My new baby – a Bernina 580e

Need I say more?  She arrived Monday and I’m still swooning.

I’ve sewn hundreds of flying geese since then…

Flying Geese – made from Laurie Wisbrun’s Brrrr line

And tried out some applique and embroidery…  The stitch quality on a Bernina 580e is nothing short of AMAZING!  I feel like I have only tapped the surface of what this machine can do.

It is worth the mess that is accumulating in the front room as I sew.  The kids homeschool and I design and sew all in the same room (usually) and I’m working on a big (secret) project, so things are crazy here right now.  But, in case you don’t think I’m serious about the mess, here are some peeks:

Clockwise from top right: more flying geese (from Patrick Lose prints), a wonky star block for the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild’s exchange, about one hundred yards of washed and ironed fabric, and school books galore…

Lesson: Cropping makes even messy rooms look a lot better.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

P.S.  I’m taking a little break from introducing Accuquilt tutorials this week to have another Aurifil giveaway – so stay tuned because I’ll post rules tomorrow.

It is week #2 and I’d like to introduce my second complimentary pattern for Accuquilt – the “Funky Flower Pillow”.

It is named, of course, after Accuquilt’s Funky Flower die.  As was the case with the first pattern, you can still whip up the project without the die, but the die does make it more fun.

Next week, I’ll post directions for a coordinating Funky Flower quilt!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

P.S. For my Australian readers, I’ve just found out that Sew Bright Alpine Quilting is running my Under the Veranda Block of the Month program, and they are still accepting new participants.  It is such a thrill to think of sewers half way around the world making this quilt!