WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO????

Two weeks ago I decided that I need to make a pull over T-shirt dress…something that I can throw on quickly, grab my purse and fly out the door.  I didn't get too far when my sewing machine of thirty years smoked!  Eeeek!  I quickly turned it off…grabbed the fire extinguisher (didn't have to use it) and waited for the smoke to dissipate.  This was my all time favorite sewing machine…a Bernina Record 930.  The last electronic machine that Bernina made before coming out with computerized machines.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I took it to the shop for repair and was told that Bernina no longer has the needed parts and that it probably could not be repaired.  Well….what is a gal to do?  Buy a NEW machine of course!!!!

I bought a Bernina 560 and it is AWESOME!!!!  It is a machine that has over 100 (9 ml wide) decorative stitches, a touch screen and a needle threader just to name a few of the unbelievable features of this machine.  The average machine has 5.5 ml wide stitches so you can imagine my excitement!  Plus, the fact that all stitches can be adjusted in width and length and can even be welded together via a memory mode.  My mind is just spinning with ideas!!!!

These are two of the things that I made in class to learn how to operate all of its features:

A COVER FOR A 6" X 9" STRATHMORE WATERCOLOR PAD

INSIDE VIEW

ZIPPERED BAG

VIEW OF INSIDE LINING

Projects courtesy of the Bernina Sewing Center, Lake Mary, Florida.  If you are ever in the area, stop by and check it out…you won't be disappointed!!!  They have lots and lots of beautiful finished projects such as quilts, home decor, purses, clothing and all the materials needed to make them.

If anyone is interested in learning how to make the zippered bag, I would be glad to make a tutorial.  It is not complicated nor is it necessary to have a machine that makes decorative stitches.  It could be made using a printed fabric, using ribbon or lace instead of the decorative stitches or even painting the fabric with your own design.

Until next time,

Hugs!
Ginny

TRYING OUT A MOLESKINE

Where do I begin?  I am trying out a Moleskine journal for the first time.  I am a Moleskine virgin!  As  with using any art medium for the first time...there are always challenges.  In this case…it is the thinness of the paper.

I already know that the paper in the Moleskine journal will probably support only graphite and colored pencil so I plan to use it just for pencil sketches.  No ink! That was the plan but once I completed my pencil sketch, I felt that something was lacking and outlined it in ink.  Well...guess what?  It bled through to the other side!  Anyway, I did what I usually do...I decided to go with the flow and let happen what may and deal with the issue later.

In the art world there is always a solution to a problem…right?  Maybe a little gesso or gluing something over it?  Or….maybe even gluing two pages together.  What would you do?  I would love to hear from you and learn how you deal with this issue.

Until next time!

Hugs,
Ginny