Pincushion Smiles

I have been OBSESSED with the image of the spool pincushion in the first image.  It is from here and the blog talks about how the pins are dyed using Tim Holz alcohol dyes.  Well, I researched the dyes and found out they are about $3.00 per color, mostly used for scrapbooking stamping.  I felt that I really couldn't afford all the colors I wanted just to dye the tips of egg-shaped corsage pins.  Let's not even consider that I would have to source the big wooden spool and the measurement printed ribbons (okay, I have the ribbons, but I would have to get some antique dye for them or tea dye them...).  You can see how I can sometimes lose hours just trying to figure out how to make something only to realize that it is just not a good idea.  I was still stuck on the colored pins, however, and took someone's advice (sorry, don't remember whose good idea it was!:(  and bought some permanent art markers and some white corsage pins.  Worked just great at a mere fraction of the cost - had a Michael's coupon!  I didn't have the spool pincushion, but I knew that the colored pins would come in handy.  Next obsession:  Sarah Vedeler!  I have loved her vibrant quilts and embroideries for some time now, and discovered on the Berninausa.com website, under "What's New" that she offered a free tutorial on how to make the heart ornaments that you see pictured in the third image.  Plus, the tutorial included a free machine embroidery file for the stitch-out.  So wonderful of her and Bernina!  I stitched out the heart and decided I didn't really need an ornament, but with a little bit of stitching and some crushed walnut shells, I could make a pincushion!  I colored me some big pins, stuck them in the cushion, and smiled.  Now my new heart pincushion (middle image) doesn't  resemble the first pincushion at all, but for now I am happy that I got to stitch out a free design and use some art markers.  Jerilynn

Warning! Self Promotion!

New pattern is out!  This is one of the patterns that I have been working on for Indygo Junction that was introduced at the Spring Market in Kansas City.  I was told that it had good response - "techy" patterns are popular now and this fits into that category.  The blue tote is stitched with decorative stitches on my sewing machine on Cherrywood hand-dyed cotton.  The protective padding is Soft and Stable from byannie.com.  Fantastic stuff - you can iron it, sew it, embroider on it, wash it - it retains it shape, yet is soft and flexible.  Perfect for this project.  The natural colored tote is made out of osnaburg fabric - I like to call it a poor man's linen.  I used my Bernina circular embroidery attachment to make willy-nilly circles and partial circles. The other two printed totes are from fun print fabrics.  All totes have an inside zippered pocket to hold accessories and a strap that can be removed so that the tote become a protective sleeve for your tablet.  Run, run, run to your nearest store and see if they carry this pattern, or be on the lookout in catalogs.  Shameless self-promotion.  Jerilynn

The Hills are Alive....

The following blurb about Swiss Army Blankets is taken from here.  "The original Swiss army blankets are a unique product in many respects! Manufactured from the end of the 1900`s through the early sixties of the last century, their intended use was providing warmth if the swiss would become involved in a war. Stored in caves in the Swiss Alps, they remained there for many years as fortunately that war never came. In the sixties production of this type of blanket stopped. Every once in a while since then, a limited number of these blankets, unused en brand-new, but at the same time pure vintage, have become available.

And then, DEKEN tapped into this hidden treasure....

Made of pure sheeps wool and in various shades of gray-brown, marked with a red and white cross-track, the blankets are hand made and indestructible, typical of genuine Swiss quality. The blankets are individually marked with the initials of the maker as well as the year of production. From the variation in colour of the band and the shape and way of construction of the crosses you can instantly recognize the hand of individual makers; sometimes the bands are more orange, sometimes they have a pretty, clear Swiss cross and sometimes they even have a stainless steel coin or seal. As such, all blankets are different, which is part of the charm. When combining several items from different blankets, the variations in colour and markings match strikingly. "

That is your history lesson for today.  I have become blanket crazy lately.  Maybe it is the time of the year - I have warmth and coziness here at the cabin and am drawn to all sorts of blanket types.  The Swiss Army logo has always been a favorite of mine.  Simple.  RED.  Somewhere on the internet I saw a red Swiss Army watch that I marked as a favorite.  I will find the bookmark someday.  The Swiss also make Berninas.  Fabulous sewing machines.  I have a couple of other brands that I use and like, but you never get over your first love.  I think the machines are no longer made in Switzerland, but I have read that they are made to the exacting Swiss standards.  Years ago we had a foreign student for a school year.  David.  From Switzerland.  He would bring back wonderful chocolate for us when he would go back home for a visit.  Plus, wish I had a nickel for every time I have watched Sound of Music!   Did you happen to catch the cast reunion last year on Oprah?  Magic.  Bawled the whole show.  I just saw the second Sherlock Holmes movie and it appeared, for a bit, that Sherlock Holmes met his death in Switzerland, at a castle built over the Reichenbach Falls.  Turns out...WARNING...SPOILER ALERT!...that he survives, but I found through some research today that  the breathtakingly beautiful castle was digitally invented.  Darn.  I was ready to spiff up my German or French and book a trip.  So, given the whole blanket, Swiss thing, I decided to make my own Swiss Army Blanket Pillow (top photo).  I used WoolFelt (of course) and used the Bernina V6 software to add my initials and date of manufacture to the bottom front.  I used 2012 as the date...I rushed things a bit, but it is so close to 2012 that I took liberties.  Fake castle over the Reichenbach Falls, fake year on the pillow.   Jerilynn  P.S.  Found the watch - it is in the Sundance Catalog....$295.00....eeek.

Never a Dull

I am back! Blogger was down for a while and I could see the blog, just not post anything new. Then, tonight when I went to post something, I noticed that the comments I got on the pattern reveal blog were all gone. Bummer. I think that was the record number I got. So, anyway, for those of you who were so kind to comment, thank you very much. I haven't heard how they are going yet, but I looked on Indygo Junction's Facebook page and someone said that they liked the Permission Purse and the Cleverly Stitched Accessories. It is fun when someone you don't know says they like something. Also fun when people you DO know say that, too. Anyway, I am back on the blog again. For the past two days I have been at the Ricky Timms quilt seminar in Eau Claire, WI. Wow. Over 400 people have enjoyed mini lectures by Ricky Timms, Alex Anderson and Libby Lehmen. Very inspirational and very entertaining. Lots of laughs and wonderful to be surrounded by so many sewers and quilters. In between the talks I have been working in the Bernina booth and had an opportunity to talk to many sewers about the wonderful machines. I saw lots of current students and former students and had a great time catching up. Starting at 7:30 a.m. and getting back at 9:30 p.m. is tiring, but my head is swirling with new ideas. The last day is tomorrow. Tonight was a concert put on by Ricky Timms. Not only can the guy make fabulous quilts, but he can really sing and play the piano. Quite a wonderful show. While all this was going on, my parents are leaving the assisted living they moved to in January. My mom has gone into a rehab facility to try to get some strength back, and my dad is temporarily moving back to their condo until the sale closes in August. It turned out to be not a great fit for them. Mom took some falls and needs to be in a different place eventually. We are not sure where this new direction is going, but we are certain things will be okay. What a few days...an exciting pattern debut, new quilting ideas and friends, renewing old friends, difficult family decisions. Add the whole cabin addition in the equation and you understand why I am sitting in The Red Chair sipping a glass of wine. I suppose it isn't such a great idea to borrow the AA saying of "one day at a time" while sipping such wine, but I think that I need to keep that in mind. Each day brings highs and lows. A beautiful quilt needs darks and lights to be interesting. Jerilynn P.S. I forgot to tell you about the picture! I made these a few days ago from a kit I picked up at Bead Monkey in St. Paul. I like this style of earrings and I thought once I learned how to make them from the kit I could make them on my own. I was right. They were fun and easy. Sorry for the bad picture!

Circles!!!

I think I mentioned the circular attachment tool for my Bernina a few posts ago when I talked about the round potholder. I thought that the next time I made one, I would do the quilting with the attachment and the circles would be actually round (a good quality for a circle to have.) A couple of my students were making a bag project and put a few circles on their bag, rather than the square design of my sample. I thought they looked really good, and suggested the circular attachment that would make life a bit easier. Sure enough, the circles are a breeze to make, and fun to see how different the stitches look in the round. BUT, about halfway through the project that I was trying to get done by my Thursday deadline, I BROKE THE ATTACHMENT!!! Yep, not good. Carl looked closely at it and identified the teeny tiny area that broke off. I pushed it together the best I good and carefully continued to use it, even afraid to breathe too hard. It worked good enough to get the circles done. Tomorrow (I guess it will be later today!) I will call Sew Complete to see if they have a replacement in stock. Cross your fingers for me, blog readers. As I said, my pattern deadline is Thursday and I am trying to get everything done. Also cross your fingers for that!!! Jerilynn P.S. Sorry about yesterday's very short post and horrible potholders! Reviews today confirmed the show wasn't all that great. By the lack of comments yesteday, it has been confirmed the potholders were not all that great, either. I will make sure I spill something gooey on them quite soon.

Day Two of School of Threadology

More good food today. All food has been great, but there must be a couple or more different people the school is using. Some have tablecloths, flowers, "tablescapes" (ala Sandra somebody on Food Channel). I am sad to report that I have eaten all the offered desserts, although I have avoided most all of the bread. Doesn't make much sense, but if I am going to blow it, I want it to be on something really yummy. When they said that we wouldn't go hungry, they were very right! I stayed a bit later after class to hear a presentation on websites and blogs. Pretty interesting. I know I haven't been blogging very long, but it has been three whole days and I don't have any followers! I know, I have to let people know about it, but I guess I just want to quietly sit in a comfy chair and write a bit and have people read it. Anyway, back to the school...today I played with all different kinds of threads. I learned that pretty much all I need are topstitch needles - for piecing, quilting, embroidering. Most of the thread I used today had a needle suggestion of 90/14 Topstitch. Some thicker thread required a 100/16. All of the Superior Threads I used sewed beautifully on the Bernina 730 that I was using. Upper tension was usually lowered to 1 to 3, depending on the type of thread. I am not afraid of playing with the tension dial - unlike some people who had the fear installed in them that IF THEY EVER TOUCHED THE TENSION SOMETHING REALLY BAD WOULD HAPPEN. I am looking forward to being home with my new threads and trying them out on the Bernina 440, 1630, and the Pfaff Creative Vision. Ya, I know, I have a lot of machines. After talking with other students, however, I think my machine "stash" is fairly modest! (This is not a hint for my spousal unit!). We also saw some gorgeous quilts made by Heather (Mother Superior). The quilting was done on a longarm machine and is looking more and more like something I would like to learn to do. Ooops, a machine stash addition? I am liking the King Tut thread the most - pretty colors and a bit thicker. I will let you know how it goes once I get home. Tomorrow we get to make another project and have another talk about threads. Who knew that three days playing with string could be sew much fun! Okay, since I didn't bring my camera (duh!) I will have to look in My Pictures to find something to post because all this wording is a bit dull. It is a picture of my Penny Rug Table Runner. I have a new pattern out for that and am teaching a class on the runner in October. Good night! Jerilynn