Quilt Label Fun

I think quilt labels are so important. I've been going through my blankets and quilts in our house and know that I have labels on the ones I have made. However, I also have some quilts that were handed down to us.  Especially this one from my husband's great grandmother without labels.

I know there is a story. But what story? I know bits and pieces about her, but are they true? Was this quilt actually made by her?  Don't get me wrong, I believe my in-laws, but it sure would be nice to know what year it was made. Who was it for?  

That is why I always make sure I make a quilt label. My attempts have improved over the years from pieces of muslin with sharpies to things like this to printed fabric to embroiderd labels. 

I'm always trying to find a unique quilt label because I despise a big blob on something that I've worked so hard on!

For these labels, I designed an embroidered puzzle appliqué.  I had already quilted the tops so I couldn't put them on my embroidery machine. 

Instead, I skipped the appliqué part and embroidered it out on a piece of solid fabric.

Then I cut around the puzzle leaving 1/4 inch around the satin stitching.  I did some hand stitching and needle turned them under! 

I'm pretty happy with the results and they blend into the backings pattern!  

But first, I need to add the binding on Tristan's quilt. 

Know Thy Machine {Blog Hop}

Shruti from 13 Woodhouse Road is hosting a Blog Hop called Know thy Machine, where a few of us bloggers can share what machines we have, what we like, what we don't like.  It is a great way to check out what can be had out there...especially if you are shopping for a new one or even upgrading!

She asked us to answer the following questions...make sure you read through carefully...she has a question on her blog and if you answer correctly, you are entered into a giveaway!!!!

1. What machine(s) do you have? Brand and Model.


Babylock Emore:  Embroidery Only Machine

Babylock Symphony: Domestic Sewing Machine

Handiquilter Avante:  18 inch Longarm Quilting Machine
 

2. When and where did you buy it? What were the reasons for selecting this(these) particular model(s). What was its approximate cost. 


Babylock Emore:  I bought this in machine in 2008.  I wanted a machine to do my sons' school polo shirts. I didn't want a combo deal.  I bought this machine when it was being phased out for $400.00 at my LQS.  I made up for the money I spent on the machine on the amount I saved by buying plain polo shirts instead of the uniform store shirts.

Babylock Symphony:  I bought this machine last year in May 2011, also from my LQS.  I fell in love with it for many reasons (I listed all of them in my Just a Dream post back then!)  

Handiquilter Avante Long Arm Machine:  I love this girl.  I bought her last year at the Houston Quilt Festival this time of year.  She was a class machine, was used for classes at the show, so she was marked down from normal retail .  I received a new frame that was shipped within a week or two after the show.  By December, I had her all set up.  You can also go to this post HERE to see how I came to make a decision after shopping last year!  My advice?  If you are truly in the market for one, go give them a spin at a show and seriously consider buying a demo or class machine!



3. What do you like about your machine? Have you named it? Have you made a cover for it? 

I use the brand names for the first two machines.  I also have not made any covers for either smaller machines.  It just isn't on the "urgent" list!

As for my longarm?  She is named Ole Betsy.  She was named by my boys and Mr. Boss.   Because she hangs out in the garage with creepy crawlies, I have her covered with some old drapes I have no use for.  Free fabric that keeps dust off. Someday, I'd love to make her a rockin' cover!

4. Does your machine give you any problems? Could you tell us a few? 

Emore:  I have a love/hate relationship with her.  I find her to be finicky and I dread when I mess up.  However, I have found that is the case with many of my friends that embroider on any machine.  The one thing I can say is that I am still very happy that I didn't buy a combo unit.  I get a lot done on the other machines while she is stitching away!  I will never regret that choice.

Symphony: I love her.  She never makes me unhappy.  I only make mistakes when I miss her bobbin low warning.  I love how smooth she is.  I love so many of her features.  I have no complaints.  At all. She was approximately $1800 retail.

Ole Betsy:  I am VERY happy with her!  I am still learning, but I seriously CANNOT complain.  I had some buyer remorse when I thought I should have gotten the larger throat (24"), but while using mine, I realize that I have short arms, and I would be really stretching to get to the back of the 24" machine!  It was meant to be...so definitely keep in mind how long your arms are!!!!!





5. What do you sew on it mainly? Quilts, Clothes, Bags etc. How much time do you spend sewing on it? What are the features of the machine that help you improve your work? 

Emore: Anything and all.  I try to make ANYTHING work...sometimes it gets the best of me and I have to learn to say "no, I can't embroider on that"

Symphony:  Quilts, clothes, bags....you name it.

Avante:  Quilts.  




6. What advice would you give others when deciding about which machine to buy?

I find that so many women are buying their machines online.  I say definitely do so, but find somewhere to test drive them.  I think you must give them all a drive run before you make your final decision.  My first inclination was to buy a Babylock or a Gamill longarm machine, but was really disappointed with the Babylock and intimidated by the Gamill, and came home with the Handiquilter.  You never know!!

7. Will you share with us a special memory associated with your machine? 

Ole Betsy.  The purchase of Ole Betsy....I will never, ever forget it.  I honestly intended to go to the quilt show and shop around so I could bring back all the information and my thoughts.  I never dreamed that my husband would pile up all the boys in the car and come home with a machine.  She qualifies for my next 20 birthday and Christmas presents...but, oh well!!!

8. If you had unlimited resources in the world, which machine would you choose to buy and why? 

  

I have two things on my list.  I would like to add the computer program to my long arm.  Wow...it would be nice!!

Also,  someday, I would love to have the bigger Babylock that has many thread selections and can embroider on anything (hats).  I am currently limited to tiny, 4x4, and 5x7.  I also have a mulitpostional frame...but I avoid it at all costs.  Too big!  However, if I did that, I would have to get more serious about doing embroidery...and that is a whole 'nother story!

Thanks for stopping by!!

And especially thank you to Shruti for having me!
I appreciate it!!!!

 

 

WIP: All about Button!

Button's Birthday is tomorrow...

 I am in the midst of throwing a party...and nothing to show for it.

All quilts are on hold.

So for you reading entertainment....

Some eye candy.

Photos of my little Valentine.

He was kind enough to pose for my embroidery design photo shoot.

 

But then he said that he wanted some privacy to eat his strawberry yogurt melts.

I wanted to fix this machine embroidery design up a bit more so it sews nicely....but I want to add it to my new Etsy store.  

So, please, FEEL free to give me advice!  I love the heart, but I am not sure that anyone got my heartthrob connotation around here....

Any other ideas?

Linking up!

Fast Forward Button

"Life would be better if girls had mute buttons, boys had edit buttons, bad times had fast forward buttons and good times had pause buttons."
 ~Unknown

Now, I am not saying that I believe in the mute button, but today?  

I sure wish I had a fast forward button!

I had all my woes typed out, but realized the short of it?  80% of our household has some sort of sickness.  Button, included, with a nasty double ear infection. 

I have to give him props for going all out for his first true illness.   Not one ear...but both!!!  And on my birthday too! 
Happy Birthday to me!

Despite all the AWESOME CHANTING last week (I really could "hear" everyone cheering me on!), I didn't do as well as I would have liked.  But it is better than nothing, right?  I won't link up with WIP Wednesday because I really don't want to rewind to Wednesday, but I will share what I accomplished the past week!

Fall Throw Pillows

There was so much love for the fabric last Wednesday, that I was compelled to get them together.  They are simple, no frills.  But I love them.

The other pillows covers are the ones I made last years for the two chairs in my family room.  

It is all scrap fabric from my ottoman covers and my kitchen window treatments.  

The embroidery took me one whole day to do both.  The amount of color changes was exhausting, to say the least!  I haven't done a pattern/design with that many since.

Cuppa Joe blocks

I finished them!!!  

I really enjoyed making them! I busted into my fat quarter collection and found random fun fabrics.  I decided to stick with six fabrics and used all three cup styles.  I opted for Moda "Wildrose" by Brannock & Patek for the background fabric for all of them.  I am not sure how well I did them since I was trying to do them with a sick baby.  I also realized that I need to spend more time with my newish domestic machine.  I hadn't really machine appliqued in a while since I have been using my embroidery machine for that!  I opted for a blanket stitch.  Hopefully, they are up to par to the rest of the contributions!!

They have been sent off for the swap and now I can't wait to see what I get back.  Not sure what I will do with mine!

Ole Betsy

It's official.  All of the comments and emails made me realize that I should never have even posted the name.  As soon as it was in writing, it was all over.  The name is growing on me.  Even Button knows who I am talking about!  He likes to watch her go!

Sharon, the Handi Quilter representative, came out and gave me basic instructions yesterday.  We loaded a 36in x 36in muslin sandwich to practice on!  She was even very understanding that Button was sick and was clinging to me.  There was an elaborate checklist she had to follow...all bases were covered.

We used the thread that was given to me as my "start up" quilt.  I think I will practice at least one more time on muslin or scrap, but with a colored thread so I can see how I am doing a bit better.  I really do need to practice though!  Above is just some fun free-hand.  My looping, leaves, and flowers are not looking to shabby, but what is up with my inability to do meandering well?  Any thoughts?  I think I over-think it!

Here's to hoping my fast forward button decides to land on a day that I can think clearly, stop sniffling myself, and feel good enough to sew.  Just typing this post is a great feat!

Embroider a Card

With your machine?

Friday afternoon, I picked up my oldest son from school.  He and I discussed whether he was going to a party or not.  He decided he would stop by at the young man's house.

Here it comes......my thought process...scary stuff.

 Oh, no. We don't have a gift.  But that's okay, right?  I can give a gift card. 
But I don't have a gift card!  
But that's okay, I have cash.  Phew!

OH NO!  I don't have a boy birthday card!

Ugh.  I have been in the car for 5 hours today.  I do not want to get back into it.

Oh....I'll just make one. 
Hmmm...he likes guitars. 
Do I have a stamp? No. 
Oh! I have an embroidery design. 

Can I do that on a card?


See? My rambling mind frightens even me!

Here's what I did!

Embroidering a Card Tutorial

Supplies:

 Card Stock Greeting Card

 Embroidery Machine

Peel-n-Stick Stabilizer

Thread

  

Cut a piece of Peel-n-Stick Stabilizer.

Place the piece paper side up in your hoop.

Remove it from the hoop.

Peel back a corner until you reach the inside of the hoop indentations.

Make a starter hole....

You know, like you did when you were a kid to cut the "inside" of a object out!

Then place the backing back on the stickiness.

Then start tearing away!

Place the stabilizer back in the hoop. 

The paper that you left protects the hoop from getting sticky!

Place the card on the sticky.

Things seemed to be going well.

UH OH!!!!

What Happened?

My guess?
A more "open" design is needed.  When the design started doing muscial notes that are a bit more dense it started making holes. 


The card stock can't handle it!






NEW PLAN!!
 I threw out the card.  

Obviously, this is not for the young man, but I was determined to finish this tutorial out!

I found a quilting design I had received free at one point.
 
I figured that I would do a pink card for my stash. (I actually do have a stash, just need to update my boy birthday card collection!)

The open design REALLY made a difference.  I plan on searching some more!

 Trim off the sticky stablizer.  If you rip it off, you will rip the cardstock.

How do I know this?

I tried it on the messed one up just to see!

 The inside doesn't seem too shabby to me. 

If it really bothers you, you can cut another complimentary piece of cardstock, glue and cover. 




 I added a little bling and voila!

 So what did I do about the guitar card I planned?

Improvisation!
 
 Repeat the first few steps, but instead of adding the card stock directly to the sticky stabilizer, I placed a piece of scrap fabric.  

After the design was finished, I peeled it off the stabilizer and ran a seam around the design directly onto the card.  
Then pulled the stray fibers to make the fringe.

I loved it so much that I made a "girly" card too!

Who knew that me not being prepared would result in three cards!

Please tell me I am not the only one!  
Please do share the time you came up with a project simply because you didn't want to make a run to the store!!

And I am adding this to a Linky Party...I always feel weird because I am new to this stuff!