DWM

Happy Labor Day!

 

Judy's hosting Design Wall Monday

 so make sure to see what others are doing.

 

Wow, I can't believe it's September already. If I were still teaching, this would be our first holiday and my first time to sew all day. So in keeping with that thought (BTW, I'm so happy to be retired for about 6 years now) I did get to do some stuff yesterday after my misadventure with Buzzard Bait, my company and my Kiwi Pie (see yesterday's post for that).
I was digging through a pile of fabric when I ran across some blocks of machine embroidery. Oh boy, I thought, when in the world did I do those? I couldn't remember but went off to my sewing room to trim off the excess so I could see what I might do next.

Each block took about 30 minutes from prep to stitching out. It was obvious that I didn't know what I was doing at the time because I chose the wrong threads. You can't see it but in the black and white area around each quarter circles there is stitching. I should have used a color that could be seen like lime green or red. If I ever do this again that's the route I'll take.

I might make pillows but at the moment nothing is coming to me.

Any thoughts?

 

Leafing Through The Year - BOM- Block #4 and Trees From WNC

Enjoy... Link on my sidebar for design.
BTW, pop over to Fiesta's and search her blog to see her interpretation of Leafing Through The Year. She's doing a great digitizing job with the leaf designs.

Next, here's the next Tree installment from When Nature Calls
Trees 3 and 4... also found on my Sidebar.

Leafing Through The Year - Block #3

Block #3 - Link on Sidebar and HERE!

Leafing Through The Year - BOM - Block#2 February Came Early

Leafing Block #2

Link on sidebar and above.
I couldn't wait for February. It seems like January has been hear for two months.....LOL
Enjoy this oak leaves and acorns block!!!

Design Wall Monday

I did some hoop work for a swap mate. This only took an hour because I kept forgetting to change the threads.

 

Next, I decided to use these two fabrics which I found in my stash while refolding the other day.

Note the geometric (ahem) design in the top fabric.  Sorry, that a private joke with one of my blogging friends.

I thought the geometric fabric would be a great one to start a stash busting project.  So far I've sewn fifty-six 5 inch blocks. I used a foundation sew and flip method.  

Love it...... no seams to match... just my style. 

Happy New Year and New BOM

Happy New Year Everyone!

Wow, it's 2012!  I can't believe it. Way back in grade school, 1960s,  I never thought that I'd be living in the 21 century with all these new and marvelous gadgets to play with..... iPhone; iPad; iPod; HD television; Bose radio systems; cars/SUVs with video capability and GPS; e-Cards; Kindle which is a great way to read just about anything (novels, in my case) and saves our "trees;" refrigerators that house TVs; computered recipes, shelves that slide, constrict, and have several temperature controls to store meats, milk, veggies and whatever else you can think of  easily; the ever changing computer and then there are the wonderful embroidery/sewing machines. Alot of these gadgets do several things that make our lives more livable.
But I'm babbling. So allow me to get to the point. I've been working on a new BOM. This one involves loads of hand embroidery fun.  I've named it "Leafing Through The Year" Don't worry, When Nature Calls BOM  will be posted in a day or so.

Link here or at my Sidebar!
This is also Design Wall Monday. Judy has a list of great quilters with some wonderful projects going on. Pop over and check them out.

Last Little Gift

A friend visited me last summer and watched as my machine stitched this design out. She never forgot it and asked if I would do one for her.  Of course I forgot about her request until yesterday....... I quickly got it stitched out and mailed off..... whew!  I think she wants to frame it.
These types of machine embroidery designs are amazing. I sat and watched as the needle did the work.... LOL..... I used a dark bronze thread on a tone-on-tone beige fabric. (5" X 7")

Tote It!

Paula over at Coffee Time challenged anyone who wanted to join in, to a holiday tote swap.  The neat thing about this swap was that everybody knew what was going on, who their swap partner was, what preference, etc.  I was so excited, I jumped on it.  My swap person was Mary who loves snowmen.  So, of course, her wish came true with the tote viewed from the front and back.

The next picture is on the great tote and goodies I received from Tudy....she really nailed it with the chocolates...hehehehehehehe......I'll be taking my tote grocery shopping very soon.  I also received 2 Fat Quarters, a pin cushion and a wonderful needle holder.  Thanks Tudy!!

Designs and Threads

I'm still trying out designs and learning to use all my new threads.  The tree design was sewn out using Floriani thread.....this thread is not my favorite because it usually breaks or frays quite often but I loosened the top tension and things went well from there.
The sun design was sewn out using Superior Threads - King Tut ELS Cotton and a topstitch 90/14 needle which was recommended on the actual spool. I mixed in a Robison-Anton Poly just because I like the look of using different threads when possible.
Each design measures roughly 4"2" and 3" square.  I am keeping each design in a notebook with notes about the threads used as well as types of needles and the tension info,  for future reference.  It's amazing how quickly I forget what I was doing, so notes help.

Catch of the Day

No, not this little guy......he was tracking across my yard the other day....far from our pond.  I think he was migrating.

This is the catch of the day.  Four bass, two were 1 pounders......can't wait to fillet them.

These 2 designs were stitched out within 30 minutes just to see what they look like. I found them as "free" downloads......this sometimes means that a designer was experimenting with digitizing.....so it's good to stitch them out to see what's going on.

Mixing Threads

I love mixing the different brands of thread to get a unique look when stitching out machine embroidery.

In this first design, I used FuFu Rayon, Gutermann 100% cotton and Madeira Rayon.

Note that it's the rayon that lends to the shiny effect.

With this design, I used Mettler Metrosene which is a semi-gloss type thread and Superior - King Tut ELS cotton which is a thicker thread.....note the tennis ball for that effect.

Finally, I used all of the above threads and was very pleased with the outcome. With all designed, I used an 80/11 Steep Quilting needle.  This needle has a slight groove down the front whirch allows the threads to rest in as they travel from spoon to bobbin.

I, also use this type of needle when doing regular piecing quilt.

Agog Over FuFu

In the previous post, I was showing off my new thread collection.....FuFu......strange name but boy, does it sew like a charm.  I was able to stitch out 2 designs before it skies opened up and poured down on my little section of the world.  So what am I saying......."Love the Fu!"

OESD Designs

Last month, you may remember, my "wacky" girlfriends and I went on an embroidery retreat in Tyler, Texas. We learned plenty, laughed alot and of course purchased several designs. This is one of them. It's "Visions of Summer by OESD. Obviously, I haven't completed it but I couldn't wait to show off my efforts from the Deer Camp retreat.  There are 12 panel to the main body of the design, which you see here, and 18 side portions that I will get done one of these days.  I was so proud of myself for sticking with it over the course of 4 days. I did learn that when a design says that the sew time is 30 minutes, it really means about 45 minutes to an hour....with changing threads, walking away to do something else and forgetting that the embroidery machine, while great, does not change those threads by itself.....unfortunately.  When all the parts are stitched out, I will need to sew them together by using a 1 inch strip between the blocks, creating a window pane effect.
There are 3 other designs in this series....Fall, Winter and Spring.  I'll get around to those, as well, one day.