The International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh this month was wonderful as usual. Color was everywhere as new fabrics were displayed (including mine – Its a Dog’s Life with Quiting Treasures). The mood was upbeat throughout the show and buyers were doing just that – buying. I took loads of pictures of great vendors as well as my friends But, if you read my last post, you know that my photo files were corrupted on the disk (the file names are all goofy symbols and Windows doesn’t know what file types they are- so if anyone can tell me what happened, I would love to know).
I am really excited about something that I purchased at the show (actually its being purchased through my local dealer). I bought Bernina’s digitizing software, “DesignerPlus Version 5” so that I can turn my art images into machine embroidery.
I plan to start with the motifs from my fabric collections. I also want to create designs to put on some of my projects featured in magazines and books.
Call me a nut, but I actually love learning new software, until I get to a frustration point! The good thing about this software is that my local shop (Robin’s Sewing Shoppe) will give me lessons on using it, in addition to the demo I received at Quilt Market. So, any frustration points can be resolved locally!
But the next step is that after getting home, I have decided that I want to upgrade my sewing machine. That actually means starting new since my machine can’t be “upgraded”. I’ve been visiting the websites of ALL the sewing machine companies to see which one has the features I want. Boy, now that’s frustration! Some of the websites have much more information than others and its frustrating looking at one that has very little information on the features of their machines. Then when I find a feature of one machine that I really like, I look back at all the sites again to see which ones have that feature. And I love features! Unfortunately, the $$’s go up with each feature so I am going to have to tone it down.
So now, I’m off to visit local dealers to make a decision on which machine I want and to see if I can find one in my budget.
Oh well, wish me luck!
Phyllis
Have fun learning that new software, Phyllis. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Phyllis,
It was such a pleasure to meet you at Market. I love your energy and enthusiasm. Sorry to hear about your photos. Do you have a camera store nearby that you can take it and the card reader into? Maybe they can figure something out.
Your designs will make amazing embroideries. That software sounds like such fun.
Take care,
Michele
Hey Phyllis,
I’m the quilter who made the “Penny for Your Thoughts” quilt with your pieced eagle block in it. I won 3rd place in our Smoky Mountain Quilters show this month, and presented it for sale to the Lincoln Memorial Museum in Harrogate, TN. I’ll let you know if they purchase it.
About you sewing machine, I have and love my Jonome 6600. You should check out all their machines, they have computerized embroidery ones also. Many models to choose from.
Leona of New Tazewell TN
hi phyllis!
the show sounds wonderful! good for you for pushing throught hte frustration of learning new software and upgrading!
you are so inspiring! most people tend to stay in their comfort zone and never get to experience new things they would really enjoy!
i cannot wait to see which machine you get!
I want to update on the machine that I decided on. I have been using a Janome and love it. After all my research I had pretty much narrowed it down to the Janome MemoryCraft 10001 and loved it when I saw it “live”. I visited a Pfaff dealer to see the Creative 2170, which was next on my list. Both machines had terrific features, but the Pfaff had one feature that sold me – the Idf technology (Intergrated dual feed). It has the capability to feed from the top sync’ing with the bottom feed. This feature is important if you are sewing and the ends don’t meet when you finished because the top didn’t match the bottom feed. I thought this would save me a lot of ripping time. Also, and this might seem trivial, there is a new foot with a 1/4″ guide for piecing. You but your fabric edges next to the guide and sew with perfect 1/4″ seams. It was a very close race between the 2 machines, but the 2170 won by a “nose” or maybe I should say by a “seam”.
Typo above – in describing the foot above, I meant to say “butt” the fabric against the guide.