I have been experimenting with the new BERNINA CutWork Tool and Software, and have been cutting out shapes. The first shapes were flowers out of felt and most recently I am cutting Apple Core block shapes for a quilt. I'm still cutting and will share that later. But the felt flower shapes were starting to accumulate, so I came up with this easy-to-assemble carry-all made out of placemats, felt flowers, embellishment yarn and fabric from the scrap bin.

First I created the stems using an embellishment yarn from YLI called Multi's. I couched the yarn to the surface of the fabric using Freemotion Couching Foot #43. This foot has a guide in the side - insert the yarn or cord through the guide and it will be perfectly positioned so that the needle thread stitches it in place.

It was really fun to embellish the flower shapes with thread-painting using variegated thread and the BERNINA Stitch Regulator #42 - it made my stitches look so good! I loved not having to worry about regulating my stitching - I could just focus on the creative stitching.

These two accessories were the perfect tools for making the felt flowers the focal point of this Thread-Painted Carry-All. Look for instructions for this project in BERNINA of America's Through the Needle magazine Issue #33 (January 2010).

This jacket from Kwik Sew pattern #3653 was a great canvas for incorporating a touch of embroidery. I used several designs from the Studio BERNINA Design Collection Vol.8 - Spirit of Geometry. (Designs used: BE10813.ART, BE10841.ART, and BE10839.ART.)

I scanned the pattern pieces of the upper front, lower front, and upper back panels into v6 DesignerPlus BERNINA Embroidery Software, then used them as templates for combining designs and auditioning placement before sending the completed arrangements to the embroidery system. No more guessing - it's just that simple!

The knit jacket was constructed with exposed seams using a three-thread serger stitch and threads that matched the embroidery designs and color of the jacket. I love the serger - it adds such a professional look to garments and really made this jacket quick and easy to assemble. This pattern lends itself to many possibilities and I can't wait to serge up another!

It's June and it's High School graduation time, at least in my area. I needed "guy gifts" and since both are attending Washington State University (my Alma Mater) next fall, a bath towel in school colors seemed the perfect gift. To help these guys keep track of their towels in group living arrangements, personalizing them with monograms seemed the perfect solution.

Creating the personalized monograms for each graduate's towel was so easy with version 5 BERNINA Embroidery Software's monogramming program! Once each was completed I sent it directly to the embroidery machine for stitching.

To prepare the towels for embroidery I used my favorite water-soluble stabilizer - OESD AquaMesh Plus. First I hooped the stabilizer, removed the paper, and secured the towel (unhooped) to the adhesive surface of the mesh stabilizer.

To protect the stitches from sinking into the towel loops I placed a layer of OESD AquaFilm topping on the top prior to stitching out the personalized monogram.

The monogram stitching was complete in no time at all. Quick and easy personal gifts for my nephew and god-son. Congratulations graduates! Go Cougars!