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!