Dust Happens–a new article!
Especially in my house! Think rural. Think cats. Think Sarah. But you don’t want dust inside your sewing machine! I was so happy when editor Kit Robinson asked me to do an article on the care and feeding of your domestic sewing machine. That article has just come out in the March/April issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited:
I was even more elated when just a few days after copies arrived in mailboxes across the US, Publisher Vicki Anderson forwarded this email to me:
My wife just received her March/April 2014 issue and I want to compliment you on the Sarah Ann Smith article titled Dust Happens.
I am a Bernina Certified tech that repairs anything that walks in the door and all brands of Long Arms. I also give presentations to the local guilds on Care and Feeding of your Domestic Machines. Her article is the most comprehensive that I have read to date. I feel as if she had a copy of my Power Point in front of her (right down to the needle photos!).
Outstanding! I agree with 100% of what she said and applaud her for the article.
Please use this and pass this along in any way that you see fit.
Duane Sellers
Bernina Tech
Lafayette, In
WOW! Talk about a HAPPY RUSH! You all know I’m a Janome girl, but we also all know how GOOD Bernina is in terms of service and support, how good it’s repair folks are. To have a Bernina Tech say that about my article just gives me goosebumps! Thank you Mr. Sellers!
Here’s a peek at my article–to read it you’ll need to get a copy, which you can do online at mqumag.com or in places like Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million.
And HUGE thanks to Marie Z. Johansen (BFF!) and Silvia Dell’Aere (a.k.a. Orkaloca) for photographs used in the article. I needed a specific view of a Bernina bobbin case and, astonishingly, despite having hundreds of photos available for press use, Bernina didn’t have the view I needed, so I called Marie–who is a fabulous photographer–and asked if she could save my bacon and photograph her Bernina’s bobbin case (right before deadline no less), and she did! THANK YOU! And Silvia has allowed me to use a photo of hers of the tips of new vs. slightly used needles in my class presentations for years. I asked for a print-resolution photo, but she had to take a new one–Thank you! So please, visit their blogs and say thanks! Here’s the page with their photos:
Have another article in the next issue of MQU..it’s been a good year for writing (which I love as much as quilting). Thanks, Vicki and Kit, for the opportunity to write for MQU. I’m so happy to have been able to bring good articles to you. Thanks also again to Mr. Sellers for taking the time to write such a nice comment!
March 4th, 2014 at 10:19 am
Sarah, I read the article and was so impressed with how thorough it was. Wonderful to have the pat on the back of the Bernina technician!
March 4th, 2014 at 10:40 am
I agree. It’s the most comprehensive article about machine maintenance that I’ve ever seen. Well done!
March 4th, 2014 at 10:56 am
Just marvelous Sarah!!! I always defied the gnarly older gentleman who told me NEVER touch the insides of my machine! I don’t care if there is an inch of dust on the mantle, I don’t hate my machine innards to be dusty. I now have to go hunt up a copy of Machine Quilting!
March 4th, 2014 at 11:39 am
Well, I guess I will have to get the mag so I can read this. I just cleaned out my Babylock after it tried eating the block I was appliquéing on. After a lot of dust and fluff came out it was back in working order, stitching like a dream. Maintenance is such a bother but oh so necessary.
March 4th, 2014 at 11:42 am
Congratulations on the article Sarah! I really need this information so I’ll be picking up a copy. I look forward to reading the article.
Have a glorious day!
D~~~~
March 8th, 2014 at 5:38 am
Way to go! I have to get a copy! That was qUite a compliment. I feel that keeping my machine clean is one thing I do fairly well, but always want to know more.
March 19th, 2014 at 7:15 am
I glanced this mag in JoAnns a few days ago…now I’ll make a trip back to pick it up. Thanks.