To say that March was a bit busy for me is an understatement. I began the month of March with a quick trip to Texas to celebrate my daughters 18th birthday! Where has that time gone?! I can hardly believe that she is legally an adult now!
I had a few days in the shop helping customers and doing some Babylock training before I was off on my next adventure, a trip to Chicago! Marcia, Tom and I were in Chicago for the Bernina Q Series Training!
For a whole week Tom and I were in a classroom full of Bernina Q24's learning all there is to know about these machines! 
As soon as we made it back from Chicago I was back in our Classroom here at Pine Needles to teach our Quiltworx Technique of the Month, Coral Reef. This was class number 6 out of 7. I am anxiously awaiting our next and final class where we can start putting all of the pieces together to make the quilt top! (More pictures to come soon)
Not only did I learn about the Bernina Q Series during the month of March but I also learned a bit about the Bernina e16, a 16 needle embroidery machine! So if you have questions on the Q Series or maybe you are interested in a multi-needle embroidery machine, stop in and I'd love to show you!
And last but not least, I spent the last week of March in Texas for Quiltworx University! Every morning started with Judy giving a demonstration on the units to be worked on that day! If you have not tried paper piecing the Quiltworx way, I highly recommend it!
My list of Quiltworx quilts to-do might have grown just a bit!
Now, onto April! I think I will have just a bit of catching up to do, but I am eager to get back in front of my sewing machine to finish up a few projects that I have in the works!
Happy Spring, Happy Sewing!
Kendra
Everyone's favorite Grandma Ardis would be 102 today or tomorrow. She was a leap year baby so I guess she could have celebrated either OR BOTH! Many of you had the honor of getting to know this very, very special lady. She has shaped so much of Marcia and Suzie's lives. There is just no getting around it - she truly was the best!
She taught so many to sew, and it was actually an enjoyable experience!
Yo-yo's were very popular with the great grandchildren. Look at that precious smile!!!
All 3 of her daughters caught the bug, and have passed it along to their children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
She was a welcomed and highly anticipated guest at nearly all of our fall retreats at Eagle Bluff.
She taught us not only to sew, passed along her wonderful life lessons and she had the most unbelievably positive attitude.
For example, when Marcia made this block that just wouldn't lay flat. Take your little moment to have your fit (pictured above), let Grandma fix it, and move on. After she passed, I learned that her favorite song was Que Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be). She sure got that right, and that's just how she lived her fascinating 99 1/2 year life.
Happy Birthday, Grandma! We sure do miss you.
Suzie
Can you believe that it is already Valentine's Day?! While I was trying to decide on a topic for this blog post, I wanted it to be something that I could tie into today's holiday. So here it goes, "All the Things I Love about Sewing"!
First, I would have to say that I love my Bernina Sewing Machines, yes, there is more than one! I wouldn't have learned as much as I have about sewing and embroidery if I wouldn't have been introduced to Bernina. When I think about how I started, embroidery was the furthest thing from my mind! But it was mentioned that since I had little girls (not so little anymore) that I would really enjoy embroidery! And boy do I ever!! It looks like I might just share that love of embroidery with someone I love! Yes, that is my husband embroidering on not one but two of my embroidery machines!
Second, would be all the people that I have met along the way! I love meeting new people! Some of those people would include the educators, students, co-workers and customers! As I have met all these different people, I enjoy hearing their stories on how they got started sewing, which machines they sew on and what project they are working on.
Next, I would have to mention how much I love the travel opportunities that have come along through sewing. I mean, who doesn't love to travel? And if you have the opportunity to travel with your sewing machine, I suggest you don't pass it up!! I have traveled to Madeline Island a few times for some amazing classes that have taught me quite a few techniques. I have also traveled with my sewing machine on an airplane to Nashville for a quilt retreat! On this retreat I met some amazing friends from all over the map! And of course, I have to mention all the little retreats that have been planned with my local quilting friends! Every year we will rent a log cabin in the woods or on a lake and take off for a long weekend of sewing. We even let our husband's tag-along to take care of all the cooking, so we are sure to get a lot done! I even bring my sewing machine along to the hotels on the weekends that my youngest daughter has dance conventions or competitions!
Until next time,
Kendra
