March 2008 - Posts

• Brotherly Love, Online Scrapbooking & Ideas from Down Under

  Greetings, friends! Once again, I have been truly humbled by the sheer numbers of you who took time to consider and respond to my last post. I received hundreds of e-mails from well-wishers as far away as South Africa, Korea and Australia, all with essentially the same message: we wish we could join you! Some wonderful stories too, a couple of which even brought a tear to my eye. I had absolutely no idea how many of you out there actually listen to what I say! Scary thought... Brotherly Love The news has started to leak out about my big announcement, so I might as well let you in on the secret if you haven't heard it yet. I will be announcing at Community Circle and on my site next week my very strong endorsement of the Brother PE700, which really is just a wonderful machine for embroiderers, at a price point that the budget-conscious among us can afford. Those of you who know me know that I've been a Brother user since day one (counting how many people to whom I've taught Brother machines and software makes me feel old!). Anyway, we'll have some folks from Brother there demonstrating and answering questions about the machine, and Eileen and I will both be using the PE700 in all of our classes. We will have several machines available for purchase, and, as a little personal touch, Eileen and I will be signing any machine that is purchased at the event. I also hope to be doing a little demo of my own of the PE700 that we can get on video and post on the site so you can see just how deep my love goes for all things Brother! Beamish Blog I'm pleased to say that my beamish boy has not been too busy toiling away helping me prepare for Orlando to write another informative post, this time about posting photo to what he calls our Digital Scrapbook, the area of my new site where our users can show off photos of all the beautiful things they have created. Please take a moment to stop by his Magic Bookshelf blog and keep yourself in the know. New Project - Ruffled Crib Quilt I also got a great new project submission from Leanne Jenkins, a relatively new embroiderer Down Under who was recently blessed with a new grandchild and wanted to share her "first attempt at something other than tea towels and oven mitts" with our community. I'm sure you'll agree when you take a look at Leanne's Ruffled Crib Quilt that she deserves to be commended for her efforts! Remember that you too can share your favorite projects with our community; all the details are here. Hasta La Vista So, for those of you who I'll be seeing in Orlando, see you next week, and for those of you who kindly shared your thoughts with me about why you couldn't be there, I'll be thinking of you, and hoping that we'll catch you next time around! Keep filling your creative space! Ann   Posted Mar 28 2008, 06:26 PM by AnnTheGran with 2 comment(s) Filed under: upload photos, project gallery, crib quilt, brother embroidery machine

• Ruffled Crib Quilt from Down Under

  Every grandmother counts it a blessing when another child comes into her life.  Each set of tiny hands and feet hold a special place in her heart forever.  When the newest addition made his appearance to the Jenkins family it was just what Leanne needed to inspire her to expand her embroidery talents.  It’s such a sweet quilt and certain to be his favorite with all those teddy bears to love. Leanne is from Australia, and she calls this a "cot quilt", but I remember from being in Australia that what is called a cot there is what we in the North America call a crib, so I've changed it in the post title but not in Leanne's text below. For a bigger picture, click here. Leanne's Description I recently decided to shout myself (with a lot of help from my partner) an Embroidery Machine for my birthday in October last year.  This cot quilt was my first real attempt at something other than tea towels and oven-mitts. Our newest addition to the Grandchildren was born in February this year and I decided to make the quilt for him. All the teddy bear designs were downloaded from Ann The Gran free designs archive and I would like to say that they sew out beautifully as you can see even when they are converted to ‘jef' Format. Step-by-step description Quilt Materials List (finished size approximately 1m x 1m (cot size) Quilt Front Sashes, Ruffle and Backing Fabric 1.7m x 90cm Contrasting Fabric for Embroidery Batting 1m x 90cm Cut six strips for inside vertical sashing to join three embroidery panels per row Cut two longer strips for inside horizontal sashing to join all nine embroidery panels together Cut four strips for outside border Cut nine 9 x 9inch squares for blocks Embroider nine panels and trim to 8inch squares Join embroidered blocks x 3 using two of the six inside vertical sashing strips per row, then join each row of 3 embroidered panels together using the two longer strips of horizontal sashing Finally, using the four remaining strips as a border attach to the outside of completed front cot panel Make Ruffle (width can be varied to personal choice) using 11/2 x the diameter of the quilt, join strips together and over-lock and turn under one long edge, then gather the other long edge to make ruffle, I used my over-locker to gather the edge as well Spray wrong side of the front panel with quilters spray adhesive and gently spread the front panel over the batting. Using a walking foot attachment I then stitched around each embroidered panel using "stitch in ditch" technique Attach ruffle to the front panel right sides together with the outer edge of ruffle towards the centre of the panel (I find it easier to attach ruffle first then attach the backing fabric last Attach the backing fabric to the quilt right sides together leaving enough of an opening to turn the quilt right side out then slip stitch to close the opening to complete. What makes this project special I always try to make something for any new additions to the Grandchildren when they arrive, as I enjoy doing it and no matter what it is, it is always appreciated and commented on as it is used. I would rather make something myself than buy it because I think it makes the gift special and I love and enjoy my sewing and the time I spend doing so. Skill level In my opinion anyone could make this project with any skill level Products Cutting Board Rotary Cutter Quilters adhesive spray Sewing Machine / Overlocker Walking foot attachment Embroidery Machine / Embroidery Designs Time Investment As I still work full-time I find it hard to give an estimate, but the teddy designs I have used in this project take between 30 minutes to 60 minutes so I guess about 10 hours max. Why I love this project One reason would be the fact that I have made this for my newest grandson and another would be that this is my first project that I have tackled that is a little more involved than the simpler projects I have done since I got my embroidery machine. Send Us Your Creations Do you have any creations that go with a great story? If so, we'd love to hear about them, and see them! If we choose to post your project, you'll get a free $25 gift certificate to use in the AnnTheGran.com online store. Click here for details on how to submit your creation. What Would You Do? What is your favorite theme to sew as a set or grouping of designs in the same project? Click on the Comments link to share your story. Posted Mar 28 2008, 06:12 PM by AnnTheGran with 17 comment(s) Filed under: baby quilt, children, embroidery designs, babies, nursery, rotary cutter, quilt, blanket, ruffled crib quilt

• Easter Break to Prepare for Community Circle

  Hi, everyone, The gang here is taking a little break for Easter and using the time to polish off some final preparations for my Community Circle event in Orlando, so I thought I'd just put together a brief note to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking -- well, moving my legs anyway. I am very, very excited about seeing some of you in Orlando -- I'm hoping to give you back as much energy and enthusiasm as you give me. I must confess though, that I am a little sad  that we still haven't managed to fill up the event. It seems this old gal can't attract the crowds she used to! I guess that's what I get for not showing my face for so long... But seriously, for those of you who aren't coming, I'd love to know why you aren't. This was our first time organizing this type of event, and there have been a few glitches, but I thought we really put together something special. Eileen Roche and I in the same room as a group of embroiderers? I mean, c'mon; does it get any better? So I'd like to know, if you aren't coming, is it because we made it too expensive, is it too far away, are the dates wrong, were you hoping for different kinds of classes? This is a learning curve for all of us and we want to make sure we're climbing up the curve rather than sliding down. Please use the Comments feature below to tell me why you aren't coming. And if you've considered coming but still aren't quite sure, let me know what I can do to get you here! We're already giving away TONS of stuff and I've been hitting the treadmill so that I'll have enough energy to keep everyone buzzing, but maybe there's something that my team and I have missed. If there is, and it's something I can reasonably provide, send me a personal e-mail at wow-you-made-that@annthegran.com and I'll see if I can get you to Orlando! If you've just been procrastinating (especially if you live here in Florida!) and you need to register, you can get all the info here. The very latest that you can register for the special dinner event with me and Eileen is March 26. You can be sure it will be a hoot! Hoping to hear from you either way! Ann   Posted Mar 20 2008, 05:43 PM by AnnTheGran with 5 comment(s) Filed under: ann cobb, community circle, eileen roche, orlando

• On Feeling Young, New Friends & Lunch in Orlando

  Thanks for your Feedback I'm really pleased that all of you really took to heart my request in my last letter to get involved with commenting on the new site. We had the most comments and participation we've had since I started blogging. Your feedback really does encourage me and my guests who write on the site to do the very best we can do. Please keep it up; the more you participate in my new site, the more you'll get from it. Lunch with Eileen and Ann in Orlando I'll start with an update on my Orlando event. We're getting lots of new people, and lots of new questions, but I want to let everyone know that we still have some room. We've also decided to expand the "door prize" opportunities; not only do we have almost a hundred door prizes, but Eileen and I have decided that we are going to host a private lunch both days for some of the winners. That means that there will be almost 40 winners who'll get a lovely (and free!) lunch with either me or Eileen. If we have the expected 200 or so attendees, that means a 1 in 5 chance of winning! We've extended the deadline for entry for that lunch to March 19, so if you've been sitting on the fence about going, it's time to get off! I've also added more detailed information about Eileen's seminars and my seminars at the event. Finally, I want to send out a special reminder to our users in Florida; don't delay registering just because you're local; when we're full, we're full! All the registration details are here. New Blogger - Deegee I'm proud to announce that we have another new guest blogger on the site, Deegee Hitzfelder of Deegee's Digi Designs. We've known Deegee for quite a while, but there's recently been a huge spike in interest in Deegee's wonderfully nostalgic designs due to a recent project she submitted to our friends over at Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine. Deegee will be going through the treasure trove of projects that have been made using her designs, and sharing with us some of her favorites. Ken Parsons has also posted a few more quick ideas that include ways to creatively combine and manipulate designs. I hope you'll welcome Deegee and Ken and make them feel right at home by commenting on their submissions or asking them questions. Magic Bookshelf - What's a Wiki? Speaking of commenting and asking questions, you have certainly made my Beamish Boy very happy with all the nice comments on his Magic Bookshelf blog. Most of our users are pretty computer literate -- we are a web site, after all! -- but we're all busy too, which means we don't always have the time to keep up with the "lingo", and that's where Greg comes in. His post this week tackles another one of those things that you hear about -- wikis to be precise -- and how we are using them here on the new AnnTheGran.com to help our users stay knowledgeable and current on all the latest and greatest tips and techniques in the creative realm. How I Keep Feeling Young I think that's enough for you to go through this week, so I'll leave it at that. As always, please feel free to send me your own creations (click here to see how) and share your stories. Seeing how all of you find new and interesting ways to apply creativity in your own lives is what helps keep me feeling young and motivated! Keep the Wow Coming, Ann Posted Mar 14 2008, 02:55 PM by AnnTheGran with 3 comment(s) Filed under: contributors, ken parsons, what's a wiki, lunch in Orlando, deegee

• Embroidered Sheepdog Wallhanging Using Photos

  Like many of us, Barbara Schleter has more than one passion.  Here she has combined her long time love of Shetland Sheepdogs with her more recent passion for embroidery.   Barbara has done a great job of sharing her thoughts on creating personalized gifts for those who are special to her.  Heartfelt expressions such as this are sure to be cherished by those who recieve the gifts. Barbara's Description I am very new to machine embroidery ... in fact I have only been doing it a couple of months.  However, I made the attached wallhanging for a very dear lady who has helped me enormously with my other passion ... Shetland Sheepdogs.   It is approximately 20 inches wide by 30 inches long. Please click here to view a larger image of the wallhanging. Step-by-step  First I printed out photos of three of her Shelties onto TShirt transfer paper on my ink jet printer. I then ironed them onto cream homespun,  The photos are about 5 inches wide and 6 inches deep. I cut these out and sewed glittery material 'frames' about 1-1/2 inches wide around them.  I then used my sewing machine and sewed hearts around to make it stable ... any pattern would do or even just plain straight stitching.   Then I embroidered three blocks that I chose at random onto a cream with a white printed background.  About 6 inches.   Then I embroidered the lady's kennel name on a piece of the same fabric about 4 inches by 6 inches (this was to enable it to be cut to fit)... but the person's name would do just as well ... or a well chosen word.   I then ran up four pinwheel blocks with a finished size of  4 inches ... but any patchwork block would be fine ... even a four patch.   To assemble I sewed the kennel name, an embroidered square and a photo together. (centre panel). Then I sewed the left hand panel together ... the photo, then an embroidered square. Then I sewed the right hand panel together ... again the photo, then an embroidered square.   It is difficult to give exact sizes because the photos vary.   Then I sewed a strip of bright floral material along the bottom -- 2 inches wide   Then I joined the four pinwheels and put a piece of material that I had used in the pinwheels at either end to make it the correct length and sewed it to the bottom strip.   Using another 2 inch wide strip of the bright floral material I sewed it to the bottom edge of the pinwheels.   Then I cut a strip of a different floral fabric 2 inches wide and sewed around the entire wall hanging.   All through the process I measured and ensured everything was square.   Then I got a piece of cream homespun measuring 20 inches by 30 inches and laid it on a table.  I then cut a piece of wadding the same size and lay it on the backing.  Lastly I put my wallhanging top on it and pinned it all together.   Then I ditch stitched it.   Then I cut a binding 3 inches wide, folded it in half and sewed around the edge.     Then I cut a piece of homespun 16 inches long and 4 inches wide and doubled it over.  I then sewed this (raw edges) into the top of the wall hanging.   Then I sewed the folded over binding around the wallhanging, mitreing the corners.   Then I hand sewed the binding onto the back of the wallhanging.   Then using a darkcolour in my bobbin I machine stitched the other side of the rodpocket to the wallhanging.   I cut a piece of dowel to fit and some cord and attached the cord with drawing pins. What Makes This Project Special The idea was to make something that would bring a lot of pleasure to the recipient. Skill Level Beginner Products Bobbins Colorfast Printer Fabric Rotary cutter and ruler Ultimate Quilt Binding Combo (incl. Stitch in the Ditch) Embroidery Designs Time Investment  I made it over a couple of days ... in fact I made two ... one for another friend .... but would estimate about 4 hours if one sat and did nothing else. Why I Love This Project I wanted to make a personalised wallhanging for a dear friend and I think I accomplished that. Send Us Your Creations Do you have any creations that go with a great story? If so, we'd love to hear about them, and see them! If we choose to post your project, you'll get a free $25 gift certificate to use in the AnnTheGran.com online store. Click here for details on how to submit your creation. What Would You Do? Barbara combined techniques of photo printing and embroidery to create a unique quilted wallhanging.  Share a time when you have combined another craft or technique to make your embroidery project unique. Click on the Comments link to share your story. Posted Mar 08 2008, 12:44 PM by AnnTheGran with 3 comment(s) Filed under: embroidery designs, gift idea, alphabet xpress, rotary cutter, binding, wall hanging, sheepdog, bobbins, colorfast fabric

• Orlando Itinerary, Handsome Men & New Project

  So Much To Share!  I have so much to share with you this week that I hardly know where to begin. Like many of you (but not all of you ), I love our new site, especially the way it lets people in our community talk to each other. Free designs are great, and I know that's why many of you still come to my site, but we have so many more ways to share now than just designs. Spend a few minutes in the Community section of the site (Blogs, Forums, Galleries) and see how much you can do. Orlando Itinerary First of all, I'm pleased to announce that we have our itinerary finalized for my first annual Community Circle in Orlando. If you haven't registered yet, it’s not too late to get in on the fun -- if you register before March 14th you will be entered into a drawing (and yes, if you have already registered you have been entered) to have a cozy little lunch with me during the event! Of course, I'd like to have lunch with all of you, but there's only so much (too much ) of me to go around! Anyway, Eileen Roche and I are ready to take you on a creative journey into the world of embroidery.  We’re excited to be able to show you our favorite techniques for creating great embroidery and give you lots of insider tips to inspire your creativity.  Whether you are just beginning or have been doing embroidery for years you’ll go home with lots of new ideas for expressing your creative side through your embroidery. For lots more laughs plan on attending the special dinner presentation too. There will be door prizes and a great goody bag valued at over $250. It’s my event of the year and we’re sure to have a blast! My Beamish Boy I really appreciate everyone's comments on my new site, and yes I do know that I can't just expect you to start using it without giving you some idea how! With that in mind, I would like to introduce all of you to my "beamish boy" (he hates when I call him that, so feel free to call him that in Orlando ), the young fellow (yes, Greg, 41 is still young!) who is a big part of making all the neat stuff on my new site happen. His actual name is Greg, and I've asked him to give you a tour of my new site over the next little while, and show you how to get the most of it. Want to know how to upload free stuff of your own or find lots more free stuff? He's your boy. Trying to find some advice on a new technique, or looking for something you saw on tv and desperately want to make? He'll tell you how to find what you're looking for. He's funny, he writes well, and I know you're going to love him! In his first post, he'll teach you everything you need to know about blogs. If you like his post, make sure you tell him (and use the nickname!). Guest Bloggers Speaking of handsome men, I'm really excited as well that we've lined up our first guest blogger for the new site. What is a guest blogger, you may ask? Well, Greg tells you all about it in his post, but basically it's someone in the industry who knows what s/he is doing, who is going to share all that expertise with the AnnTheGran community. Think of us as a kind of online magazine. Our first guest blogger is Ken Parsons, who is going to drop by from time to time and give us some little snippets of projects ideas that he has created with his software and designs. We've got five other guest bloggers lined up, all of whom will post regularly and share their knowledge and ideas with you. Doesn't that sound like fun? New Project - Sheepdog Wall Hanging We have a lovely wall hanging project, submitted by AnnTheGran user Barbara Schleter, that I think is also a great gift idea, especially for the dog lover in your life! Heartfelt expressions such as this are sure to be cherished by those who recieve the gifts. Remember that I love receiving your projects and posting them, so if you've got something that you'd like to show off to our community, send it to me at wow-you-made-that@annthegran.com. Share the Magic! In closing, I want to send out a special thank you to all of you who have sent feedback and suggestions on my new site. Way back when we started thinking about how we would re-build it, I thought it was very important that we have a structure that would come as close as possible to the magical atmosphere of a bunch of creative people gathering at a sewing retreat sharing ideas and inspiration. My beamish boy calls his blog the "Magic Bookshelf" for a good reason; we've had a few bumps in the road with the new site, but the general feeling among all of you seems to be that we're on the right track to re-creating that magical atmosphere of the sewing retreat online. The magic comes from you, our users and my friends, so I hope you'll continue to contribute, encourage, criticize (constructively!) and share so that the site grows to show just how much magic there is out there. Talk to you soon! Ann Posted Mar 07 2008, 01:42 PM by AnnTheGran with 6 comment(s) Filed under: community circle, eileen roche, gift idea, ken parsons, wall hanging, beamish boy