I am so SUPER EXCITED to share my latest finish with you - my holiday table runner. This is my first big fusible applique project and I am so very proud of it! It might have taken me a few weeks to get it completed, but it turned out just as I imagined. I am so glad I used the black fabric in place of the light blue...it is much more my style and matches my home decor much better. I spent a lot of time practicing the applique snowflakes before working on the actual runner and they were a wonderful challenge with all the curves and turns. I used a new to me paperbacked fusible web by Shades Textiles called Soft Fuse and I must say, it is the best fusible web product I have ever worked with - it is very thin, flexible, and soft - so soft, you can't even tell I used a fusible product - this will be my fusible web of choice for all my applique projects (no affiliation - just a happy customer)! If you missed some of my earlier posts, this Holidays to GO! table runner is a free project from AccuQuilt - and used the Holiday Medley die for the GO! fabric cutter...it has a finished size of 12" x 46", so it is quite large. I was pretty happy with my 96 pieced half square triangles and my "getting better every time" binding skills. All in all, this is one of my finer finishes (I'm glad I took my time) and I can't wait to do another applique project!...maybe a fall project with leaves, acorns, and pumpkins...
I am continually amazed with the needlework community and their contributions to breast cancer awareness. From shop owners, to designers, to manufacturers, to distributors, to stitchers across the globe - so many are involved in fundraising to find a cure - what a blessing it is to be part of such an amazing and giving community.
While I had all my ornament finishing supplies out and I was on a roll making twisted cord, I decided to finish two more ornaments I had stitched a while back...pictured left Joy, Love, Peace by JBW Designs (from Christmas Keepsakes II)...and pictured right Noel Squared by Lizzie Kate. I decided to use the flat-finishing method for both of these ornaments - and they were pretty quick and easy to do - to me, not as labor intensive as pillow finishing. It was nice to complete a couple ornaments that were not for "work", just for "fun"! A few more ornaments for my ever-growing basket full and my "yet to get" tree...yes, I know, I REALLY *NEED* to get a tree this year...the guilt of hundreds of ornaments feeling the need to be displayed is weighing on me heavy...
....and as promised, here is an update on my "Winter Wonderland" by Blackbird Designs....yep, I actually worked on it late at night when I was having difficulty sleeping. I'm not sure why I work downward instead of across....in fact, normally, I would have done all the vine border first, then started working in the center - I guess I just really wanted to get to the reindeer. This is such a fun stitch...and I figure, if I can get in a few stitches each week, I may have it done in the next year. I think this will be my plane project for when I travel to Mystic, CT next week - since it is actually stitched on 30-count (which seems gigantic to me!), it is a good traveling project.
Today was a good day. I got out (broke out) of my studio to meet my dear friend Merry for lunch and some shopping at a couple great local quilt shops....friendship, fabric, and food - a perfect getaway! It was a fabulous day for fabric shopping, as I found some great new cotton prints (see below)...lots of fun new things. I also had an Accuquilt GO! free pattern with me for the Holiday GO! Table Runner, so I could choose fabrics - I wanted a bit more modern look and I wanted to use black instead of light blue (much more "me"), so Merry helped me with the fabric choices...although you can't tell from the photo, the black fabric is "tone on tone" and it is going to work perfectly. This table runner uses the Holiday Medley die - which has a holly leaf and berries, a tree, and a snowflake...I was super excited to try it out!....plus I have been brushing up on my applique skills and I know the snowflakes will definitely challenge me. After a fabulous lunch and TONS of shopping, I came home totally refreshed...and even took the time to cut all my table runner fabric before getting back to work...hopefully I will be able to make time to start piecing/appliqueing them tomorrow. Like I said, today was a good day!
Last week was a whirlwind...I spent almost every waking hour bagging charts, printing invoices, and packaging the new releases for shipment...and the good news is, they are on their way to shops and distributors and should be at your favorite LNS or ONS very soon!
Have you visited the Sew Beautiful Blog?? It is such an interesting place to visit - unique articles and great tutorials! About a month ago, they had "Whimsy Week", featuring Kari Mecca's newest book "More Sewing With Whimsy" - each day they featured inspiration for the book, tutorials, tips, excerpts, and a giveaway. If you are not familiar with Kari Mecca, she is an extremely talented designer who specializes in fun, cheerful (dare I say whimsical) clothing for children...but what amazes me the most about her work is her use of trims, rick racks, ribbons, and embellishments...and her fabulous use of color. I happened to win one of the blog giveaways - the "Sewing With Whimsy" DVD (WOO HOO!!) - although I am not really a seasoned garment sewer, I LOVED this DVD - it is filled with clever trims and sewing techniques...including how to make rick rack flowers and ribbon roses...I was so inspired - it was a true treat for me to watch! After seeing the video and the tutorials on the Sew Beautiful Blog, I just *had to* order Kari's new "Whimsy Sticks" and "Going In Circles Tools"...you all know how much I love crafty gadgets! I finally had a moment (and only a moment) to play with my new Whimsy Sticks...and you can see my first two ribbon flowers below (they are not perfect, I am learning!)...these "sticks" are so slick - I was amazed how quick and easy it was to make a ribbon flower...just wrap the ribbon around the stick, tape, and sew...well, that is a very brief overview - but if you really want to see Whimsy Sticks in action, check out Kari's blog for a video tutorial. There are two different sets of Whimsy Sticks - a small set of four and a large set of two - six sticks in all. Now, I just have to get my hands on some of the reversible satin ribbon Kari uses - it is gorgeous - I just practiced with some ribbon I had on hand - nothing fancy. My mind is already racing with ways to use the Whimsy sticks for special trims and flowers...what a fun new addition to my sewing studio!
Yesterday afternoon I attended the annual local Horizon of Hope Luncheon benefiting local breast cancer charities. It is a lovely event held each year by local Longaberger consultants - a wonderful lunch, an auction, a guest speaker, and a preview of the new Longaberger holiday line. The event this year was held at Bravo! Italian Restaurant (yummy)....and an abundance of baskets filled with goodies were auctioned off for the John Stoddard Cancer Center. When I purchased the luncheon ticket, it also included the 2010 Horizon of Hope Basket...which was foofed at my place setting (too cute!). It was an afternoon filled with friendship, food, and fun....all raising money for a terrific cause - I can't think of a better way to spend my Sunday.
It has been a crazy few weeks getting the new designs prepared for the TNNA Fall Needlecraft Market coming up in less than two weeks. I want to thank everyone who has posted enthusiastic comments and sent me messages about the new releases - I am so THRILLED you like them - your encouragement and support has been over-the-top! My website is now updated with additional images, supply lists, and information on my new Stitch Starter Ruler. I spent the morning packaging my models for shipment to Norden Crafts for display in their booth...sending out an email to needlework shops...and answering all sorts of questions...tomorrow the chart bagging process will begin - I already have my bagging station all set up and ready to go. I picked up a large reprint order this week, so I will be bagging those charts tonight and will hopefully be caught up before the new designs are ready in the next day or two. My husband caught a glance of my to-list today and he officially thinks I am insane...and I may be by the time I get everything on it accomplished!
Today I want to share with you a sneak peek of my new design "Blessed Beyond Measure". I am both excited and nervous to share this with you - this design has been a dream of mine for almost 10 years....and I hope you will be as excited about it as I am! First off all...the tool...it is called a "Stitch Starter" and is a 3" square ruler for marking your seam allowance when starting a new project. Here are a few details that make this ruler special:I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of this product - it seriously has been a dream of mine since before I started designing. To go along with this special tool are five sleeve designs - these sleeves are designed to hold your "Stitch Starter". The chartpack will contain: one stitch starter tool, charting for all five "Stitch Starter Sleeves", stitching instructions, complete finishing instructions, and an alphabet/numbers for personalization....it also contains instructions for using your stitch starter (which I will be posting on my website soon...so if you are confused, please be patient - answers will be forthcoming). The sleeve designs would also work great for ornaments, small framed pieces, needlework smalls...you name it. The designs are stitched on 32-count Strawflower from Lakeside Lines with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss....and the finishing is quite easy. In this industry, it can be a struggle to keep needleworkers excited, intrigued, and happy - I am always striving to come up with designs that are unique....designs that will interest and challenge you - I hope this design does the trick! "Blessed Beyond Measure" will be released later this month at the TNNA St. Charles Needlework Market....meaning it will be available from your favorite needlework shop at the end of September/beginning of October....and you, my friends, are seeing it here first!
