Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Busy Weekend!

Saturday I had my first Bernina Mastery Class. I learned a lot and did several things for the first time. One of those things is cleaning and oiling my machine. - something very important to know and I now feel confident that I can do this competently. I've also never done the satin stitch on a sewing machine. Easy! We're using the Bernina Mastery workbook and doing each exercise. It's a lot of fun and very much worth the time. I feel so much more comfortable learning something new in a classroom environment. It takes all the frustration out of it.
Sunday, I met the ladies from the Sampler Guild and I was able to complete page 1 of my Quakers and Quilts chart. I've corrected the placement of the red stitches over the number 9 since this photo was taken. I'm still enjoying every second of this sampler. I'll have more pictures later in the week of some amazing in progress projects.
I did not knit on the way to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Instead I worked on Christmas cards. I was feeling pretty good about it but now it's days later and they're only half done. I can barely get commercially made cards out in the mail and yet some of you out there make your own cards. I'm in total awe!
The holiday season is ramping up. We've started some shopping. G went out at 3:30 Black Friday to pick up some things. Isn't he a sweetie? I had to work Friday. I've also ordered a few things online. Our shopping strategy is to hit the stores very early or very late and hopefully skip the crazy large crowds. Last year that seemed to help quite a bit. Do any of you have any holiday tips? I could use all the help I can get!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your Christmas cards are beautiful. I love the simplicity of the just gold color.

The sampler you are working on is pretty too.

Bonnie said...

Your sampler looks lovely. Almost makes me want to pick up some cross stich again. I have sorely neglected all other crafts since being bitten by the quilting bug!

Unknown said...

I'm not even sure where our Christmas cards are?? Hmmm, wonder if they'll get out this year??

Pat said...

UGH...cards...I've not even started yet. WHY am I so far behind this year? It's just not like me to be this far behind the 8-ball...and I don't like it at all!!! I"m glad your class on your machines was such a good one!

Laurie in Iowa said...

Hi Jackie, I love my Bernina too. I took the Mastery classes and it was time well spent. That was several years ago and I'm considering retaking some of the classes as a refresher.
I enjoyed looking back at your posts and admiring all your lovely project. Have you decided was to knit with that gorgeous blue fiber yet?
Your pups are adorable.

QuiltSue said...

I do a lot of my shopping online. I spent yesterday morning "shopping" like that, and all I have to do now is wait for Christmas to be delivered!

Deb @ PlainStitch said...

I love the phrase 'stash enhancement' it sounds like such serious and important work! I need to go and start on some 'enhancement' myself, i really love the dragon melody shawl, might start there!

Carol said...

You're supposed to clean and oil your machine? Uh-oh, I'm in trouble! My ancient machine (36 years old!) has never been properly cared for, poor thing...Well, I only use it for sewing ornaments at this point.

Haven't even started my Christmas cards yet, Jackie--good for you for being on top of things! I tend to procrastinate around Christmas for some reason...

Siobhán said...

Lovely stitching and sewing, Jackie!

Good luck with the cards. I need to get cracking on mine. I had planned to order photo cards & spent the morning getting them set up. I went to order everything and the shipping cost was nearly another 1/2 of the cost of the cards themselves. I guess I need to trudge to the store and get writing!

Good luck with getting everything sorted for the holidays!

woolwoman said...

Jackie your sewing class piece looks very nice - I love the way your Q&Q is coming out. Colors are gorgeous! Can't wait to see the photos of the WIP's of the sampler guild members. Mel

Zlaty said...

Hi Jackie,

The Bernina class sounds like it is very useful and fun!
Your cross stitching project is coming alone! Thank you for the inspiration, I have been looking at my cross stitching projects as well.

Good luck with the cards, that looks like awful lot of cards! I think just sit down and do it. Do you write a personalize message in every one or just getting the addresses is too much? I may suggest making a computer file and printing all the addresses on labels.

Happy sewing!

Zlaty

Simone de Klerk said...

How wonderful to have those lessons with your new machine and that it makes you so confident!
Love the sampler. Look forward to see more. And the Christmas cards - I haven't even thought of those yet. I am always very very late with everything. I thank that should change. No decorations in our home yet - not even for the Advent. Ugh. I'll try before the weekend when Laura comes home. She enjoys it so much!
Have a lovely week, Jackie!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the mastery workbook link! Your cross-stitching is lovely.

Kandy Newton said...

No good for this year - sorry, but maybe next year, shop for all your gifts/Christmas cards/wrapping paper and larder/storecupboard shopping before December even begins (Or even earlier if it starts getting stupid in November) If you do leave it until December, buy online. It works for me every year:-) I then only need to go shopping if I *really* want to and I can wander around the shops without pressure and wearing a smug look on my face. No one has slapped me yet!
DH actually *likes* supermarket shopping (I know, weird guy huh? but he's a keeper) so he does all that, come December.

Michelle said...

You've been busy! Those cards are beautiful. You reminded me, I need to get started on mine!

Micki said...

I love all your work, but I especially loved the Christmas cards!
Micki

Brigitte said...

These sewing classes are always very useful. I also took one when I bought my new Janome machine.
Your Quakers and Quilt piece looks so great. Very nice progress.
Good luck with your Christmas card writing. Seems to be a lot ...