Creative Machine Embroidery - Getting Ready for Valentine's Day

Dear Friends,
I was so happy when Michelle from Needle Little Embroidery contacted me about stitching some of her designs into finished projects!  I've been wanting to stitch designs from more designers as I'm wanting to learn the art of digitizing myself.  She started out by sending me these two lovely embroidery designs for Valentine's day.

Heart of Love is shown above.  It is done in all white thread stitched on a polyester organza.  I've been using one of my favorite items, mylar, to add a little more shine to it. 

Above you can see the Heart of Love stitched in three colors of pink.

Here the Amore' Heart is stitched in three colors of peach with the silver mylar.  The mylar was floated on top.  When the heart finished stitching out I stopped the machine and tore away the excess mylar from both the outside as well as the inside of the heart.  Then I finished stitching the design.

And Amore' Heart in all white, no mylar.

Of the four I did, the Heart of Love stitched in all white with the silver mylar is my favorite.  Our daughter Katie is getting married this summer and we plan to use these sweet bags in her wedding or reception.  They are beautiful.

I have to say just a couple more things.  Michelle at Needle Little Embroidery http://needlelittleembroidery.com/ is the nicest lady to work with.  Also, I am thrilled that she has included a basting stitch for these designs.  I can't tell you how many times I've wished for that on other designs.  It just holds everything perfectly in place with no shifting.  If you don't want the basting stitch, just advance to the next thread color and bypass it.

Blessings to you all,
Nancy

disclaimer:  I received these designs for free.  The opinions of the designs and Needle Little Embroidery are my own.

Shine!

 

On September 30th of this past year I had one of those "God Moments" in which I feel the Holy Spirit's presence in my soul and feel he is truly speaking to me.  What came upon me was SHINE.  YOU ARE TO SHINE NANCY.

The word shine has filled my thoughts since that date.  How do you want me to shine God, I ask.

I've come to discover that I am to Shine in all I do, shine in my thoughts, my words and my actions.  God's love is light and his love shines to keep us from darkness.  I am to shine with God's love.

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house.  Let your light so SHINE before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16.
 

And so I pray, "Dear God, May my light always shine with your love.  First God, may it illuminate the narrow and difficult path that leads me to you and may I stay on that path without stumbling or straying.  Should I stray on the wrong path, I pray I don't go far and realize my mistake so I may turn immediately around.  Then Lord, may my light shine more for others to see.  May it start in my home and with my family.  Finally, may my light reach far and deep to help bring others out of the darkness and onto the path of righteousness that leads to you.  Dear God, I ask to be blessed with wisdom to know what to do and say and that my light always always be illuminated and shining brightly. ~Amen.

SHINE is my word of the year.  I know many of you pick a word or phrase of the year to focus on.  SHINE is mine.  One year I had the word "simplify" and another year I had the phrase "keep ahead of the game."  This year, "shine".  At least I will keep it as my word until I feel God is placing something else on my heart.  I can't wait to see all the ways I can shine this year. 

With love and God's Blessings,
Nancy 

Machine Embroidery with Mylar and Free Standing Lace

 

Dear Friends,

Remember the snowflakes I was making for the children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT?  Well, today I want to share with you what I did to create them.

 

 

First I started off with a great free standing lace machine embroidery file from Lindee G. Embroidery.

These designs are all done with ONE color thread.  I used a slight off white.  The secret to the color and bling  is this!  Mylar tissue wrap.

 

Now you know my secret.  And an even better secret I'm going to share with you is this...

I got it at the Dollar Tree.  There are three sheets of mylar tissue in each package and each package is only $1.  Can't beat that!

 

As the design stitches out, on water soluble stabilizer, it starts in the center which is where I placed the mylar.  Just keep an eye on your machine and stop it as it gets ready to stitch the outer row of hearts.  Cut the thread and remove the hoop from the machine, but don't unhoop the stabilizer.  Gently tear the mylar to remove the excess.  I also removed the mylar from the center star area.  It tears easily but still, you don't want to pull your stitches. 

Then just put the hoop back on the machine and continue stitching the remainder of the design.

HERE is a link back to the post that gives the address where you can send your snowflakes.

 

My prayers continue to be with the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic event.  My heart breaks as I think of you and your struggles.  I hope you somehow know I care.

 

With love and blessings to my sweet embroidery family readers,

Nancy

 

Go Through the Bible in One Year as a New Year's Resolution

Happy Happy New Year to You!!!

Dear Friends,
I hope today, wherever in the world you are that it is a BEAUTIFUL day!  Happy New Year!

I'm talking today about the Daily Audio Bible as this is my third year to go through the Bible in audio form.  It NEVER gets old.  Since I was a little girl, I've had Christ in my life, but going through the Bible has changed my life forever and I'm truly blessed. 

Brian Hardin reads a passage in the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day.  Then he applies it to our lives today and finally callers who have called in with prayer requests or praise reports previously on a recorded line have their requests and praises played.  It is a privilege to get to pray for them, who I consider my Daily Audio Bible family, and they have prayed for me too.  What a blessing to know that hundreds of thousands of people are praying and joining together.

If you've thought you would like to go through the Bible in a year as a New Year's resolution, consider listening to it.  Brian's voice is comforting and he is so knowledgeable.  On occasion his family is on the air as well.  His wife Jill helps him and two of his children record Daily Audio Bible Kids.  It is precious.

So Friends, during 2013 and beyond:

May the Good Lord bless you and keep you,

May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you,

May He lift up his countenance on you and give you peace,

May the strength of God go with you,

May the wisdom of God instruct you,

May the hand of God protect you,

May the word of God direct you,

May you be sealed in Christ this day and forever more.

Amen.

 

With Love,

Nancy

Christmas Machine Embroidery Free Standing Lace

 

Happy New Year's Eve Friends!

 

Remember  my Christmas gift?  The OESD Cd's?  Well here is what I have been busy with.

 

 

Even though these got stitched after Christmas it is still nice to have them on my tree.

 

These are pretty machine embroidery free standing lace designs with applique.  The red fabric I used to applique with is red velvet!  Beautiful red velvet!  To stitch them out I used water soluble stabilizer on both the top and bottom.

 

The water soluble stabilizer on the bottom was hooped then I floated the velvet and top water soluble stabilizer. 

Then I bought a yard of the pearls to make the hangers.

 

I am partial to free standing lace designs that have applique.  The applique gives the designs a unique look because you could use any color or design of fabric.  I love the velvet, both the look and the feel of it. 

Hope you enjoy the last of my Christmas designs, at least for a while.

 

Warm winter blessings from my house to yours.

Nancy

Machine Embroidery Designs - Free Snowflake Pattern for Sandy Hook Elementary

The tragedy in Newtown, CT has been on my heart as I'm sure it has been on yours. One of the children who passed away used to live in my town here in New Mexico.  I'm joining in on the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary movement to help welcome the children back to school.  Below is a quote from the North Canton Patch.

“Snowflakes for Sandy Hook” is one of several nationwide assistance movements spearheaded by the Connecticut PTSA on behalf of the Sandy Hook Elementary PTA. The National PTA joined in, sending out emails inviting PTA members across the U.S. to start crafting.
“When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible,” the National PTA posted on its website.
 

Many crafters are making snowflakes from various media.  A number of machine embroidery designers have offered free snowflake patterns for enthusiasts like myself to stitch out.  I personally chose this free design offered by Lindee G. Embroidery.   I thought the design with the hearts in it truly spoke to me.


I love the music by Donna Cori Gibson.  Here she sings the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or the 3:00pm prayer.  Jesus is our rock even in times of sorrow such as this.  Jesus I trust in you.

If you would like to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary, you are asked to get them in the mail by Jan. 12th.  The address is below.

Want to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary students? If so, have them in the mail by Jan. 12 addressed to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514
 

In a near future post I will talk more about the snowflakes and how I made them.
Warm winter blessings from my house to yours,
~Nancy

 

Offering My Services to Test Your Machine Embroidery Designs

Dear Friends,

If any of you are machine embroidery designers and are in need of someone to test stitch your designs, I'd be happy to do so for you.  Along with that I'd put up a blog post showing my stitch-out and a link back to your website.

To be completely honest, my New Year's resolution is to learn how to digitize and I am wanting to study how different designers put their designs together, underlays, fill stitches etc.  I would NEVER copy your work in any way.  I have some creative designs floating around in my head that are just begging to be stitched out but I have to learn the ropes first.  Any blog posts written about the designs I test would only be posted if the design stitched out flawlessly and would include what material I stitched it on as well as what stabilizer or any specific techniques I used and again would be linked back to your website.  This would be a win-win for both of us!

My only limitation is that my machine is a Brother Innovis 1250D.  It is a combination sewing/embroidery machine.  This means that my maximum hoop size is 5 x 7 and the format my machine reads is PES.

Please feel free to e-mail me at basketmaster_nancy(at)yahoo(dot)com. I would enjoy working with you and getting to know you!  Thank you.

Blessings,
~Nancy