As satisfying and fun as sewing is, keeping the supplies, notions, and leftovers organized so you can find them to use can be frustrating and annoying at times. I'm always looking for ways and trying new things to control my sewing space and put some order to it. I had an idea a few months ago and it has turned out to be one of those "bright ideas" that actually works! Find a 3-tier candy dish (you may have one in the back of your cupboard) and put it to use. It can be made of glass, plastic, metal, or wood, like my inexpensive one made of bamboo.

I designated my dish as a "bobbin station." It holds bobbins, bobbin threads, and related notions. I use the top tier to hold filled bobbins using round, rubber Bobbin Savers. If you have several machines like I do, you may have several different types of bobbins. I use different color Bobbin Savers for different types of bobbins: red for "regular" bobbins for BERNINA models that have a CB hook, purple for artista 730 rotary hook bobbins, and blue for Deco and bernette bobbins. (Keep reading if you want to know where I keep the jumbo bobbins for the BERNINA 820 and 830.)

The middle tier of the dish is for a variety of bobbin threads: The Bottom Line by Superior Threads, Lingerie and Bobbin Thread by YLI, and 60 weight cotton by Mettler.

The bottom tier of the dish is perfect for larger notions related to bobbins. I have my SideWinder for winding bobbins without the machine, a small basket that holds extra bobbin cases, the AC adapter for my SideWinder, and (here it is!) my jumbo bobbins for the BERNINA 8 Series machines. I also have a few packaged bobbins and cones of OESD bobbin thread that fit behind the basket.

Organizing this way lets your put more notions into a space, going up instead of out. And the best thing is that you always know where to go when your bobbin needs filling!

Since both of my businesses revolve around travel, I often make travel accessories. I was honored to have my Stitch Sampler Jewelry Roll project featured in the July Through the Needle magazine (Issue #31). I hope some of you made this little project!

In the last few years I've become more and more interested in incorporating machine embroidery in my quilting. I try to make my embroidery an integral part of the design. And because my artista 730E does such exquisite embroidery, I work the poor machine half to death! I also love it for free-motion quilting - nothing else gives me the stitch quality of the Bernina.

Did you know that cats are also very interested in machine embroidery? I'm sure those of you who live with felines know how much they like to "help"! Here is a picture of little Fluff supervising the process...

...while Stella checks out the fit in the case for the embroidery module. Even the kitties appreciate a great machine!

There is never a dull moment in the BERNINA booth and our customers know that! They shop for specials and when they purchase a machine to suit their needs, their new baby gets shipped to their dealer of choice. What could be easier? We extend our congratulations to our new BERNINA family members who now have the best machine for their sewing room!

Next stop for the BERNINA Corporate Show Team is Houston, TX in October for Fall Quilt Festival. We hope to see you there so be sure to stop by our booth and say HI!

There's also a new limited edition 630 Platinum Quilter's Edition, adorned with a feathered quilting design. Included is the BERNINA Stitch Regulator and a spring quilt kit.

Both of these machines are available only while supplies last! Visit your local BERNINA store and check them out!

I have been having a great time experimenting with overlapping some of my DigiBobbE designs. What is DigiBobbE, you ask? It's digitized bobbin embroidery. I have designed 4 collections of designs made especially for bobbin embroidery with an embroidery machine (available at http://BonnieMcCaffery.com). They have been designed as continuous line designs that are done with a heavier thread like YLI Candlelight Yarn in the bobbin. You do have to adjust the bobbin case tension (it should pull smooth with a little resistance) and I highly recommend that you purchase a separate bobbin case just for bobbin embroidery. You don't want to be messing with the tension on your standard bobbin case. I always test on a fabric sample (right side down with stabilizer on top) before stitching on the real item - but I probably didn't have to tell you that. The fabric is loaded into the embroidery hoop with the right side down - remember the pretty stuff is going to happen with the bobbin thread - and a piece of firm tear-away stabilizer on top. Pull the bobbin thread to the top, stitch out the design leaving a 5" tail (you'll need to turn off the automatic thread cutter), and thread the tail through to the back for a nice clean finish.

I was wondering what would happen if after stitching one design (and threading the tail to the back) I moved the design just a couple "notches" to the right and stitched it again. Ooooooooo! (as my grandson would say). That looks pretty cool.

What if I stitched the first one with metallic thread, shifted the design a couple "notches" and then stitched the second one with the YLI Candlelight Yarn. That looks pretty neat.

And one more thought. Maybe I could use 3 different colors of YLI Candlelight Yarn and shift the design a couple "notches" each time. Oooooooooo! This is fun!

Now, back to creating with the BERNINA 830 and more about the projects you see on the Inspirations section of www.bernina8series.com. The decorative pillows by Pia Welsch are exquisite. Pia is a quilter from Germany who knows how to make decorative machine stitches assume a life of their own. The pillows are a great shade of orange linen and Pia adds colors and textures to make the pillows and stitches really stand out - "design eye candy." The pillows are 14 inches square and the 830's stitch combi mode was used generously to combine stitches to make great stitch recipes.

Sideways motion stitches were used to frame the 9mm stitches.

Soft rayon narrow ribbons were stitched with the zigzag stitch and manipulated into circle shapes and couched to the linen.

On one pillow, a clever elongated triangle flap of fabric was sewn on the front of the pillow to add more interest and texture.

With 1162 stitches from which to choose, start planning your pillows now!

And don't forget to register on the 8Series website to get the latest news about the 8 Series machines and to receive notice of the 830 Virtual Overview slated for October 27th.