On my way to Chrstmas

I have always wanted to make a Christmas quilt and always waited until Christmas to start thinking about it. 

So I figured I'd get a jump on it this year.

I had these designs that I've been dying to make so I got started on it.

 

There are 3 sets and they are all so cute 

I can't figure out which I like more.

My daughter has already claimed it.

I'll have more pictures as I go along.

Believe me it won't be an overnight job.

I'm having a little bit of a problem with puckering.

I know I'm using enough stabilizer. So what's up with that.

I guess I'll add another sheet and see if that takes care of the problem.

I think once it's quilted it will be ok.

 

 

 

Another in the Frame

I loaded this up last week and have been deciding exactly how I wanted to quilt it

Now I just need to find more time so I can get to it.

(Notice the red snappers - I really do like them))

Dear Jane's cont.

I had almost forgotten about my Dear Jane quilts. It's been so long since I had done any blocks.

At the rate I'm going it will be a few years before I get it all pieced.

If you remember I am working on 2 Dear Jane's ---

one with white background and the other with muslin 

In this picture you can't tell the difference between these 2. 

I'm not crazy about these 2 - they look kinda sloppy to me. 

This is the muslin one - I still need to do the white one.

Maybe I can get back to them in a few weeks.

I've already loaded another quilt and need to get on that.

ME Blog Hop Winners

Today is the day to announce the ME Blog Hop winners.

But first I'd like the thank IHAN (I Have A Notion) and SewCalGal for hosting this event.

By the looks of all the blogs that participated it looks like it was enjoyed by all.

As a personal thank you to these 2 ladies I have made each one a Rooster dish towel.

This one will go to IHAN

and this one will go to SewCalGal.

THANK YOU LADIES

and thank you Anita Goodesign  for such lovely designs.

 Now for the winners

Chosen by Random Number Generator

#34 wins one of Anita Goodesign Special Edition Collections

cntryways said...

Just loved what you did with the chicken designs. Gives me so great ideas for my sister who has chickens in her kitchen.

March 20, 2013 at 3:54 PM

#56 wins the rooster dish towel (last picture shown above)

Grandma Margie's Family said...

Loved your demo. The tip about changing the needle was very helpful, Thanks

March 21, 2013 at 9:39 AM

I will be sending an email to the lucky winners

Thank you for visiting my blog

IHAN Machine Embroidery Blog Hop - DAY 3

Monday , March 18th

Kelly - I Have A Notion
SewCalGal

Tues, March 19th

Cindy - Sew Cindy
Trish - AllThingsCrafty

Wed., March 20th

Marjorie's Quilting Bee
Margaret - The Average Quilter

Thurs., March 21st

Rebecca Grace - Cheeky Cognoscenti

Fri., March 22nd

Gene Black - Alabama Artist
SewCalGal

I HAVE A NOTION is  hosting a Machine Embroidery Blog Hop and today is my day to show what I've done.

Our sponsor is Anita Goodesign.

I just love everything Anita Goodesign designs and it was really difficult to pick just one design

I finally narrowed it down and picked the Rooster design.

I couldn't believe how realistic the designs were.

So the minute I received them I had to try one out.

I thought about doing some dish towels, maybe cutrains or even a quilt for my part of the hop.

But when I saw the project that Anita had included with the design I knew that was what I wanted to do. What better way to display the awesome Roosters. 

I downloaded the pdf file and it gave step by step instructions.

I probably could have just copied the pictures but I took my own.

I will try and make this brief so you don't have to spend all day reading.

1st I hooped my No Show Mesh and muslin and the design stitched out the placement.

I placed my warm and natural (cut to size) on the placement and then placed the fabric.

The design then stitched over the placement line and I was ready to go.

This is the beginning of one of the designs.

I used a topper on the Roosters and Fleur des Leis

I then trimmed up all the pieces and layed them out

Even laying them out in the right order I still managed to sew two together the wrong way.
I sewed this into the 4 quarters (basically 4 nine patches)

Then I used some Hoop Magic and placed the nine patch using the brown and white pieces as center. 

Then I did all 4 Roosters 

I sewed two quarters together. 

Then the 2 halves. 

The pdf said to quilt it by the squares and using more batting was optional.

Well I opted for more batting (probably would have looked better without) and I also outlined around the Rooster with nylon thread. 

I also used piping for the 1st time (probably not a good time to try something new)

All the step by step instructions come with the design.

I have really enjoyed being a part of the IHAN Machine Embroidery Blog Hop and having a chance to do one of Anita Goodesign's designs.

Some good tips:

1. Always use a topper.

2. Use Hoop Magic (or similar) when you don't want to hoop or can't hoop.

3. Change your needle when the threads start to loop above the design.

For a chance to win one Anita Goodesign Special Edition Collections  leave a comment on this post by March 24 and a winner will be selected by random drawing and announced on March 25.
For a second winner as a Thanks for putting up with this long blog entry and for your patience I will give away the dish towel (shown at the begining) on Sunday, March 24 

IHAN Machine Embroidery Blog Hop

I just wanted to remind everyone of the IHAN Machine Embroidery Blog Hop that starts today.

And to wish Kelly a Happy Birthday.

Mon., March 18th 

Kelly - I Have A Notion
SewCalGal

Tues, March 19th

Cindy - Sew Cindy
Trish - AllThingsCrafty

Wed., March 20th

Marjorie's Quilting Bee
Margaret - The Average Quilter

Thurs., March 21st

Rebecca Grace - Cheeky Cognoscenti

Fri., March 22nd

Gene Black - Alabama Artist
SewCalGal

Here is a sneak peak of mine on Wednesday.

(not much to go on is it)

Beat The Winter Blues Giveaway Winner

First off I would like to thank everyone who visited my blog.

I am adding the 1st 37 comments in twice and I had a couple of people email me their comment. To be fair I will add those in as well.

Sorry the random number generator didn't work after all but it did pick #80

Fiesta said...

Thank you for the chance to win this lovely prize. I live in central Florida where it is a bit chilly today.

Thanks again and don't forget the Embroidery Blog Hop starting Monday March 18th.

I will be on Wednesday March 20th



New Toy

I go with my husband to Harbor Freight - it's almost as good as a fabric store.

We went the other day and I found these magnetic tool trays.

The minute I saw them I knew what I could use them for.

It fits perfectly on top of my old Singer and I don't have to worry about the vibration making it fall.

And the best thing is it only cost $2

I use one beside my newer machine to keep my seam rippers - now they aren't on the floor.

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY