Friday, May 2, 2008

A Peek from Sweden

Just Imagine! Take a peek! Many of you have already seen the first preview of the new top-of-the-line Husqvarna Viking! If not, I am “sew” excited! GO to http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/ and click on Read More on the main page to see the first of the wonderful “quick films” on the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line sewing and embroidery machine! I have watched it many times and still see wonderful “peeks” into some of the new features! When the elegant embroidery on the beautiful red dress skirt “swishes” by, you will have your first glimpse of one of the fabulous new embroideries! I embroidered this design yesterday and it is amazing! We are all embroidering it on red jackets to wear the night of the “live” introduction!

I know some of you commented that you could not open and view the “experience the preview, Click here” On the first few days, the “traffic” on the site was so great that some were not able to get in to view. Please go back and try again and if you have a problem, leave me another “comment” below and I will follow up.

Be sure to click on the titles across the top of the screen too! If you have not signed up for the Husqvarna Viking NEWSLETTER, now is the time to do so! You will want to be sure to click on WEBCAST for your personal invitation to experience the LIVE introduction of this most innovative new sewing and embroidery machine. Click on Register Now! and sign up today.

Check out the competition tab too and learn how you can DESIGN AND WIN! Before you leave the site, click on TELL A FRIEND and send this exciting inspiration, invitation and information to all your friends so they don’t miss out!

I must confess I did not know there was a place for you all to leave comments on this blog! My US testing teammates here in Sweden were telling me at dinner how much they enjoyed some of your comments so now I know! Thank you for the good words. Please leave me more comments and let me know anything you would like me to talk about in the blog. Of course there is a limit to what I can tell you about the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line but I’m trying!

More News From Sweden!

What a privilege to be a part of the group in Sweden and our USA team testing the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line! You are going to be “blown away” by the power to create that the new features and techniques will bring to you! Be sure to get your name on the list at your Husqvarna Viking Retailer to be one of the first to see and own this awesome new top-of-the-line Husqvarna Viking.

It has been very exciting to be in Huskvarna because the Swedish National Hockey Tournament has been going on and the Huskvarna/Jonkoping team HV71 won the National Sweden Championship!! They played 72 games with the final seven game championship competition between Linnkoping and HV71!

Sunday afternoon there was a parade down the main street of Huskvarna to celebrate. The HV71 team was in one truck and others were filled with avid fans.




The team members are wearing the Golden Helmets they received when they won the championship. These pictures were taken from our hotel window! What a vantage point to enjoy the parade!






Even the dogs were carrying flags to celebrate!

On Tuesday afternoon there was a big celebration at the factory to honor the HV71 team!
We took this picture from the window of the building we are working in.

Each team member was introduced and said a few words (in Swedish of course). Husqvarna is a major team sponsor and everyone was very excited about the championship.


As a part of the festivities, there was a “raffle drawing” with all employee numbers. On the left is Anders Andersson, Head of Husqvarna Viking new product development receiving his prize, a HV71 team jersey! Our own Cathy Bansky stood in the autograph line and had a jersey signed by the whole team then hand carried it home to the states!








News about the new top-of-the-line

There will of course be a complete Education Package with your new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line! We have been very busy at the factory testing and finalizing all the printed materials for the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line!
Charlotta (we call her Lotta) wrote and laid out the User’s Guide for this new Husqvarna Viking and has been proofing and testing it diligently. You are going to love this fabulous learning tool! Here she is smiling because it has just been sent to the printer! One of our key Education people, Marcia just came to Sweden to join in the testing and when she looked at the proof copy, she loved it! We were “sew” happy! Lotta’s office is on the 4th floor of the VSM Office Building here in Sweden and if you look closely, you can look out her window over Huskvarna and Lake Vattern.

Annelie has written and laid out the new Quick Reference Guides. These will slide right under your new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line and can be pulled out for quick reference. However, I assure you that this new Husqvarna Viking is “sew” User Friendly and features all the Ease-of-Use you have come to know and love in Husqvarna Viking! As always, the learning curve is very short and easy with Husqvarna Viking.





I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you, but I just received the first Embroidery Booklet for ALL (and there are lots) the designs that will be included with this Husqvarna Viking and it is fabulous! As always, the Husqvarna Viking Design Booklet is in full color of course and many designs are pictured in full size (unless they are too big to fit on paper)! Whoops, did I say that?? Of course, the recommended colors are given for both Robison Anton and Sulky threads and there are illustrations for Husqvarna Viking special techniques on some of the embroideries.

I’ve also had a peek at some of the new Embroidery Collections coming soon and you are going to love them. More new special techniques for embroidery are coming for all Husqvarna Viking sewing and embroidery machines.

One of my testing jobs this week was free motion quilting and embroidery with the Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator. I know many of you already own this wonderful tool for free motion and others have been thinking about adding it to your sewing system. I can assure you that you will be delighted with free motion on your new top-of-the-line Husqvarna Viking with the Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator. If you have not had the opportunity to try this fantastic tool for free motion, be sure to visit your Husqvarna Viking dealer for a demonstration and a “test drive”.
Many people have asked about this stitch regulator for Husqvarna Viking. The beauty of the Fab-U-Motion is that not only do you get a stitch regulator, you get the most ergonomic way to stitch free motion. When you use the Fab-U-Motion platform to support and move your project, you are no longer pushing the fabric or quilt under the needle. No more aching neck and shoulders and sore wrists and hands. The Fab-U-Motion platform smoothly moves the fabric with no pushing. This keeps the fabric flat and eliminates the tucks on the underside of a quilt sandwich and thanks to the stitch regulator, your stitches are even.

Before we went in to work on Saturday, we had to check out of our hotel as it was fully booked for a wedding group. So, the owners, Annie and Robert made special arrangements for us to spend Saturday night at a beautiful golf resort just south of Huskvarna.

Here I am in my “where’s Sue hat” in front of the main hotel building at Hooke’s Herrgarten in Hok, Sweden. Originally, this was a Gentleman’s Estate with this beautiful home and several other Guest Houses. In this “main house”, there were at least 7 “sitting rooms” in the back overlooking the beautiful lake. Every room was furnished with period furniture that had been recovered in beautiful fabrics to compliment the décor of that room. The round tile fireplaces that used to heat the house had incredible needlepoint damper pulls. It was gorgeous down to every detail!




This was the view from the sitting rooms and the dining room where we had a lovely dinner and breakfast. See the little boat in the middle of the lake? We are in it! Hopefully next week I will have some more pictures of us “rowing”. What fun. The Swedish spring is beautiful!


Until next time,
Happy Sewing,
Sue

4 comments:

Lorid said...

Hi Sue,

How exciting is you post!! I can't believe how beautiful the introduction to our new sewing machine is. I am looking forward to Convention to see and learn about our newest machine and looking forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Lori Robinson, Mgr
225 Tatum
Phoenix, AZ

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue
I love your little "letters" - its so interesting to get a glimpse of life around the Husqvarna home - as well as your teasing snippets about the new TOL. What a wonderful job you have
Maggie in the UK

Kath Garvey said...

Hi Sue

Again another wonderful Blog. I really look forward to reading them.
Your words make me wish I was in Sewden too.

Kind Regards
Kath UK

Theresa said...

Wow, I just found your blog! It's great reading about everything, and I'm loving the pics. Now I must dash off to design and submit something.