Making something we can ACTUALLY use…?!

Remember this?

I received my pillow back from Bernina that is going to appear in their “Through the Needle” issue coming out in November. I was told this issue debuted in the Houston Quilt Market over the weekend. I will post more pictures when I receive my complimentary copies of the magazine:

It is another project with the whole-cloth theme except the main motifs were done by machine embroidery. I had also monogrammed an S for our family last name to give it a more personal and custom look. The background quilting was free-motion quilted with the Bernina Stitch Regulator.

What am I going to do with the pillow? It will be used as a decorative pillow to be looked at admiringly, and occasionally to be handled with clean hands. :) My husband aptly asked me upon completion of the project a while back, “When are you going to make something we can actually use?”. You know what, he had a point…

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a lovely Tuesday! As always, I love reading your comments. So, if you are able, do let me know when you’ve been by so that I can visit you back!

Trying something new…

I have been trying out a new background quilting stitch on one of the quilts I am finishing up for “The Quilter” — it is in a much larger scale than what I am normally used to. I think it’s worked out so far except I am not quite sure what to call it — slippery eels, flaming tongues…?

I got a call this morning from “Quiltmaker” that the sweetheart swag feather motif that I had designed for my quilt which appeared in Quiltmaker’s “Quilting & Embroidery” (Summer 2009) Ivory Spring will be included in the Quiltmaker’s Quilting Motif Vol. 7 coming out in November this year. Woo hoo!!!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a splendid day! Till next time! :)

Improved bananas!

Sorry for another partial picture, but I did finish and send off my pillow project by the end of last week.  I thought that my “bouncing bananas” (the half-moon thingies) background stitches IMPROVED since I last did them for a quilt:

There is nothing more heartening than improved stitches to a quilter.  Improved stitches = more comely work! So, I am quite satisfied with the result!

This week, I am working on a cutwork project using machine embroidery.  Never done that in my whole sewing life.  We’ll see how it goes, and I will be sure to report back!

Have a great week, y’all!

Old World and Patriotic

In honor of America’s upcoming celebration of her independence, I thought this quilt is apt because of its colors. The center block has machine-embroidered motif with free-motion quilted background quilting:

I used a fabric that has the flavor of the “Old World patriotic look.” The sawtooth border was decided upon learning its popularity in 18-19th century pieced quilts. Perfect marriage of the two!!

Then I decided to try for the first time some free-handed feathers. I thought even if I messed up, the busy fabric would cover any unsightly quilting. But I was very pleased with the effect, and have since loved to free-hand my feathers for background quilting:

*** Happy Monday, Everyone! ***