Thread Illusions

This is another embroidery UFO that is now finished....sort of.  these designs are called Thread Illusions. i don't remember where i got them. there are 7 different sets with 8 or 9 designs per set... different sizes.  these designs just come from the first set. there are over 50 all together but i decided these 9 were good for now. i can always go back later and do more. 

The blocks are 9"

Sashing is something from the stash....i used it because of the primary colors that match the embroidery

It is about 32" square and will make a cool wall hanging or table topper.

I'm not sure if i would want a whole quilt of these....kind of make your eyes cross after a while. perhaps if they were stitched out quite small they would make a cool border.  for now i am done with them. haha

Embroidery Crazy Quilt Sampler

In an effort to finish up all my embroidery UFOs....this is the next one to be done. there are 20 blocks....i had only done 1 of them and put them in a box. i now have 5 of them finished...but it will take a bit to get them all done. i have been doing 2 a day so far. but it is tiring.

So far, i have....

The heart.....i should have done it all in pinks and reds.

The dog bone....too cute

The seashell

St. Patrick's Day

The wedding bell

I am making them the largest size...8" square. I can see these being used in different quilts. for instance, make a lot of wedding bells....maybe only put the embroidery in the middle squares. or some of the designs in each bell, not all of them. 

Or just use the pattern and applique the fabrics in the spaces and skip the embroidered parts.

So many possibilities.

This is the CD...from Anita Goodesign. 

They do come up with some unusual designs....i have many of their CDs.

Christmas Crazy Quilt

Another machine embroidery UFO is now a quilt top. this one is a Christmas crazy quilt. it's about 58" square. The background pieces are appliqued (with the embroidery machine).. and then embroidery stitching over that. 

I like some blocks more than others....i like the gingerbread boy.

I like the Bethlehem buildings

And naturally there is a gingerbread girl

The snowman is funny. the cardinal is looking at him like he is thinking what the hell are you doing. haha

There is a jolly santa. i like the music block and the church showing through the window

I really like the santa and sleigh. the pattern showed it in black but i like it in red better.

The angel is pretty cool

There are several bells

I think the lamp post is pretty clever. the designer, Molly Mine, had her logo embroidered on the lamp post sign....but i skipped that part and just put an applique of pine cones there. I like the little house and the camel, too.

What i don't like....is these blocks are very stiff and unwieldy.  i used tear away foundation paper and it is extremely hard to tear it away in all the small places. i'm going to try and get more of it off, but some places are impossible.

Like this...

And this....

And the sashings are a hot mess. most of the blocks were embroidered in the 'applique' format....which puts a narrow satin stitch around the edges. that was a mistake. i could not stitch next to it to put the sashing on so i stitched over the satin stitch as close as i could get to the edge. BUT....a bunch of the blocks were stitched in the 'quilting' format....which just put a loose zigzag around the edges. and they caused other problems. so, it has varied sizes of sashings. haha

It will probably sit in the to-be-quilted cabinet for some time before it gets quilted.....if it doesn't get sent to the thrift store if i don't want to deal with it. 

But....i can say....it isn't an embroidery UFO any longer...and that counts for something.

Homework all done!

Class 2...homework is all finished. i am caught up.  woohoo!   

Of course, if i miss the next class....which is entirely possible.....i'll be behind again.

Background on feathered star and first border will be cream....the rest of the background will be white.

These stars are tedious....but with the proper tools and instructions.....i can make them pretty well.

Halloween quilt top

This little top is machine appliqued and embroidered....all done on the embroidery machine. i don't even know when i started it....last year? .... the year before that? .... but i am on a mission to finish up embroidery UFOs....there are about 8 of them.  sigh!!  

It is 38x46"  The designs came from Julie's Needle Designs....these are called Halloween Spooky Series.  she has some great stuff. i am working on getting the Christmas blocks together next.

Some close ups.

This one might be my favorite...i chuckle every time i see it. 

Don't know where it will live after it is quilted....probably wind up on eBay or Etsy.  

But.....first it has to be quilted.

New quilt for class

We are starting a new quilt in my quilting class. unfortunately, i missed the first class....but i am catching up.

This is the quilt pattern. it is called Mannasses....i think i spelled that correctly. it is the name of a battle in the Civil War. all of Mary's designs center around the Civil War.  this is about 70x70"....there is also instructions to make it queen size....with a few added borders.

The center is an 18" feathered star. i have never made one and it was a challenge....but i think it turned out good. i'm glad we only have to make one.

There are 3 different blues but i'm not sure you can tell.  the outside diamonds are a different color from the points around the star.

Then i have to make 8 Lemoyne stars.  and, i have to tell you.....if you have the handy dandy ruler.....

And the instructions.....3 pages of wonderful instructions....

Then your stars turn out pretty awesome. the only problem is...they are supposed to be identical. and i didn't pay attention to how i laid the fabrics.....my usual thing. haha    so, there will be 4 going 1 way and 4 going the other. i'm ok with that.

Star #3....it turned out almost perfect.

We won't even look at star #4....it didn't meet well in the middle. i don't know why. 

I guess i am still learning. i have about 10 days till the next class....i'll have the other 4 finished by then. 

This is going to be a blue and white/cream quilt. i might go for queen size.....we'll see how stressed i am with it when i get the middle finished. for now, i am liking it.

Brown and blue selvages with hearts

This top was started on November 12, 2014....and... a year later it is finally pieced. let's hope it doesn't take another year to get it quilted.  it is for the bed in 'my room' at my sister's house....that will now be my son's house....so, i might not have a room. haha

It is made with selvages of blue and brown. there actually is a pattern...if you can see it. the blue blocks go in a greek key pattern on the top and bottom. with rows of brown in the middle with an alternating row of brown and blue in the very middle. 

With a 2" border of brown and a 4" border of blue. i had some little hearts, so they went in the middle of all the blocks. of course, it is not ironed yet. haha

No matter how many selvage quilts i make, i just can't seem to use them all up.

This is queen size. .... about 92x102".  perhaps it will get quilted before the winter is gone.