My free motion quilting journey……

Warning : Long post…

After doing my hand quilting classes, which really requires time and patience… I had decided that I would definitely prefer machine quilting, since it would be faster and get me quicker results. But we human beings, don’t learn from our life experiences, that anything fast may end in furious results too.

Well this was an episode wherein I forgot that lesson of life, and along with my free motion foot plunged into my free motion quilting journey, not expecting what was going to come in the process.

I had that much sense as to start with a small project like some coasters.  All motivated and charged, I downloaded some simple templates, transferred them onto my fabric, sandwiched my batting and backing and started off…….

To my disappointment , all my stitches were going haywire and moreover, the quilting stitches were not even seen.  It looked more like an applique stitch…. very minute.  I understood that there was some problem with the speed of my foot presser and my hand movement in moving my sandwich.  I tried and tried but to no avail.

Frustrated, I called up my dear friend Nima, ( We call each other, during our ups and downs in our crafty process).   I told her about the challenges I was facing with my free motion. 

In fact there was a time when I felt like running away from my machine, I also felt hand quilting is much better since everything is in our control. Here everything is controlled by the machine. Though at the back of my mind I knew its only a matter of practice, I was so…. obsessed with getting quicker results. 

Then later during the day, Nima  called me up with some great information about quilting and forwarded me this site and this blog  which was of great help. Next day I started with all new found knowledge and motivation. This time I din’t  give up since I also realized  that everything fast also needs patience and perseverance.

I hope I din’t bore you all with my quilting journey and long post. Before I end I would like to show you all  the result of my trial and tribulations…..

And after seeing this I am  sure you would also agree that these can’t be made into coasters. So please suggest what can I finish out of these.

 

  

The above are my first few trials…. and below is the one wherein I felt that I am improving so I can manage to show you the back of the sandwich too.

This is the front.

This is the back.  Haven’t I progressed a bit??

There is still a long….. way to go till I even become half as good as many great quilters out there.  But I would certainly not give up.  I would also like to thank all those expert quilters who comes up with great tutorials and discussions.

With all hopes that I come up with better free motion finishes, let me take your leave.

Do send in your comments and advices, please………

A nice little tote…….

Bags and totes are my all time favorites,  and it can be made as quick gifts too.  So this time for a quick finish,  I decided to make a girly tote.  As I have mentioned before, nowadays I am in love with embroidery and want to add a touch of embroidery in whatever I make. I am always inspired by the flickr embroidery group and now and then browse through them for some inspirations.  This particular embroidery on my tote is from there.  I loved the bunny in one of the finish and tried to draw it for transfer. Well I loved the result.  Here it is……

The tote is not from any particular pattern, I have just used a basic pattern but I wanted to have a zipered pocket inside  and also a magnetic clasp for closing.  And I have used D- ring for the sling strap. I have to thank Nima for getting me some magnetic clasps and D rings from India.  Thank you Nima, it was kind of you.

 

 

And here is the little embroidered bunny…. I have used simple back stitch and satin stitch for the eye.

 

 

One last look at my tote…..

I am happy with the finish and am planning to gift it to my close friend’s daughter.

Please  do send in your lovely comments. I eagerly wait after every post to see them. Hoping to come back with more crafty posts.  Take Care …. and Bye.

My small garden……

The weather here in Muscat is pleasant and beautiful….. I eagerly wait for this season of the year, since it is during this time , that I can grow some lovely flowering plants in my little garden.  Back in India we are so… used to the greenery, that I long to have some green space around me. But sadly due to the extreme summer here its  quite difficult to maintain. 

But  I don’t l leave any chance I get,  to do so in my little space  during winter, which is quite pleasant here.   And when I saw the result, I just couldn’t stop myself from showing it to you all.  So have a look at my  little garden…….

I love color  and so I get colorful plants.  These are some Zineas… and Marigold.

 

 

Aren’t they  beautiful !!   Well I don’t know the name of this one, but I love it and  am awed by the perfectness of the petals and the color combination.

 

We can really use these colors from nature for our craft too.  Believe me, you get great ideas with regards to combinations.  And of course!  make our life colorful too…

Will come soon with a crafty post.  Till then enjoy the colors of nature…. Bye!!

Embroidered Needle case and pin cushion……

This will be the first post of 2011, I know the start has been very slow  and I am also not happy about it.   So many things are there in my to –do list  and I am confused.  So I thought to take it slow and steady.

Anyway ….., if you all remember I had mentioned about making an embroidered needle case …. Though I had finished this quite some time back, I wanted to add a pincushion before I blogged about it.   So, here it is…..

The needle case is made of  scraps that was lying in my scrap box, I had seen this idea in one of the crafty blog, sorry I don’t have the link now.  I have added a hand embroidery to it, and most importantly I tried attaching a magnetic clasp  to close it.

The pincushion is also hand embroidered, and one of the patterns online.  I really love surface embroidery, but too much time constrains.

I would really love to get your comments and advices on my finishes. Hoping to come up with some good finishes  regularly….. Till then its  Bye from Preeta!!