Short break this weekend

I had some fun over the weekend sewing a new project.  I bought an embroidery machine a few months ago (20 yr old Baby Lock Ellageo) and stitched up some quilt blocks to make a pillow.  The teacup designs were on an embroidery design card that came with the machine so I decided on a tea cup theme.  Front and Back photos are below!

I have already gifted it to a friend of mine.

A useful tool

 

Today I'd like to share a tip that has helped me plan out what I want to stitch on a quilt when it's ruler work or freehand.  I bought a piece of plexiglass from the hardware store and had my husband cut it to the size I wanted.  I put black electricians tape around the edge so I could see it easily.  When I want to test out a design idea I use this!  I don't remember when I learned this tip, but it's not original to me.  

Today I'm working on my Circa 1880 nine patch quilt and I'm trying out a border design that uses a curve ruler that I turn different directions.

After deciding on the design above, I marked my quilt border with the curves and I'm satisfied with the design!

I plan on entering my quilt in a quilt show in October so I need to get busy!

Pumpkin Wallhanging Tutorial

 Lisa E. shared a pumpkin wall hanging she created on one of the facebook groups I am on and I was inspired to make one like it only smaller.  Here is a tutorial on how to make a 7"x22" wallhanging!  Find a FREE pdf download at the end of this tutorial.

Material list:

5 orange fat quarters
1/2 yard of white background
brown scraps for the stems
green scraps for the leaves

Directions:

1. Cut 1-1/2" strips from each of the orange fat quarters.  Sew them together lengthwise using 1/4" seams. Press the seams open.  Cut the strip set into one 7-1/2" piece, one 5-1/2" piece and one 3-1/2" inch piece.
   
   
   
2. Cut four 1-1/2" WOF strips from the white background fabric.  From one of the strips cut a 14" piece and remove 1/2" lengthwise from the strip.  Then sub-cut the remaining 1" strip into twelve 1" squares.
   
   
   

Good thought for the day