Did you know that heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women? And now Bernina of America has a new corporate giving program - Sew Red - to spread the word and raise $$$ for the American Heart Association. They've made arrangements for 15 designers and teachers - including several celebrity stitchers! - to "bling" BERNINA sewing machines . The tricked-out machines will be auctioned during the BERNINA 8 event in Kansas City this summer. Speaking of which - the ultimate new BERNINA sewing machine will be unveiled then, too! Erika & I won't have any news about the new machine until we see it at Bernina University in July, but we'll share photos and links to some of the "Bling Your Bernina" machines over the next few weeks. I can't wait to see them! Stay tuned...

BERNINA stores across the USA are collecting used sewing machines to donate to charities such as The Sewing Machine Project and Goodwill Industries. If you've been thinking about buying a BERNINA, now's a good time - take your old sewing machine (any brand) to a participating BERNINA store and you'll get a $100 rebate on a new BERNINA. Click here for details. Your old sewing machine could have a whole new life in store - much better than gathering dust in a closet!

Happy Valentine's Day! Since everything in the stores seems to be red and pink today, I decided to post my little red BERNINA CD Case. This is the artista Make It & Take It gift for the artista demo promotion going on through the end of March. I used the v5 BERNINA Embroidery Software to create my monogram, then added one of my favorite designs from the Studio BERNINA Creative Genes collection. I made the design a bit smaller to fit on the pocket, and actually stitched this on a Deco 340 rather than an artista. I usually embroider on an artista 630 or 730, but I've been getting some questions about the Deco and wanted to spend a little more time with it. The Deco did great, just isn't as fast as I'm used to. I was going to stitch this in pink & purple, but didn't think they'd show up as well as the cream & tan (you thought it was all white, didn't you?). You can embellish yours any way you want - embroidery, freemotion stitching - just have fun with it!

Happy Thanksgiving from Jo & Erika!

The smart, well-prepared folks have already done their gift shopping, and are smugly putting labels on their already wrapped and beribboned gifts. (And, of course, they dropped off stacks of cards at the Post Office right after Halloween.) The rest of us are frantically writing our lists, trying to remember what we gave the twins last year, wondering if we can regift those watermelon scented candles, and wishing the days were 36 hours long for the next four weeks!

While you're out shopping this weekend, braving the crowds at the mall, pick up a little something extra to drop off at your local BERNINA store for Toys for Tots. (Click here for a list of participating stores.) BERNINA of America, Inc. is an official sponsor this year. For those of us who do our shopping online (my office is so much less crowded than the mall!), donations can be made online.

I won't be joining you at the malls, but you might see me at my local thrift stores. While I haven't taken the Homemade Pledge, nearly all of my gifts will be things I've made or bought from local or online artists and crafters, or items I've recycled/repurposed. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting and linking to some simple, quick-to-sew projects, like the card at right. Just trace two circles, cut them out, place cheery fabric on the wrong side and stitch it in place. Then use crayons and markers to draw a branch and ornament hooks; better yet, glue snippets from your shrubs in place and use real hooks.

Once a year, Bernina invites a group of National Teachers to a special retreat to learn all about what's new in Berninaland. This is a great opportunity for these well known teachers to meet some of thier peers, and the teachers become the students as they create projects and learn from our Educators. This year the retreat took place from November 14th through the 17th, and included some of the most talented teachers from coast to coast.

The Bernina Stitch Regulator was a hit with the teachrers, and here is an "I CAN DO IT!" moment as student Kathy Delaney of Fabric Crayon Designs discovers the fun of BSR'ing - Bernina Educators Nina McVeigh, Susan Fears, and Debbie Lashbook check out Kathy's stitching.

These teachers were all a great inspiration! You may recognize some of their names - but if you don't, click on any name to see that teacher's special contribution to the sewing community.

This year's National Teacher's Retreat students are in order of appearance:

Back Row: Kathy Delaney, Cindy Walter, Nancy Eha, Barb Vlack, Denise Holguin, Hope Yoder , June Jaeger, Louise Cutting

Middle Row: Janie Donaldson, Elizabeth Spannring, Linda Stewart , Barb Sunderlage, Connie Crawford

Front Row: Mary Jo Hiney, Tracy Stilwell, Allison Stilwell, Bobbi Bullard, Debra Green, Kay Hickman