Beading, Machine Embroidery, and Journaling classes

My ankle is mending well....in fact I'm up on both feet without the cast.....but moving slowly with lots of swelling. I'm taking it easy, though, so decided that this was a great time to sign up for an on-line class to stretch myself. Trouble was, that I found several that I would like to take that were being offered at the same time.....go figure! Soooooo, I whittled it down to three: Introduction to Textural Beading and Embellishment with Janet Lasher and Studio Journal as a Designers Work Horse with Sharon Boggon. Both of these are offered through http://www.joggles.com/ who offer a vast variety of online classes on a wide range of subjects. These two classes have begun. The other class that I signed up for is through http://www.quiltuniversity.com/ and is Begginning Machine Embroidery with Joanne Winn. This class begins the 18th.

I decided to take the beading class for a couple reasons. One is to improve my beading skills for crazy quilting and the other is that I bought some neat fabric for a jacket that just begs for beading embellishments. So far, we have learned some basic information and stitches and have been encouraged to use some patterned fabric as inspiration to make some sample pieces using these stitches and a variety of shapes and sizes of beads. I'm posting a work-in-progress picture of a sample that I'm working on and the almost finished piece (I need to even off the sides). This is an approximate 2" square. Now Sharon's class is harder to share my progress with you. Her's is more of a process to change my habits as relating to documenting my ideas.....not working through an entire project or journaling what I've already done....just capturing those inspirations that we get. I'm hoping that she will help me cure myself of lossing those fleeting ideas that we all get for future projects. I tend to jot something down on bits of paper....never to be found again, see something that intrigues me or inspires me and then forget where I saw it, or have a inspiring thought and then can't remember it later. Sharon's class is one to inspire us to document these inspirations for future use, where we can go back through them later to find and develop those of merit when we need them. We've only had one lesson so far and I can definately see how the concept will help me.....now it's to learn the process and then to make it a part of my routine.......wish me luck.....I'll keep you posted on how well I'm doing in implimenting her journaling ideas.

Now, the Machine Embroidery class is long, long overdue. I bought a Pfaff 2140 embroidery sewing machine over 5 years ago and have yet to use the embroidery unit. The dealer that I bought it from went out of business before I had a chance to get any training on the use of the embroidery part of the machine. The class offered on Quilt University will deal with all brands and models of machines, how to download patterns, and how to use all aspects of the embroidery machine. I'm really excited about taking it. I'll post some of my results as it goes along.

I've been organizing and pulling out my UFOs and am sorting out which ones to work on first. I'm going to religiously finish one UFO before I can start working on a new project. Hopefully, this will help me get some of these old projects done. I'm finding a few "class projects" that I may never finish and a couple "Why on earth did I ever start THIS?!?" projects. If it's just something that I lost interest in, I may find someone else that would like it and might want to finish it for themselves. If I find "disaster" projects, I'll toss them. Either way, I won't have to worry about them taking up space.

I did start working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt while riding in the car.....yes....I said riding....not driving! It's, also, a nice project for doctor's offices, etc.

Well, time to elevate this ankle....the foot has gotten really swollen. So, until tomorrow......

Another vintage quilt - eye candy

Well, I'm still hobbling around with this broken ankle......which is mending well, but taking way too long for someone who likes to be active. I've been able to put weight on it while in the boot cast, which has made it a little easier getting around without using the crutches for everything. It has given me an sincere appreciation for the mobility that I normally have, though, and a true respect for those that endure this restriction of mobility on a normal day to day basis due to accidents or illness. I haven't started any new projects or even worked on my crazy quilt as it involves finding just the "right" addition or floss, which involves going up and down steps to my sewing room. So, other than work on embroidering my grandchildren's names on pillowcases that I've made them for their birthdays, I haven't been too creative. I'm going to attach a picture of the three last ones that I've done. I try to embroider each one differently. Temper's doesn't show well in the picture, but is fine in person. Working on a print was more difficult....I probably should have just satin stitched it, but she'll love it either way. I thought that you might enjoy seeing something more creative, too, so I'm including more vintage crazy quilt "eye candy" from those that I own. I hope you enjoy them.

And just a last picture of the center of the "Sleepy Head" antique quilt

I missed this picture of the center fan in the quilt, so have added it here. Make sure to check out the two last posts for the rest of the pictures of this wonderful old quilt. I will post pictures of another one tomorrow.

More pictures of my "Sleepy Head" vintage crazy quilt

Here are a few more closeup pictures of the "Sleepy Head" antique quilt that I own.

Broke my ankle.....just checking in with some eye candy for you....

Hi, Everyone....

Just a quick post to let you know that I haven't forgotten you or my blog. I broke my ankle on April 22nd....would you believe by looking on the edge of the rough for a $2.00 golf ball, of all things! This was the first time breaking a bone for me and I must say.....I HATE crutches! I've been able to find ways of getting most things done, between using the crutches and using one my rolling desk chairs in the kitchen....but it really is the pits not being able to carry things from place to place. It certainly makes you appreciate the mobility that you have with two working legs. I have a sincere empathy for those that don't have the use of their legs....I had never really had a true understanding of what they go through.

Now, to some eye candy. I am doing some sewing and embroidery, but it's been pillowcases ...with themes like football or Star Wars for my 14 grandchildren with their names embroidered on them for to give them with their birthday $10 cash. So, I thought you might like to see some of the vintage crazy quilts that I have bought for "from me to me" gifts. I will post pictures of a different one each day for the next few days. This first one is one that I call my "Sleepy Head" quilt. It has "To bed, to bed, you sleep head" embroidered on one side of the center fan. I have posted the picture of the entire quilt and some of the detail closeups. I'll post a few more in another post today, as I can only post 5 pictures with each posting. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do. The embroidery is wonderful!

The finished Circle of Flowers - BDE

Here is the picture of my finished Circle of Flowers done in Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery.

This is all done using Edmar rayon threads which comes in several sized of threads. This thread really give a wonderful sheen to a project, doesn't it? Please post any comments or questions that you might have.

Circle of Flowers - the final flowers

Hi, everyone!

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I blogged. We were gone on vacation Mar.17 - April 1st on a cruise with our son and his wife and when we returned, I was knee deep in work for our business. I finally feel like I've got everything squared away and can spend some time again with all of you. I just finished my Circle of Flowers - Brazillian dimensional embroidery project. I'm going to post pictures of each of the individual flowers and then one of the finished project.....probably in an additional post. I added an extra element to my design....an initial "S" in the center. Once I embellished the "S" which I made with the vine and leaves by adding flowers to it, I'm not sure it's still recognizable as an "S"......what do you think? Either way, I think it still makes a nice addition to the design. Now, I have to decide whether to start another BDE project or work on my Crinoline Lady Crazy quilt block. I'll let you know once I decide.