As of late...

... trying to catch up on a few things I've been up to.  It's hard to capture all my moments but I will share a few that I have.

Below is an embroidery I created with the sketch option in my Premier+ Ultra software.  I found a picture of a grouse that I really liked and sketched over it.  It is challenging to use on a computer unless you have Bamboo.  I use to have one, but when it quite I didn't buy another and am looking to trying my software on the iPad Pro which is built for professionals and supports CAD programs, so I am told.  The iPad Pro has a stylus that I LOVE.  There where a lot of stops and starts with this design, however I had to trouble with it.  It is NOT for sell in the Etsy shop.  The design was not free for commercial use.

 In September (I think, lol, time flies!) the girls and I went to Pineapple Fabrics with a friend of theirs.  We had a great time and we even tale gated!  My daughter packed a chicken salad lunch (which was great with corn chips if you have to do gluten free!).

While there we ran into a friend so we all headed

to Starbucks for coffee.  I regret not getting a 

picture with her in front of the huge chest of drawers on the outside of the building that Starbucks was 

located in.

This is a picture my daughter Eva drew with her Copic markers she's been investing in.  They are a little pricey, but the results were well worth it.  For that matter so is the paper for it. 

 I created the vinyl folder for her to keep her copic paper in on one side and the other side for her finished pieces.  This was so quick and easy.  I cut 2 vinyl pieces to the size of the paper and added 1/4" for paper thickness on all sides.  I then cut a piece an inch taller than the other two pieces of vinyl.  Next bias binding was added to the top of the shorter pieces.  All three pieces where then sandwiched together and bias binding sewn around all three layers.  I used plastic clips to hold the layers while sewing on the binding and top stitched with a straight stitch although for a brief (very brief)  moment I thought about using  something decorative.














Create what you love!

Due to Hurricane Florence and a Wedding...

I have not put much into the theory of density to do a post yet.  So for know I am sharing my Bob Ross "Happy Little Accident" moment with you.

 

You can see in the first picture that I mistakenly put yellow thread in (twice!) So I made it a Bob Ross moment and made my mistake into a Happy Accident.  No artist is perfect, it's just having the knowledge of how to fix mistakes that makes one great.

Find a way to make your "mistake" a Bob Ross moment.

Happy Trees!,
Elaine

Theory

The key to good digitizing.  Just as in piano, a player can only improve when they understand the theory behind the music and a composer can only be as good as his knowledge in the area of theory.  You can compose a song without knowing what the circle of 5ths are.  However, you can create an even better piece when you know and understand how you get the circle of 5ths.

So lets delve into some embroidery theory over the next few months.  I still consider myself a novice, but I love to study things out and hope that I might be able to shed some light onto a few aspects of digitizing theory.  I have some background in hand embroidery that helps with this as well.

Here are the first couple of lessons we will focus on:

1. Density - What is it, Why does it matter and How specialty threads are effected by it.
2. Underlay - What is it, Why does it matter and How does it effect my design.

I will put out lesson one this month and lesson two in October.

I hope you'll join me as we theorize on how to digitize!



There are no mistakes, we'll just turn that into a happy little tree.
~ Bob Ross
(I love Bob!)

Modernizing Cross Stitch

I have never been all that interested in cross stitch and never took the time to learn the technique (although very simple).  I came across some amazing wall art on Pinterest that was a cross stitch design and fell in love.

So I got with my sister Lee (who is amazing with this stuff, she can look at a picture and map it in her head on the linen!) to help me figure out the technique.  I know this is simple, but I didn't finish a quilt for three years because I wanted to do mitered corners, but couldn't figure it out (this was before you used the internet to solve all your problems, lol).

So here is the finished product and where you can get the pattern...

Dream a little BIGGER:

Crossing Art Barriers,

Dora

My Challenge Projects:

No takers of the challenge at this point.  Don't be afraid to take up the challenge later in the quarter.  I signed up for Aby's about halfway through and made myself complete these looming projects inspite of a family visit and unexpected cold plaque that hit our house.  I emphasized "made", because at the end I still wasn't feeling the best and almost said forget it.

• Digitizing Software:  A recipe design for kitchen towels.  I had such a hard time with this two - two and a half (who's counting!) years ago and need to finally go back in armed with the knowledge I have gained and do it!

• Embroidery :  Doing a cutwork design off the edge of a table runner.  I'm sure it's not as scary as it seems.  My husband once told me no one (or thing) could intimidate me unless I let them (it). 

• Blog:  To create a paper piecing tips page.  

Just Do It!

Challenges

I mentioned in a previous post about Aby's Challenge to quilters to finish there UFO's.  She is doing another UFO challenge this quarter and I thought I would do one on my blog.  This challenge will be for sewing related; Software, Embroidery or Blog.

Examples would be finishing that design you've been working on *blush*, stitching out that embroidery design that you've been afraid to do (*blush again*), or put up that post on tips that you've been thinking of doing (triple *blush*).

I hope you'll join in the challenge with me!  It's nice to know your not alone :).  Just email a picture or list to  nolimitsfiberarts @ gmail.com. Aby's challenge really helped me have a goal to finish my projects.   

I think I will run along the same lines as Aby to not confuse our mutual friends.  So this coming challenge will run from April 2nd to June 30th.

A word for Resurrection Sunday for those who believe; Psalm 100:4 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Elaine

Simple but cute and DONE!

I am one of those people that have lofty ideas on doing things for people and only getting a tenth done.  Aside from procrastination and having the dough to accomplish my goals, I am a perfectionist.  I have accepedt this over the last year or two and will put up with certain things just to get it out there.  Still with me?  (I actually had someone think I was calling them stupid because of this phrase, however I just mean I don't always complete my thought and don't know if I've lost someone because of it :).  

Although my husband has always encouraged me sometimes his ideas are loftier than mine.  He thought I could get 12 pin cushion trash cans done in 2 days, with not even having fabric on hand!  But it's great to know he thinks I'm Super Woman :).  

So on to the simply but cute and done...

I made little needle keepers for my Wednesday sew group.

I used cork for the outside (first time working with it and love it!)

The inside is wool felt from the Felt Pod.  Awesome felts!

I used silver metallic thread for the stitching.

 Moving the wool out of the way, you can clearly see where the metallic thread looks messy. I embroidered six cases at once and the lettering is one of the smallest in my program.  Metallic may not have been the best choice for small letters; however, the front looks great.  Metallic is so finicky to work with especially in small spaces.  I did take this into account when I designed the Deer Antler embroidery design.  Maybe use cork on the inside and box it with thread?  Maybe with a glue?  Well, whatever I do it will be more perfect! ;) 

Last but not least I put some cork back to back and sewed it with metallic thread and a 3.5 or 4.0 stitch length (I use both lengths often) to create key chains.  Easier to store unfinished until you have an event or just need to give a little gift.

So I hope you don't hold the imperfections of a perfectionist against me.

The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo

Last week the girls and I went to the Expo in Raleigh. 

What a weekend.  I started out sleep deprived.  I had to drop my daughter Taylor off at the quilt shop in Sanford at 7:00, get the girls friend Brandi by 8:30, and then headed to Raleigh to arrive at 9:45.  I worked 10-2 for the ASG booth.  

I had the pleasure of spending those four hours with Debra and Debbie!  We had a great time and had alot of people show interest.  One even signed up for the "Taste of ASG".

We were in Raleigh until my class at 6:00 with John Deer from Digitizing Made Easy.  I learned a lot between the videos he had us watch before class and the actual class.  On the website he has lessons for different embroidery software and although he doesn't have it for Primer +Ultra, I bought the package he offered in class because I could get access to his theory.

The girls burned up time between booths and exploring the convention center.

I wanted to get a ton of picture however, time and restrictions did not allow this.  Some quilts had signs saying not to take pictures.  Below are a few of the interesting ones I saw.

I did get a picture of some yarn couching using the longarm.  Taylor has been wanting to try this on a quilt.  We are planning to go to the Birds of a Feather event by The Longarm Network in February.  Taylor's really excited about it.

We had a long day on Thursday arriving home at 11:45 and as Gomer said in the Andy Griffith Show when riding in Barney's new car, "Sick as a dog, but having the time of my life!"  Some of us went Friday and Saturday as well.  It was a ton of fun and I look forward to next year!

Software Horror and Balsa Wood

So, yesterday I come home to find this...

I had left my laptop on the arm of the couch when I went out for the day.  My daughter accidentally knocked it off and *sniffle, sniffle* .  This is my EQ7 (which I didn't know you didn't have to have it in while using) and my Premier + Ultra USB.  So I text Tay at work to find out about getting it replaced.  It wasn't cheap, but they did send it next day!      

On to the Balsa wood.  So I really like all the embroidery info at Embroidery Library.

They have a tutorial for embroidering on Balsa Wood.  

The butterflies didn't do as well.  The thread didn't secure well in some areas.

The heart and the cupcake turned out beautifully.

I'm not sure what I will do with these at the moment, but I love having tried it and knowing that I can mix these different mediums. 

Below is how I removed the sticky from the Balsa.  The wood is very fragile so instead of pulling the wood off the stabilizer, I pulled the stabilizer off the wood.  I would hold the embroidery design at a corner or angle where the stabilizer didn't tear easily to keep it from pulling up the design.

The biggest thing to remember with sticky stabilizer is not to leave it on for longer than is necessary.

Twin Needle Embroidery

Upon special request I did a twin needle embroidery design.  

I loved the way it turned out!  Being a little nervous about using the twin needles I set my machine on the lowest speed setting.  I had to us the sensormatic foot with the twin needles since I only have the 6D spring foot and not the open toe.

This design is available in the Primer Software Twin Needle Effects (1) Scroll 1.  The overlap is determined by the size of the twin needle. The one I embroidered with a 2.5 twin needle.  The one in the screen shot below is with 6.0.