December 07, 2013

Christmas Tree Banner

I have been wanting to make a little Christmas tree banner for a few years.  I finally got around to making one last weekend.  I am sharing a couple of quick pictures with you.  This one was just it laying on the floor.
 
Here is a close up of one of the trees.




And here it is attached to my TV entertainment cabinet.  I just used a couple of the removable clips made by Command.  SEW cute!


November 10, 2013

Christmas Tree Quilt

Here is the Christmas Tree Quilt that I have been talking about.  I once again used blocks from Chantell's Creations.  These are done in the Stitch and Flip method.  Very similar to paper piecing, but using the embroidery machine instead.


I am trying to find a way to get better photos of my projects.  I have very little wall space, so I do not have a way to hang them to take pictures such as a design wall.  So I usually end up placing them on the floor, and trying to get high enough to get a picture.  I have also used my friends to hold them for me to get pictures.  I am thinking of alternative ways to get photos.  One thought would be to use a room divider, I could open it up when I needed to take a picture, and then close it back up for storage.  Looking for other suggestions.

November 09, 2013

Fly Away Set Blocks

Here is a small 'sampler' quilt that I stitched up using some of Chantell's newest Fly Away sets.



Hope to be able to show you the 'Christmas' project I have been working on very soon.  It is completed including the binding, just need to get a picture of it and I will post it.

Until then, here are a few blocks that I have been stitching using some more of the Fly Away sets from Chantell.







October 04, 2013

Time Flies

So where does all of our time go?  It seems like only yesterday that I was posting here and today I discovered that the last time was in August!  I promise that I have really been stitching and sewing up a storm all of September.  I have a few new things that I will be able to post soon, first will be a project with Chantell's Creations, that I am really excited about.  Let's just say 'Think Christmas'.  I can't wait until the project is completed and I will be able to share it with you.  

I haven't forgotten any of my other 'In Work' projects, they will all be completed soon.   I just have a brain that needs new stimulation constantly. 

I do have a couple of things that I can share.  First one is a Euro pillow that matches the King Sized pillow cover that I showed previously.   Just love this fabric.  I am sure you will see more things made with it since I bought a lot!  It's 'oh deer! by MoMo for Moda.  I used Machine Embroidery blocks from Chantell's Creations.



Speaking of favorite fabrics, this next project is made with another one.  It is 'Comma' by Zen Chic for Moda.  This one doesn't have the binding on it yet, but I think I will go ahead and share it.   This was also made using Chantell's Creations Machine embroidery designs.  We had a blast making a bunch of different versions of clamshell blocks.  She has them on her website under her name for them "On the Edge."  I plan on using one of the black prints for the binding.


 
 
Next up is another completed quilt using one of the "On the Edge' sets.  This fabric is from Connecting Threads.  I can't remember the name of it and it is sold out already so it's not on their website anymore.



I have one more that I will share today.  I am so excited about this one because it already has a home.  My friend Jackie saw it and fell in love and bought it!  This is big because I do have a hard time parting with any of my projects.  So we can almost consider it my first sale:-)  Hopefully, very soon in the future, I will offer some of my other projects for sale.



Hope you have enjoyed my very long blog post today.  Maybe if I blogged a little more often.....

August 31, 2013

Rainbow Squares Continued

Had a little time today to stitch more rainbow squares.  When I began the quilt my goal was to have 25 blocks, but as I get near to being done, I am thinking about adding another row.  Of course that depends on if I have enough little designs for them.  I don't really want to repeat any, but I always could if I had to.  If I can't find enough designs, I can always try sweet talking Mia into digitizing 'just a few more'.   Here are today's additions:








August 24, 2013

Rainbow Quilt - Blues

I have been side tracked once again with another project, but did get three more of the rainbow quilt blocks stitched.  These are some of the blue ones.







August 17, 2013

Rainbow Quilt - Greens

I decided to stitch all of each color group at once instead of skipping around.  That way it will be easier to make sure I don't use the same color of thread twice.  Which really would be all right because each of the fabrics are a different color, but I think it would be best not to repeat any thread colors.  Here are all of the new green blocks.












Stitch, Sew, Quilt

I stitched up a little something to hang on the wall in my sewing room for inspiration.  I used some more of Chantell's new "On The Edge" quilt squares and some applique lettering from my large stash of embroidery designs.   The fabric is "Mama said Sew" by Sweetwater from Moda.  I think its a very appropriate fabric for this project.


Just in case anybody is wondering what happened to the progress on the Rainbow quilt, I will be posting some new squares soon.  I have actually been stitching some today.

August 03, 2013

Hoffman Challenge Results

Well, the results are in, and no I didn't win any prizes :-(  I am very disappointed in the judges choices this year.  A few were good, but some of the winners looked very basic and boring.  Just my opinion of course, and it always depends on who the judges are.  Each and every one of them are looking for something different, something that appeals to them. 

I have considered not entering this particular contest because of the lack of interest in machine embroidery on the quilts.  I thought for sure now that Sulky had entered the contest that they would be a little more open to the beautiful things that can be done with our embroidery machines.   I believe they are and that 'times are changing' in the world of accepted quilts.  I am not sure that I want to wait :-)   I personally think I will be looking for some different contests this year to enter.

The details as explained on the Hoffman web site states that they had 598 entries this year.  They also said that they had to send 250 entries home that would not be in their traveling showcase.  This is where I am a little sad, because mine is traveling, which means that I will not see it again until late next year.  I didn't get any real good pictures of it, but I will share a few with you that I did get.  Here is the front.

Here is the back.






I want to thank Mia for all of her hard work drawing and digitizing the designs for me.  Without her I would never be able to create most of these masterpieces of art!

July 25, 2013

On the Edge King Pillow, Clamshells, etc.

Just want to say right up front that just because I haven't posted anything in a month, does not mean that I haven't been busy busy.  First I finished my Hoffman Challenge entry and it was mailed and received on time.  Have not heard any results yet, but the website says that by August 1 2013 all of the winners will be posted on their website.  I also read that if you do win a prize that you will be notified my e-mail.  I check my inbox about every five minutes, but nothing yet.

I have also been doing a little work with Chantell.  I can post a couple of those items. One that is finished is the King Pillow cover created from one of her new embroidery "in the hoop" collections called "On the Edge".
This was made from one of my favorite fabrics; "Oh Deer!" from Moda by MoMo.   I have been hording it for awhile.  I made another pillow cushion from the same fabric, but I can't show you that one yet.

I also have another project that I have been working on that is not quite finished.  It really only needs to have the binding attached.  This was also created using one of Chantell's new 'On the Edge" sets.  Sort of looks like clamshells :-)
Both of these projects were done "In the Hoop".  Chantell really takes the extra time to make sure that her blocks stitch out pretty much perfect.  It is because of her attention to little details that make these blocks all stitch out so great.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that Hoffman will be e-mailing me any day to let me know that I have won a prize!  After the judging is finished, and the winners announced, I will post a picture of the completed quilt.  I think it is one of the best pieces that I have ever created, and I can't wait to show it off!

June 29, 2013

Hoffman Challenge Update

I spent most of the month of June trying to figure out some of the technical problems associated with the design I wanted to achieve with the Hoffman quilt.  I had a very clear picture of what I wanted to do, but some of the ideas needed to be tweaked in order for the idea to be executed.  I even gave up on the whole idea for several weeks.  Then I figured out a work around in my sleep one night (which is where a lot of my design issues are worked out).  But I didn't wake up and write it down, so the solution was lost.  Last weekend I was having breakfast with a friend and I was trying to explain to her why I had given up on completing the quilt challenge.   While I was explaining to her what I was having difficulty accomplishing, the solution came back to me. 

Now that I have figured out that it can be accomplished, I am stitching like a mad woman trying to get all the embroidery done.  I am running out of time since the quilt has to be in Hoffman's hands by the 19th of July.  I have four panels stitched and a lot more to go (not sure exactly how many yet).  I think I can share one small panel here without spoiling the surprise of the quilt.  Mostly to prove that I have been stitching!

May 05, 2013

Hoffman Challenge 2013

In the past I have submitted several quilts to the Hoffman Challenge.  Each year I take a look at the Challenge fabric and see if it inspires me to turn in an entry.  This year I have been inspired by the fabric and I think I will enter.
You can't really tell from this picture, but the entire collection has a metallic theme, which is the part that is inspiring me.  I have an idea for a great quilt, but it requires a lot of metallic fabric to be used, so this is perfect!  I can't show you the idea yet, but as soon as it is finished and sent in I will post a sneak peek.  It has to be completed and mailed by early July, so I really need to get busy.  I will be using embroidery designs digitized by Mia B designs from her original drawings. 

If you are interested in seeing what other fabrics go with the collection, or see the winning quilts from previous years, please visit their website http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com for all the details.

Circles in Motion

I took a little break from the Rainbow Quilt.   Chantell had a new block that I had to try out.  Love this one.  Here is what it looks like without the borders or binding on yet.
Looks really great doesn't it.  But wait!  Can you believe how much better it looks with the borders and the binding added?  I couldn't believe how much different it looks. 
In traditional quilting it is usually called Winding Ways, but this is a whole new technique of quilting so why not a new name to go with it?  I think it looks like Circles in Motion!

April 06, 2013

Rainbow Quilt Update

Two more blocks of the Rainbow quilt are complete.

Curvy Quilt Finished

Here is the finished product!  All the seams are satin stitched together and then a traditional binding has been attached. 
Thanks Jackie for holding it up while I took a picture!  I really need to find some way to take better pictures of my finished quilts.  I will have to look for a way to hang them in my backyard somewhere so that I can get good pictures.

March 29, 2013

Curvy Quilt Continued

Here is a picture showing more progress on the curvy quilt.  Each block already has the backing on it and is quilted.  It is the method that I use most when making the blocks 'in the hoop'.

Almost finished with all thirty blocks.   The final picture will be ready soon. 

March 24, 2013

Curvy Quilt

I mentioned in my last blog that I had been distracted for a week or so with another project.  Thought that I would give you a little peek at what I was up to.  I had bought some really great fabrics called Taxi, from Hawthorne Threads (one of my favorite online fabric stores)  a few months ago.  Maybe longer, since we know that times does fly.   I did notice that they got some more of the fabric in just recently, so it should still be available if you are interested. http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/alice_kennedy/taxi

For this project I used a new set of blocks from Chantells Creations.  These are made 'in the hoop' using my Babylock Ellisimo's 8"x8" hoop.  I stitched out 30 of the blocks and then attached them together using a zig zag stitch, and then a satin stitch on top of that.  I then bound the quilt in the traditional manner.

Here is a close up view of two of the blocks.