Embroidered Cartoon

Good Day!  I thought I would share an embroidered cartoon that Vicki Freeman completed.  Vicki has a website called Sassypacks.com and a blog of the same name.

What makes this embroidery special?  I will let you see for yourself:

Anyone notice my cartoon in the above picture? The name of this cartoon is “Slimy Machine Quilting Pickup Lines.”  LOL

Vicki wanted to do this embroidery and so she contacted me to obtain my permission.  I thought her project sounded fun, so I said yes.  Thanks, Vicki, for sending me a picture!  Fun project!  LOL

Hugs, Carla

Sneak Peek- Kimono Quilt

I finished the kimono quilt today for Barb!  Here is a sneak peek picture revealing part of the quilt:

This quilt is a nice blend of freehand, ruler work and a tiny part of a stencil, plus my pattern board circle.   Here’s a hint: see this design below?

The flower is actually created by using a circle pattern board for the round parts, then sketching in the interior flower using Crayola chalk.  For the outside petals, which appear uniform, I cut my own stencil using fun foam and scissors.  Again, the petals were premarked with chalk to give a more uniform appearance.

I will ask Barb if I may share more pictures on the blog.  She has already seen these pics, so I have not spoiled her surprise.  I finished this quilt with one day to spare!!  How is that to working to deadlines?

If you want to see this quilt in person, it will be on public display at the Folsom Quilt & Fiber  Show beginning February 11-13, 2011.  After the show, this quilt will belong to a private collector

Class Registration and other items…

I decided to take a few minutes and come up for air!  I have been busy registering students for my next online class that begins on Monday, October 18th.  I am happy to report that registration has been a complete success!

The demographics for this class is  a wonderful cross section of both sit down machine quilters and people in business with stand up quilting systems.  It is a nice mix of quilters from around the US, plus several students from Australia, Germany, England,  and Canada.   Students have been very upbeat and positive about taking my class, too.  We will have a good time.

Class starts on October 18, 2010 and lasts 3 weeks.  For more info, just click my class button above my Header art above.

——————————————————————-

What else have I been up to?    I went thrift store hunting and scored more designer clothes for my fall wardrobe.  All for $1.50 per top!  I love a bargain, plus it just makes sense in this economy to save wherever you can.  Also came home with lots of grandkids toys to add to my collection.  Jack and Kate have more toys here than at home, I think.  LOL

Been sailing on my boat, S/V Sea Glass, a few times.  Sailing has become the highlight of my weekend time with Joe.  It has been 90- degrees, so it is still bathing suit weather here in Northern California.

Spent babysitting time with Jack and Kate.  They are so cute and fun to be around!  I love being a grandmother!

Preparing for Fall class season in the local stores.  I am teaching a wide variety of classes here in Northern CA-  an Autumn Leaves quilt, my slash therapy quilt, 3 purse classes, and yes, an adorned fabric bowl class.  More details to follow…

What have YOU been up to?  Hugs, Carla

WIP & Designs

Hello, been a few days since I posted, so thought I would show you what I am up to.

I do have a new quilt on my frame that I am part way through.  Today, I decided I do  not like my border design for this quilt, so I will take the time to unstitch the area, aka “frogging a quilt.”  It will take me many hours, but the final result will be worth it.

Then, I am in the midst of making some new class samples using current fabrics.  First up is my slash Therapy Quilt, I have finished the body of the quilt shown here:

The photo is a bit misleading, right now, the border stops at the navy dot fabric.  The finished border will be pieced and more interesting.  Here is this quilt in a different colorway:

My next project is a cool purse that has been in my head for years.  I need to hunt for the right fabric to create it.  Here is my working sketch design:

I also want to re-design this purse from years ago that I started with my friend, Lori:

Next WIP is getting my new class website together.  That is coming along nicely.  I am still on schedule for my Fall QW class.  I plan to announce the dates soon.  If you are already on my mailing list here  or the list at the QW Yahoo Group, then you should expect an announcement first.

If you want to get on my list, just leave a comment on my Class page.

Enjoy your week!!  Hugs, Carla

Purse for Linda

I thought I would give you a sneak peek into a purse I made for Linda James.  Linda was the door prize winner in a class earlier this year and this was what I made for her:

I learned to make this purse from Lori during one of our Creative Week Adventures.  This is where we get together for a week and just create.

Here is a shot peeking down:

See the pretty flower?    Anyway, I love this pattern, so a shout out thanks to Lori!

Linda, if you are reading this, I plan to mail it off tomorrow.

So, what creative goodness have you been up to?

Hugs, Carla

Feathered Fibers Items Revealed!

I travel tomorrow,  Mother’s Day,  for my classes I’m teaching at International Machine Quilting Showcase held in Overland Park, KS.

I decided to bring some FeatheredFibers items with me,  let me show you my very first items that I am offering.  My favorite items are the embroidered machine quilting work aprons.  There is one design for chicken fans and one design with my longarm logo.  One says “Longarm Quilter” and the other “Artistic Quilter.”   After all, if you machine quilt, you are an artistic quilter!:

Then there is a messenger bag for all- including those Quilt Whispering students who wish to pack your tablets and laptops.  Here is one embroidered with my longarm logo:

Here is another must have- an embroidered zipper front, sweatshirt with your choice of two embroidered designs.  One is a chicken and one is a longarm:

Here are some tote bags to carry home all those purchases you are bound to get:

Plus, use these in public and I bet quilters will approach you.  Great way to promote your home business!

I also have t-shirts, too, with a variety of designs.   This is my first offerings… I also have future plans to feature full cartoons on bags, other items, plus framable prints, cards and calender.

Thanks to Dennis & Dory Miller for thier hard work with embroidery and screenprinting the items for me.  They were wonderful to interact with and I can highly recommend thier business!

Look for me and my items at MQS!  One way to track me down is to visit my classroom before and after my classes.    Hope to see you there!  Carla

Sneak Peek

Want to see a sneak peek of the Feathered Fibers denim embroidered work apron?  Dory’s blog shows a picture of them hanging on her longarm table since she shares her yurt with her husband, Dennis and his business.

Half the aprons will have my chicken in the design and the other half has my longarm logo design on it.   All the products will be going to MQS, and I will sell them before and after my classes.    Pretty cool, huh?

I also have some more good news to share:  I have been too busy to eat, but I have tried to stick with my diet.  I stepped on the scale, not knowing what to expect, and I am down about 4 more lbs.!

To celebrate, I partook in some retail therapy the other day at Chico’s and Macy’s.  I bought about 6 pairs of pants- some ankle length, some cropped and one or two that hits a bit higher just above the knee.  Then I found about 7 new tops that mix and match with the pants.

Now I need a pair of white and navy flats and I am good to go.  I seem to have the hardest time finding comfy shoes that are also stylish.  Any tips for me?  They have to be flat, since my high heel wearing days ended when my doctor warned me not to.  I like closed toe, since I am too busy to get a pedicure before I leave.  LOL  What women do for beauty!!  LOL

Freeform Purse Kits

I quilted a very large piece of fabric to make up kits for students in my freeform beading class, and silly me- I forgot to leave enough unquilted fabric so I could cut all the binding fabric strips.  I was about 1/4 yard short.

I ran back to the quilt store and of course, the large bolt of batik was long gone!  No other fabric worked.  Finally, I just started over with about 9 yards total this time.  So, this morning, I requilted all the fabric for the kits, cut out the purse patterns, the strips for binding and the handle, too.  The project uses fusible fleece, so I cut that, too.  Whew!

Some oops are just fortuitous!  In the end, I much prefer the fabric choices of the 2nd purse fabric.  Perfect for the project, too.

Now I have the fun job of organizing the beads for the project.  My order from artbeads.com arrived, and the beads look wonderful!  Thanks to Reyna at ArtBeads for assisting me, and also this terrific company donated items for the kits and my class doorprize, too.  Thank you!!!  I continue to be amazed by everyone I interact with at this online company!

That’s it for today…  Grandson Jack is coming over so we can have some fun time with him!  Enjoy your weekend!  Carla

Work in Progress

I am one of those who are always working on several projects at once.  Not sure why I do this, but it seems to work for me.  Here are my works in progress:

Quilting: I am working on a lovely quilt for my dear friend, Nancy, who lives in North Carolina.  Nancy is in her 80′s and has the sweetest Southern accent.  I just love when she calls!

Beading:  Working on another new design for the ArtBeads.com Blogging Designer program.   Hopefully, I can finish it soon to show you all.

Purse: I am using my sewing machine to make a purse like this one:

The purse will have different fabric than the one above.  It is for Linda, who won this purse as a door prize to my  last online Quilt Whisperer Class.  I like to give out really good door prizes!!  By the way, the purse above was won by Vicki Welsh in a blog contest I ran a couple of years ago.

I have other projects going, including spending some quality time with my tablet laptop.  By the way, my DH really wants to buy me the new ipad, but I am not yet sold on it.  This weekend, we are going to visit the Apple store to check it out.

Easter is right around the corner, too.  I want to thank everyone who emailed, texted or called me to ask if I had my Parsnip Pete Chocolate Easter Bunny this year.  I am good, I went hunting early and lucked out!

What are YOU working on??   Hugs, Carla

Thrift Store Finds

I visited my local thrift store this week, and found a couple of finds in the clothing department.  Since I am down a couple of sizes, I wanted to pick up a few items without breaking the bank.

I found this lovely top by SweetPea, a brand carried at Nordstroms, which looks very flattering on:

It looks terrific with jeans, too.  The next top I found was from the Serenade brand:

Again, this is very flattering on- even better since it only  cost me $1.50 each due to a half off sale.  LOL

I also found a book for my DH by a favorite author; and also a retro pyrex dish.  All in all, a good day!

I love hunting for items at the thrift store!  I guess it is the recycle/reuse philosophy I have, or perhaps the thrill of the hunt?   Any others who feel the same way as me?  I know you are out there!  LOL

By the way, the thrift store is also a perfect place for craft supplies.  One of my favorite projects I did involved buying a couple of those long “teacher” dresses that were in style about 15 years ago  and cut them into strips of fabric.  I then crocheted them into a large bag or purse.  Of course, I have a tutorial for that here.  You could also wrap the fabric around cording and make a fabric bowl for your home or perhaps a rag rug.  The ideas are endless!!

Enjoy your day!!  Carla