If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time-Billy Joel

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Sunday 30 October 2011

Free BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class-Block 3

Paisley Parade Block 3
I have just finished constructing Block 3 of our Paisley Parade quilt and the instructions have been sent to those on my mailing list.This free online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll.
Block 1,2 and 3 are currently available . If you wish to be a part of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add you to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.
Please email me if you have not heard from me

Saturday 29 October 2011

Chic Handy Tote-New Tutorial Uploaded

Chic Handy Tote
I have just completed the tutorial and pattern for my new bag called Chic Handy Tote. It is a reasonably quick to sew bag and it is a perfect design to showcase machine embroideries. This bag is a gift for a colleague of mine who manages our school chess team.The tutorial can be found here and the pattern can be found here.
The design is from a design set by   BFC Creations called More of Sally's shoes.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Sewing with Nancy Video and Down Under Quilts

For those of you who are apron "fashionistas" the new Sewing With Nancy video titled Reversible Aprons 2 is available to view online at Wisconsn PublicTelevision.

 The latest edition of Down Under Quilts is also now available to view online. Click here to go to their free subscription page if you are not already a subscriber.

Monday 24 October 2011

Free BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class-Block 2

I have just finished constructing Block 2 of our Paisley Parade quilt.This free online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll. The instructions will be ready to be sent out in a day or so to those who have signed up.

Block 1 is currently available . If you wish to be apart of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add you to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.
Please email me if you have not heard from me.



Paisley Parade Block 2



Saturday 22 October 2011

Free BFC Paisley Parade /Moda Ruby Online Class

This online class has been set up for the construction of the machine embroidered quilt using the free Paisley Parade set from BFC Creations and the Moda Ruby Jelly Roll.
Block 1 is currently available . If you wish to be apart of this class you need to email me HERE and I will add you to my email database and send the lessons for the blocks out as they are completed.

Moda Ruby Jelly Roll

Paisley Parade Block 1

Friday 21 October 2011

Embird Tutorial -Changing Background Colour and New Bag

For those of us who use Embird for our machine embroidery software there is an easy feature that perhaps we do not use that often and can make things easy when we are deciding what colour fabric to embroider designs on. There is an option to easy change the background colour and help us with the auditioning process.
1. Open up your design in Embird Manager. I am deciding what colour background to stitch this BFC Creations Design on for a new bag and tutorial I am doing.
2. Hit Ctrl  and then B on your Keyboard and this screen appears.

3. I have chosen black to check what the design would look like
4. To revert to white or what ever is your personal choice once again go  Ctrl B and choose your default colour.

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Sewing With Nancy -Reversible Aprons

I have posted before about this fabulous free resource available to sewers and crafters. The latest video showcases reversible aprons .This is a two part video and the next part will be posted next Sunday morning US time. The videos can be found here .I do not know about the tie apron as it is not finished inside so doubt its durability.

I have also added the Email subscription to my blog front page (on the right hand side). If you subscribe to this you will receive an email notification when I make new blog postings.

Sunday 16 October 2011

Crossed Shoulder Strap Apron-Tutorial Uploaded

Crossed Shoulder Strap Apron Front 1

Crossed Shoulder Strap Apron Front 2

Crossed Shoulder Strap Apron Back

Crossed Shoulder Strap Apron Back 2

I have just finished designing and making this new apron. I can vaguely remember my Nan having a similar one when I was young.The main features of this apron are over the shoulder straps that crossover at the back and are attached to the waistband and the wider straps at the shoulder. Due to this feature the apron wraps around to the back a little more than a normal waist apron. The straps are widened at the shoulder to provide extra comfort particularly for those who do not like wearing aprons with a neck strap.
I know that people cannot afford to always machine embroidery designs and so I have once again used the latest free design from BFC Creations Paisley Parade set. You can find this design from here if you collect it in the next week or so. Many thanks to BFC Creations for so generously giving away these very versatile free designs.
The tutorial can be found here and the pattern for the shoulder straps can be found here

Saturday 15 October 2011

Free Quiltposium Online Magazine

If you do not already subscribe to this free online quilt magazine it is worth doing so. Although it is primarily a magazine advertising quilting tours it also has on average 20 free downloadable quilt patterns, recipes and of course lots of lovely pictures of places we would all like to travel to. You can go their website from here and sign up to receive the magazine. You can also access archived editions.

Friday 14 October 2011

The Quilt Show,Bernina Videos and New Apron

I frequently watch the technique videos on The Quilt Show that are sponsored by Bernina. Although the techniques are designed to use Bernina machines and particularly the Bernina presser feet ,the techniques can easily be used with the majority of the major machine brands. You do not have to be a subscribed member of the Quilt Show to watch these videos.

I am also working on a new embroidered apron and hope to have the tutorial and accompanying pattern uploaded over the weekend.

Monday 10 October 2011

Heirloom Quilt Sampler Block 4

Heirloom Quilt Sampler Block4
The tutorial for Block 4 in my free online heirloom quilt sampler class has been sent out. Only one more block to go before we begin putting the quilt together. Just have one slight problem, I have misplaced the first three blocks I have done so  I will have to redo them. I suspect they may have gone out with the rubbish in one of my big clean ups.

Had an email from a visitor to my blog today and I always find they give me the impetus to keep going with the projects I share. Up until I started the blog I was in a rut and seemed to have my creative "mojo" so to speak. A big thank you to all who visit and take the time to write. It is certainly appreciated.

Saturday 8 October 2011

10 Minute Table Runner Meets Tube Quilting -Variation-Tutorial uploaded


10 minute table runner meets tube quilting variation 1

Centre of block

I have made a variation on the new table runner pattern I uploaded yesterday, this time using different sized strips. These table runners make take a little longer than 10 minutes but once you have selected your fabrics I think that 30 -40 minutes is a realistic timeframe.
I have written a modified tutorial for this new layout but you will also need to download the one from yesterday.  The new tutorial can be found here. 

I cannot locate LaRae’s original tutorial but some of her colleagues have a variation where the top section is folded in reverse.

Friday 7 October 2011

10 Minute Table Runner Meets Tube Quilting -Tutorial uploaded

10 Minute Table Runner Meets Tube Quilting

Centre Block of Runner

End of Runner
My new table runner is based on the 10 minute table runner originally designed by LaRae Bunnell Clark from Utah State University. Her original tutorial is shared by a number of quilt shops on the internet. I have taken LaRae's original concept and combined it with the quick piecing technique of tube quilting.I have also taken the free Christmas tree design accompanying BFC Creations Sally King's Christmas Trio set , split off the star at the top and used it to cover buttons for the ends of the runner. Once again I have incorporated ric rac embellishment. The tutorial can be found here.

Monday 3 October 2011

Black and White and Red All Over Quilt-Tutorial uploaded

Black and White and Red All Over Quilt
I have just uploaded the tutorial for my Black and White and Red All Over Quilt. The tutorial can be downloaded from here. I can see myself using this basic design for many more embroidered quilts. To change the size of the blocks and the strips will just require a few calculations and I may do this down the track if anyone is interested , please let me know if you are.

Sunday 2 October 2011

Free Online Quilt Magazine

The October edition of Online Quilt Magazine is now ready for download.If you do not have a subscription click here to go to their homepage to sign up. This edition has a 20% off discount voucher from The Fat quarter Shop which may come in handy for  some of us. There is also an article on Breast Cancer Bags which individuals or  groups may like to take on board and make to support their local hospital.

Saturday 1 October 2011

Four Months of Blogging and New Quilt top

Red-Black and White Quilt Top
I have been blogging for four months this weekend . The time has gone so quickly. I have had nearly 50 000 page loads during that time which I find truly amazing. I certainly hope people are enjoying the projects I design and find them useful. I receive very little personal feedback from people so assume they either hate what I do and toss the project downloads out in the recycle bin or put them to good use.

I have spent the weekend designing and making this quilt. It is the first black and white quilt I have made as they are just not my decorating colours at all. The designs are from the free paisley set being given away by BFC designs. The direction the quilt has taken has changed as I have gone along which is always the case for me. I have used the folded Bow tie block (also called 10 Minute Quilt Block) in four of the squares. Also added a few flowers from another of the designs to one of the paisley swirls.

I hope to get the quilt top quilted and will have a tutorial up on the blog in the next day or so.