I've just been skimming this forum's postings in my email, because for a few days it was all about dying. (Increadibly beautiful colors, Luann! They remind me of Joys Fabrics!) I am not into dying, probably never will be, but I am DYING to tell you all that my machine embroidered geisha iPad cover won two Best Of Shows at the Northwest Montana county fair!





And, since you are now onto talking about digitizing embroidery, I though it was a good time to share. When I bought my new Brother, my DH also bought me some very expensive digitizing software. It is PE - Design Next. I am very intimidated by it, because I am not a computer techi, by any stretch of the imagination. But, I did buy a Craftsy class where the instructor actually uses a Brother along with my same software. It hasn't even been downloaded into my computer yet, but once I get into it, I now know who to come to if I have a basic question! I want to be able to do embroidery on top of appliqué, like we did with the Sedona Star BOM a few years ago.

TERRIE.....not sure what the bunting actually is, but it is pretty! And, your quilt is great!
DEBBIE....I sure hope you are healing rapidly! I had a trigger finger surgery a while back, and I couldn't sew for a while. It was the pits!
RITZY....I read other people congrats, so am guessing the twins have been born. Double trouble, but double congratulations!!
MARGARITA.....I'm glad to hear that you are back to quilting your Dear Jane! That is such a wonderful quilt, especially in the colors you used!

I missed the Dots and M & Ms, but definitely did not miss GENEVA's wine! Thank you Geneva!

Well, it's back to working on stuff for our upcoming quilt show! Can I do a very small art quilt in three weeks? Hope so! It's already listed in our program!

Dawn

Thanks for the digitizing info. I know it's a matter of 'just doing it' and enjoying the learning. I wish I wasn't so "results" orientated. I think that's a carry over from when I was younger and funds were very limited in my family. I could make do with what ever I was able to get. So, I have a hard time using supplies, just for the sake of learning about something. I think I was asked this question way too often, "what are you going to do with it?" My parents weren't like that, but along the way, too many other women have said that to me and if I don't have an answer to their liking, I've gotten the old eye rolling look! That's why I like it here on these forum chats. We all just enjoy each other's lives and there's no judgements about being wasteful. Well, except, if you throw out the chocolate, then I'm going to say something,,, LOL
I've been blessed by everyone's acceptance.
Love you guys,
Luann

Marianne, your digitized design is wonderful. I would love to learn to do that with my Art and Stitch program. Right now I'm taking baby steps. I just finished embroidering names with borders for my 4 DGD's using a different font and border for each. The first one I had to do twice because the stabilizer I used wasn't sufficient. I ended up using an iron on stabilizer along with a tear away. Not sure if I needed both or not but the names turned out great. That's all the practice time I have for now. Next week I will show them how to do a name and maybe also a design that is on the machine, and possibly if we have time how to move the design away from the center location and how to resize a design. That should be more than enough for a first lesson. First they will have to learn the basics of turning the machine on and off, winding the bobbin and threading the machine, etc. It looks like it will be 2 or more lessons.

Sorry Luann, forgot to answer your question about what colourway I will use for the table mats. I have some light yellow/tan fabric really very neutral and I plan on using white through to caramel brown threads which should give me an almost damask weave look - or that is what I'm hoping for . The pinks and greys I used on the final stitch-out does in real life blend nicely with the wine red background (I need a photography course ) so the fabrics I have chosen together with the threads should work too.
Marianne

AnnieLu wrote: Thank you, Luann
I use 3 different digitizing software; Embird Studio, Bernina DesignerPlus V5 and Husqvarna 6D Design Creator (I'm a software magpie ) I know of Art and Stitch which comes in 2 levels: Art and Stitch Base for quilters like yourself and Art and Stitch Plus which is an add-on module to Base and is geared at embroiderers. I would love to have Art and Stitch Plus but for an amateur like me who has already amassed 3 different software it's not on the cards. My first digitizing software was a DOS based software and that i over 20 years ago. Art and Stitch has very good documentation and additional free videos on their website so once you sit down and get over the initial intimidation we all feel when we attack a new program you'll quickly find your feet and have a design ready to quilt. I think one of the nice things about Art and Stitch is the fact that the interface is like any other Windows program (if you're a Windows user that makes it easier) so it less "strange" than some of the digitizing programs available and it also have a number of default settings so you are much more likely to end with a successful first design. I'm sure there a number of people in the forum who use Art and Stitch for their quilting machines. It's great fun to digitize so jump in and have a go and share your triumphs and those moments where you want to throw your machine/computer out the window - that's what you started the retreat for
Marianne
BTW it is not at all necessary to have more than one program for digitizing - but I like a stash


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Marianne,
Your digitized design is gorgeous!
How long have you been digitizing? My Pro Stitcher came with the software of Art & Stitch. Is that the one you have?
I think my intention list needs to address my lack of forward progress in this area.

When you do it again, what fabric and color choices do you think you'll make?

Luann

Thank you, Anne
Yes I did the drawing in a program called Inkscape before digitizing it.

I hope the weather is better at yours than here in South Wales today - rather damp but that's a very good excuse to fire up the sewing machine isn't it?
Marianne

Marianne, That is gorgeous Did you design it yourself? I don't have an embroidery machine so don't know much about them
Hope the sun shines in Wales for you ...Have a good weekend.
Anne

Great bag, Dorothy - looks elegant and sturdy

Terrie, your charity quilt is beautiful - sometimes less is more and this is a case in point

Luann - all your hard work has certainly paid off. What a fantastic end to the month

We had a mangle; cast iron base and two wooden rollers. It was soooooo heavy to shift but beautiful to look at. No electricity involved. Can't say I miss it except when I iron table cloths - I've got some of the old fashioned cotton damask ones which are so beautiful but difficult to iron.

End of August so time to check the want-to-do list. Managed most of it except work on the "Welsh" quilt; maybe I should just let it go now. I'm obviously not in the mood and motivated to do any more than I did last year. I may be keen again if I get to go the exhibition at the Welsh Quilt Museum before it closes for the winter.
I haven't made up my mind about what to use the FMQ samplers for. They will be on my September list.
My digitizing challenge is on-going but I did a larger design in only one software so I can make some table mats in September.


This is the final stitch-out before going into production. The background fabric will NOT be red and certainly of a better quality than this. I need to order some stabilizer. I'm out of my favourite one and have been trying out several in my stash. One is decidedly past its sell-by date. It's a sticky one meant for fabrics that shouldn't be hooped but the glue is now sticking to the needle and consequently the top thread starts to shred. I have another roll of the same stuff bought at a later date but I need to check whether that is all right. I also found that one of the cut-away ones I have bought keeps shrinking when steamed even though I pre-steamed it before embroidering so that is pretty useless. It was advertised as the same brand and quality as the one I usually by on narrow rolls but this was on the bolt and so cheaper. Just goes to show that you can't always trust companies and their advertising.
I'm away the first week and a half in September so that will put a limit on my productivity but I look forward to a new month of sharing projects AND chocs. Will bring back some from my trip
Oh BTW finished the tote using up the final blocks from Laura Nownes class but that turned out not very nice so is hidden away in the corner stuffed full of stabilizers and interfacing. Maybe after a wash with puffed up quilting I can cope looking at it
Marianne

Reminder:
Drawing for the August giveaway ends in 3 days! On Sept 1, someone (s) will be notified that their comment was drawn and a package will be sent out! Have you visited the blog and left at least one comment? If not, it's not too late to head on over and say 'hi', be sure to leave enough info so I can contact you later.
Hope to see your comment soon,
Luann
www.letscreatetoday.blogspot.com

Karen...we had a mangle when I was a kid too. I can remember ironing sheets, and having to be very careful you didn't get wrinkles in it It would work really well for irong yardage!!!
Margarita...I TOLD those elves they were supposed to work on your quilt they didn't listen Glad you are able to do it again
Luann...I ordered the quilters samples from dharma trading company. That will really help in figuring out which pfd fabic will work the best, and maybe not quite as expensive as what I've been getting. Thanks for the info...you're the best!!!!
Dorothy

My Aunt had one and I don't think anyone called it anything but the ironer. It would be great for ironing yardage. They were popular back in the day when people ironed bed sheets, pillow cases and table linens. I bet there are quilters/dyers who would be happy to resurrect one. I wonder if Ricky Tims has them as part of his dying operation.

Luann pretty fabrics!

Mangle is what my grandmother called hers. I wish I had it--it would be great for freshly washed yardage.