident with the second effort that I cut out squares of the main body to make gussets. HUGE MISTAKE!! My third effort resulted in the adorable ditty bag.

Don't look too close or you will see where the squares that I cut out for the gussets, are patched in. I didn't have to share that, but I believe in truth in advertising. Sometimes people think that I dream something up and just make it. I wish that were so. Sometimes the project goes together effortlessly and other times it's just an enormous amount of trial and error. The ditty bag was the latter.

I tried out a new foot for blanket stitching the appliqué curves, a #23, from Bernina. It's called the appliqué foot.

 

I was a little skeptical when I first put it on. The foot I usually use, #20, is open across the front, allowing for a clear view of the stitching area. This new foot has clear plastic across the opening. It's also short, which is different. What sold me on this foot was this little mark to line up with the appliqué. It worked perfectly.

So now that I have worked out the details, another ditty bag is on my to do list. Hopefully I will have learned from past mistakes!

 

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I'm an Embroidering Fool

Since I learned how to use my embroidery model for my Bernina, I have been embroidering like crazy. My husband looks in my studio and wonders why I have 2 sewing machines set up. The new one is dedicated to embroidery and the other is for construction of things to embroider! When I'm done putting names in everything in sight, I'll put away the embroidery module. 

This is my favorite gift to give to new parents/ grandparents. It's a hooded towel. I did not create it, but I love making them, especially when the parents telL me that they use them for years. What little kid doesn't like a hooded cape?

I made two for twins!

I make one from a bath towel and half of a hand towel. 

My friend, Steph, was in China for 2 years and found these colorful designer style bags at what she calls the fake market. I had to wrangle them under the needle, but thankfully, I had no disasters. 

There was one left over, so I embroidered one for myself. 

When you're not using the bag, it folds conveniently flat. You can put it in a suitcase as an extra bag for traveling. 

I spent a good part of the summer working on a secret project. On Sunday, I'll be able to share more details and you'll be able to enter a drawing. For now, this is what I can share. 

I Love Lancaster County

It was time for another lesson on my new sewing machine. I never complain when I have to drive out to Lancaster County. Fall has to be the most beautiful time of year. I could drive along these country roads forever. 

The reason for my visit was the embroidery class. I LOVE to give gifts with my friends and family's names on them. That's really the only embroidery that I do. I have a few items that are overdue and it's time I learned how to embroider with my new machine. 

Here's the place.

Here's everyone's machines set up and ready to learn. 

We got to pick out the color of thread that we wanted to use. 6 colors! Eye candy. 

This was the most amazing site. Stacks and stacks of Bernina sewing machines. Along the wall in the classroom are plaques dating back I don't know how long, awarding Hinkletown the top single location Bernina dealer in the world. I am not surprised. 

Now I can't wait to get stitching. 

Two Photos I Had To Share

I am travelling around Israel taking lots of photos.  For some reason I am having difficulties organizing and uploading these photos.  (And the reason is me!!)  But I want to share 2 photos that my Bernina loving friends will get a kick out of.  I took these in the old city section of believe it or not, Jerusalem.

Can you hear him saying "Oy, another seam to rip"?