A big hello to all fellow Bernina Lovers! My name is Rhonda Noy, aka ‘The Sewing Gypsy’ and this is my very first post for the Bernina Blog. I am blessed to have been asked to be a Bernina Ambassador whilst I travel around Australia with my ‘Fish Whisperer’ partner Joe. I am sewing, embroidering and tutoring outdoors, dropping into any Bernina Dealers along the way, visiting local sewing/patchwork groups, Australian Sewing Guild groups and spreading the ‘Bernina Love’ wherever and whenever I can! I aim to introduce all those fellow travellers to what possibilities … and fun you can have on the road with your sewing machine/s! I have a new Bernina B570QEE, (yes embroidery module as well!), ‘Bridget’

My awesome new machine for the road!

… and a fabulous workhorse of an overlocker, an 800DL. I am delighted to be able to share my passion (and a few little projects) from time to time, for all things Bernina … through this Blog. I’ve been sewing since I was a child – my whole family are ‘make and do…ers’ ! Earliest memories of sewing are from when I was around 5, sewing on my Grandmother’s treadle machine … progressing a few years later to my mother’s well loved and used machine (even made my own school uniforms when I was 11 – I love dressmaking!) – and then, at 18 years of age my parents gave me MY OWN sewing machine – a Top-of-the-Range beauty! Well used and loved for quite a few years (including making my wedding dress), then it was passed onto a cousin … and then some 5 years later, after joining a local sewing machine store (selling 9 different brands of machines/overlockers … and office equipment … ) as a part-time employee, I upgraded to a computerised machine … and … after passing her onto a family member … I bought my first ever Bernina … ‘Betty’, my beloved 1230  – which I still own!

Meet Betty, my trusty 1230

She is ‘holidaying’ with my friend Martyn Smith, whilst I travel … for some 15+ months or so. Now, several other machines later (Virtuosa 153QE, 160, Artista 180, Aurora 440QEE, and ‘Big Red’ my 830LE along with about 5 different overlockers!)

My fabulous B830LE – my biggest one … so far 🙂

… and many, many hours of pleasure, here I am ‘living the dream’ of freelance education and travelling Australia, Kimberley Kamper in tow … ahhh … the Simple Life!
My home base is on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, but at present we are staying on a huge working cattle station some 30kms out of Mount Isa in Western Queensland. It is around 500 square miles in the old scale … yes, that big! We planned on a two night stay before heading up to Lawn Hill National Park … but with a muster planned (with helicopters!), the planned 2 nighter is now 9 nights … so far! I’ve had a day or so to do some sewing – here’s a few photos of my outdoor setup –

Embroidering a new design I have!! Love it!

there’s so much happening from day to day – including 2 visits to Mt Isa Patchwork Group to visit my friend Bev Wilmot. I’ve also done a one-on-one lesson with my friend Margaret Bishop, who owns a local patchwork/sewing machine store, introducing her to the fabulous Pattern Drafter System, which I also teach. Marg has hers ordered and on its way! Fitting was easy – all her measurements to start with – more on this in future posts – LOVE my Pattern Drafter!!

I’ve got a little project started … here’s a teaser photo …

and I will get it posted as soon as it is finished. I have bought a fabulous Bernina Embroidery Collection USB, that has recently been released in Australia, and have used it on the project.  Love all the designs on it!!

I look forward to keeping in touch through the blog, and if you’d like to see more of our travelling photos and stories, you can find me at www.thesewinggypsy.wordpress.com