Welcome back, blogging friends! I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch for awhile, but I just returned home from an eventful trip across the pond.
Infusion of….. creativity!
I just returned from a trip to the US where I attended the 8th Annual National Bernina Artisans Reunion in Chicago. It was truly an infusion of inspiration, creativity, fabulous new ideas, skills and fun! This event, which Bernina hosts once a year, gathers the best of the best – national and international teachers from the needlecraft industry – together to learn the latest and greatest about all things Bernina. It is also a chance for us to provide the company with valuable feedback about ways to improve existing products, to brainstorm innovations for future products, and the opportunity to network with our peers. This was my second year to attend, and I’m honored to have been included with the “Who’s Who” in the world of sewing.
Infusion of….. sewing perfection!
Infusion of….. fun!
There was lots of fun along with our days of intense training and hard work. But I dare say no one minded in the least. There was also plenty of laughter and socializing, including the evening event of the Blue Denim Challenge for which we modeled our embellished creations. The challenge criteria? We were directed to take a blue denim shirt, one hour, and no more than $10 for embellishments. That’s it. So, I used Angelina (those fusible, glitzy fibers) yarn and a few crystals, along with my needle punch machine to needle punch my yarn from the inside out to embellish my shirt. 
(Note: Take my word for this and don’t try it at home: Angelina fibers are NOT conducive to needle punch techniques!) I was awarded the “Barfle Sparkle” award (which was tame compared to some of the other wild and wacky awards categories) from one of the contest judges and moderator, Bobbie Aug. At least I got a good laugh from the audience when I told them my husband thought my shirt looked like a cross between a 60’s flower child and valium! 
The winner of the blue denim challenge was Sue Nichols with her Bernina 830 shirt – complete with an “extended arm” and super large bobbin.
Infusion of….. mall therapy!
I got to do a little bit of shopping before the conference actually began last Wednesday, and of course, I couldn’t pass up the chance to shop at my favorite department store, Von Maur. I actually used some restraint and didn’t spend too much. But I did manage to find a few great new pieces for spring – both professional and casual wear. 
The colors for spring in clothing this year are glorious, and I invested in a few special pieces including a new spring jacket and matching top in one of fabulous new colors: raspberry! I also found a Vera Bradley and Brighton store – two other favorite shopping haunts. I always enjoy seeing what’s new in accessories, too.
Infusion of….. friends!
My roommate for the conference was my dear friend, Sue Stewart, from Pittsburg, Kansas. Sue and I have been friends since 2005, and this was our third time to room together at a national event in the past year. We have found we’re very “roommate compatible” and enjoy our time together immensely. She is dear through and through, and such a gifted and talented thread artist! Her quilts have won numerous awards in Houston and other international venues. Kiddingly, I told her one of the reasons I like to room with her is that I’m hoping some of her talent will rub off through osmosis on me at night when we’re asleep!
Before heading to the airport for the return trip home on Sunday, I had the wonderful opportunity to get together with Sharon, one of my dear, true friends from college. Sharon and I met at Miami University in 1981, and were friends through our four years in college, as we were in the same major together. We’ve been in touch throughout the years, but we figured it has been about 20 years since we last saw each other. (Could it really have been that long?) Time seemed to melt away as if we had never been apart and we picked up right where we left off. Honestly, Sharon is one of the funniest people I know and we laughed and talked and laughed some more as we spent the afternoon catching up over lunch at an Olive Garden restaurant before I had to leave for the airport.Infusion of….. good things!
So, this past week I’ve experienced an infusion of so many good things – both professionally and personally. I caught up with old friends and made many news ones. I talked, laughed, listened, learned. It was exciting and fun from beginning to end, and I enjoyed every moment.
WELCOME BACK!!
Pat — Thanks so much — it feels really great to have been missed!
I have been really wondering about the new Bernina. I love my current Bernina 730e, but that space under the arm of the series 8 is unreal. When I bought the 730e I thought I would make much more use of the embroidery features than I have, so I don’t think I would be able to justify the cost of that mega machine with the mega price tag for just regular sewing and quilt making. It also does not look very portable. I can dream, though! And you really looked like you were having fun!!!!!
I took your advice and bought a bunch of those ArtBin storage containers. Joann’s was having a sale & I had an additional percentage off. Wow. They are really neat. I am using them to pack up my projects for the classes at QHC — one bin for each class. I had to laugh at the “made in China” stickers that were inside each box. I have all of my fabric collected, so the next few weekends will be prep weekends for cutting. I don’t know about you, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of prepping a project & putting it all together in a nice neat place, just waiting to be worked on. Kind of like a big bird building a nest. This little nest is for Flying Geese Crossing, and this little nest is for Kimberley’s Mystery Quilt, and…….
I really don’t need all of those plastic dividers that came with the ArtBins, though. I think the original idea was to use them to divide layers of scapbooking papers, but I certainly can’t envision using all of them for my projects. So I have found an alternative use. Bear with me while it sounds as though I’m off on another tangent. The plastic dividers come in at the end.
Reusable grocery bags have become very popular here in the US instead of the usual paper/plastic grocery bags. Typically they are made out of a light-weight meshy fabri, and you buy them for about 99 cents @ . The price of the bag is refunded when you check you out the grocery order that includes the purchase of the bag(s), and you get additional pennies off each subsequent order for each bag you use in lieu of the regular paper/plastic. They are really convenient, help save trees, and hold a lot more than the standard grocery bags.
I found a bunch of home dec fabric (the canvas-like stuff) in very wild colors that I bought years ago for some long-forgotten project. I thought the fabric would make nice grocery bags, and the wild colors would certainly make me the hit of the check-out line. Well, I’m almost finished my first, and it is really cool — black and white big zebra print with hot pink polka dot handles and binding. Here it comes………those plastic divider things are the absolutely perfect thing to cut down and use as a reinforcement for the bottom of the bags! Just enough to help keep the shape, but still light weight. You could probably make quilting templates out of them too. Can you help me think of some other uses?
Pat — Loved your comment this morning! Thanks so much for taking time to write and share those great thoughts with all of us. I especially love the idea of your reusable grocery bags with the plastic dividers cut up for reinforcement at the bottom. You’re thinking GREEN, baby! 🙂
Here’s a couple more ideas for those plastic dividers:
I have used them under the dog and cat dish bowls to keep spills easy to clean.
They work great in the trunk area of your car as floor liners to keep the carpet clean.
Cut them down to put beneath flower pots on the window sills to keep water marks from damaging the wood.
Put them in the bottom of closets where kids store muddy boots or wet shoes for easier clean up.
Let’s keep the list going!
Karendianne — Thank you so much — it was a great time! I’m so glad you took time to stop and leave a message. Great to hear from you!
A great time and a great post.