Here's a little inspirational piece I found at a flea market (Kane County or Sandwich, IL, not sure which) a few years ago. I took the pillow apart and removed all the old stuffing - ugh! - then made a new pillow form to put inside. After being carefully washed and dried it looks quite spiffy :) The pattern is Cathedral Windows. My grandmother taught me how to make this block years and years ago - on her treadle sewing machine. If you've ever tried this machine- and hand-worked pattern you'll appreciate all the work that must have gone into making even this little pillow!

Although my baby was originally due in the second week of December, she suprised us all by arriving almost a full month early! Baby Kate was born on Saturday, November 15th and although she was pre-term, she was very healthy. I will be taking some time off from Bernina the next few months to settle in with the baby at home.

I barely got to start on all the sewing projects I had slated for Baby Kate - I thought I would have many more weeks to sew for her! Besides finishing up my diaper bag, the Amy Butler's Everything Bag, I managed to get a few things put together for the nursery.

These cute little birdies are from a free pattern at Spool Sewing, designed by Michael Fulkerson. I added wings to my birdies by cutting out teardrop shapes and tacking them on to the sides of the birds. The pattern calls for a 1/4" seam allowance, and I found that using the Patchwork Foot #37 made piecing together the small pattern pieces a breeze.

Once I finished sewing, turning, and stuffing the birdies, I picked out some good looking sticks and planned the positioning of the birds. My husband helped me to glue the birds to the sticks, and then he strung the sticks together with heavy fishing line.

The mobile hangs right over the rocking chair, and the baby can look up and watch the birds when we're rocking her. I also managed to finish sewing the curtains and a small clothes hamper for her room before her arrival.

Now I am looking forward to finishing some accessories for the crib, making a wall-hung growth chart, and of course sewing many, many little outfits - thank heaven for little girls!

I am sure you are all in the midst of holiday preparations but before this turbulent, historical, amazing year ends, I wanted to share with you a beautiful quilt made on the BERNINA 830 by Nina McVeigh. Nina is from Wisconsin and is an extremely talented educator for BERNINA. She owned a BERNINA dealership for 13 years and is now writing and teaching and creating for Bernina of America, Inc. She was one of the four US testers that traveled to Switzerland several times in 2008 to test and work with the machine.

Nina used all the Diane Gaudynski (www.dianegaudynski.net) built in motifs from the BERNINA 830 to make the quilt - the squares are all silk dupioni. The speed and quality of the 830 embroidery module is evident - this beautiful quilt makes quite a statement - it is full of joy. ...And it is an honor to have Diane's (also from Wisconsin) lyrical, flowing designs as part of the BERNINA 830 embroidery package.

And joy is what I wish for you - if you have purchased a BERNINA 830 in 2008...CONGRATULATIONS! If you are planning to purchase in 2009...even more CONGRATULATIONS!

Have a wonderful, creative holiday season and all the best in 2009!

Only a few days left before Christmas - what to make for that last minute gift? Keep a stock of blank towels in the closet - these are from www.allaboutblanks.com - and you'll always have something close at hand. They also make great decorations for your home.

These are embroidered with designs from one of my favorite collections, Secret Santa, available at www.embroideryonline.com. There's also a coordinating fabric collection from Benartex. 

I added tasseled trim to the hem of the green towel - I bought yards and yards of it last January after the holidays. I like the way the green and red pick up the colors of the ornaments on the tree.

I love the little snowman on skates - he can sit in the guest room all winter long!

Here's a sneak preview of a new fabric collection - An Apple a Day by Carolin Carpin for Heritage Prints of Benartex. I love the recipes panel!