Last week I have been travelling to BERNINA International AG in Steckborn. We arranged two 2-days classes, that differed a lot from each other. Something extremely creative and something quite difficult to sew! Since I have moved, I have to take another way to BERNINA, it takes me over lake constanze, it’s nice!

Tuesday morning, everything ready to start in the CreativCenter in Steckborn:

Having given a big survey on technics and material, all workshop participants could not wait to start:

Step by step the ladies got a feeling for printing, for colours, that mixed, for forms and the surprising moments, that occur during designing farbics in this method.

After lunch, we startet creating the larger fabrics for the bags. The variety and differentness was amazing!

All fabrics dried over night.

Wednesday: cutting, quiltling and bag assembly. It was not easy at all to cut all such nice fabrics into pieces. But we had to find the delectable pieces of prints.

I use to give an detailed explanation and demonstration of machine quiltling – just in the manner, I use to quilt these special bags. This quiltling gives the third design element in creating such bags.

All ladies did a great job and added very special quilting elements to their fabrics.

After lunch and a nice cup of coffee – at the coffeebar of the CreativCenter…

we continued with bag assembly:

Some last steps:

and all bags had been finished by the workshop participants – you did a great job, ladies!

Thursday and friday invited to do a special handbag, made of corkleather.

Two intensive days would follow and everybody was keen start after my explanaitions.

Each lady could take place at a perfect workingspace – even the BERNINA Sewing machine model, she is using at home was placed on her table!

Easter rabbit left a bit of chocolate – to recharge energie.

Ironing and quiltling went hand in hand:

Friday was a tough day. The small handbag is quite tricky to sew and a challenge for the ladies. They all did very well, they where patient and good artisans!

The variety is amazing:

Each step further, the bags got into shape.

The first ladies proudly presented their gem: cheeky, zippily and very ladylike!

These were beautiful and quite creative days at lake constance at BERNINA. My special thanks go to Tanja Gross, the manager of the CreativCenter in Steckborn. She is always doing a great job for teachers and workshop members. Thanks, Tanja!

Many cordially greetings,

Jutta Hellbach