Cutwork The Easy Way!

Many of you asked how my Diamond DeLuxe was able to cut out my applique leaves in my last post.  You thought it was just a sewing and embroidery machine, but it's so much more than that.  

Cutwork Needles from Inspira.

One of the newer innovations in home embroidery is cutwork needles. These specialty cutting needles along with specifically digitized designs make it possible to create beautiful cutwork or applique projects on your embroidery machine while your machine does all the fabric cutting. No scissors needed- what a treat! 

We used the  5D embroidery software to create the leave pattern then let the Diamond DeLuxe do all the cutting for us.  

If you would like to learn more about the cutwork needles from Husqvarna Viking then here is a great you tube video.  

Cutwork samples made on the embroidery machine

You may still enter the St. Patrick's Day Giveaway  until Sunday, March 25th.

Until next time,

St. Patrick's Day Giveaway

Welcome blog hop party people!!!

What do 144 fabric leaves look like, you ask?

This is 144 leaves.

I cut them out with my Diamond DeLuxe last night and it only took me 15 mins.  Think how long it would have been if I did not have this machine.  I love her. Now I need to work them up into a quilt.  I think I have enough for a few quilts.  

Is everyone getting ready for St. Patrick's day and green beer?   This house hold is ready.  Kansas City has one of the largest St. Patrick's parades in the Midwest.  We even are having a few friends come spend the night just so they might go to the Parade.     

One of us has to work and the other will be out enjoying the fun while having green beer.  I hope everyone has a great St. Patrick's day.  

I thought in honor of the day I would post a little giveaway of a book that I was asked to review.  It is entitled Put Some Charm in your Quilts by Connie Kauffman.

Pre-cuts are all the rage and Connie Kauffman brings you her own style for using them. Put Some Charm in Your Quilts has options for traditional and paper-piecing. A book totally dedicated to the use of charms and to a wide variety of project sizes, it will be the book quilters use again and again. If a gift is needed in a hurry, this is where to find it. These patterns lend themselves to any fabric or style. And best of all, quilters will likely have the fabric on hand when needed. Includes 9 charm projects with options for traditional and for paper piecing.

Jack - in - the Box 

Mystic Garden

These are two of my favorite quilts from the book and Connie makes them  super easy with detailed step by step instructions.  I might just have to make a bed runner for myself as they are becoming the rage.  Anyone else notice the awesome Moda fabric used in both the quilts?  Maybe that is why I love them so much.


If you would like to order a book for yourself you may do so over at Clotilde.


One lucky reader will win a copy of this fun book.  To enter just leave me a comment letting me know what charm pack you have laying around just waiting to be used and you could win this super cute book by Connie Kauffman.


We will randomly choose a winner here on Sunday, March 25 .  (duplicate comments will be deleted)

Click the party badge for a list of participating bloggers.  

Don't forget to join the site and sign up to have new blog post sent to your e-mail.  You may also found us on Facebook  and Twitter. Links maybe found on the right hand side.  Be on the look out for a Facebook/Twitter giveaway coming soon.  

May the luck of the Irish be with you.

Until next time,

Champagne, Dogs & A Winner

Our Sunday started with a Champagne brunch.

Week off to a good start.

We signed his adoption papers last week and were able to pick him up on Monday. 

His name is Apollo and is a Snorkie (Yorkshire Terrier Schnauzer mix).
 
The week keeps getting better.  

Then I get a speeding ticket.

My week is shot all to hell.

The winner of the $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop is 

My week can only get better from here. 

Until next time,

Craftsy Blog Tour

Welcome to another stop on Craftsy block of the month hosted by our dear friend Amy. If you remember, Zeus and I meet her a few months back when we did a little chat together.  Her link can be found under Thirteen Questions with Zeus at the top of  this page if you care to read her interview.

Zeus and I are delighted to find that she has teamed up with Craftsy to bring you a monthly block of the month series.

If you are not familiar with Craftsy (as Zeus and I were not).  Here it is in a nutshell straight from their web site:

Craftsy offers online courses about all of your favorite crafty topics – taught by amazing instructors. Craftsy courses are online, so they are available to you anytime you want for as long as you want – they have no scheduled class times, so you can enjoy them entirely on your own schedule. Each course is taught by an acclaimed instructor and consists of several hours of HD-quality video content… but Craftsy courses are much more than just video! While taking a Craftsy course, you can:

• Ask your instructor questions, upload photos, and get personalized responses
• Participate in discussions with your classmates
• Access supporting course materials – including patterns and helpful tips & tricks
• Bookmark your favorite moments in the video so that you can easily re-watch them and take notes that you can refer back to anytime

Link to Amy's Craftsy Course - you can view the course preview here, but you'll need to click "sign up" to browse the lesson chapters, discussion forum, etc). In the course chapters, you will find an intro video explaining all about the course, Craftsy, and Amy.  There are 4 great lessons so far (2 for Jan & 2 for Feb).   Lots more coming, but you will just have to sign up to find out what they are.  I have seen them and yes, you are going to want to make them.

  

Here is my favorite of Amy's blocks thus far made into a simple quilt using solids along with some sashing thrown in to brake it up.

Fat Quarter Shop has offered the chance to win a $25 gift certificate at every stop on the tour. So that's 14 chances to win!


To enter to win just leave a comment telling what your new favorite up and coming fabric is that can be found at Fat Quarter Shop coming soon page and what block of Amy's you will make with your new favorite fabric from Fat Quarter Shop.  We will randomly choose a winner here on Wednesday March 6.  (duplicate comments will be deleted)




Blog Tour Schedule:

Feb 24 - Miss Print

Feb 25 - Hoosier Toni

Feb 27 - Fresh Lemons

Feb 28 - Qubee Quilts

Feb 29 - Amy's Creative Side

Mar 2 - mon petit lyons

Mar 3 - Mel's Own Place

Mar 5 - Breakfast for Dinner

Mar 7 - Sew Paint Create

Mar 9 - SoChick

Mar 10- Spin the Bobbin

Mar 12- Diary of A Quilter

Mar 14- Ellison Lane

Mar 16- Old Red Barn Co

Until next time,