Hardanger Beadwork Project

After checking out the Singer Rotary cutter thingy I went over to the beading section.  I had purchased a magazine that had Hardanger embroidery and found a project I wanted to try.  However; I didn't have the magazine.  I knew it had beads and I thought it said the Swarovski ones.  I couldn't remember the size or what kind.  I just figured I'd wing it.  I don't think these are quite the "real" thing but they were 25% off and if they didn't work, I'd figure out something else.  Plus the more I looked at them, the prettier they got.  They just "called" to me.  I know nothing of beads either.  I picked up some needles and I'll see how it goes.

From Blogger Pictures

I got home and realized I had the wrong beads and way wrong size.  Duh.  Those are way way tiny.  

From Blogger Pictures

They are delica beads. 192 rose colored ones.  Oh well.  I'll just have to be more creative with the inside cutwork with the ones I bought.  The DVD I bought is really great and I may be able to just fake it.  The purple is just way to pretty not to use.

I did an online search of delica beads.  I'm lost.  LOL. 

 

Anyone Tried The Singer Rotary Cutter?

Okay.  Something other than me babbling on about compass quilts. 

I went to JoAnn fabrics today and found one of those Singer automatic rotary cutter thingies.  They wanted 90 bucks for it with 30 bucks off.  At 60 bucks I couldn't justify it even for curiousity's sake.  I opened the box and there's a pedal so small that I'd squash it within seconds as I have big feet.  The evil clerk was giving me dirty looks and it was packaged so that I'd really have to take it apart to check it out.  Is it worth it?  I don't know.  The price and the foot pedal turned me off right there.

If some has braved the price tag, let us know.  60 bucks is a lot of thread, fabric and other stuff that would go to better use.  Neato idea, but way expensive.

I won a contest!!  I got the nicest set of fabric bowls!  She needed a name for her beautiful quilt and I won.  Check out her blog at Quilt And Bitch

to see her beautiful appliqued quilt.  Thank you so much!  They are beautiful! 

From Blogger Pictures

The brown spot that looks like an iron mark is..an iron mark.  My son and my nephew were goofing off and knocked over the iron.  They didn't bother to pick it back up and I found it a few minutes later melting the carpet.  

Another UFO Sighting

I can't remember the name of the pattern off the top of my head, but it's another UFO.  When I pulled it out of the bag I remembered why it was one.  I didn't know how to machine applique around the really small parts without any shredding.  Do I just do a satin stitch?  Keep the stitch I'm using?  Just do a straight stitch/FMQ inside them?  Nothing?  They really need something.  Plus I didn't have the thread colors I wanted at the time.  Hence shoving it into a bag until just now.  Looking back, I probably should have done the machine applique as quilting.  Duh.

Here are some pictures:

The pink needs appliqued.

From Blogger Pictures

The small green dots and the outside pieces

From Blogger Pictures

Here's the picture of the entire quilt.  The camera doesn't do the colors justice.  It will look fabulous when it's done.  If it ever gets done.  LOL  

From Blogger Pictures

Think I've blogged enough for today?  

I Heard Back From Viking Headquarters!!

*Falls over backwards in surprise* Wow.  I emailed Viking directly about Organ titanium needles and actually got a response.  I figured they get a ton emails and mine would just get lost in the shuffle but it would make me feel better.

Dear Husqvarna Viking Company,

Are the Organ Company's Titanium needles okay to use for the Viking  
brand of sewing machines?  I have a Topaz and was told that they would  
not work.  Yet other places say they do.  The last thing I want to do  
is ruin my machine.

It's frustrating when you get different answers from places.  

Thank you for contacting VSM Consumer Affairs. The Organ needles do not
work in the Designer sewing machines. For optimal results we recommend
Schmedtz needles.

Happy Sewing,

Christine
VSM Consumer Affairs

So does this make Christine the Goddess of Viking Knowledge and I have a package of needles that do not work with my machine?  For now I'll believe Christine.  LOL.  

I Want Another 6600 Table

Thank you for the comments about my FMQ and just getting it done.  I'm feeling quite proud of myself as I got the compass points done today!  Everyone's comments mean a lot.  I don't feel so quite alone.  

 I decided to do the blue points with rayon thread as regular thread disappeared into the blue and looked washed out.  I really love that my Topaz has a Freemotion Floating stitch.  I hate hopping all over the quilt with a stupid spring foot.  Floating along like a longarm machine makes things so much easier.

I told my husband I was going to buy another Janome 6600 table, take out his bookcase on the other side of the computer (another outlet is there) and put my Sapphire on it.  That way I can use my Topaz just for machine embroidery.  His eyes got all wide and he retorted back with a very strong NO.  I think it's a great idea!  Usually I have him wrapped around my fingers.  Hmm.  He wins.  Or so he thinks.

Here's a close-up of the rayon thread and the quilting.  If you click on it, you'll get a better view.

From Blogger Pictures

Another view:

From Blogger Pictures

I still need to design a center motif and bind it.  Lazy me says just fold it over.  However; I was thinking of putting this in the county fair when started this project under "Original Design".  That means the other binding.

 

Perfectionism At It's Worst

I so much of a perfectionist.  Someone tell me to just FMQ it and not worry about getting every single stitch perfect.  I would have had this entirely quilted today if not for my stupid perfection tendencies.

Here's what I have after ripping and reripping all day:

From Blogger Pictures

Yep.  That's it.  Pathetic.  I give up for today.  Tomorrow will bring fresh eyes and a new look at it.

Marking And Quilting My Mariner's Compass

I finally started quilting my mariner's compass quilt today.  I used a water soluble pen and traced the templates and realized the second set I'd done didn't quite fit right.  I had to wet the quilt and start over.

While doing the tracing I realized that I needed to modify the templates for easier quilting and took out sections.  It worked out much better.

Here are the first two points I have quilted:

From Blogger Pictures

and a close-up shot of the blue compass point:

From Blogger Pictures

I've used polyester thread which is really shiny.  I don't have a cotton blue that color and would have to take a trip or order something.  If your stitches aren't even and mine aren't, they really show up.  I'm not sure if it will distract from the quilt as well.