I just discovered my new favorite toy! The AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter. I've been hearing about it for quite some time and even saw a demo at Quilt Market last Fall but I just finally got around to trying it for myself. It is so much fun - and easy! One thing I love about it is that it is low-tech - no new software to learn, no uploading, downloading, or programming required! It works every time to give me clean, consistent cuts. I'm loving it for handling scraps and small pieces of fabric. I just cut my leftovers into squares, strips, and triangles, then store them for future sewing - ready to go. I can start sewing when I feel like it with all of the cutting behind me.

I tried one of the new dies - Alpha Baby - and created a sweet scrapbook page for a friend of mine. If you want to try it for yourself, download the instructions by clicking HERE. I can see how the GO! Fabric Cutter is going to save me time in cutting fabric shapes, money because I waste less fabric, and frustration because my pieces are consistent so my seams match and my points are sharp! What more could a stitcher want?!

Lesson for all levels of Version 6 BERNINA Embroidery Software:

Use your BERNINA Embroidery Software to create a unique Valentine's Day card with printed three-dimensional embroidery and drop shadow text.

File > Open > C: My Designs > Embroidery Software 6 > Seasons > Hd215.ART60.

Select the Art Canvas tab and Zoom Out (F3)

Drag a guideline from the ruler on the top of the screen out to the page center. Look for the "0" on the left ruler indicating the center of the page; click. Now drag a guideline out from the ruler to the left, to the page center. Look for the "0" on the top ruler; click.

Select the Text icon, click an empty area of the workspace, and type "Be My Valentine." Drag your cursor over the text to select it, and choose a text that appeals to you from the dropdown menu at the top of the page. (I used Cooper Black.)

Click on the Select icon. Select and then move the text into the bottom right panel.

I added a drop shadow to the text. Click on the drop shadow icon and follow the directions in the Hints Docker Panel to click and drag a shadow.

To correctly position the embroidery, select the Embroidery Canvas tab. Select the design and move into position beneath the text. Select the Art Canvas tab to preview the card.

Select File > Print. The 3D embroidery and drop shadow print beautifully!

Fold the card in half and in half again. Fits a standard No. 5 1/2 envelope.

  Here's a note and a project from Lezette Thomason, Children's Corner:

What a great time I had at the BERNINA Sewing Station at Cool Spring in Brentwood, Tennessee. With a full class of students we had four hours of great fun. This project was totally different from my usual children's sewing. We learned about so many accessory feet while making this Sewing Notions Bottle Cozy. I kept them hopping so they all went home with their completed cozies wrapped around cold bottles of water!

Download instructions for your own Sewing Notions Bottle Cozy by clicking HERE.

Here's a note from Jackie Robinson, quilter, teacher, lecturer, author, founder of Animas Quilts Publishing:

I host Annual Quilt Retreats in Montana - next to the spectacular Flathead Lake near Kalispell - always in early June. (Photo: Impromtu Outdoor Quilt Show)

One of this year's projects was a simple tote bag which we decorated via BERNINA. The dealer in Kalispell, Quilt Gallery, loaned us two machines - one set up to stitch on beads and the other to apply cording. We used the cording from Brewer Sewing & Quilting. At the retreat, I demonstrated how - two or three times - and then watched my retreaters continue demonstrating to others. They absolutely LOVED IT!

For free instructions from Jackie for the Surprise Tote, click HERE.

A note from Lezette Thomason, Children's Corner patterns:

Once again my sister and I are chairmen of our Christmas Bazaar at St. David's Episcopal Church in Nashville. One item that I am making this year are Bags for Baking Potatoes. I drew a little design, scanned it into my BERNINA DesignerPlus Software, and Presto!! I digitized it! So easy! Then using the Lettering tool wrote "Potato Girl" beneath the design. Hope you enjoy it!

Click HERE for the free ART and EXP+ embroidery designs.

Click HERE for the project instructions.