Sew Wise with Sara

Does your back hurt after sewing just a short amount of time? You don’t need a chiropractor, you need a new ergonomic sewing space!

Right now, save big by purchasing your new Horn of America sewing cabinet by Saturday, August 30, 2008 before the new price increase goes into effect!

A new sewing cabinet and sewing chair will help you say, “Ahhhh”. Come see our new selection of affordable sewing cabinets and chairs to fit any budget.

We have written a few ideas below for selecting the perfect sewing cabinet to fit your sewing style and budget.

Pick Your Style

• Do you often work on large projects?

• Would you like it to completely close it up when it is not in use?

• Should it have space for a serger next to your sewing machine?

• Do you need storage for threads, sewing tools and fabric?

Shopping Hints - Things to look for in a quality sewing cabinet:

• Locking casters

• At least a 3/4″ thick melamine mar-resistant surface.

• Full length piano hinges used for maximum strength.

• Drawers with nylon rollers with stops for smooth openings.

• Extra drop leaf extension for a larger work surface.

• A cabinet’s sewing machine opening should be positioned to the right of center. This will allow the user adequate space to sit directly in front of the sewing machine needle. Always sit at a cabinet prior to purchase to check for proper height, space and comfort.

Need a home for your serger? Check out the perfect serger table so your serger can always be set up and ready to use!

Or do you need a new cutting table? The proper height can save a day of cutting!

Click here for more information on ergonomic sewing chairs!
Heirloom Creations Tip: Always buy the largest cabinet you have space for!

Remember, save big by purchasing your new Horn of America sewing cabinet by Saturday, August 30, 2008 before the new price increase goes into effect!

© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.

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Quilts & Vines 2008 Was Spectacular!

Over 1,200 people sampled South Dakota grown wines at Strawbale Winery’s and Heirloom Creations second annual Quilts & Vines outdoor quilt show and wine tasting event on Saturday, August 9, 2008. Over 475 quilts were gorgeously displayed throughout the entire vineyard by customers from Heirloom Creations.

Be sure to scroll down to see ALL the pictures!

We want to say THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped with:

• Displaying quilts for the quilt show – it is amazing what 475 quilts looks like!

• Making the raffle quilt (shown below). The quilt was won by Marilyn Jones.

• Checking in quilts at Heirloom Creations

• Helping with quilt pick up – Quilt pick up starts at 9:30am on Monday, August 11, 2008.

• Hanging all the quilts at 7am – we had so many volunteers it took just over an hour to hang ALL 475 the quilts!

• Heirloom Creations embroidered wine glass holders all day long so people could have hands-free quilt browsing. They were quite the hit!

• There was the set up team the day below who put up tents, bails of hay and benches for people to sit on.

• And a group of car enthusiasts drove out a variety of classic cars and antique Oliver tractor for a little extra country nostalgia.

  

  

• There was great food to keep all the volunteers working.

• And the entire Strawbale Winery staff kept the wine tasting flowing!

• Many thanks to everyone who helped take tickets and checking ID’s.

• We had a wonderful group that helped park cars a day long and help people get on and off the shuttle buses.

• Even the neighbor next door joined in and helped out with the festivities!

There were photo opts every time you turned around!

Everyone was checking out all the beautiful quilts!

Media THANKS goes to the following:

• Results Radio/Cumulus Media
• KSOO 1140 AM radio
• HOT 104.7
• KDEZ 100.1
• KIKN 100.5
• MIX 97.3
• Keloland
• KSFY
• ArgusLeader
• The Flandreau Booster
• Madison Daily Leader

The Project Linus silent auction had over 25 items donated for auction from Twins Tickets and Hotel to a baby doll with an entire wardrobe.

Yvonne Hollenbeck presented her talk “Patchwork on the Prairie” and showed quilts that have been in her family for over 140 years.

Twelve Plein Air Artists set up their easels and painted the scenery of the country side, barn, quilts, the crowd, any thing they saw.

A Minnesota helicopter pilot offered optional tours to view the Quilts & Vines show from the air.

There was beautiful weather all day long! What a blessing!

And the party continues…

Poker Alice added the perfect musical ensemble with their toe-tapping, string-pickin’ folk art songs.

The Renner, SD antique fire truck was on display as a piece of history from the town where the Quilts & Vines show was held.

It looked like the quilts stretched on for miles out on the South Dakota prairie.

Quilts & Vines 2008 T-Shirts also made their debut at the show. If you are still interested in a T-Shirt, stop by Heirloom Creations in Sioux Falls, SD. T-Shirts are $10 while they last!

Thanks again to everyone volunteered and to everyone who attended the second annual  Quilts & Vines event. We hope to see you next year!

Mark your calendars for next year: 

Quilts & Vines III

Saturday, August 8, 2009

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By now you know the Quilts & Vines quilt show is right around the corner (Saturday, August 9, 2008) and you may be trying to get that last quilt top quilted for the show.

Did you know that QBOT has come to save our local quilters hours of extra work by doing their quilting for them?

“Who is this QBOT you speak of,” you ask?

QBOT is an automated quilting computerized accessory that attaches to the Husqvarna Viking New Generation home-size quilting frame and Husqvarna Viking Mega quilter sewing machine. Automatic hands-free movement creates the perfect design. You are now the professional! Just think about all of those quilting projects that you started, but never finished. The QBOT will complete your quilting projects for you in a fraction of the time.

QBOT offers the automation of a simple one-touch GO and STOP quilting. Similar to an embroidery machine, once the quilt is loaded on the frame, select the design, push the button, and the work is done! I love it!

Since it quilts all by itself, I can be doing other things while it stitches – cut out my next project or sew on a near by sewing machine. When the row is complete, the quilt is rolled to the next section and QBOT starts again. Roll and repeat until it’s complete!

Pictured below is the very first quilt I quilted using the quilting frame and QBOT.

With more than 18 quilting designs included, and optional software to create unlimited quilting designs, you can start creating beautiful quilts immediately. Or “record” your own one-of-a-kind patterns, and repeat them the same way. Designs can be scaled to fit a variety of blocks, rectangles, and border sizes.

Click here to watch the QBOT in action!

Great Introductory SAVINGS!

We are offering a limited time introductory price for the frame, Mega Quilter sewing machine, Cruise Control and QBOT. The Husqvarna Viking quilting frame is 10 feet long and can accommodate a quilt 120 inches wide.

Come in, try it out, and see what everyone is talking about! We will also have the QBOT and frame set up at the Quilts & Vines Quilt Show and Wine Tasting event on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at Strawbale Winery. Click here for ticket information.

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Friday wrapped up our second and final Kids Sewing Camp for 2008. We had so many great comments on the last kids class pictures that were posted, I wanted to give everyone a glimpse at the quilts from the second group.

Pictured: Kaelyn and Delaney

This time I let the sewing group come up with their own group name and the name for this e-mail. After many great ideas, they voted to be officially named “Spirited Sewers”. How perfect! This group of nine lively gals ranged in age from 9 to 15. Everyday as they progressed from strip piecing, sewing blocks, sewing rows, to the finally quilting all the layers together, they courageously kept on pace to finish their quilts during our five days together.

These Spirited Sewers all caught on fast! From learning the proper way to thread their machines and wind a bobbin to the importance of sewing straight, consistent seams, I could tell by day two they all had the sewing bug running through their veins.

It was also great to see two returning students from last year, make another quilt. Kaelyn planned to give her quilt she made last year to her younger sister and keep the new one for herself. And Koressa decided to make the same quilt only BIGGER! Her quilt turned out four times as big as her first quilt which will be big enough to fit her new double bed!

Pictured: Sara, Koressa and Grace

Pictured: Katrina, Sydney, Kiley and Melanie

Read other posts written about teaching kids to sew. “Summertime Sewing With Kids”

Click here to read and see pictures from the first Kids Sewing Camp 2008.

Heirloom Creations kids sewing camp run for one full week and are usually scheduled twice each summer. Dates for the 2009 sessions are published around April and are open to boys and girls ages 9 and up. Classes do fill up fast so plan your summers early!

I want to thank all the parents and family members who gave these children a special way to remember this summer. A quilt is something that can be used for both warmth and comfort all year long, and they acquired sewing skills they can use for a life-time!

Watch for some of these quilts to be on display at the Quilts and Vines quilt show, Saturday, August 9, 2008.

I would love to see all of you students again, and wherever your future sewing adventures take you, bring your projects by anytime you want to show them off!

Have a wonderful summer!

Parents - High resolution pictures are available by e-mailing me at info@heirloomcreations.net.

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Steve and I just returned home from Bernina University in Kansas City where they introduced the new Bernina 830 and Bernina 820 Series machines! The Swiss engineers are taking the new Bernina machines to a level that no other sewing machine company has gone before. They have stepped out of the norm and reinvented the sewing machine as we know it today.

Click here to watch the Bernina 830’s LIVE webcast introduction!

At first I could not believe what they were showing me! It was too good to be true!

On July 17, 2008, my knowledge and understanding of a regular sewing machine changed! As I sat in front of the Bernina 830 for a very first time, I realized how BIG it really was. While sitting in the audience during its debut, it was not obvious how this new gentle GIANT was going to change my sewing life! How big is it? The new throat space is a full 12” long.

(I had to take this picture with another Bernina sewing machine, otherwise I knew you would not believe me). Heck, I couldn’t believe it either until I saw it myself!

I stepped on the foot control at first slowly to make sure it still had the smooth, like silk feeling, that I have always known a Bernina to have. It hummed. Then as I sewed faster, its top speed was more like an industrial sewing machine! WOW! It is fast! Its top sewing speed is 1,100 stitches per minute. And for our active BSR users, the Bernina 830’s new top speed also works with the Bernina Stitch Regulator foot!

As I began to select different stitches, the screen reacted so fast I almost thought it was reading my mind. The responsiveness to the simple touch was instantaneous. I began selecting stitches faster and faster just to see if it could keep up with me. This new Bernina 830 and I began to dance gracefully together, like a waltz, as it followed my lead through its many layers of new sewing capability.

And then I stopped. I had to peek at the revolutionary new JUMBO bobbin. It holds up to 60% more thread then a regular bobbin. Its new bobbin delivery system (no longer a tradition bobbin, bobbin case and hook) flips 180 degrees from the back of the bobbin area and pushes out toward me exposing the new JUMBO bobbin. People will no longer have to ask, “When will they make a sewing machine with a larger bobbin?” It even shows on screen the percentage of thread remaining on the bobbin counting down from 20% down to 2% in small increments. Because of its new JUMBO size, it also allows the user to select how full to wind the bobbin: 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% full.

The new Bernina Dual Feed is an intergraded feeding system to use in addition to the traditional Bernina walking foot. It fits comfortably as part of the machine and can be engaged for extra precision, visibility, and maneuverability on difficult fabrics.

Even the threading of the machine has changed. First, check out the built-in multi-thread stand fully intergraded into the right front side of the machine. Next, there is no take up lever to thread. (You know the standard threading path of down, up and down?) There is a take up lever in the machine, but the machine threads it automatically. No more “missing” the take up lever or having the thread come out of it. The threading is as simple is it could get including the new one-touch needle threader. No more fumbling with a needle threader. It takes the thread and puts it in the needle for you! Can you imagine how great that would be for embroidery?

Speaking of embroidery, it embroiders so FAST it was just a blur! My eyes could not even focus, it was embroidering so fast. The newly designed embroidery unit offers the largest embroidery field without turning the hoop. It cuts its own jump stitches, offers a life like view of the embroidery design, stitches in the Mega Hoop without repositioning and has built in endless embroidery with any hoop! (Just a note, it uses the same Mega Hoop that is currently available for all other Bernina embroidery machines).

This gal reached out her arm and said, “Look, the embroidery unit is longer than my arm!” I just had to take a picture.

The Bernina 830 is all about choices. From machine set up to the ability to program the machine to cut the threads after it secures the stitch to sewing in a full 360 degree (one degree increments) directional sewing of ALL decorative stitches. Love to satin stitch? The auto tapering feature creates the perfect taper angle and taper length with just a turn of a knob. Again, there are no limits to the taper angle or length! I love it!

Have you ever forgotten which needle is currently in the sewing machine? The new “Needle Minder” can be set with the exact needle type and size and will be displayed when the sewing machine is turned on each time.

And better yet, have you ever lost track of time? The Bernina 830 has a clock with programmable alarm. Never forget to pick up the kids or fix dinner just because you were engrossed in your sewing project.

Click here to watch the Bernina 830’s LIVE webcast introduction! 

An option that Bernina spoke about was a wireless foot control. How cool would that be? No more cords to get in the way!

There are actually two machines as part of the new Bernina 8 Series. The Bernina 820 is the same as the Bernina 830 but without embroidery. This will be the perfect sewing machine for a quilter or avid sewer.

This is just the information I could remember after driving home from Kansas City today. There are many other great features that you will just have to come and see to believe!

When will the Bernina 830 and 820 be available? We have not received exact shipping dates at this time. Bernina of Switzerland is saying it will be available late fall 2008. The Bernina 820 will be available the first part of 2009.

Do you want to see it now? I personally have in my possession a computer simulator of the Bernina 830! It it like sitting right in front of the machine. Come touch the screen, sew on it and embroider on it in a virtual world. We will also have life-size poster in our store around August 1st.

Since there will be a limited supply of these machines, we will be offering delivery on a first come, first serve basis. If you would like to be one of the first to own a Bernina 830 when they become available, please come in a talk to Steve, Judeen or myself. We have some extra special offerings to those who may be interested in this machine prior to its actual arrival.

Come experience a sewing machine like no other!

It has already changed my whole concept of sewing life – it will change yours!

Click here to watch the Bernina 830’s LIVE webcast introduction!

© 2008 SewSara, Sioux Falls, SD. All Rights Reserved.

Would you like to receive the weekly sewing tip in your e-mail every Monday morning? Scroll up to the top of this page and add your e-mail address in the Weekly E-Mail area!

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Bernina wants everyone to be wowed at the LIVE unveiling webcast. So not to spoil any of the surprises, my Monday morning tip, complete with Bernina 830 machine information, pictures of me with the Bernina 830, and my thoughts about the new machine will be posted at 7:00pm CST.

You still have time to sign up for the LIVE webcast! Click here for more information.

Bernina 8 Series Webcast

Today, Monday, July 21, 2008 at 6:30pm CST, experience the exclusive unveiling of the BERNINA 8 SERIES, the world’s only luxury high-performance sewing and embroidery system.

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OK, so how does someone who is an avid sewer NOT have twine in the kitchen for cooking? I just couldn’t ask my neighbor (someone who knows I am a sewer) for twine. A cup of sugar, yes, but twine, I would never here the end of it!

I do enjoy experimenting with new main dishes on Tuesdays, my normal day off. It allows me time to gather the proper ingredients, set the table and welcome Steve home with a home made dinner. In the recent issue of Family Circle there was a beautiful stuffed flanked steak that looked scrumptious. Being a California girl, now being married to a meat-and-potatoes South Dakotan, I learned quickly that my lighter, healthier eating habits were lacking meaty beef and pork menu options. So I am always on the lookout for new recipes that can be added to my main dish repertoire that are “Steve Approved”.

Everything was going as planned and on time until I got to the section, “Tie steak with cotton twine at 2-inch intervals to secure.” This was the first I had ever needed twine to tie up a piece of meat. After searching through kitchen drawers, garage, and my sewing room for anything close to something I could use, I spotted an empty bobbin on the top of my sewing machine. With only a couple minutes left to get my roast in the oven to be done in time for dinner, I decided to improvise and make my own twine. Something jogged my memory that I had seen something like this many years ago.

I pulled out a spool of cotton sewing thread and made sure it did not have polyester in it. (I could only imagine the melting problems that polyester thread would add to my precious flank steak)! Threading the tail of the thread through one of the bobbin holes, I pulled about 5 feet of thread through the hole making it double the length. I repeated with a second length of thread.

Holding the four thread tails together, I engaged the bobbin winder and the thread I was holding on to began twisting. After the thread spun enough and started to pull against me, I stopped winding.

I found the half way point with one hand, folded the loose end toward the bobbin, and then I let go. The thread aggressively wrapped together forming a very strong, think twine-like cord.

Wha-La! Twine! I continued making a couple extra lengths to have plenty to wrap around the stuffed steak.

Doesn’t that look good! Who would have thought that my sewing machine’s bobbin winder would save dinner?

Click here for the recipe.

PS: I received two thumbs up from Steve to make this recipe a “keeper”!

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 Is it a super-sized phone?

 Or a helpful ruler holder? 

Sometimes it can be a real challenge to hold your plastic ruler in just the right spot while cutting fabric.  And if you happen to slip with the blade, you could end up cutting yourself.  Ouch! That’s gonna leave a mark!  But now, there is a great new way to hold your rulers in place, and it makes using them easier and safer than ever before. 

The Gypsy Gripper has a comfortable grip handle, and two large round suction cups with handy lock & release levers.  Just press the suction cups to any plastic ruler with a smooth solid surface, and then flip the levers to lock The Gypsy Gripper in place.  Now you can move the ruler quickly, and easily hold it on the exact position with gentle downward
pressure.  Your ruler hand will be up and away from the fabric, and out of harm’s way if you slip with the cutter.  When you need to switch to another ruler, just flip the locking levers to release The Gypsy Gripper.

Both ends attached to a long ruler.

The Gypsy Gripper  has been tested to work perfectly with all of the popular quilting rulers listed below.  To let us know about any other ruler brands or types that work with The Gypsy Gripper, send a note with our handy Feedback web page, and we will add them to the list.

    Creative Grids - squares 4-1/2″ & up, rectangles 4″ & up
    EZ Quilting - Companion Angle
    From Marti Michell - all Kaleido and Triangle and Log Cabin rulers
    Lazy Girl Designs - Flying Geese X4 Ruler, Lazy Angle™ Ruler
    Phillips Fiber Art - Ten Degree Wedge Ruler

The Gypsy Gripper weighs just eight ounces, so moving it around won’t wear you down.  The overall size is about 3-1/2″ wide by 11-3/8″ long by 3-1/8″ high (sitting on its cups).  The durable plastic body is water-proof and washable, so it will look good and work well for years of use.

One end attached to a triangle ruler.

The Gypsy Gripper’s  suction cups will work with smooth surface rulers that are at least 4″ wide, including most rectangle, square, or triangle shapes (with no slots or holes in the areas that will be covered by the suction cups).  Use it with just one end attached on square or triangle rulers and it still grips perfectly, you can let the other end rest on the
table while you holh in place and cut.  Finger guides and a rubberized grip pad in its sculptured handle help make The Gypsy Gripper easy to position, and comfortable to hold, even during the longest cutting sessions.  The handle that travels from ruler to ruler, The Gypsy Gripper is a quilter’s dream come true!  Make it yours for the price of a good ruler.

You will be truly stunned by the dramatic difference The Gypsy Gripper makes when using your rulers to cut fabric, and you really will wonder how you ever got along without it.  You probably want to get a couple of extras to have around whenever your quilting buddies come to visit (otherwise, you might not be able to use yours again until they leave).

Okay, so now you are thinking how wonderful it would be if there were also some way to position all of those little templates you use.  Some are just too small to hold with The Gypsy Gripper, but it sure would be nice if you didn’t have to worry about ‘em slipping around on the fabric. And with the smaller sizes, there’s an even greater risk of cutting your fingers.  Not to worry, we hear you, and we’ve got the solution for you.

The Amazing Little Gripper ™

The Little Gripper is our newest tool offering.  It’s made especially for those handy little acrylic templates and small rulers.  A single suction cup will fit on almost any template shape that is at least 2-1/4″ wide.

Fits dozens of popular small templates.

A simple locking lever secures The Little Gripper in place, just flip it up to apply suction.  Flip it down again to release the suction, so you can move The Little Gripper to the next template you need for your project.

Quick and easy  to  attach and release.

The Little Gripper is the perfect companion for The Gypsy Gripper, and an essential addition to your quilting basket.  You will be amazed how much easier your intricate cutting work becomes.  Now check the price. The Little Gripper can be yours for less than the cost of a quilt pattern, but you will use it again and again.  And the more templates you have, the more you’ll appreciate the ease and accuracy and safety it provides.

News Flash!! - The Little Gripper Saves The Day During An Emergency!!
                        - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - June, 2008 -
One woman in the Midwest wrote that during a recent flood disaster, she needed to fill her bathtub before restriction of utility services began, to provide water for flushing toilets.  However, her tub drain leaked and would not have held water.  She smartly stuck
The Little Gripper over the drain, and it sealed the water in her tub perfectly for four days, so her family could flush the toilet as needed. 

Gypsie Grippers are now available at Heirloom Creations!

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This past Friday concluded the first of two Kid’s Sewing Camps for Summer 2008. Check out pictures and descriptions of each of the quilts from the “Magnificent Nine”!

I had so much fun with this group of wonderful young women and a young man in the 10-13 age range. The “Magnificent Nine” learned how to use their sewing machine properly, stitch straight lines, and they learned patience while working with the cumbersome full size quilt during the machine quilting section. Each student selected their own fabrics prior to class.

Courtney’s eye for detail showed in that every seam was perfect, and her finished quilt demonstrates her workmanship.

Mitch selected colors that made everyone envious of his quilt! He came all away from Arizona to take this class!

Maddy spent the entire week absorbing every word I said which has made her hungry for future sewing classes. 

Taylor loved last year’s Kids Camp so much she came back to do the same quilt this year. It was amazing how her love of sewing has grown over the past year.

Abby braved a minor mishap and had to miss a day. She and I will have a private sewing day next week so she can finish her quilt. Her passion of sewing is obvious with her ability to follow directions without needing a lot of help.

Meg (left) inspired everyone with her color selection and her focus throughout the entire week.

McKenna (right) found a new hobby that she is a natural at. Her quilt is probably going to summer camp with her next week!

Brittany’s favorite part of quilting is the sewing and she also liked the ironing.

Dalia’s quiet spirit kept her focused as she sewed diligently throughout the entire week.

I want to thank all the parents and family members who gave these children a special way to remember this summer. A quilt is something that can be used for both warmth and comfort all year long, and they acquired sewing skills they can use for a life-time!

Watch for some of these quilts to be on display at the Quilts and Vines quilt show, Saturday, August 9, 2008.

I would love to see all of you students again, and wherever your future sewing adventures take you, bring your projects by anytime you want to show them off!

Have a wonderful summer!

Parents - High resolution pictures are available by e-mailing me at info@heirloomcreations.net.

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