Good 'Ol Chicago!

Well the bag I showed you last week made it's trip with me last weekend! The bag was the perfect carry on; it fit my iPad, book, water bottle, socks (cuz my feet always get cold) and phone!

In case I failed to mention, my sister and I flew out to Chicago for a 2 day Bernina E16 training. That is the multi needle embroidery machine we carry at our family shop. The training was wonderful, and my sister and I both came back wanting to start spending nights at the shop just to embroider with the machine!

We made a few projects (including a baseball cap) while we were at the Bernina Creative Center, the building that houses all of the training E16 machines. We also got to peak at the optional table you can get for the E16, which is beautiful and has two drawers plus a storage compartment for the machines hoops.

  

BUT, the best part for me was getting the sneak preview of the Bernina Q-Matic set up! :) The screen on that baby.. OH MY! It is going to be awesome - more photos and info to come once we get to Bernina University in July!!



Just being in that room with all of those Q24's on frames made me want to quilt SO BAD! Lucky for me, I start teaching Free Motion Quilting Series tonight at the shop, so at least I'll get to talk about quilting even if I'm not actually quilting!

Hope you all are getting some time to sew, or quilt or just sit in your sewing room and look at all your pretty pretty fabric!

Happy Sewing,
Enjoli (and Gertrude)

Gertrude's New Adventure

Well, it has been such a very long time since Gertrude and I have been on here.

Life has been so busy, even with my oldest being in Kindergarten this year! Kindergarten has brought all sorts of new things to experience, including being sick more and dealing with lice on all three kids!

The twins are still at home with me, at least for the next few months. They start Preschool in August and can hardly contain their excitement!

We enjoyed celebrating Easter yesterday, getting dressed up and then spending the afternoon relaxing (and Gert and I sewing)! We finished up a project for an upcoming trip! 

I am so happy with how the bag turned out! I am planning to use it as my carry on for a work trip I am taking with my sister on Wednesday! We are headed to Chicago for a Bernina E16 (embroidery) training!

With as crazy as life has been, I am looking forward to the six hour plane ride to just sit (and read) or sleep!

Ok, so I guess I should get to the whole "new adventure" part of the post before I lose you! 

Gertrude and I have started a little project called "Made By Gertrude", she does most the work! We have a few select bags for sale, and take custom orders if you want something more specific. Bags are one of my favorite things to make, and well I make more than I can possibly keep so "Made By Gertrude" was born! 

You can find what we're up on on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madebygertrude/

or on Etsy, where you can purchase bags! There is a contest running on the Facebook page right now too - so you could WIN a bag just by check it out! 

We just launched the Etsy shop last week, so we will be adding more items to it every week! Find us on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeByGertrude

I am especially excited about this project as it gives me something "for me" to do that is my own! The last three years have been spent at home with my kiddos, which has been wonderful, but with them heading off to school (and becoming more independent!) this project allows me to put my love and energy into something I get excited about! 

The other exciting news is that with the Twins starting preschool in the Fall, I get to come back to the shop (Seams Like Home) at least part time, and let me tell you - I cannot wait to see you all again, and talk to adults during the day! 

Thank you for following Gertrude and I - we're looking forward to being a little more exciting over here in the near future! And stay tuned for new items in the Etsy shop and on our Facebook page!

Happy Sewing,

Enjoli (and Gertrude)