For years, I said "I would never buy a Bernina Sewing Machine they are always in the shop for repairs", but now I can say I was totally wrong. But in February, I had to finally make the move, and so glad I did. I have gone Bernina and Loving It!
Here is the story!
In February, I dropped my Janome 7700 off to have a repair service done, since it stop letting me make any zigzags or blank stitches. The following, we called about it, and found out the Quilt Shop where I dropped it off at Flooded. My machine was not damaged but was in a box in storage, so I would have to wait a while. So I was using my smaller Janome and Brother Machine, but they were not doing the job.
So, My husband and I talked about it that a good back-up machine was needed. We went down to my favorite quilt shop in the local area Material Girls Quilt Boutique (LaPlata, Maryland), which is a Bernina Dealer. We talk to the girls down there for a good hour or so, about what machine would be good for me. I even went back the next day, to talk to them again. I decided on a B580 with Embroidery attachment. I got the machine a couple days later. When I picked up the machine they should me everything I need to know to get started. I have just fell in love with this machine, it is such an easy machine to use. The only thing I miss is the larger neck that is on my Janome 7700, but not missing that much to buy the bigger machine. This machine does everything I need and more. I sold my Brother Embroidery Machine, due to the Bernina can do the Embroidery when I set it up and does it so much smoother. I love the Blanket Stitch on the machine, which is the only stitch besides the Straight Stitch.
As for my Janome, I still have not received it back, due to after the shop that had it reopened in April, and I was told that my machine need a new A-Board, and it was on order. To date, we keep calling the quilt shop on status, and have been told that the part was in the US in a Shipping Container with a customs number, just waiting for it to be shipped to Janome. I have a feeling it could be a couple more months until I get it back. Thats ok, I have my wonderful Bernina to use and is my new main machine.
Tina
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Yesterday was my last day as a government worker. Now I can spend my time working on developing my quilting business. I will have more time to work on practicing my free motion quilting and developing applique quilt patterns that I have in draft form while I wait for my Long arm quilting business to pick up.
Today, I worked on making three embroidery labels for varies quilts that are in finishing stage right now. I design them in the Floriani Total Control Pro Software Program, then upload them into our Brother Embroidery sewing machine, and stitch them out. I sewed out the Easy Street, Meadow Friends and the Star Wars Rail Fence quilts. Custom Labels like these are one of the services I offer on my Quilting Affection website.
I also Finished the Star Wars Quilt top this evening, plus have the backing ready to go on the machine some time this next week. Now, I have two ready to go, so I think later on this weekend or early next week, I will get this quilted out.
The weather this weekend is to be the nicest so far, so my husband and I plan to do some yard work. So look forward to getting outside and getting some fresh air. Hope you all have a good weekend. Tina
Yesterday was my last day as a government worker. Now I can spend my time working on developing my quilting business. I will have more time to work on practicing my free motion quilting and developing applique quilt patterns that I have in draft form while I wait for my Long arm quilting business to pick up.
Today, I worked on making three embroidery labels for varies quilts that are in finishing stage right now. I design them in the Floriani Total Control Pro Software Program, then upload them into our Brother Embroidery sewing machine, and stitch them out. I sewed out the Easy Street, Meadow Friends and the Star Wars Rail Fence quilts. Custom Labels like these are one of the services I offer on my Quilting Affection website.
I also Finished the Star Wars Quilt top this evening, plus have the backing ready to go on the machine some time this next week. Now, I have two ready to go, so I think later on this weekend or early next week, I will get this quilted out.
The weather this weekend is to be the nicest so far, so my husband and I plan to do some yard work. So look forward to getting outside and getting some fresh air. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Tina
This week I would like to highlight one of my favorite local quilts shops, Michelle's Quilts, in Hughesville, Maryland.
The owner Michelle and her husband run the shop, along with her daughter. The shop carries a huge selection of fabrics including Moda, Benartex, Northcott also a good selection of Batiks. They also have a large selection of threads, from Superior, Mettler, and Floriani. For the machine embroiderer they carry a great selection of Floriani thread and stablizers. She also carries the a extensive selection of notions, books and patterns. For those that like to do their own designs, she carries a great selection of software for designing machine embroider patterns.
Michelle's is the local authorized Brother Dealer. She is very knowledgeable in the Brother machines, and all of the servicing of the machines are done in the store by a factory trained technician. They also an authorized dealer of the Handiquilter Longarm machines. Michelle has a couple in the store, that she uses for a quilting service which she also offers.
Now the most important thing I think Michelle's Quilts has is it friendly atmosphere and helpful attitude. As soon as you walk in the store, Michelle makes you feel like old friend. She is always willing to drop everything and answer any questions or help in any way. Her husband and daughter are the same way. So you will always feel welcome. So if you are ever in the area of Hughesville, Maryland, stop by, I know you will be glad you did.Enjoy,
Tina
This week I would like to highlight one of my favorite local quilts shops, Michelle's Quilts, in Hughesville, Maryland.
The owner Michelle and her husband run the shop, along with her daughter. The shop carries a huge selection of fabrics including Moda, Benartex, Northcott also a good selection of Batiks. They also have a large selection of threads, from Superior, Mettler, and Floriani. For the machine embroiderer they carry a great selection of Floriani thread and stablizers. She also carries the a extensive selection of notions, books and patterns. For those that like to do their own designs, she carries a great selection of software for designing machine embroider patterns.
Michelle's is the local authorized Brother Dealer. She is very knowledgeable in the Brother machines, and all of the servicing of the machines are done in the store by a factory trained technician. They also an authorized dealer of the Handiquilter Longarm machines. Michelle has a couple in the store, that she uses for a quilting service which she also offers.
Now the most important thing I think Michelle's Quilts has is it friendly atmosphere and helpful attitude. As soon as you walk in the store, Michelle makes you feel like old friend. She is always willing to drop everything and answer any questions or help in any way. Her husband and daughter are the same way. So you will always feel welcome. So if you are ever in the area of Hughesville, Maryland, stop by, I know you will be glad you did.
Enjoy,
Tina
One of my most recent quilts I finished, was this one I have name "Coquette Tulip". This quilt was my first commissioned quilt and was started this last September. I was asked by one of my husbands co-workers to make a quilt, for her mother in law. She left the design and colors, to up to me. The only thing, that was asked was to make it in warm colors and to be made into a full size. I began with looking for blocks that would work though my EQ7 and my Blockbase programs. After, I found a couple different blocks i made a couple of mock up designs in various warm colors. Her choice was this modified weatherpane block and she a lot of yellow, greens, and reds colors. 
Next I began searching the various fabric combinations or collection through some of my favorite websites. I found a couple of fabrics and had her pick the one she liked the most. She picked the the Coquette Collection from Moda. So that following weekend, my husband drove me to Capital Quilts to see what they had in that collection. They had one bolt of what I wanted to use. So, after I was done shopping in that shop we headed to Web Fabrics in Northern Virginia. When we got to Web Fabircs we found all the fabrics I needed to make the top.It took me about, 48 hours of sewing over several weeks to finish the top with out the borders. The hardest part was setting the blocks on point. It was my first time to sew a quilt on point and I found it was fun and challenging to figure out. After finishing the top, I had to go back to Webfabrics for more fabric for the borders and the backing. They had just enough on the bolt for the backing.
After finishing the top I marked the quilt with designs I made from varies parts of the border and the backing. The quilt was laid out on the floor as the quilt sandwich and pin basted it with hundreds of basting pins.
The quilting was all done on my Janome 7700 sewing machine. I started with stitching in the ditch first, then worked on the free motion quilting on the sashing, and the middle blocks. Then worked on the borders to finish quilting. I finished the quilt with making the binding with from the green fabric.
The label was designed by my husband with his Brother Embroidery Machine. I just told him what to put on the fabric and where I wanted the label at.Over all the customer loved the finished quilt, and also I fell in love with this quilt I hope to make more quilts like this in the near future.Tina
One of my most recent quilts I finished, was this one I have name "Coquette Tulip". This quilt was my first commissioned quilt and was started this last September. I was asked by one of my husbands co-workers to make a quilt, for her mother in law. She left the design and colors, to up to me. The only thing, that was asked was to make it in warm colors and to be made into a full size.
I began with looking for blocks that would work though my EQ7 and my Blockbase programs. After, I found a couple different blocks i made a couple of mock up designs in various warm colors. Her choice was this modified weatherpane block and she a lot of yellow, greens, and reds colors.
Next I began searching the various fabric combinations or collection through some of my favorite websites. I found a couple of fabrics and had her pick the one she liked the most. She picked the the Coquette Collection from Moda. So that following weekend, my husband drove me to Capital Quilts to see what they had in that collection. They had one bolt of what I wanted to use. So, after I was done shopping in that shop we headed to Web Fabrics in Northern Virginia. When we got to Web Fabircs we found all the fabrics I needed to make the top.
It took me about, 48 hours of sewing over several weeks to finish the top with out the borders. The hardest part was setting the blocks on point. It was my first time to sew a quilt on point and I found it was fun and challenging to figure out. After finishing the top, I had to go back to Webfabrics for more fabric for the borders and the backing. They had just enough on the bolt for the backing.
After finishing the top I marked the quilt with designs I made from varies parts of the border and the backing. The quilt was laid out on the floor as the quilt sandwich and pin basted it with hundreds of basting pins.
The quilting was all done on my Janome 7700 sewing machine. I started with stitching in the ditch first, then worked on the free motion quilting on the sashing, and the middle blocks. Then worked on the borders to finish quilting. I finished the quilt with making the binding with from the green fabric.
The label was designed by my husband with his Brother Embroidery Machine. I just told him what to put on the fabric and where I wanted the label at.
Over all the customer loved the finished quilt, and also I fell in love with this quilt I hope to make more quilts like this in the near future.
Tina
So, My husband and I talked about it that a good back-up machine was needed. We went down to my favorite quilt shop in the local area Material Girls Quilt Boutique (LaPlata, Maryland), which is a Bernina Dealer. We talk to the girls down there for a good hour or so, about what machine would be good for me. I even went back the next day, to talk to them again. I decided on a B580 with Embroidery attachment. I got the machine a couple days later. When I picked up the machine they should me everything I need to know to get started. I have just fell in love with this machine, it is such an easy machine to use. The only thing I miss is the larger neck that is on my Janome 7700, but not missing that much to buy the bigger machine. This machine does everything I need and more. I sold my Brother Embroidery Machine, due to the Bernina can do the Embroidery when I set it up and does it so much smoother. I love the Blanket Stitch on the machine, which is the only stitch besides the Straight Stitch.
