Embellished Garment

This is one of my recent projects. It is a sample for the Bernina Software Sampler Class that I host at Mea Bernina. One of the new--to me--techniques is using paintstiks on fabrics. On this garment, I stitched on raw-edge batik flowers and then embroidered a design. Then I used stencils and paintstiks for the rest of the design. Thanks to my stitching friend, Diane for the use of her paintstiks. You may have to enlarge the photo to see the details. This is a shirt I would wear. Then next one is a little more jazzed-up. We'll see how that turns out...

The Tree

The Christmas Tree kit that I found at Keepsake Quilting is finished. I love using piping around a quilt, especially since it is so easy to make with the serger piping foot. After looking at the photo with the kit, I decided they gave me too many medium tones and not enough light tones. Theirs glowed and mine just has too much noise in the immediate background of the tree. Since this is headed for the children at the cancer center, I put lots of decoration on the tree. You can see that better if you make the photo bigger. I would have put on more "stuff" but time became a factor. I know the kids will enjoy this little quilt.

Chelsea Garden Side Border

Anna Aldmon is at it again. She is the digitizer for the Nouveau Fleur quilt that I stitched in greens. Chelsea Garden is a Pat Campbell applique design that will be available for machine embroidery in October. Anna asked me to test the border designs. This is the left side border. The border also runs across the top and has the same design on the opposite corner. The quilt has 25 designs that are eight-inch circles. You can see some of those designs on Anna's website. Anna's directions are the best I have seen. This border has six-hoopings that are well-planned and easy to stitch. I am anxious for this pattern to be completed.

Software Sampler August Project

The Bernina Software Sampler lesson for August is based on a recycled denim slouch bag. The bag is a collage of different techniques. I used fabric etching to make holes in the denim. Bleach was used to distress the fabric. Then I added stenciled designs with fabric paint, embroidery designs, and grommets. It is not a bag that I would use but it is interesting.

September Addition:

Today I was at Mea Bernina where my denim slouchy bag was displayed. Several ladies where there before heading to a retreat and one wanted to know if I would sell the bag. So she wrote me a check on the spot. She wanted to use it to teach a class for her friends.

Umbrella Project

This is one of my latest projects. I was looking at blogs on other sites and came across this one about recovering an umbrella. Well, I just happened to have an old umbrella that I wasn't going to use again and this is the result of my efforts. Amazingly covering an umbrella is a two to three hour project. It is fun and my friends are in awe...

Christmas in July

This is my latest project. It is a kit I found at Keepsake Quilting. This little quilt should look great on the wall of a children's room at the Cancer Center. The background is made with blended squares on a fusible grid and then stitched. The gold trim is glittery gold piping. The rest of the tree is raw edge applique. I still have to quilt the top and add the finishing touches--bows, crystals, etc. Angels will grace the tree. It is going to be a fun wall quilt because it has very interesting items found in the dark squares.

New Project

I am working on a small Christmas wall hanging. It is a kit that I purchased from Keepsake Quilting. The background of the quilt uses a blended technique with a decorated Christmas tree in the middle. I have the background finished and am working on the Christmas tree. You'll see a photo in a day or two.

Last evening we planted two Knockout roses that my DIL found on a 70% off sale. They were in a gallon tub, so they are very large with plenty of blooms. They are looking great after a brief shower this morning.

We are heading for Colorado later in the month, so yesterday I smoked four chickens and have them frozen. Today I smoked a pork and a beef roast. It came out of the smoker a while ago and we had a delicious sandwich.

I am headed back to my "studio" to work some stitching magic!