Aquamarine Ambience Block One Done

Using the cross reference line command from Embird I have one block completed!

From Embroidery Designs

The only problem I'm encountering now is that Jenny speeds up in the small detailed designs and it's eating my threads.  The small yellow leaves in the center kept shredding my thread because of how fast she had them stitching out.  I finally gave up in the center design and will leave them as open circles.  I know you can change the speed on the Topaz I just wasn't sure you can do it while stitching out and I wasn't about to find out until I finished this block.

I'm going to have to take a trip up to Omaha and get more thread as well.  

Topaz Embroidery Bag Came!

I picked up my embroidery module bag today!  I've waited several weeks for this to come in as it was special ordered.  Here it is:

From Embroidery Designs

The styrofoam insert fits inside:

From Embroidery Designs

This is a really nice bag and sure beats trying to get the unit out of the box.  My only complaint is that the bag doesn't stand up very well vertically.  

Outlining My Horse

I've managed to get a lot of the horse done.  I gave up on free motion quilting because it looked so bad.  Even while going very slow, I couldn't keep the stitches even like I wanted.  This project just screamed perfect stitches for outlining.  

Here's a close-up of the outline work:

From Quilted with Love

From Quilted with Love

This is turning out really beautiful. I can't wait to get it done. I love that the pressure foot lifts every time you stop for more detailed sewing. Once I discovered I had a clear open toe foot with a cover in front of the needle, it's been perfect for this. The fabric isn't sliding over the edge. I haven't needed a walking foot for this either. And..no take-up lever issues. I love this machine.

My Striped Butterfly

I got the butterfly designs into the Topaz 30 and stitched one out using Superior's Rainbows thread.  I've been dying to try a variegated thread.  Wow.  Nice thread.   I'm still giggling over the fact that he's got stripes.    

From Embroidery Designs

It wasn't until I turned it over that I realized I had some minor problems:

From Embroidery Designs

There are loops on the back and parts of the towel had come through.  I'll have to do another and change the needle and see if that helps.  Somehow the top tension is loose.  The thread didn't come out of the take-up lever so it may be needle issues.   Or the transfer from JEF to VP3 may not have come through right.  I know the designs work in JEF as I've used it before.  Sometimes it's hard to tell.  I don't know enough about digitizing to fix anything if it can be.

 

It Works! Tension Is Working!!

Woo Hoo!  The embroidery part works on the Topaz!  No take-up lever problems!   I stitched out a quilt block using purple, yellow and green.  Not sure I like the green, but it stitched out beautifully.

From Embroidery Designs

I also got a new toy with the thread I ordered:

From Embroidery Designs

I use a lot of Madeira thread and they have a spool holder just for the spools.  It fits perfectly so the thread doesn't unwind under the spool.  It just fits on top of the universal one I have.  Way cool!  

Here's a picture of my Topaz stitching out the design:

From Embroidery Designs

Owning More Than One Machine?

Does anyone else feel terribly guilty for owning more than one machine?  I'm going through a terrible bout of guilt.  I've never owned 4 machines in my entire life and I've been feeling sick over it.  I feel selfish and greedy.  I hadn't planned on owning more than one.  It just sorta happened that way.

My very first machine was a Singer that my mom had purchased for my birthday almost 8 years ago.  It was good for piecing but couldn't quilt to save it's life.  Hubby bought me a Janone Quilter's Edition 6260 and it worked for awhile until I read Harriet Hargrave's book on machine quilting.  Being so new to quilting, she made me feel like if I didn't own a very expensive machine with bells and whistles that I wasn't truly a quilter.

So I talked hubby into buying a used Bernina 1630.  I had never used a machine with 9mm feed dogs and couldn't get to Bernina classes as they were held during the day when my kids were in school and hubby was sleeping.  The classes were only held at certain times and there were no private lessons.  Not driving really sucks for classes.  Somehow I nicked the bobbin casing and was so frustrated I traded the machine up for an Aurora 440.  The problem was I couldn't afford the machine.  I fell for the "interest free" Bernina card.  The lady's eyes about popped out of her head when she realized I had the TOL limit on their card.  I realized later that if I didn't have the machine paid off within the time frame the interest would be charged from the beginning.  At 28% interest I was going to be financially impaired.  I sold the machine on Ebay.  NEVER buy a machine on store credit.  If you have to use a card, use your own.

Still listening to Harriet's advice, I kept wanting the "dream machine" she said I needed.  My LQS was having a local sewing machine store bring down Janomes and they talked me into buying the Janome 6600.  I wasn't that impressed with the machine but still very much a novice with machines I bought it anyway.  I've never truly liked the machine as I couldn't get it to accurately hold a 1/4 in seam allowance without the fabric sliding to the left.  No one I know was having this problem and the dealer said the machine was just fine.  I've put up with the 6600 for 3 years wanting to love it, but just couldn't. 

I bought the Janome 350e when I saw a beautiful embroidered quilt.  I bought the machine without even testing it and it's been a great machine.  I had no idea I would outgrow it so fast.

When a friend suggested the Viking line of machines, I fell in love with the Sapphire 870.  For the first time since starting to quilt, I found the machine of my dreams.  Then I realized that I needed a bigger embroidery machine and was able to purchase the Topaz.  Amazingly hubby said to keep the Sapphire as I was just going to trade up.  

That brings me to now with 4 machines and 3 of the are in storage as I don't have a place to put them upstairs.  However; each machine has its good points.  The Sapphire is perfect for piecing and has fabulous decorative stitches.  The Topaz does amazing embroidery designs.  I pulled out my 6600 today as it quilts with ease.  The 350e is perfect for embroidering small items.

I've bonded more with my 6600 for its quilting abilities today as I've been topstitching my quilt.   This truly is a fabulous machine now that I'm not mad at it for not piecing right.   

I feel SO much better after bringing this up.  Still feeling guilty, but knowing now that I have a bond with each of them at really helps.  They aren't wasting away, but used as needed.  

 

Jenny Haskins "Vintage Garden" Book

I'm torn.  I've recently discovered Jenny Haskin's magazine "Creative Expressions" and have enjoyed it.  I went online to see her site and my jaw dropped.  What gorgeous quilts!  She has a new book out called "Vintage Gardens" that makes a quilt to die for.  Trying to find her books in the US is practically impossible except through Ebetray.  Her site had the book for for 70 AUD with 25 AUD in shipping.  I'm not sure what that translates to US dollars but that still means OUCH in my pocketbook. 

A site called Ericas.com  has the book on pre-order for 69.95.  

Then I got looking at the designs and realized this out of my league.  I'd get so frustrated trying hoop the designs together to work.  I do have a large hoop, the 360x200, but it would still mean trying to line up designs. I hate to spend hours stitching it out and realize that I can't put the other half together.

*Edited as of June 8 2009*

I did buy the book and it's very well done.  I'm glad I purchased it as I've used the embroidery instructions included to work on my "Aquamarine Ambience" quilt.  

Debi Reese over at Sew Creative Cottage carries Jenny's items including her threads.  She was a wonderful help and I got my book right away.    

If I make the quilt, I plan on using blues and yellows.  The fabric Jenny uses sell out right away but I like doing my own thing.  I plan on doing a cream background with yellow/blue fabrics and threads.  I have some other ideas floating around in my head, but I want to get the "Aquamarine Ambience" done.  

  

    

Uprising Of The Sewing Machine

I think we are having an uprising of the sewing machines this week after reading several blog posts.  Skynet must be testing out a software program to see if it works before building a Terminator.  Some are eating thread.  Some are just refusing to work.  Another person is having tension issues.  Mine has decided to join in on the fun today big time.  

I decided to machine embroider a small purse.  I put the embroidery module on and hit the OK button.  It starts up with the arm, clears the space and gets stuck coming back up.  I hit the OK again and it won't move.  I turn off the machine and start again.  It works now so I set up the hoop.

I start embroidering and this horrendous noise starts.  I stop the machine and take off the hoop.  A HUGE wad of top thread is underneath.  Sigh.  Stupid top tension.  I clean out the bobbin area and start again.  Same problem.  I try again, checking thread paths and all the other stuff you are supposed to do before you call the dealer and it eats more thread.

I call the dealer.  She says to clean out the top tension discs.  I do that and start again.  No problems until I get to the satin stitch around the piece and it starts shredding thread. 

I start the 2nd piece and it seems to do okay until towards the end and then it starts to make the noise you get when the thread has come out of the take-up lever.  Yep.  The thread has come out.  3rd piece does just fine.

Being stubborn, I start to satin stitch the purse's sides together.  BAM!  The thread comes out of the take-up lever.   I've had enough.   

I called the dealer and she said to bring it in.  They are just backed up and she doesn't know when they will get to it.  Sigh.  Of course.  It's the uprising of the machines.  Curse you Skynet...

I pull out my Sapphire to satin stitch.  No problems.  

  

Rambling Rose Layout

From Quilted with Love

This pattern is driving me nuts. The written directions aren't making sense on the rose bud blocks nor is the diagram. You are supposed to have "extension" strips which I've added. But when I went to sew the sections, they don't fit. I'm going to email Pam Bono and see where I've messed up. Once I get the center together, the rest of the quilt will go together fairly quickly.

My Topaz was throwing tantrums again this morning so I pulled out my Sapphire from the basement and used it. It sews so amazingly well. In the 4 or so months I've had it, I've never had any problems with it unthreading. I wonder why the Topaz does as it's the same thing as the Sapphire.

I checked the settings on both machines. They are the same. I sewed on both. The Sapphire has more of a "growl" to it with less give on the feed dogs. The Topaz has a smoother feed but seems "loose" compared to the Sapphire. Since I had both machines up I used the Sapphire to do the detailed work and the Topaz to do the piecing. The Topaz behaved itself until about an hour ago which was really nice. Competition for attention between both machines? LOL. Too bad I can't keep both machines upstairs. My family doesn't need the kitchen table. It's always covered with quilting projects anyway. It would be nice to have the Topaz set up for machine embroidery and the Sapphire set up for piecing/quilting.

The construction guys came today with TWO cement trucks and did my driveway. I can't use it for another week though. My car has only been sitting out in the field across the street for two weeks now. But it looks wonderful!

From Quilted with Love

Then the guys asked if they knew what paint color the cinderblocks were as they wanted to match the new cinderblocks to it. If I didn't know, they'd paint the entire front a different color. They went with the tan of the siding. I can't believe the difference a color makes.  The cinderblocks were the same color as the garage door.

From Quilted with Love

After 7 years of being in this house, it's starting to really feel like it's mine.  We've added siding and windows a few years ago.  We replaced the gutters over a year ago.  Last year we replaced the water and sewer lines to the street.  

My poor front yard.  It keeps getting dug up.

Hand Embroidery, Roses, And My Topaz Case

I feel a little better after whining about retreats.  

I got my package for the hand embroidery today!  Wow!  I can't wait to get started.  Those beads are so LITTLE.  I have visions of accidentally spilling them all over and watching them vanish into my carpet.  Do I wait until I get all the rose bud blocks done or just start?  I have 3 done.   

From Quilted with Love

Here's the mess with the rosebud blocks.  It's really more organized than it looks.

From Quilted with Love

This is where I could really use any reader input:

I haven't done any machine embroidery because it's such a pain to get out the embroidery unit.  It sits in this box behind the machine.  It's not heavy, just awkward as all the weight is on one side.  I knocked over my entire machine embroidery thread collection on the wall pulling it out one time.  I had to give up and put all the thread in a bin instead of on the wall.  

From Quilted with Love

Here's the embroidery unit in the box:

From Quilted with Love

Viking doesn't make a specific case for the Topaz embroidery unit.  I think they make a case set for the Diamond but I don't know if they can sell just the embroidery unit case.  The styrofoam case is 22.5 x23 inches.  The dealer on the Viking Topaz Yahoo! Group suggested making your own or finding a suitcase of sorts.  The suitcase would work if I could figure out padding to secure the unit. 

I still run into the problem of storing it.  Here's my sewing area:

From Quilted with Love

You aren't imagining it.  It's the kitchen.  You can see pulling the box in/out behind the sewing table isn't easy and I can't leave it out for everyone to trip over.  I really don't want to haul it up/down the basement stairs and through the garage to use it.  I wish I could just lay it flat instead of vertical.  Pulling it out would be much easier.      

So..  Any ideas?  I'll call the dealer in the morning and see if I can order the Diamond Case.  I just see mega dollar signs. 

Better Camera And A Wonderful Embroidery Design

I had a friend ask how a design stitched out on the Topaz. Here's the design:

I love this machine.  It stitched out everything perfectly.  I didn't have the purples that were in the design, but the colors I had turned out wonderful.  Question:  Would this work just for a towel, even though it's a one directional design?  My OCD says, but it's one side..you have to flip it and make it even.  I do this with all one directional designs. 

I got a different camera today.  I took the other one back and bought a Canon PowerShot SD790 IS and I LOVE it.  It's all metal and fits perfectly in my hands.  I liked the features and how the photos look.  I took the above picture with it.  I took a quilt with me to Best Buy and took a picture of it with this one.  The guy helping me LOVED the quilt.  Guys don't normally love quilts.  It was my Mariner's Compass quilt with the turquoise, gold and rust fabric.

My son loves the camera too..LOL.  Leave it to a 13-year-old to figure out the settings faster than me.     

"Dingle Dongle"

This was a few weeks ago:

I about burst out laughing at the dealer when she talked about a "dongle" when I purchased the Topaz and software.  What the heck is a dongle??  Of course my mind is in the gutter and I'm thinking, "Dingle Dongle".  Sigh.  Now every time I hear/read the word dongle, I giggle.

After I set up the 4D Extra software (which was a huge PIA) I'm guessing a dongle is an external hard drive.  A very expensive hard drive.  I'm still learning the software and find myself using Embird and just downloaded "Ambassador", a free version from Micropulse.  As far as I know, 4D Extra and Embird don't give separate color layers to print out, since the Topaz doesn't have a touchscreen.  Ambassador does do that.  

My only gripe about software, none of it is made for the Mac operating system.  Good thing I have XP on the other side of my hard drive.

Sigh.  Now I'm giggling again.  

Organizing Quilt Patterns And Embroidery Designs

I've collected hundreds of designs since starting machine embroidery.  Most can be downloaded making it even more tempting.

If you are new to machine embroidery..or even quilting.  You have to have a place for your designs/patterns.  I put my quilting patterns in plastic sleeves in alphabetical order into a 3-ring binder.

 

I have a separate binder for all my QuiltUniversity Classes.  

I have 2 binders of machine embroidery templates.  When I buy the designs, I print them out full size for placements with color charts and have them by the set, IE, Art Nouveau Floral Blocks. 

From Embroidery Designs

From Blogger Pictures

My designs are also on my computer and backed up on CD.  Always back up your designs on CD so if your computer crashes or your USB stick dies (I've killed 2) you still have them.

Here's how I organize my designs:

My beginning folder is labeled "Embroidery"

In the subfolders, I list all the online stores I purchase through.  Emblibrary, A Stitch A Half, Oregon Patchworks, etc.  Forget "Flowers", "Christmas"..too general and vague for me.

Under the online store, I list the designer I bought the design from.  IE, Oregon Patchworks, Janet Sansom.  Under the designer, I put the set I bought.  IE, Blackwork Designs.

When I do a project I have an index card with the project, "Art Nouveau Floral Squares", where I got them, Emblibrary, the numbers, a list of threads I used, Madiera Rayon, and the fabric.  Kona Cotton Natural.  Then I stick it in with the templates.

From Embroidery Designs

I started doing this when I had changed colors from the patterns and couldn't remember which colors I had done.  If were to do the design over, I'd be guessing.

Adding Machine Embroidery To My Blog

I've decided to add my embroidery stuff to my quilting blog so the next few posts will be embroidery machine related.  

I started out with a Janome 350e but quickly realized I needed a machine with a larger hoop than the giga hoop.  What I didn't realize about the giga hoop is that it's actually two 5x7 hoops that overlap.  I thought I could put in a 6x6 design and stitch it out.  You can't.  You have to split the design in half.  No biggie, but the basic Janome software doesn't do that.  Nor does it convert formats.  Well...darn.  So I bought Embird, a basic software program that's not affiliated with any sewing machine company.  Great program.

My first attempt at using Embird to split a design and using the Giga Hoop.   Obviously, it didn't work.  The Giga hoop is a great hoop, but I found myself not really using it.  It's great for combining two designs, but I don't like having to split up one design to make it work.  I'm too lazy.

From Blogger Pictures

After buying a Sapphire 870 and falling in love with it, I realized Viking made the Topaz, an embroidery version of the machine.  Evil Viking Company.  How you tempt me.  Hubby said I could keep the Sapphire and get the Topaz 30.  Who are you and what did you do to my husband??  My husband won't admit it, but he likes quilting and embroidery.  Shhh.

From Embroidery Designs

The Topaz boasts one of the largest hoops in the industry of 360x200 which is partly why I bought the machine.  It can do an 8x8 inch block without splitting it.   The only catch to the Topaz 30 is that almost all editing needs to be done on computer.  There is no touch screen to see the layers and scroll through things like my Janome 350e does.  If you can get past that, it's an incredible machine.  It has most of the features of the TOL machines which I love.

Art Nouveau Floral Square Block

Wow. Had I known this block would take 5.5 hours to stitch out, I don't know if I would have bought the entire set. However; the design looks FABULOUS. I love it. Here's the block:

From Embroidery Designs

If you want to see more detail, click on the picture.

It has 20 color changes and I think took 16-18 actual thread colors. I love my Viking Topaz. Now to decide if I want to do the other blocks. This is a lot of work.

3-D Quilt Done!!

I got it done!!   I finished my first quilt of the year.  And..*drum roll* I machine bound it with ease.  I can bind!!!   The quilt isn't flat, but the binding looks awesome.

From Blogger Pictures

The feather quilting and butterflies. Click on the pic if you can't see it

From Blogger Pictures

Picture of the quilting on top

From Blogger Pictures

The binding, which is perfect all the way around like this.

From Blogger Pictures

My secret to this binding: Viking makes a left edge topstitch foot. There's a guide on the left side that the fabric can slide through. Just follow the red mark with your fabric and away you go. I even made it over the corners without the seams folding over or being squished. It's amazing what the right machine can do for you. While the quilt isn't flat, the binding has no ripples or folds.

Okay Jen and Jill..what's the point status for this quilt??  Meandering or dwirling doesn't count.  I did feathers and butterflies.