Max and Esther....Finished!

My wall-hanging of them, that is.  Those two are just getting started on a lifetime together....!

After I finished framing the photo with embellishments and lettering, it was time to quilt the image on my Handi Qiuilter Sweet 16.  I prepared it for quilting by spray basting two layers of drapery lining cotton into place behind it on the back of the top.

That was simple enough!  No pinning needed....

I used a yellow thread for quilting and then added some colored pencil to the background.

 

I just wanted the figures to stand out from the background a little bit more. And they were definitely glowing that day....

For the binding, I did what I often do: iron trim along its length and take advantage of its finished edges and pretty weave. It was easy to zigzag it in place with clear thread in both the top and the bobbin (so it wouldn't show on the back.)

Finally, I couched some cording along the inside edge of the binding.

 

I did have fun with those felt flowers from Custom Fabric Flowers. I teach the velvet/silk ribbon flower in my Craftsy class!

Here is the whole piece...

It's actually squarer than it looks...you know how the camera bends the edges...  ;-)

It measures 14.5" X 17.5".

It was a joy to make this...now it is on to the Ringbearer's Pillow!

My Craftsy Class

Since the beginning of March I have been entirely focused on preparing a class for Craftsy.

If you are unfamiliar with them...on their website they describe themselves like this:

• A wide selection of online crafting classes from the best instructors from around the world.
• Watch your classes from anywhere, from any device with an internet connection.
• Take them anytime you want, as many times as you want. Your access never expires.

Classes are on a wide range of subjects, including cake decorating, crocheting, cooking, machine embroidery, home & garden, jewelry, knitting, paper crafts, sewing, weaving, spinning, and.....QUILTING, which is in fact their most popular category by far.

So you can imagine how utterly thrilled and honored I was to be asked to teach a class on crazy quilting!

I prepared for my "shoot" for 2 1/2 months, designing the class, sewing up class projects, samples, and step-outs.  This week I finally went to Denver for three days to put all that hard work onto video.  People will be able to sign up for Crazy Quilting from anywhere in the world!  

Beyond that, part of my job, and one I am really looking forward to, will be interacting with my students online, via the fabulous software "platform" the Craftsy software engineers have developed.  I'll be answering students' questions, looking at pictures of work that they post--and students will be able to interact with each other, too.

So I want to share a glimpse of my week, working with my great crew at Craftsy...

 

This is where my day started, as Danica used her considerable skill to make me look presentable on camera.  I am telling you, it was a WHOLE lot more make-up than I have ever worn, but she knew what she was doing.  I never did get used to it though!

 The first morning, Amy got the set all decorated.

Max, the tech man!

My fabulous producer/director, Alissa Norton, was such a pro...I couldn't have gone 5 minutes without her guidance, creativity, and support.  We had a beautiful collaborative experience over the 3 day shoot, and I left with a true new friend.

Alissa ran one of the cameras, and Rob here ran the other one; he also was in charge of the sound.  It was so cool to see how Max, Rob, and Alissa choreographed the shoot over the three days.

I was calling myself "Gloria Swanson"--like the heavily made-up character in the original "Sunset Boulevard"--because of all the make-up I had on.  But they assured me, it wasn't so much!  Here I am getting ready for the "Stashbusters" segment, one of the highlights of the whole experience.

You can tell, I was having a blast....

On the last day we grabbed some lunch together before the final afternoon of shooting.  We knew we were coming down the homestretch and were feeling great about our work.

The class will be launched in about a month...I'll be sure and let you know when it does.  I'm really excited about being able to introduce crazy quilting in this new (to me) venue.  Sending thanks and love to my friends at Craftsy for giving me the opportunity!

And...now I can start blogging about what I'm working on again!  It's been a long hiatus.  I'm looking forward to posting things as they happen in the sewing room once more....

See you soon!

Max and Esther....Progress

Those little blue flowers I had pinned on there above the photo had to go...they didn't show up well enough.

But the floral frame is coming along nicely!  I am almost ready for the lettering....

 

This is such a fun project....

Max and Esther

My older son Max is marrying his Esther next month, cause for great celebration!
I am making a little commemorative wall-hanging for them.  I'm just starting out...

They look so happy, don't they?
I'm going to frame them with flowers, like in one of the classes I teach...

This should be very fun to do...especially because I get to look down at their smiling faces as I work.  I'll post progress shots as I go....

Nous Allons Paris!

What an amazing thing has happened!

http://dmc-threads.com/winners-dmc-memories-contest-announced/

Never in my wildest dreams did I think my entry to this contest, "Tell Us Your Story for a Chance to Experience Ours" that DMC presented last fall would win....but it tied for the Grand Prize, so they are sending both of us winners to Paris for a WEEK, each of us with a guest.  A highlight of the trip will be a train ride to Mulhouse, 3 1/2 hours from Paris in the Alsace region, to get a tour of the DMC factory...and a special chance to view their needlework archives. 

My sister is coming with me, and we are over the moon.

We're going in September, and I will be blogging all about it!

Thank you, DMC, for the trip of a lifetime!!!!

Twenty Years in the Garden....Finished!

Oh, how I have enjoyed this project.
It was a much needed interlude between finishing the book with Val and a new endeavor which will keep me quite busy until mid-May (when I can tell you about it; I'm quite excited!)

All the vegetable beds planted looks like this:

The corn is a little short.  But I didn't have enough ribbon to make it taller!
Such are the problems when gardening and embroidery meet.

As we all should do with our finished projects, I provided a label with some documentation.

It includes a photo that inspired my quilt too.

I made a simple binding from turning the backing fabric to the front in a fold, and appliqueing it down.  But I dressed it up with some couched cording.

This was a nice opportunity for me to get a little more warm color into the piece.

And now it is done and mailed off to the Quilt Alliance for their "Twenty" contest, exhibit, and fundraiser (though I'm not eligible for the contest as a serving board member, I love to participate each year.)

Happy Gardening, everyone.  Tis the season!