National Sewing Machine Day 2012

It's National Sewing Machine Day!  If you need an excuse to go out and purchase a new machine, this is it!  My children informed me that it is also National Clean Out Your Belly Button Day.  So, clean out that lint!  From your machine and your belly button.  They kind of go together, eh?

 Elna Quilter's Dream

Here's my newest sewing machine, the Elna Quilter's Dream.  I've had it for about a month and it so blows away my old machine.  The more I use it, the more I love it.  It has so many nice functions that I didn't have on my old machine, a gazillion new stitches to try out, speed control, and more.  I could not make the tiny ACEO mini-quilts without this machine.

 Holly Hobbie Sewing Machine

My most recent addition to the toy machine collection is this cute Holly Hobbie machine.  I remember having a Holly Hobbie doll and also carrying my books to school in a Holly Hobbie style book bag.  She's lookin' good!

Singer Featherweight 221

I think I showed a pic of this machine last year, but I just love this new shot of my Featherweight with the original can of oil, and accessories box posing with the Ice Pellets Quilt.  Looks like a million!  I have been using the Featherweight regularly lately, toting it to and from quilting group.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super National Sewing Machine Day!

Jennifer

Twist and Shout!

 Four Twist and Shout Blocks

I've been making these fun Twist and Shout blocks at my Monday night Quarter Seamers quilting group.  They are pieced on a muslin foundation.  These blocks are fast and fun to sew.

Eight Twist and Shout Blocks

So far I've made eight and a half of these blocks.  As you can see, half of the block is sewn with dark strips of fabric and half with light strips.  This allows for many different settings depending on which way you turn the blocks, similar to a Log Cabin quilt.  I'm not sure what setting I'm going to use, just yet.  I want to make enough blocks for a twin size quilt.  

This is a great stash-busting quilt.  I'm being completely random choosing the fabrics for this quilt to get a super scrappy look.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Jennifer 

Stack the Deck Update

 Stack the Deck blocks

Well, well, I finally had the chance to finish the other six Stack the Deck blocks, and above is a photo of all twelve.  I'm not sure if this will be the final arrangement, but likely something similar.  I'm trying to keep the browns from touching each other, as they are drawing the most attention.  It almost looks like there is a star emerging in the lower middle.  Maybe I should work on that.  Hmmmmm.....

Trent, Me, and Super Why!

Other than that, there's not much sewing going on at the moment.  It's summer vacation time for the boys, so I'm not expecting to get a whole lot accomplished.  I took Trent to see Super Why! at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh on Saturday.  He was shy, but glad he went.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop...and have a super day!

Jennifer

I Can Knit!

 First Fingerless Glove on needles

I can knit!  I can hardly believe it, but with the help and moral support of the Library Knitting Group, I actually finished my gloves.  We meet at the Perry Memorial Library every other Monday from 1-3.

 Right Hand Glove

I almost gave up after the first glove.  I really messed up the thumb.  I think it came out bigger than the top, where my four fingers emerge, but I tried my best to salvage it, and started on the left hand glove anyway.

Finished Gloves

And here they are...on my hands!   They're not too bad after all.  I've been wearing them this week because it's only been in the 50's in the mornings.  I have to credit my son, Gavin with the above photo.  He is talented with the camera.  The pattern came from the Stitch 'n Bitch Nation book.  It's called Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers by Renee Rigdon.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

ACEO's - the Addiction!

 Oak Leaf Reel with Cut Flowers

ACEO's - the Addiction!  That title sounds bad, eh?  I better reiterate what an ACEO is.  ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  It's basically a 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" trading card that people collect.  I've started making quilty ACEO's, and I just love it.  

 Oak Leaf Reel close-up

They are tiny, quick, and fun to make.  Here's a close-up shot of my second ACEO, Oak Leaf Reel.

 Oak Leaf Reel with Vintage Irons

And here's a pic of the Oak Leaf Reel with a few of my favorite things.  You can really get an idea of the size of it in this photo with the two irons.  I love these two irons.  The large one is so ornate, and has a great star on top, and the miniature iron is so mini!  And it's made of genuine iron material - LOL!

Beryl's Tulip Basket

My third ACEO, Beryl's Tulip Basket was made during the deluge of Tropical Storm Beryl.

 Beryl's Tulip Basket - Woodland Pic

Today's another rainy day - "Drismal" as my weatherman would say.

But a happy day, too.  My 7 y.o.'s little league baseball team, the White Sox, finally won a game last night.  Go White Sox!

Beryl's Tulip Basket with Tulip Window Art

Here's a nice shot of Beryl's Tulip Basket against the back window of the old 60's Shasta camper we're restoring.  Wes made a tulip design on the back window with some silicone to cover the cracks.  Cute in a folk art kind of way.  I like how you can see the reflection of the sky and the trees in the window.  This photo was taken on a much nicer day.

These two ACEO mini-quilts are available in the new shop section, ACEO Mini Quilts.  ACEO #4 is in the works, too.  I'm making a Sunbonnet Sue type for this one.  She's a looker!

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

Playing with Color

A long-time friend of mine, Jennifer Lynn Bishop has just launched a terrific new website, Color My Designs.  Jennifer is a published coloring book artist.  Her book Geometrix, is full of fabulous designs to color and spark your creativity.

Design #7

At her site, Color My Designs, you can choose different designs to color, save, and print out.  Optionally, you could also print out the line drawings, and color them in by hand.  I played with her latest design, Design #7 today.  What fun!  Endless possibilities.

Hexagons #3

You can also find simple groupings of shapes like the above Hexagons #3.  This would be excellent to try different colorings for a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  Also available are squares, diamonds, equilateral triangles, and more.  Use your imagination and play, play, play.  This is a picture perfect way to  audition different color combinations for your next quilting project.  Have fun trying it out, and be sure to leave Jen a comment to let her know what you think.

Until next time...please visit the Curlicue Creations Shop, and have a super day!

Jennifer

Vintage Shopping Finds of the Week

Ah...vintage shopping recently came up with some interesting finds.  You know I just love this stuff and have to share it with everyone.  Above is the Stickmuster-Buch Embroidery Pattern Book No. 982.  This is German in origin.  I could not find another of the same number on the internet, but a similar Stickmuster-Buch book I found online dates to the 1880's.  Pretty neat!

The embroidery designs inside fold out, accordion style.

Here's a view of the designs on the back side.

This sheet of border designs was my favorite.  I especially like the one on the top.

Moving on into the 20th century, I just couldn't resist this Salem Mini Sew-R Sewing and Marking Kit "as seen on TV".  It's so retro looking!  I couldn't quite date this either, but it appears to be from the early 1970's.  All the directions and pieces are included in the box.  I really like the scalloped edge ruler.  It looks like it could be useful for something.

Wes brought home this Miniature Quilts book by Margaret Boyles.  How handy, since I am working on some tiny ACEO Mini Quilts at the moment.  I hope to find some good tips for miniature quilt construction in this book.  Visit the new shop section, ACEO Mini Quilts to see what I have made so far.  These tiny collectible quilts measure 2-1/2" x 3-1/2".

Eeek!  Only 3-1/2 more days of school for the kids here...summer is coming.

Until next time...have a super day!

Jennifer