"Lauren Grace - the quilt" was made on my BERNINA 730. I used the built-in embroidery designs to create the blocks. It includes blocks that are pertinent to Lauren: family blocks, cousin and grandparent blocks for both sides of the family.

Here's a photo of Lauren standing in front of her quilt, which won a blue ribbon in the embroidered category at the Nebraska State Fair.

On the connector 9-patch blocks I double stitched creating a heart. Inside the double stitching, I stitched once again with stitch #657, a decorative loop stitch. Inside this stitching, I created "bananas" using Diane Gaudynski's techniques. Isacord polyester thread was used for the quilting.

I used template plastic to trace a long curvy line on the quilt with a blue Marks B Gone pen, then used BERNINA 730 honeycomb stitch #8 with the stitch lengthened a little bit. This stitch was used as part of the "quilting" on the quilt along with stippling.

I outlined each block with a wide stitch #13 which is a slanted overcast stitch.

The label was stitched on the quilt backing. Another label is planned with other pertinent information, such as: Scripture used at her baby dedication, where she was born, city, hospital, all that type of information. It will be hand-stitched to the back of the quilt.

I spent about 50 hours finishing up this quilt, of course that's not the many hours doing the embroidery and the piecing.

I have been having fun experimenting with my BERNINA 730 and Circular Embroidery Attachment #83. Using 40 weight metallic thread, a titanium needle 75/11 Sharp, two layers of OESD Ultra Clean & Tear, and stitch #429 I can create gears within a clock! I frequently changed the circle size, the stitch width and length between 3-6.4, and the color of thread to add interest and variety. As a final touch I attached actual watch parts with small beads for the smaller detail and sparkle within the clock gears.

You can see more of my beaded quilts at my website: www.beadcreative.com.