Inktense Fun With Machine Embroidery

Earlier this week I really wanted to play more with the Inktense pencils. And as much I as enjoy free motion sketching, I really wanted to just focus on playing with the pencils and not get caught up in critiquing my  thread sketching. I decided I would use my machine embroidery for a quick and beautiful canvas. This deer head pattern was purchased from Urban Threads.

I originally had intended for this to be a masculine gift item, but after having fun with the Inktense pencils.. I decided to go down a more feminine route. I simply can't get over how the pencils come alive with a bit of liquid. Right now I tend to paint over it with a 1:1 mixture of water and fabric medium -- it gives me great control without any bleeding issues.

I decided to piece it into an tote with an improv quilt style. I really wanted to keep it, but in the end I decided to list it on Etsy. If you are interested it is $35.00 and listed here. I'm not sure how much I'll be making items for the Etsy shop, but by request I am trying to create more artistic works into an item that can be worn or used.

Back to School!

Is it just me or were we totally gypped of summer this year? Well at least in Utah it took forever to be done with the snow and now it's already time for school. I'm so excited for Isabelle; this is her first year of preschool. She has a wonderful teacher, her best friend in her class, and so much eagerness to learn.

I've searched high & low for some traditions that we could start. My husband doesn't quite get the importance of this, but for me it's those extra touches that I hope my girls will remember and do for their children. I personally remember the very important first day of school pictures, picking out a new backpack, and wrapping my new books with paper grocery bags - what great canvases for drawing!

This year Isabelle is going on a "Backpack Date" with Daddy. As I type, they are at Toys R Us picking out whatever her heart desires. I know she wants The Little Mermaid, but I wouldn't be surprised if she came home with an Iron Man one! ((Just found out she has a Dora backpack and Disney Princess lunch pail!))

Here is my little academic star in a tee I embroidered for her. I think she looks so sweet! The embroidery is from SWAK. I've bought a few files from them in the past and I'm always super happy with the stitch out. Machine embroidery on knit can be interesting to say the least, but I had no trouble with this - thank goodness!

I also made her a bulletin board for all her important papers and artwork. Do you want to see what I did? It's super easy and fun for the kiddos!

What do you need?

*Magnetic board ( I got mine from Target on clearance)

*Enough fabric to cover the board

*Pretty trim for border of board

*Apple applique file from SWAK

*white felt

*tear away stabilizer

*scrap fabric

*magnet

*hot glue

What do you do?

1.) Hot glue fabric down on magnet board only on border. Stretch it tight so it fits nice and smooth.

2. Cut any excess fabric off from the sides. Beautify that border up by hot gluing trim around the edge.
3. Stitch out your apple applique on white felt.
4. Cut apple out from felt, leaving about 1/4" border.
5. Hot glue apple applique on to a magnet.
6. Enjoy!

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Linking up to : A Little Tipsy, Tatertots & Jello

My Little Turkey

As my business has grown over the last year, I've felt myself putting projects for family & friends on the back burner so I can get a little more work done. This was heartbreaking for me. The point of running my own business was so that I would be at home with Isabelle (and future kids), and give more to those I love. So each weekend I "try" to set aside all work, and only do projects for those I love. It's not a perfect system, and this weekend I slipped. A lot of the photographers I had orders from HAD to have items this coming week, that meant I HAD to work overtime and then some. With all that said, I was bound and determined to create a dress for Isabelle for Thanksgiving. My original hope had been to sew 2 ties that matched for her cousins; had great visions of the family photos. Sorry Brycen and Bailey, the ties are probably not going to get done in the next 48 hours. I'm sure they'll forgive me.. Well after some Wii and pumpkin pie..

The pattern I used was Olive Ann Designs : Jump-N . Purchased it at one of my favorite local fabric stores, Material Girls over in South Jordan.

And I'm still on my corduroy kick; using a heavy wide wale green cord and small wale chocolate brown w/ matching green polka dot .

I made some changes, and honestly now that I'm done I will make more changes to the next one. I am not a flamingo fan, so that appliqué got axed. Also..

* Isa is skin & bones, so her body measurements put her at size 1. However, I didn't take into consideration that she has my head. Big heads means big ideas! It is super hard to get it over her head and tears usually erupt. For the next dress I will either push the sleeves out more or increase the width of the neck.

* It is supposed to be reversible, but honestly with 2 cords it makes it very bulky. With the next one I'd either use only 1 heavy fabric or not intend to make it reversible.

* Your bobbin thread color is important!! For this reason I will probably not use the polka dot side as wearable option. The bobbin thread color is distracting to me though I'm sure Isa is unaware :o)

* I added a machine embroidered turkey on the bottom for a little added holiday decoration. The original had that flamingo.. I bought the embroidery pattern at SWAK Embroidery

If I had more time to spend on the dress I think I'd be slightly happier with it. It really only should have took around 2 hours to sew, but with a toddler yelling "Go Diego, Go!" and deadlines looming over my shoulder.. I said this Turkey is done, stick a fork in it!