Embroider more!

I got a new machine--a dedicated embroidery machine! I had no plan to purchase any machine, but then sometimes luck just taps you on the shoulder and has good news to boot!

What happened was that my niece bought this Janome a few years ago thinking she would add embroidery to her small tee shirt business. She changed her mind and, it turns out, she didn't like any part of the machine. She tried a couple of times, but sewing is not in her blood. Poor girl.

So I got a text asking me to help her find someone to buy it--perhaps one of my sewing friends. Oh, what to do, what to do? 

Richard suggested I buy it. I had, after all, talked about buying an embroidery machine but couldn't justify the expense. Besides my Bernina embroiders and I don't have as much interest as I did a few years ago. Hmm, she was asking a fair price...

 Well, you can figure out the rest. The machine came with a box of stabilizers, which were recommended when she bought the machine. Only one roll had been opened.

I decided to open all of the rolls, trim off the cellophane, and wrap the label around the corresponding roll so that I can keep the information with the roll. Otherwise how would I remember which is which? I can remove the tape and tighten the label, which works as a rubber band to keep the fusible from coming off the roll.

Directions for use are printed on a separate sheet, so I tucked it into the center of the roll. 

 And now it's all neatly stored in the shelves near the long-arm with the other fusibles and interfacing. Now to find a minute to read the instruction book and give the machine a run.

Love Birds ~~ finish!

While Richard and I were traipsing around the western states, I needed to keep myself busy. When I get bored, I come up with ridiculous ideas, which often get me into trouble. At the very least I share my ideas. Not a good idea.

The original bird from Preeti

Close up to see the embroidery

Knowing this, I packed some handwork. One of the items I carried with me is the little bird quilt that I started when Preeti (Sew Preeti Quilts) sent a left over bird from her "He Tweeted She Tweeted" quilt. It was such a generous gift that immediately made me think of love birds. So I made a second bird to face the first and connected them. When I began quilting, I simply stitched in the ditch to outline the birds. Then I "finished" the edges of the quilt with a zigzag seam so it wouldn't fray.

My addition

Close up of their heads and faces.
Both have a little cap--how about the feathers in one cap?

That's where I stopped. My idea was that I would continue the quilting, including some thread painting, while we were traveling. Luckily, I decided before we left that some embroidery thread would do the trick, and I didn't need to pack some machine embroidery thread. 

The back using the feather fabric that Preeti included in the gift.
The little white stick is actually part of a broken plastic clothes hanger. 

 I keep my hand embroidery thread in this little pink bag that I bought on clearance for $2 several years ago. The front pockets hold my thimble, scissors, a needle book and extra needles. 

The back pocket holds a cross stitch that I started many years ago. I got halfway through the piece and found myself so lost that I abandoned it. I suppose I have so much work invested that I can't toss it. 

Of course, having a nice little organizer doesn't mean that you're organized. Every time I wanted to work, I had to pull every skein out to find a color. I decided enough of that. Yesterday I started cutting cardboard into mini-spools. While watching TV, I wrapped about 25 spools with thread. 

Still a few skeins of thread to wrap

 Today I cut more spools for the embroidery thread and some longer ones for the crewel thread. Digging through my stash, I found just enough rings so that I could sort colors. Now all of the blues are on one ring. I did the same with red, yellow/orange, green, purple, and neutrals. One ring will hold all of the crewel thread and another holds empty cardboard spools.

Much better!

Honestly, I don't embroider very often, but I also dislike disorder and am hopeful I'll be more likely to pick up my needle now knowing that I'll be able to get to work quickly and easily. If nothing else, the embroidery stuff looks much neater. 

Do you see what you started, Preeti? Talk about inspiration and motivation! That one little bird took me from quilting to embroidery to organizing. And the best part? I enjoyed every moment! Thank you again so much~

Lots of Linkups!

Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework (TGIFF

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: EMBROIDERY

I discovered a fabulous Pinterest board filled with embroidery stitches, designs, and patterns curated by JudyK. Oh Judy, the designs are absolutely stunning! I want (very much) to play with some embroidery for a while. Actually, I've spent the last 15 minutes toying with the idea of starting a small piece that could become a pincushion.

  

Once I started choosing pictures from Judy's board, I found it difficult to stop. There are almost 500 gorgeous pieces and tutorial photos. After pinning many to my own "embroidered, ribbonry" board, I decided to get back to the task at hand...quilts!

I think I've been gravitating toward circular designs, so maybe they are trying to tell me something. Do you think the circular designs in the embroideries may have influenced my quilt choices? lol Maybe I should change the post title.