Last projects of 2015

Okay so it's now 2016 and time to think about what I'll try to accomplish in this coming year.  My goals are.... to not purchase any new fabric this year but instead to use what I have.  Now mind you this was my last years goal but I had family come stay with me and that family wanted to learn how to quilt...so.... that includes learning to shop for fabric  YIKE I have NO will power whatsoever! Can you believe that!
Anyway, there will be NO interruptions this year to my goal.  I have absolutely NO more room for even a fat quarter.  I have to use up what I have so I can purchase more...or...  we could move and pick a house with a larger craft room??? that is an idea.  :)

My next goal is to finish as many UFO's as possible so I can get new UFO's.  I'm tired of looking at the ones I have and there are so many new quilt patterns out there that I want to make.  I've made a list "to do UFO" list and give each UFO a completion date.  I hope this helps.  But before I can even begin on those I have to complete 2 block swaps and 5 quilts I'm entering in the 2016 quilt show our guild is having Feb/Mar this year.  These quilts all need the sleeve sewn on them as well as labels.  Mr. Potato Head needs borders and quilted.  I've got these all planned to be completed in January so let's hope I can get them done.

These are my last fun projects of 2015.  I'm trying to learn many digitizing techniques and one is learning to create "In The Hoop" projects.  This is my first try at digitizing a little eye glass case entirely in the hoop and completely designed by me :)

Then my final project for 2015 was to incorporate machine embroidery with handwork to create my favorite quote into something super cute.  Audrey Hepburn's I believe quote....  I got the inspiration from the first line and thought to myself...what do you think of when you hear the word pink...  I think of little girls and dresses and of course shopping.  So this little girl is peeking out from behind the dressing room curtain.  She's going to dance around in prettiest dress in the shop.  :)    The curtain was a bit hard but the rest was super easy.  

Happy New Year to you and yours.

2016 here I come!

More Tiny Dress

To me smocking is such a timeless technique and it perfect for creating heirloom pieces.  So I finally did it, I purchased a pleater and well these little dresses are the perfect little projects to practice smocking!
I LOVE tiny little dresses and even though this one is 4 times as large as my earlier tiny dresses I do believe this one is my favorite!  I love the cottage chic feel of this precious little dress.  Wouldn't it make the most precious decoration for a little girl.
Well, you all (all 3 of you) must be really tired of seeing my crazy posts about new techniques I'm learning....  :)  but I do love posting pictures of my projects; mostly because I often go back and look at past projects for inspiration for new projects.  This one will be super hard to let go of so if I sell it...it will not be cheap :)
Here is my first smocking project

 

How to marry your needle, the most important thing you can learn :)

Sounds silly doesn't it?  Well this little tip has saved me from going bald tearing my hair out because of tangles in my handwork thread.  I even use this technique on the thinnest of threads and the tiniest of needles!  This has got to be on the top of my list of "best things I've ever learned" for handwork.  I use it for embroidery, binding and yes of course on applique which I have found causes most of my stress in handwork.  Those thin little threads tangle and knot up so fast right before your eyes like magic!
Well this will eliminate 98% of those obnoxious little knots!

Step 1:  Thread your needle leaving about a 2 inch tail as you see in the image below.

Step 2:  As close as you can get to the needle on the 2 inch tail (or longer if you need) pierce the tail with the needle but do not pull it through the thread.

Step 3:  Then do this again a little further up on the tail.

Step 4: Then do this one more time (yes one more time) a little further down on the tail. :)

Step 5:  Now slide the first pierce you made down to the eye of the needle and pull on the working thread (the other end not the 2 inch tail) slightly to straighten it.

Step 6: And Finally pull the other two piercings down past the needle using your index finger and thumb and then straighten and smooth it with your fingers till you do not feel any knots. that is all there is to it.  

Oh and now enjoy doing needle turned applique or sewing your binding on or what ever hand work you have handy without the constant untangling of those nasty little knots!  

If this was useful to you.  Please share it with a friend so they too can keep their hair in tact :)

In the hoop doggy belly bands!

Yes I finally did it.  I've taken the time to design a doggy belly band that can be made in the hoop.
You do have to have an embroidery field of 5.71 x 10.04 to make these in the hoop.
So here it is, an in the hoop doggy belly band.  You can get the pattern HERE.

More Mr. Potato Head Applique Patterns

Mr. Potato Head was my all-time favorite toy as a child so I couldn't resist creating a series of applique blocks just to celebrate him.

One more border and this top is done :)

All of them together

Block#1

Block # 4 

Block #13 

Block #10

Block #11

Block #12

Block #14

Block #8

Block # 15


Block  #16, (24" center block pattern).

Block #6

Block #7

Block #3