My parents bought me my first sewing machine, a portable singer, back when I was in high school. Years later, in 1989, my husband surprised me on my birthday with a BERNINA 1230. He even called my boss and arranged for me to have the day off of work so I could stay home and sew on the brand new machine! To this day it's one of the best and most used gifts I've ever gotten and speaks to how well he knows me.
A few years ago I bought myself a BERNINA 820. The larger harp space makes quilting SO much easier. This machine also came with a table so that the machine bed is flush with the bed of the sewing machine. That was a game changer for me as far as machine quilting. The quilts no longer get caught on the edge of the machine. My daughter also enjoys sewing on it.My old 1230 now lives with my son and daughter-in-law and is still going strong. My daughter-in-law is enjoying making little baby clothes for my grandbaby. She and my son just recently worked together to make an amazing queen size spiderweb quilt for their son's great grandmother.
The 820 is a bit big to take anywhere so I have also invested in a newer machine for taking to teach and on retreats and sew-ins. This machine has narrow set feed dogs and is perfect for tiny piecing.
I enjoy making clothes for my daughter, machine mending for my family, and occasionally making items for my home. BERNINA makes everything so much easier with feet that are engineered specifically for certain tasks and can quickly be changed for a specific part of a sewing project.
I've been writing this blog for about ten years but most of you have not been readers for that long so I'll share a little background information about myself.Although I was born in North Carolina, I spent the first half of my life in Blacksburg, Va. where my dad worked for Virginia Tech. My two sisters and I learned to sew from our mother who was one of two sewing teachers in our 4-H club. I finished my first quilt in 1976 with the resurgence of quilting that came with the American bicentennial celebration.
The second half of my life I have lived in a small town in south east Michigan. We live in an old farm house and have chickens and a large garden. Each year we grow a patch of Indian corn that we use to make our own cornmeal and feed our chickens. My oldest son was married in our yard and his wedding reception was held in our barn which he and my husband restored.
Both of my parents grew up on farms in central Virginia. Like the little red hen in the children’s story, I was taught to do things from scratch and to never let anything go to waste. My thrifty upbringing led me to my current style of working with scraps and the desire to use “every last piece.” My quilts have been juried into international shows and gallery exhibits and my work is in private collections around the world.
I have always recommended BERNINA machines to others and now that I am teaching across the country I have been selected to be a BERNINA brand ambassador. I travel to the BERNINA US headquarters each year and learn about the new machines and what they can do. I know the importance of having the right tool for the job and love that BERNINA puts so much thought into the design and technology of their machines.
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I like this design because it includes inside curves, outside curves, inside points, and outside points. If you can stitch this little block you will be able to handle any applique design!If you have trouble with needle turn applique, this technique is often helpful for beginners.First, trace the design onto freezer paper, cut, press onto the rights side of the fabric that will be appliqued to the background.Next, trim the fabric leaving a scant 1/4'' seam allowance around the paper. Bast to the background fabric as shown below with basting stitches about 1/4'' from the edge of the paper.
As you stitch, the freezer paper should help hold the fabric in place and make it easier to fold right at the edge of the paper. With the tip of the needle, flip the seam allowance under, making it fold right at the edge of the paper. Bring the needle up from teh back and just catch the edge of the fold. While stitching, watch the area in front o fthe needle and make sure the fold is even with the edge of the paper just enough for the next stitch. Put the needle down through the backing fabric right next to where you brought the needle up. Rock your hand back and bring the needle up just through the fold of the applique fabric about 1/16'' away. (I am left handed so the photo shows a left hand stitcher) Use the needle to turn the next small section and continue stitching.
Don't try to fold under the fabric far ahead of where you are stitching. Think about only one stitch at a time. When you are finished, remove the basting stitches and the freezer paper. With practice, you may be able to baste the fabrics together and stitch without using the freezer paper.
Here's my latest version of the block.
I used Jeni Baker's lined drawstring bag pattern in 
If you are new to my website, have a look around.I'm a teacher and my classes include hand applique, tiny piecing, intuitive piecing, string piecing, and more.Follow me on 
Drummond Island is definitely a place I'd like visit again.
It was so peaceful.
I am having a hard time getting back in the swing of things this week. I think I need more time up north. 
I had fun making this little liberated log cabin quilt this week. I always struggle with the quilting ideas on small scale patchwork like this. I like the look of the hand quilting because it is not a solid line of thread over the top, but these pieces are small with a lot of seams. What to do, what to do?I may try a simple channel or grid quilting with a very fine thread.
She decided that if she was going to put all of that work into it she didn't want the baby to outgrow it quickly. She upsized the baby quilt to be four rows of four blocks.
The four by four layout requires 16 blocks, an even number, just right for making two hedgehogs of each color. The baby can play "match the hedgehogs".Miss P went through my fabrics and chose lights and mediums of eight different colors for the faces and bodies. The spines for each would be different. I helped by cutting everything with the rotary cutter but she did the sewing by herself.
This project required quite a bit of planning ahead to be finished in time for the baby shower. She sewed two blocks at a time over MANY weekends. It was an exciting day when all of the blocks were finished.
Next up was the sashing and pin basting.
Then came the quilting.
When the last stitch of binding was finished she said, "Now I can say that I have made a quilt!! This is the most exciting thing I have EVER done!!!"
Miss P asked me to thank Elizabeth Hartman for designing this cute pattern, and for encouraging her along the way, even if she didn't know she was doing it.
Congratulations to her for getting it done! She finished just in time for photos the day before the shower - as one does. I am so proud of her! 
Welcome to my post on the Oakshott Lipari blog hop. Thank you 
Here are the directions for making your own Crepusular quilt as seen above.Finished size: 56'' by 63''MaterialsFat eighth bundle Oakshott LipariFat eighth bundle Oakshott Colorshott 31-57 - choose 18 colors to go with the 18 in the lipari bundle - set aside the others for another project.Batting 60'' by 70''Backing 60'' by 70''half yard fabric for facings or bindingDownload and print out the templates- 
Bring the edges even and sew the seam. Some people prefer to sew with the wedge piece on top and some people prefer to sew with the outer curve piece on top. Sew them together whichever way works best for you. Press seam away from the point for a smoother curve.
Next, add the outer corner of block, c. Find the center of the seam and pin.
On these curves I hold the edges even with my fingers while I sew.
Press seams to the outside of the curve.
Repeat the steps above to complete 72 blocks.Arrange the blocks as shown in the finished quilt or play with them and come up with your own arrangement. Sew the blocks together in rows. Sew the rows together.
Layer the backing, batting and quilt top. Baste. Quilt. Finish with binding or facing.I finished this quilt with a facing. (I will do a separate post with a tutorial on how to finish a quilt with a facing.)
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this quilt. I loved the way each piece of fabric performed a bit of visual magic as it was fed under the presser foot. The process of sewing these blocks was a visual feast.
You really must see this fabric in person to fully appreciate its beauty. It is very difficult to capture with a camera.
I'll be using scraps to make my blocks but I have chosen two solid fabrics, Kona Oasis, and Kona Wasabi, to help give the quilt a more cohesive look.Each week two new block designs will be posted at the Splendid Sampler website. Hop over and read more about it.There are 80 designers who have contributed blocks, so, at some point in the year, one of my block designs will pop up! I hope you can join us. It's going to be a fun year!
P enjoyed looking through the book and chose several garments from the book that she'd like. First up were the pedal pushers featured on the cover.
The fit was PERFECT on the first try. Don't you love this vintage button P chose for the waistband?
We also added a bit of embroidery to the bottom. The chainstitch is stitched with aurifil floss and the french knots are in aurifil wool.
I know we will be making more garments from this book! Next up for Miss P is the Kicky Pleated Skirt.
I'm still making slow progress on my La Passacaglia quilt.I made these rosette centers in the car on the way to Minneapolis and back last weekend. Thank you, 
I used aurifil poly thread for for the first time when quilting this quilt and I really like it. It is strong and has a wonderful sheen. The variations in color in #5505 were just right to tie all these bright pinks, greens, and oranges together.
I love what Pat did in her version of this mini. She has a secondary design in the background squares. 
I used Pamela Wynne's 
The outer of B's mittens is knit with one strand of handspun and one strand of laceweight alpaca.
We had a little felting party in the bathroom Christmas afternoon.
I think the mittens turned out great.
I knit Miss P's slippers with two strands of homespun to make them a little thicker. They shrank but not as much as I was hoping. They ended up a little too big for her but too big is better than too small. At least they have some growing room!
I'm still working on a new hat for D. He got a "kit" for Christmas. He chose the yarn and pattern and I wrapped the needles, pattern, and yarn up for him to open. It's how we roll.I kinda hope we have a cold winter so that we can use our new warm woolen winterwear. 
I've been participating in the 
The last few days, however, my sewing room has looked like this.
The sewing machines (that's the longarm on the left), my computer, and desk were all encased in plastic bubbles. B was doing some plumbing work for the new bathroom upstairs that involved taking down some of the ceiling in my sewing room for access. He did not want to be blamed for any damage caused by plaster grit and dust!
Can you read the dates?
Back in September I went to Gwen Marston's last quilt retreat. She is retiring and will not be hosting the retreats any longer. The good news is that long time retreat members Pat Holly and 
