Bernina 630 For Sale UPDATE:SOLD

Are you ready for a GREAT sewing machine?  My Bernina 630 Artista Platinum Quilters Edition Machine is for sale, INCLUDING a wonderful solid cabinet.  ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT is included along with these extras:

  BSR Bernina Stitch Regulator for effortless free motion quilting
  Single Hole Stitch Plate for excellent 1/4" stitching
  Walking Foot with Three Soles for super-straight quilting lines

The cabinet is solid and fits the 630 perfectly.  You will love Bernina's Hands-Free sewing with the presser foot lifter.  This machine has been serviced yearly and is in perfect condition.

In addition, I will provide ALL the guide classes you want, for as long as you want.  There are many features to this machine that you will love using.

Many beautiful quilts have been created on this quilt--that mojo comes with the machine for free!!

I have moved up to another Bernina and need to make room for her.  This is your chance to find out why "Nothing Sews like a Bernina, Nothing".  Here are reviews/information on this machine:

Sewing Machines Plus
Bernina
SewingInsight.com

Note: this machine does not have the embroidery module but you can add it should you want that.

I want to sell this locally, not ship it.  You will need a truck to move the cabinet.

PRICE REDUCED:  $2500.00

More photos:

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Each One, Teach One

Back in the summer I became interested in having a "sewing date" with a child, showing her the fun of creating something from fabric and thread.  I reached out to the mother of a former client to see if her 8 year old daughter would be interested.  She was and so the day before Thanksgiving we finally made it happen.

Here is Lyla Z, using "Ruby" the red Featherweight, to make a pillowcase:

She quickly understood the simple directions I gave her, only needed instruction on the machine's operations once, how to go backwards, how to start and how to stop, etc.  Once she got the line of stitching started, I moved over to my machine and just let her go, no hovering.  I did the pressing--she did all the pinning and sewing.  Her finished project:

After that, I gave her a choice, make two more pillowcases for her brothers or do "something" else.  She was ready for "something else".  I gave her a stack of 4" squares, put a piece of batting on the design wall and let her go.  Here she is designing a quilt:

Again, I showed her how to flip one square on top of another, pin the pairs, stack them and chain sew the pairs together.  She quickly got the process, sewed the chain, snipped them apart, put them back on the wall, and continued on.  I was surprised that she completed the whole top in the time we had.

For the backing fabric we went "shopping" in my closet and like any good quilter, when she saw a sparkly, purple peacock fabric that she loved, she got real excited and wanted that for the back.  I layered the batt, back and top, showing her how to place the back and top right sides together with the batt on the bottom.  She questioned that at first then said, "oh, after you sew it the back will be right sides out!".  Yes, she gets it.  I did the sewing all around the outer edge, leaving a 6" space for turning.  Lyla told me she has made a few pillows before so she knew how to turn the quilt right sides out.  She had not used a chopstick before to poke the corners out, she liked that tool.

It was almost time for her mom to return so I was going to quickly sew the open seam closed with my machine when I got a chance to show Lyla what NOT TO DO:  I sewed my finger--breaking off the tip of the needle inside my index finger.  A tissue stopped the bleeding but it was going to take my husband and some tweezers to remove the broken needle.  Her mom arrived, we chatted for a few minutes then I had "surgery" to remove the needle, more than 1/4" long, that was buried in my finger tip.  No problem, "Doctor Will" likes to do these things and peroxide and a band-aid had me good as new the next day.

Lyla's mom was very impressed and surprised at what Lyla got done.  Lyla told  me she has done some hand sewing on her pillows so she will hand-sew the opening on the quilt when she gets home:

We both had a good time and I learned a few things about working with a child:

1. Two hours is enough, especially the first time.  Lyla was tired at the end of the 2.5 hours.
2. Have fabrics cut and ready to sew--the 3 pillowcase fabrics were prepped before she arrived.
3. Have a second project ready--playing with the squares on a design wall was a good way to occupy her for a bit.
4. Provide only as much instruction as the child can absorb, a little at a time.
5. Mom went shopping--the child will do better without "help" from her parent.  She was eager to show me what she could do.

I hope you can reach out and teach a younger person.  We know the joy of creating a useful item from fabric and thread, let's pass that on to future generations.  I learned to sew in Girl Scouts and Home Ec and caught the bug early.  Sadly, there is not so much of that being taught in schools today.  But kids still want to make stuff with their hands.  Help them learn.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Thanksgiving Week--Cranberry Chutney

This is a favorite week for me, especially if I am not traveling so I am not concerned about weather.  We desperately need rain here, not much since April 2016 and we are down more than 12 inches.  We might get some good rain mid-week and that will be wonderful.

My favorite recipe, one I HAVE to make any time there is turkey or ham on the menu is Cranberry Chutney.  I grew up with Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce from the can, the kind that has those can lines on the sides when you open both ends of the can and push the roll of sauce onto a plate. About 40 years ago I followed a Cooking Light Turkey dinner complete menu, making all the dishes shown, and THIS is the one recipe that has stuck around:

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY       

Barbara Black       

1 bag fresh cranberries, 12-16 oz                    1 cup water

1 cup sugar, can be less                                   1 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar, can be less                     1 cup apple, chopped

1/2 cup raisins                                                  1/2 cup celery, chopped

2 t cinnamon                                                    1/2 -1 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 t ginger

1/2 t cloves

1/4 t allspice

Simmer cranberries, sugars, raisins, spices, and 1 cup water uncovered in 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until juice is released from berries, about 15 minutes.  Reduce heat; stir in remaining ingredients.  Simmer uncovered until thick, about 15 minutes.  Refrigerate covered or freeze.  Batch can be doubled--use large saucepan.    NOTE:  I always double this--DO NOT DOUBLE THE SUGARS. Keep extra in the freezer.  This will last from Thanksgiving until Christmas.  I buy fresh cranberries in early November and freeze them for later use. 

Over the years, I've made a few changes, the best being to reduce the amount of sugar.  I doubled the recipe and FORGOT to double the sugar, and it was BETTER!  About 5 years ago I added chopped pecans and that was a huge hit at my house, kind of makes it more "Southern".  The kitchen smells amazing while this is cooking, puts you in the mood for holiday food.  People who don't like cranberry sauce like this, and I am always asked for the recipe--now I can direct folks here.  You can save it to your Pinterest Boards too--see below.

Saturday I taught a fun class--they wanted the recipe when my daughter-in-law sent me a message asking for it during class.  Here are the "Southern Super Star" quilts under construction:

Donna D--half the middle and one quarter star points

Holly R--one quarter middle, one quarter star points

Dahlia K--one quarter middle, one quarter star points, almost

All three students worked hard all day and can now finish their tops at home.  We spent the last half hour of class time considering various border options, square or rectangle, you decide.  This is a class I enjoy teaching a lot and this quilt is my "go-to giveaway" quilt because I can make the top in a weekend, the cost of edge-to-edge longarm quilting isn't prohibitive and I can shop in my closet for the 8 fabrics needed:

Outside Tip:  1/4 yard

Second:          1/3 yard

Third:            1/2 yard

Fourth:          5/8 yard

Fifth:             1/2 yard

Sixth:            1/3 yard

Center:          1/4 yard

Background:   1 3/4 yard--buy 2 yards for border options

Borders are extra--unless I know for sure what I want for the borders, I wait until the star is done then shop in my closet.  Here are some previous quilts I have given away:

The pattern is from Calico Carriage Quilt Designs.  It is also available as a single pattern but the book provides several sizes and great directions and is moderately priced, I recommend the book.

Happy to say I am all caught up with Stella's Splendid Sampler, 81 blocks done:

The top 5 rows are sewn together, rows 6-8 are sewn together and row 9 is just getting started.  Blocks are released each Sunday and Thursday--this began February 14, 2016 and will conclude in February 2017 when 100 blocks have been released.  The patterns are free for now and a book is underway, for Spring 2017 release.  This project is organized by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson--they used over 80 additional designers to provide many different techniques.  There are 23,697 followers on Facebook currently and more than that who follow on the internet here.

What will I do when this is done?  Finish a few more long-term UFOs that have taken a backseat for too long.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, surrounded with those you love.  My husband and I will go to a restaurant but Friday I'm getting a rotisserie chicken so that cranberry chutney can be enjoyed.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Moving Along

After being gone almost two weeks, I had 6 Splendid Sampler blocks to make, to catch up.  Here is row 71-80, with one exception:

Block 75 is an embroidery block  I printed on the computer and will hand-stitch as time allows.  Hopefully, it will be done by this weekend so I can join this row to the previous 7 rows.

Saturday I'll be teaching Southern Super Star at Patches & Stitches, the local quilt shop where I have taught for 28 years:

I'll get a better photo this weekend--it's quilted now and looks great.  The pattern is Southern Stars from Calico Carriage Quilt Designs.  It is my go-to giveaway quilt for high school or college graduation.  I can make the top in a weekend and edge-to-edge quilting on this approximately 75" square quilt is not too expensive.  It looks great custom quilted but that ups the price more than I want to pay for a giveaway.  Students have fun in this class and get at least half the quilt done in the all-day time frame.  This one is mine--every time I  wanted to teach it I had to be sure I had one available as the sample so now there will always be one ready.

Here are a few more Houston International Quilt Festival photos:

Jodi Barrows gave a lecture featuring a lot of her family quilts and told their stories.  Here is what NOT to do if you don't want a hole in the center of your quilt:

DO NOT fold your quilts in half, and in half again, and leave them this way forever.  Fold them "burrito style" or in thirds, or rotate the folds every six months.  If you would like to see more of Jodi's quilts from the lecture, go to my friend, Lori D's blog:  Humble Quilts.  She took lots of photos of many of the Education Department classes, forums, and samplers so you can get a good look at all the many things you can do and learn at Festival when you venture up to the third floor.

If you have a spare bed that is rarely used, as I do, lay out the quilts flat--I put the top one back side up because of light from the window. There are works in progress, some tops, some waiting to be quilted, and some are rolled up across the pillows:

I call this bed the "Archaeological Dig" because you will go back in time digging down through the many quilts on this bed.  When I do need to clear it for guests, it takes a bit of time and I just dump them on the studio floor until the guests leave.  We do keep another guest room ready at all times so you are always welcome!

Here is the one pattern I bought at Festival and am eager to get started on:

It's called Star-A-Day Quilt from Somerset Patchwork from Australia.  These are 3" hand pieced Lemoyne Stars--the pattern suggests piecing one a day for 365 days to have all you need for this large bed quilt.  As I plan to teach this Summer 2017, I think that will be my plan starting January 1, 2017--I'll have half done by then.  They are quick and easy to piece--I'll just cut out the pieces as I am working on other projects that use reproduction fabrics.

I also fell in love with this one but they sold out of this pattern long before I stopped at the booth 15 minutes before the show closed:

Hexagon Star-A-Day. also hand pieced.  Both patterns include the adorable little window templates for easy marking of both the sewing and cutting lines:

I always have a handwork project ready so I can make use of the time I have to get things done, don't you?

Tonight is our monthly guild meeting and in honor of Veteran's Day the panel will be made up of several guild members who are military veterans.  We've been asked to tell how our military service has impacted our quilting.  I've been thinking hard on this for the past month and I'm not sure I can make a link between the two, other than that being in charge is something I'm accustomed to which might explain why I've been so active in this guild for 28 years.  And when there is a hard job that needs to be done, you send in the Marines, right?

All members are encouraged to bring red, white and blue quilts for Show and Tell.  Here are the two I have packed to take:

Strippy Stars

Red, White and Blue Circle Star

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.  It will just be my husband and I this year, he is pushing to go to a restaurant so we don't have dishes and pots and pans to clean up.  I love turkey leftovers so I'm not convinced that is what I want to do.  Better make up my mind soon...

Let's quilt!

Barbara

International Quilt Festival 2016

Better known simply as "Houston", the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX was another great success.  I've been home a few days and it's time to show you around.  WARNING: Photo rich!

As usual, I had to get up very early, 4:30 a.m., to catch early flights, first to Atlanta, then on to Houston Hobby airport.  After checking in for 13 days, I unpack and get my clothes in order for the two weeks.  We wear specific garments on specific days and I want everything in order so I am not scrambling around at 6 a.m. each day figuring out what to wear.

The view out my Hilton-Americas window--lots of construction  still ongoing

Closet is ready

The next day we start all the preparations for Market and Festival.  Market is just for the trade, credentials are required.  For 5 years I worked the Market as the Buyer for Patches & Stitches, ordering inventory for the next 6 months, and getting new ideas on how to better run the shop.  It is exciting to see what is new.  There were lots of bright fabrics, lots of hand-sewing projects, and so much enthusiasm from vendors and buyers.  Our industry is strong!

At Sample Spree Friday night I bought just a little fabric, from Windham Fabrics, one bright, one more reproduction-style:

The rest of Market I get ready to welcome 130 Faculty members to Festival.  This involves preparing their welcome packets, with name badge and lots of information, and stuffing the Festival Show Tote with a pin and Show Book, called the Q Square.  There were also special "goodie bags" and other gifts--they love to receive and I love to give those things out:

When I get a chance, I head down to the show floor from the Education office on the 3rd floor, to see the quilts.  Mostly, I go to the special exhibits.  Here is a taste of the ones I was most interested in:

I've been a fan of Susan Carlson since her book Free-Style Quilts  came out, 2000

20' long, for real!

Ribbon Quilts, a Special Exhibit curated by veteran Tom Korn, featured lots of quilts made to replicate Military Service Ribbons.  The exhibit was rounded out with military uniforms on display and a running video stream of military folks in uniform.  After much digging and having to order a new tie, I loaned my United States Marine Corps Dress Blues to the exhibit.  It sure brought back lots of great memories and I'm glad I participated in this way:

I am a huge fan of the 19th Century Patchwork Divas, a group of quilters who have been making quilts together for some years.  Here are just a few of the great quilts in this Special Exhibit:

I want to start a group like this some day--biggest problem? That great name is already taken, whatever could I call us??

Here is one of my favorites, a quilt inspired by 19th century work, this time from France, Quilts De Legende:

I wish you could see how tiny these triangles are, no bigger than 1.5" finished quarter square triangles--right up my alley!

There were Twenty Years of Dear Jane quilts:

And Millefiori quilts, which I know I'll never make, but really admire:

The quilts are great!  The vendors amazing! But for me, my two weeks in Houston is mainly about the people:

Melinda Bula--see the glamorous part of the job of traveling quilt teacher

Paula Nadelstern--showing how your kits/fabrics get to class

Dr Karen Nyberg, Astronaut, addressing a luncheon crowd

Alex Anderson

Karen Kay Buckley demo-ing hand applique' at Saturday Sampler

Kimberly and Kent Einmo--they had a blast at the show, smiling like this always!

2016 Education Team dressed in Eternal Sunshine by Amy Butler for Free Spirit Fabrics

One more important person to me, Brenda, an employee of the Hilton.  She has taken good care of me since I first stayed there, 2003.  We keep in touch a few times throughout the year--telling each other about our grand-girls, hers a recent college graduate just embarking on adult life, and my 18 month old Stella, just learning to talk.  I wanted Brenda to know how much I appreciate her so I gave her a quilt, about twin size, to wrap her in a hug, as quilters do.  Here we are as I presented it to her, complete with her name and the date on the label;

I've made hundreds of quilts and will keep making them.  Recently, I'm been looking for people to share them with, so my sons won't be stuck with all of them when I'm gone. The very best ones are safe in deep storage but it's fun to give some of the "every day" quilts to people who will appreciate them.

Have to show off a local guild member's quilt hanging in the 2016 Quilts: A World Of Beauty Judged Show:

Elaine Wick Poplin, a high school math teacher, sees things no one else sees.  Way to go, Elaine!  Check out her blog at http://messygoat.com/  Or Instagram @messygoat

Want photos of the top winning quilts? Go here: 2016 Winners

Want more behind the scenes photos? Check out Humble Quilts blog  Lori is a blog friend I asked to join us this year, see what she saw.

Want to see different quilts?  See what Catherine Redford, a terrific teacher from IL found interesting:  Catherine Redford's blog

If you are on Instagram, search #quiltfestival for almost 7000 photos--what else do you  have to do today?

I have hundreds more photos and lots of stories I could tell but that's enough for today.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara