Hello from the Heartland!

My life revolves around two big issues right now.  I am including a photo of the quilt that has been accepted at the 2018 fall Paducah Show.  It is a machine applique quilt that was developed originally as a block of the month hand applique quilt.  A digitizer saw the original quilt at the Dallas Quilt Show and asked the designer if she could use her pattern.  So several months and a couple of years later, I stitched this purple quilt during a class I taught on this design.  If you are a machine embroidery person, you will understand when I say that some of the blocks had six hoopings. I am very pleased with the outcome.

My second issue deals with filling Christmas boxes that are collected the second week in November at a local church.  The shoe boxes are then send to children all over the world as part of the Samaritan's Purse organization. So I have been making softies that can go into the boxes. My stitching friends have been included in this adventure and are helping me with this effort.  There are many designs for softies that can be made quickly with an embroidery machine. God is great!
 

 

Pencil Cases

I decided the the Operation Christmas Child boxes needed pencil cases.  I digitized this 5 3/4 x 9" shape with a zipper so that I could stitch the entire project in the hoop.  The cases are made from light weight vinyl and a polyester zipper.  I anyone wants this design, they may message me and it it yours along with directions.  You may include whatever lettering you wish. Happy stitching!

One of my Jobs

Photo by Toni Reece

 Appanoose Baptist Church

This church has been in continuous 

service since it was built in 1878 and

it is still going strong.

 Our church sits on one of the

 highest points in Franklin County. 

  “A beacon to the community.”

One of my church tasks is to publish a directory and this is the photo we used on it.  I really love this photo! 

Today, June 10, was the 140th birthday of Appanoose Baptist Church!! 

First Attempt--Softball

This is Kelsey's softball.  It is my first attempt at embroidering on a softball.  The ball must be deconstructed, embroidered, and then relaced.  I scanned the two pieces of ball so I would have a template to try out various fonts and arrangements.  You are just seeing one side so that Kelsey may remain anonymous.  The machine did not mind stitching on the ball.  I used double threads of red and blue #8 pearl cotton for the lacing. I do wish I had used the next size bigger.  Push pins were used to keep the two pieces in place.  There are great videos on youtube that will help you with all aspects of this project.  You may also want to check out facebook groups that have members who are very good at this art.

Honor the Elders Reading Pillow

This is a reading pillow that I recently made for a friend. The original elder/feather design is Native American artwork by Guuillermo Aranda.  You can find this design on Etsy at YermosArt.  The wording is by Dee Lamb but I cannot find it on the Reading Pillow Fanatics site that I used.  The pillow fabric is Native Plains by Jennifer Sampon for Robert Kaufman.  I think it had been in my stash for many years but was perfect for this project.  The book pocket fabric is Cowboy Mantras by Deborah Edwards for Northcott. My friend loved his pillow and I have received many nice compliments.

Starburst

My grandson just moved into a new house.  When I toured his bedroom, I discovered why I had been hoarding black and white fabric for a year or two.  I spotted this quilt on Pinterest  and decided I would make this without a pattern.  I used Kona cotton black and Kona cotton white.  The grays are from a batik layercake.  It was quick to sew together.  My friend quilted it with feathers.  Now to make some pillows and pillowcases.  Happy House Warming!!

Ice Dyeing

 I found a white denim vest on sale last year and bought two of them. First I washed the vest and then soaked it in a washing soda bath for two days.  After letting it dry until damp, my neighbor put rubber bands in a dozen places.  Jill used grape, hot pink, and glacier blue dry dyes on the vest. Twenty pounds of ice and 48 hours later the vest was ready for rinsing and washing.  I love it.
When Jill came to pick up her vest.  Her daughter applied dye to a white cotton shirt.  She used grape, watermelon, hot pink, peach, and pinches of green. Twenty more pounds of ice and 48 hours later, it was ready for its reveal.  I know she will love her shirt.  It is amazing!

When I started to clean up, I had 40 pounds of water in the plastic tub.  I decided to throw in a white cotton blouse to see what color it would be.  It is a delightful purple.

We used the directions from a book entitled Having a Meltdown by Sondra Millard.  The directions are clear and easy to follow.  Great book if you want to start dyeing fabrics.

More Reading Pillows

 

These are my two latest reading pillows.  The top one has purple fleece for the front and back of the pillow.  The bottom one has a cotton front and back.  I do use an soft iron-on stabilizer for both of the pieces.  The book pocket is cotton that I have backed with fusible fleece.  The sketchy girls are from Jazzy Zebra on etsy.  My computer has just been reformatted so I can not tell you where the thousand lives is from.  I had seen the booktime saying several months ago and digitized that myself. I love making the pillows and have more ideas and more fabric. 

Yeti Cover

My husband and son are farmers.  Last year each received a 36 ounce Yeti as a gift.  My son wanted his covered so that it wouldn't get scratched from bouncing around in the tractor.  I made the Yeti covers from rip stop nylon and headliner foam-like fabric.  I quilted the two fabrics together, serged the side seam, and inset the bottom with the serger.  A little casing at the top and some 1/4 inch elastic and the cover is finished. They both like their Yeti cover. 

Giant Yoyos?

One of my sewing friends saw this photo and asked what we were doing with giant yoyos.  Actually the Wednesday Sewing Group made surgical caps for children going into surgery at an area hospital.  One of the member's daughters suggested this project.  We started at 10:30 and by early afternoon we had made 110 caps.  Most are for kids but some are doll-size.  The doll-size are 12 1/2 inch circles and the kids-size are 18-20 inch circles.  There were lots of fun fabrics.  This is a project we may have to do again as everyone had a great time!

A Day at the Zoo is an embroidery pattern by Smith Street Designs.  I saw A Day at the Zoo in their booth at Houston and really liked it.  There is also a collection of textured fabrics that can be used with the pattern.  Of course, I had to have that also. The pattern includes snakes and I just did not want to include them in this quilt.  It is a fun pattern to make and will look smashing when quilted.

A Day at the Zoo

These are the first five designs from A Day at the Zoo by Smith Street Designs.  Smith Street's Wildflowers quilt was the first embroidery quilt I completed.  I saw it in Arizona and immediately purchased the pattern.  I have since completed several of their quilts.  I saw A Day at the Zoo in their booth at Houston and really liked it.  There is also a collection of textured fabrics that can be used with the pattern.  Of course, I had to have that also. The pattern includes snakes and I don't think they will be part of my quilt.  We'll see what happens.

Softies

The Wednesday Embroidery Group decided to stitch softies at our meeting in February.  So I thought I better check to see if this is easy and if I would like making them.  The designs are from Momma MC Designs and they come in different sizes and formats.  These are made entirely from fleece. The teddy bears are made in one hooping and the giraffe in two hoopings. The teddy bear eyes, ears, and nose area are embroidery stitches as are the details on the giraffe. The smaller softies are about 6 1/2 inches and the larger one is about 8 1/2 inches.  The small ones can be made in a 5X7 hoop. Well, they are easy to make and highly addictive as you can see. There are many, many designs available from Etsy.