I read the most fun interview today and wanted to share it with all my friends and fellow quilters. Hopefully the link above will take you to the Connecting Threads blogspot page where the interview is displayed.
Quilting is a passion I wish I had so much more time for. I can't tell you how many books I've collected over the years, but there's one more I must add to my collection. Connecting Threads has interviewed a wonderfully talented quilter, Anita Grossman Solomon, who has authored a new book, "Rotary Cutting Revolution". When you check out the interview, please notice the fantastic quilt on the upper left with the book. The quilt is called The No Waste Windmill, made entirely from scraps! Now that's my kind of quilt.
Something else that I'm drawn to is Anita's style for pineapple quilts. For those of you who know me, my love of log cabin quilts is over the top. Well, pineapple quilts are log cabins with the blocks of fabrics turned in a different pattern. To see her variations of pineapple quilts, you need to visit her blog - http://makeitsimpler.blogspot.com/ . Sorry, I can't make that a clickable link. I've already saved her blog as a favorite and became a follower so I can visit time and time again!
If you are looking for a new and simpler way to quilt, read Connecting Threads' Karen Johnson's interview with Anita and then head on over to her blog for more inspiration!
Happy Quilting :)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Hawaiian Goldwork
I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted to my blog. It's been busy around here, that's for sure.
I've added two sizes to the Hawaiian Goldwork design patterns that have been on the web site. It gives the options to create more projects, from small bags and even your own tropical tee shirts using the new 3" designs, to quilts featuring the 6" designs.
I'm busy drawing motifs to add to the corners of the 8" block designs, but I may just leave these designs the way they are. It would allow the user to add echo stitching, which is the way most Hawaiian quilts are enhanced. As soon as I have decided, the designs will be released.
Summer arrived this past Monday, so I've been busy making and embroidering aprons for a long list of happy customers, just in time for the outdoor grilling season! It seems that aprons have continued to be a very popular kitchen "staple". I've been promised photos of those who have received an apron I've custom made for them, and as soon as they arrive, I'll upload them here.
Enjoy the rest of June, and I'll be back with more great ideas for decorating your home and fun gifts for those hard to buy for people in your life!
Shari
I've added two sizes to the Hawaiian Goldwork design patterns that have been on the web site. It gives the options to create more projects, from small bags and even your own tropical tee shirts using the new 3" designs, to quilts featuring the 6" designs.
I'm busy drawing motifs to add to the corners of the 8" block designs, but I may just leave these designs the way they are. It would allow the user to add echo stitching, which is the way most Hawaiian quilts are enhanced. As soon as I have decided, the designs will be released.
Summer arrived this past Monday, so I've been busy making and embroidering aprons for a long list of happy customers, just in time for the outdoor grilling season! It seems that aprons have continued to be a very popular kitchen "staple". I've been promised photos of those who have received an apron I've custom made for them, and as soon as they arrive, I'll upload them here.
Enjoy the rest of June, and I'll be back with more great ideas for decorating your home and fun gifts for those hard to buy for people in your life!
Shari
Sunday, May 23, 2010
New Apron Set - Correction
I'm not sure how it happened, but the picture of Ava in her apron set didn't get posted (it was there in the preview). So, let's try again! Here's a picture of my adorable 4 year old granddaughter.
Maybe it's me, but the photo of the embroidered apron ties didn't make it either, so I've uploaded that again as well.
There, that's better :)
Shari
Maybe it's me, but the photo of the embroidered apron ties didn't make it either, so I've uploaded that again as well.
There, that's better :)
Shari
New Apron Set
I have been swamped with apron projects lately, but one that I was excited to do was for one of my darling granddaughters as a birthday surprise. Ava loves anything related to fairy princesses, but she also loves purple and dressing up to play.
Here's a picture of Ava modeling her apron set and below that is a larger image of just the apron and hat.
I used two different fabrics in the same color family, but the contrast has some sparkle, something required by every princess! Unlike her cousins' apron sets I recently made, this one has a rounded bottom section and gathered pocket.
Another recently apron project features a nautical theme. The original design needed to be edited slightly to mimic the owner's boat a bit more realistically. The boat name was added to the design and the tie ends were also embroidered with the owners' first names.
With cooking shows gathering more audiences these days, people are finding pleasure in spending time with their families cooking up fun and wholesome dishes, indoors or out by the barbeque. Aprons, whether simple or decorated, have grown in popularity over the past few years and I don't see the trend fading anytime soon.
Why not check out some of the design ideas we have on our web site, or have us embroider your own idea? There are so many fun, washable fabrics to choose from, we're sure to find something novel for you and your family! Our aprons are adjustable and can be outfitted with your choice of one or more pockets, or even a wide single pocket that is divided. And if you're not into cooking but love to garden, we have lots of different apron options for whatever hobby you're into.
As Julia Child would say...bon appetit!
Shari
Here's a picture of Ava modeling her apron set and below that is a larger image of just the apron and hat.
I used two different fabrics in the same color family, but the contrast has some sparkle, something required by every princess! Unlike her cousins' apron sets I recently made, this one has a rounded bottom section and gathered pocket.
Another recently apron project features a nautical theme. The original design needed to be edited slightly to mimic the owner's boat a bit more realistically. The boat name was added to the design and the tie ends were also embroidered with the owners' first names.
With cooking shows gathering more audiences these days, people are finding pleasure in spending time with their families cooking up fun and wholesome dishes, indoors or out by the barbeque. Aprons, whether simple or decorated, have grown in popularity over the past few years and I don't see the trend fading anytime soon.
Why not check out some of the design ideas we have on our web site, or have us embroider your own idea? There are so many fun, washable fabrics to choose from, we're sure to find something novel for you and your family! Our aprons are adjustable and can be outfitted with your choice of one or more pockets, or even a wide single pocket that is divided. And if you're not into cooking but love to garden, we have lots of different apron options for whatever hobby you're into.
As Julia Child would say...bon appetit!
Shari
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Night Fairy Designs
I've completed the Night Fairy designs and have uploaded the images to my web site so you can start dreaming how to use them in your own project. I've done them in two different color schemes so you can be inspired to choose different colors, giving you lots of design options. And, I've also used Swarovski hot fix crystals to add some bling to the designs. I can see these designs on curtains for a little princess' bedroom, or even on a fairy princess dress for that sweet little girl in your life.
The designs are quick to stitch, consisting of a fill for the fairy and a triple stitch for the decorative lines. I use Swarovski hot fix crystals from Design By Dawn - www.designbydawn.com - as they are the best quality crystals. If you've never tried them before, Dawn also sells the tool to apply them, along with easy to follow instructions. Careful though, adding crystals to your projects is very addicting!
The designs are on a special introductory price through May 31, so you'll want to order them before the price goes up. You get 20 designs in the complete set, one each in small and medium. The individual design prices is also lower during the introductory price period, and for each design you purchase, you'll get a small and medium for one low price!
For those who don't embroider, but would like to have these lovely designs stitched on something for you or as a gift, please email me with your idea or request at sharianndesigns@comcast.net.
I welcome you to stop by and browse around.
Shari
The designs are quick to stitch, consisting of a fill for the fairy and a triple stitch for the decorative lines. I use Swarovski hot fix crystals from Design By Dawn - www.designbydawn.com - as they are the best quality crystals. If you've never tried them before, Dawn also sells the tool to apply them, along with easy to follow instructions. Careful though, adding crystals to your projects is very addicting!
The designs are on a special introductory price through May 31, so you'll want to order them before the price goes up. You get 20 designs in the complete set, one each in small and medium. The individual design prices is also lower during the introductory price period, and for each design you purchase, you'll get a small and medium for one low price!
For those who don't embroider, but would like to have these lovely designs stitched on something for you or as a gift, please email me with your idea or request at sharianndesigns@comcast.net.
I welcome you to stop by and browse around.
Shari
Monday, April 26, 2010
Digitizing Tutorials
I've received several inquiries over the past month about my old PE-Design V5 tutorials. Although I haven't created any new tutorials for the digitizing software, I still have my movie and text tutorials available for anyone looking to learn (or re-learn) version 5 of PE-Design. The tutorials consist of Layout & Editing, Design Center, PhotoStitch and Manual Punch for Fur.
The tutorial for Layout & Editing covers everything you could possibly want or need to know about this segment of the software and includes a complete digitizing lesson. The movies have audio and you can see exactly what I am illustrating or educating you about within the software windows.
The tutorial for Design Center also covers everything about Design Center with audio and visual movies the same way and also includes a digitizing lesson. Not everyone uses Design Center, but if you like redwork or other easy to digitize designs, this is a wonderful program.
PhotoStitch will enable you to create stitched photos of your family, friends, and a whole lot more. If you have an image of a favorite summer cottage, you can recreate this in stitches with this popular program element. The movies and printable lesson document will take you from the beginning through stitching out your own photostitch masterpiece.
Finally, Manual Punch for Fur will help you learn about using one of the tools in Layout & Editing to create fabulous "furry" or controlled stitch direction designs. In this movie and printable lesson document, I take you through choosing a photo or other image of the animal you'd like to recreate in stitches to give it that realistic fur look. You can also use this wonderful tool for lots of other digitizing projects, but most embroiderers love the challenge of creating the wolf face, which is the subject of this lesson. You even get the image of the wolf to use for your own design!
If you'd like to learn more about these tutorials, just drop me an email at sharianndesigns@comcast.net and I'll give you more information. You don't need to be familiar with your version 5 software because I'll give you all the information, plus the why, how and what all along the way.
And if you'd like to join a group where you can ask digitizing or other embroidery questions and be kept up to date about my new designs, plus get free designs, I welcome you to join my Yahoo group -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sharianndesigns/ .
Happy digitizing!
Shari
The tutorial for Layout & Editing covers everything you could possibly want or need to know about this segment of the software and includes a complete digitizing lesson. The movies have audio and you can see exactly what I am illustrating or educating you about within the software windows.
The tutorial for Design Center also covers everything about Design Center with audio and visual movies the same way and also includes a digitizing lesson. Not everyone uses Design Center, but if you like redwork or other easy to digitize designs, this is a wonderful program.
PhotoStitch will enable you to create stitched photos of your family, friends, and a whole lot more. If you have an image of a favorite summer cottage, you can recreate this in stitches with this popular program element. The movies and printable lesson document will take you from the beginning through stitching out your own photostitch masterpiece.
Finally, Manual Punch for Fur will help you learn about using one of the tools in Layout & Editing to create fabulous "furry" or controlled stitch direction designs. In this movie and printable lesson document, I take you through choosing a photo or other image of the animal you'd like to recreate in stitches to give it that realistic fur look. You can also use this wonderful tool for lots of other digitizing projects, but most embroiderers love the challenge of creating the wolf face, which is the subject of this lesson. You even get the image of the wolf to use for your own design!
If you'd like to learn more about these tutorials, just drop me an email at sharianndesigns@comcast.net and I'll give you more information. You don't need to be familiar with your version 5 software because I'll give you all the information, plus the why, how and what all along the way.
And if you'd like to join a group where you can ask digitizing or other embroidery questions and be kept up to date about my new designs, plus get free designs, I welcome you to join my Yahoo group -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sharianndesigns/ .
Happy digitizing!
Shari
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Another Gingerbread Project
Spring has arrived here, which makes me feel so happy. My tulips have bloomed, our Oaks have already started sprouting leaves and the birds are busy tending their nested eggs.
Well, I was finally able to get pictures of my Daughter-in-law and the twins with their custom aprons I made, and baker's caps for the twins. They turned out so cute with the Gingerbread pocket topper design.
JJ's cap is also embroidered with Head Chef across the band, while Holly's cap is decorated with a ribbon that ties into a bow.
I have another apron and baker cap set to do for another grand-daughter and hopefully I can get that accomplished very soon. Right now, I'm working on some sewing for yours truly :)
In the meantime, I'm also working on my newest set of designs, Night Fairies. They are so pretty and can be made even more so with a little bling...hot fix crystals! Here's a preview of the first design in the set.
The designs are two colors, so you can change the look of each design, depending on the project you are creating. And, that means you can also use different colors of crystals, which is always a lot of fun. They stitch quickly as the only fill area is the fairy, with all the lines as triple stitch. I can see these designs sprinkled across the curtains in a fairy princess bedroom. Hopefully I can complete this set of designs and have them tested before the end of May. So many things going on really interferes with my play time!
Speaking of curtains, I'm also working on a new set of curtains for my kitchen. They are embroidered (of course) with these beautiful cutwork tulips and a cutwork bird designs from S Embroidery - Just scroll down the page and look for the New Birdie and New Tulip designs. They are so pretty and stitch out so well. I'll be taking a picture of my curtains as soon as they are completed.
Have a great week,
Shari
Well, I was finally able to get pictures of my Daughter-in-law and the twins with their custom aprons I made, and baker's caps for the twins. They turned out so cute with the Gingerbread pocket topper design.
JJ's cap is also embroidered with Head Chef across the band, while Holly's cap is decorated with a ribbon that ties into a bow.
I have another apron and baker cap set to do for another grand-daughter and hopefully I can get that accomplished very soon. Right now, I'm working on some sewing for yours truly :)
In the meantime, I'm also working on my newest set of designs, Night Fairies. They are so pretty and can be made even more so with a little bling...hot fix crystals! Here's a preview of the first design in the set.
The designs are two colors, so you can change the look of each design, depending on the project you are creating. And, that means you can also use different colors of crystals, which is always a lot of fun. They stitch quickly as the only fill area is the fairy, with all the lines as triple stitch. I can see these designs sprinkled across the curtains in a fairy princess bedroom. Hopefully I can complete this set of designs and have them tested before the end of May. So many things going on really interferes with my play time!
Speaking of curtains, I'm also working on a new set of curtains for my kitchen. They are embroidered (of course) with these beautiful cutwork tulips and a cutwork bird designs from S Embroidery - Just scroll down the page and look for the New Birdie and New Tulip designs. They are so pretty and stitch out so well. I'll be taking a picture of my curtains as soon as they are completed.
Have a great week,
Shari
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