Potholder for Lotta

Lotta is a wonderful blogger who is a member of one of my yahoo groups.  Her blog, Squirrels Do Sew, is a good one to keep an eye on because she posts something almost daily.

This is a potholder tutorial she posted a while back and Lotta was very helpful to me when I got stuck and had a few questions about the project.  I promised her I would send her a photo of the finished project but since it was almost exactly like hers I hesitated.  It's hard to improve upon perfection don't you think?

The Pepper and Salt designs both came from Embroidery Library.

Thanks Lotta!

Colorful Project Inspired by Mom

I usually get to visit my family in Ocala, FL about once a year.  Each year before I go, my mom and I pick out a fun project to work on while I'm there.  Last year she picked out this table-runner tutorial that she found in one of the embroidery magazines and I promise when I find it in one of my notebooks I'll come back and say which one if anyone is interested. 

Anyway, we each made one and embroidered the blocks and then pieced it  later on after I left.  The "M" is from Embroidery Library and the other two designs are from Dalco and had the applique pieces laser cut already.  I added crystals as per the magazines suggestions.  I had to buy a hot fix tool but it was kinda fun to see the glitz.

It's was really fun to work on.

 

Summery Windsock

One of my yahoo groups went into a frenzy last year when someone  made a windsock and posted it on the group page.  Of coarse, not to be left out, I also went crazy and searched the web for tutorials on windsock making and I was flummoxed at how little info was to be had for the manufacture of these super summery garden must-haves.

I did prevail and madeit and used some new-that-week Embroidery Library mylar designs and I think it turned out pretty good.  You can see in the picture above that darling Bucky seems to approve. Not my arm by the way.

One thing the tutorial did say was to use a sturdy thread in your serger when serging the sides of each strip as serger thread won't hold up well in the weather.  Did I listen? No.  I was too lazy to change out all those threads and, did the windsock hold up well.  Again. No.  Also, here is the best advice I can give you, don't hang it on a limb that is close to the trunk of the tree or another tree limb.  It's tricky.  My windsock perpetually hugs the trunk and it's no fun to untangle.

I really love it though and I might just start looking for designs for another one.

Early Machine Embroidery Projects

When I first put up this post about 10 minutes ago I typed up a wonderfully detailed blurb about each set of pictures.  When I went to save and post I got some kind of wacked out error message and viola! no words.  So all I will say is these were some of my first machine embroidery projects.  All designs were purchased at Embroidery Library except the tiki head and ahoy that came from Urban Threads.  Oh, I should mention that I don't document myself very well and some of these were taken with my cell phone and hence a really cruddy photo. Also, after reading back through earlier posts I see that a couple of these were posted a while back.  So, you're getting double goodness.

 

Above is a reusable sandwich bag with a lining made out of ripstop nylon.  The tutorial and design can be found on Embroidery Library's site

www.emblibrary.com

Patchwork Kitty - first sewn project in years

I'm not really sure what has gotten into me lately. For a few years I haven't wanted to do anything "crafty" whatsoever but now, all of a sudden, I'm sewing and making soap. Here is a little cat fella I am making with a pattern from Barbara Brandenburg. It could be a cat girl if I make a skirt for it but right now I'm just glad it is mostly made. I think I'll be doing more stuffed critters. I recently went to a new-to-me store in Austin called Craft-O-Rama that had the kitty pattern and a book called Cute Dolls with the cutest stuffed animal projects. It's amazing how many cool, funky new ideas are floating around now. I've seen some fabulous blogs too that have really been inspirational.