Friday 2nd May, 2025
... ARE WE THERE YET? ...
ALMOST!!! One more after this one! This week has been quite the Challenge in more ways than one! The family arrived home from their overseas holiday late on Tuesday evening, with a most unexpected ‘souvenir’, in the form of a virus! Ambah was unwell a couple of days prior to arriving home, and by Thursday evening I was the only one in the house not sick!
By some miracle, I managed to avoid it – and now almost a week since they arrived back, everyone is generally back to good health – just a few coughs and sniffles left – goodbye thankfully, to the temperatures and other yucky ‘flu type’ stuff!
I stocked up the fridge and freezer the day they arrived home – and it’s still nearly all there! Only thing I cooked all week was a big pot of Dumpling and vegetable Soup – a real hit here – (laced with garlic and ginger), and another big pot of Chilli Beef (again laced with garlic). Add in a few rounds of toast, crackers and boiled eggs and you have our menu from last week!
I busied myself otherwise, writing up class notes and prepping bags ready for my road trip – which I will already be on by the time you are reading this! Imagine a hot cup of coffee, down by the beach – toes in the sand, and sunglasses! That will be me in Yeppoon, on the coast east of Rockhampton. Fingers crossed the weather is good – I need some sunshine and a big dose of Vitamin D! A couple of days break with family and Cousins/Aunts/Uncles and then off again, 8 hours north to Townsville.
Yes, I’m driving all the way by myself again – plenty of time to take in the sights, sounds and an audio book or two!
... Colouring-In Magic ...
PaintWork Tool #93
Although this accessory is no longer available here in Australia, I have it in my ‘Foot Stash’ and it was included in the Big Book of Feet so … out it came to create the samples for the Blog.
A quite revolutionary accessory, and at the time of release I was fascinated by the technology … still am. It is part of the DesignWorks Suite of tools, and we have already covered CrystalWork and CutWork, both still available at time of posting this.
The machine needle has to be removed, and then add the Straight Stitch Plate. The accessory has 4 pen adapters for different sized pens, which slide into the PaintWork Tool. Choose the appropriate one for the style of pen, then attach the Tool #93 to your machine as you would a regular foot. Clamp it into place securely.
Just like machine embroidery stitching, the hoop is attached to the Embroidery module, including stabiliser and fabric to draw on. The plate and Foot #93 needs to be selected – Foot #93 does not appear in any stitch selection when you are in sewing mode – then confirmed to begin operation.
The red Pen Guard is then swung down, textile pen inserted, clamped securely into place with the Clamping Lever – then swing it up to commencing ‘drawing’ with your machine.
The pen height can be adjusted with a dial on the side of the tool, to ensure a clear drawing.
Pens are changed out when colour finishes in the design, just like a thread colour change, only no thread tails! Swing the guard down again before removing or adding another textile pen. The hoop can be removed between colour changes, to set the pen strokes so that they do not bleed into each other is you are afraid of that. Follow the manufacturers nstructions to get the best results. The type of pen really matters, and I trialled quite a few brands at one of the shows I was working at … Fabrico Pens were winners! After 10 years or so they are still just like new!
PaintWork designs still appear on some Bernina Machines (they are a .drw file), not however on the new B990. You can however use your own files via USB.
Here’s a little video showing how it draws out the design.
Options available for the attachment – It’s available in a one version suitable for all models equipped with the ability to use the tool – 5, 7, 8 and 9 Series machines with embroidery modules.
Attachment #93 had 2 different techniques to create, and I used a design I had built into my B790PRO for the both samples.
... This Week’s Foot Highlights or Challenges ...
‘Painting a Design’ – I chose a design that was built into my B790PRO machine, of some fun flowers, with black outlines. The design was drawn out well on some white overprint type cotton quilting fabric. I used some Fabrico markers that I have had for many years, and they still worked extremely well. (Sorry I had the wrong Technique sheet on the samples this week – this one is Painting a Design.)
‘Painting Ceramics’ – My sample for this was ‘drawn’ on a small plastic takeaway container lid. I did not have a china tile or plate on hand as per the requirement that was small enough for me to keep in my storage box, and neither did I have any pens suitable for a ceramic surface. I used a Sharpie marker! I chose one of the flowers from the previous design, and like embroidering with threads, I stepped through the design by colour to complete the sample. (Again, I had the wrong Technique sheet on the sample – this one is Painting Ceramics.)
Summary: Although I have not used this for many years, I still find it fun to do! Bernina no longer sell the DesignWorks Software where you can create your own Paint, Crystal and Cutwork designs. The current Software V9 does support the Cutwork element, though.
When it was released here in Australia, we had a fun training session, where we made several items, including a little leather notebook cover with embroidery and cutwork, and a little folded coin purse that was painted and had crystal added to. I did the others once I’d bought the DesignWorks Tools for myself.
... A Little Reminder ...
Simply Joyful Mother’s Day Sale!
Visit your preferred Bernina Store until the 18th May to discover the wonderful range of machines and accessories on sale … and there’s 20% OFF BERNINA & bernette Accessories* … I feel another Binder just might have to join my ‘accessory stash’ this month – 20% off is fabulous when you purchase these larger accessories.
*Excludes all other brands, luggage bags, needles, bobbins, bobbin cases and spare parts. While stocks last.
Enjoy your weekend ahead, I’m off to a great little cafe by the sea here in Yeppoon!
Chat again next Friday … for what will be the FINAL Big Book of Feet Challenge Post!
