Last Wednesday night I went to a party at my local BERNINA store, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the BERNINA sewing machine. Model 105, the first BERNINA-branded sewing machine, was introduced in 1932. BERNINA stores all over the world are celebrating with special events and sales; join the festivities at www.berninausa.com and check with your local BERNINA store to find out what's happening in your town. 

I've always been fascinated by machines - how they work, how the pieces fit together, who invented them, how they developed from early prototypes to the machines we use today. It seems like sewing machines have been around forever, but until about 150 years ago all sewing was done by hand. Imagine stitching all of your clothes with just a needle and a thimble! That would take care of my storage shortage - my entire wardrobe would fit in one suitcase! Trace the history of sewing machines and BERNINA innovations at BERNINA International, then explore BERNINA history at www.berninausa.com. Even the production of BERNINA sewing machines has changed dramatically in the last 75 years - the process now includes computers and robotics - but people are still an essential part of the process.

Also in 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt elected President of USA; Lindburgh baby kidnapped; "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" popular song; Tarzan the Ape Man, starring Johnny Weissmuller; Amelia Earhart's trans-Atlantic solo flight; Jack Benny's first radio show; Al Capone sent to prison for tax evasion; Los Angeles hosts 10th Summer Olympics.

I attended the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas for the very first time ever this year!  It was amazing - so many beautiful quilts and so many creative people all in one place.

As a brand new National Educator for Bernina, it was my job at the Festival to show off the Happy embroidery machine.  This machine is fascinating to watch, and lots of folks stopped to watch it stitching out embroidery designs.  For those of you new to machine embroidery, the Happy uses 12 needles, allowing you to use 12 different colors at once - and will even cut threads and change between colors automatically.  Yes, it is exactly as cool as it sounds!

Here I am with Alice Voss, Marketing Assistant for Bernina of America in front of the Happy machines.

The Bernina booth was a constant buzz of activity throughout the Festival, it was great fun to meet all of the sewing, quilting and Bernina enthusiasts that came to visit.  Not only did guests get to play hands-on with any Bernina in the booth, but those that visited us on preview night got to share in anniversary cake and punch!

AND! I was so inspired by all that I saw that I am making my FIRST QUILT EVER with samples that I stitched at the Festival!  Check back later for pictures of my first quilt - and tell what you think!

Greetings from Bernina-land! And welcome to the first block at berninaUSAblog.com. We're Jo & Erika and we'll be posting about our favorite obsession - sewing! We'll be sharing inspiration and expertise, and telling you about happenings in Bernina-land - events, contests, new products. We want to hear from you, too - what you've been making, things you'd like to learn, questions you have. Think of us as your sewing fairy-godmothers, here to spark your creativity and provide the expertise you need to make your sewing dreams come true.

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