One more experiment

I had a pattern I have wanted to do or years and did not have a large enough embroidery  machine to do this pattern but here I am all is well. I have done a stitch out as a test on a shirt a little too big for me. The pattern was very dense and I thought it would be better on a bag of some weight or a denim jacket. I just had to try it, not too bad and not a wrinkle in site the stitchout was over 78000 stitches!

You gotta have Heart!

OR maybe more than one.. I make a load of heart zipper pulls for Teds kindergarten class.
First I had a load of heavy felt and looked for a heart pattern, I duplicated it 37 times and adjusted the size in my embroidery software, I sat and stitched them out. It was quite a process I would do a registration line then stop the machine add the ribbon with the split ring stitch and once done that one heart I would then flip the hoop over and anchor the ribbon so that the other stitching would not catch it and destroy my work, Once done I had a sheet of hearts and hand cut them all and did a pull on each one to make sure that the ribbon did not have any loose stitching

 And here they are ready to be packaged up, I hope the 4 yr olds like them

 I had two rejects when the stitching did not catch on the opposite end and what was I going to do?? I made myself a pin cushion with a heart and a pair of scissors has my heart tied onto the handle so no one will mistake that they are mine

I then thought to myself

I don't really have enough craft knowledge and I would see out a fiber guild of sorts, SO I decided to join of all things a lace guild. I know that it is an intensive craft and that there is a huge learning curve.

SO I contact a lovely lady and am invited  to attend the guild in 2 weeks. I went to work studying suggested reading that she sent me. I found a website that showed some DIY techniques in building supplies.

So far I have constucted my " pillow" a base that is used to mount the lace pattern on and allow you to pin each junction and keep the lace in shape. I then needed bobbins and read that pencils with rubber tips would fit the bill. Now remember I am not sure if I will be successful with this adventure of mine so the less funds that i spend the less of a loss. Yes you know I just may bomb and not be a good student.

I now am practicing some basic stitches so that I have a fell of how to work with a pattern and how to manipulate my bobbins.

You will have to stay tuned on this newest adventure I think it may be a long process! LOL

My 1890 treadle is getting a work out!

I must soon try my hand crank but for now I am gearing up on my treadle, the tension is flawless and it does not dissappoint! I had a load of cheap broadcloth and some other cottons some were donated to me and others were odd bits in my collection. I was not sure how this pattern was going to turn out with my collection of fabric but I did not want to leave it sit there all alone looking at me and saying " You are neglecting me!"

I down loaded the pattern and then soon realized that I only had some scraps of red and not enough of some to be placed where I initially thought, so the fabric was cut according to the amount of fabric I had on hand. NO I was NOT going to buy more I would indeed use these up!

I rather liked how this was turning out the pinky tone was a fine stripped red and white. BUT the next selection was going to make or break the quilt and I am not sure if I was successful in creating a pleasing specimen to the eye.

As you see the quilt will make a nice lap throw or a wall hanging, I am not sure what  colour I will back it with but I do know I will add a red thin bias trim all around. You can see my treadle in the back ground!

One week of torrential rain and what does one do???

First you decided to try out some new adventures. I had my embroidery machine set up so I decided to embellish some placemats with a design I had not yet tried, just incase I bombed I only did half of my supply. I liked it so much I choose to put it on a T towel but only 1/2 of the design as this particular sample design was duplicated. My experiment worked with the appropriate stablizers and it was a cheap experiment The designer of these patterns never cease to amaze me in their quality of digitalizing!

I continue to delve into all sort of embroidery elements as my machine is capable of doing a much larger area then I had with my old machine, it is funny how easily entertained I am and cheap too!

So what is one to do if you don't have Xmas decor

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Invent your own back drop- ok so you go to the local Mall and when no one is looking this is what happens..

The Bay Center in downtown Victoria has a lot of Xmas! Trees galore- hundreds of them over the three floors. Each decorated with a different them and each a contender for the grand prize by popular vote.

While in Tilicum Mall it appeared what Santa was on a break from his lap duties and probably busy in his North Pole workshop. No one was looking I could have hopped onto this throne but I did not want to get arrested. This end of the mall was particularly quiet.

 This shot was taken at Mayfair mall as we were awaiting for an oil change and decided to walk the mile to the mall- in the pouring rain. They had several similar props. I had to wait until a little fellow was playing peek a boo to get my shot. It would have probably be more entertaining if we had taken a picture of the little guy and myself,

Back at the Bay Center the place was busy with shoppers. This back drop is actually quite large so not much competition when taking a shot. There were a lot of little people behind these trees where they were lined to see Santa.

I finally got it together

Found just enough fabric in my suitcase to play around and here is what I did. Fits perfectly which is surprising as I never measured!

One has to eat!!

Ben made a breakfast bar for us and it is getting a lot of use.
Not only for meals but computering as well.
We purchased the hardware from Ikea and brought it with us
Then once here we purchased a piece of pine, I primed and sanded and final coated it in white and Ben installed it. It is perfect for us and getting a lot of use

Now to test out the sewing part of the machine

Of course I have so many machines here and looking at downsizing by one so I wanted to try the sewing side of my embroidery machine. Why not make life interesting throwing in curved seams on a machine you have never sewn on before or even figured out all the fancy feet. We did ok. I  had some blue fabrics and cut them and stuck them into my suitcase look what I came up with , a blue applecore quilt top.

This will come home with me in the spring so that I can finish it up on my frame

Last spring in Victoria I purchased a new to me machine

A combination sewing embroidery machine.
I have put it through it's paces. I experimented with different threads and textures and stabilizer. I also found the machine to be very persnickety so I purchased a separate thread stand, Yep that worked! Black thread is a nightmare as it is so overprocessed it often breaks but we did our best.

The embroidery machine worked well