Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Enchanted World of Ellen Anne Eddy

I love the enchanted and wonderful fabric and thread artistry of Ellen Anne Eddy.  Perhaps you have had that special experience of taking one of her classes at a quilt guild or a conference.  Ellen Ann's first book, Thread Magic - The Enchanted World of Ellen Anne Eddy, is a classic text on free motion and fiber art.
823-10 Jazzed: Hearts on the Line
823-10 Jazzed: Hearts on a Line

Inspired by nature, Ellen Anne Eddy has taken her fiber art beyond free motion embroidery.  She says, "I have three layers or more of fabric stitched, so technically, I quilt.  But I recognize that I'm pretty far away from my grandmother's flower garden.  I say I draw in thread.  That's only partially true.  Having worked my whole life in fiber, I do draw with my sewing machine better than I ever could by hand, but I also paint in layers.  The worlds I build start with cotton dyed so that moon and sun light pour through the surface.  I paint in layers of sheers, cut to make the dimensions of water and under brush.  One layer builds on to another layer.  Only instead of paint it's nylon sheers and dyed cheesecloth.  The animals are realistic within their basic forms, but they are almost always people I am dealing with or self portraits.  It's not deliberate.  It simply happens if I am true to the work and my heart.  I am often shocked to recognize myself, my friends and my family in my work when I'm finished."
 88612 Bubbly Special Sale Price
Bubbly 88612
Ellen Anne does not do computer embroidery... her work is all done using a simple straight stitch or zigzag, depending on the thread, and totally hand guided.  She works with both commercial threads and pearl cottons she dyes herself.  Then they are stitched into the surface and often covered in other layers of sheers, creating a landscape whole.


Ellen Anne believes EVERYBODY is an artist... and if you want to learn more about her work--be sure to visit her website at www.ellenanneddy.com

NOW is a great time to be inspired by Ellen Anne's work --- because she is having a "Raid My Stash" sale in her Etsy Shop.  Not only is she selling some of her books, hand-dyed fabrics and thread - this is a rare opportunity to purchase original art from a world famous fiber artist.

I'm so excited!  Watch for Ellen Anne as a guest blogger in the very near future!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

www.ellenanneddy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EllenAnneEddy


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Freddie and Friends

Meet Freddie's Friends  -

Eliza the Chickie . . .  
 
 
Penny the Penguin . . .
 





Scotty the Sea Turtle, Ronny the Robot and Gabby the Gobbler.



At Spring Quilt Market I loved finding these colorful personalities that are sure to delight kids.  These adorable creatures are designed by Ingrid Pinto, who's nickname is Freddie.  Ingrid or Freddie has a real knack for designing wonderful squeezable creatures.  These lovable little guys are terrific beginner sewing projects because of the raw edge finishes . . . then combine all the different fabric colors and pretty soon a new little personality is stitched.  This looks like fun!

 
Freddie also known as Ingrid :)

Thanks Freddie for sharing your friends and designing the patterns.  Find more patterns of Freddie's Friends at www.freddieandcompany.com.  I want to stitch up a couple new friends myself and share the fun!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

www.freddieandcompany.com



 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Shipshewana Quilt Festival

If you love to quilt, put June 26 - 29, 2014 on your calendar for the next Shipshewana Quilt Festival in beautiful LaGrange County in northern Indiana.  You may know that I live in the Chicago area, so driving to Shipshewana is an easy 3 hour drive.  More importantly, once off I-80 is the beauty of green rolling hills, country homes with bucolic lawns, and sightings of horse drawn carriages.  LaGrange County is the picturesque home of Amish and Mennonite communities.  


Merging Pathways at The Essenhaus

For four of five years, I have been pleased to participate as a Schoolhouse instructor at the Shipshewana Quilt Festival.  This year I taught five SCHMETZ needle education classes out of 102 sessions throughout the day - what a whirlwind of a day.  :) 


Shop Hop Prize at Yoder Department Store

The Shipshewana Quilt Festival includes the Shipshewana Backroads Shop Hop.  What's cool about this shop hop is that all the stores are within a 20 mile radius.  And what's this mean?  More shopping,
 


Quilt Shopping in a Boutique within Davis Mercantile 
 
more quilt viewing,
 
Cuddle Corner in Davis Mercantile
 
more time to explore the beautiful and gigantic quilt patterns and gardens

and more leisure time to eat. 

 
 
 
One of my favorite foods in Shipshewana is a peanut butter and honey and/or marshmallow spread on home-baked bread.  Yummm!  Don't even try to quilt with sticky fingers!  The Essenhaus Noodles are made on-site and are mighty fine too.

For 2014 plan to enter your quilts in the festival for over $10,000 in cash and prizes, book hotel rooms, gather your quilty friends and enjoy plentiful shopping and relaxation with friends.  The Shipshewana Quilt Festival is a delight. 
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

www.shipshewanaquiltfest.com


 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Change Your Needle

Just a reminder that your sewing machine needle will NOT last forever!  Here are clues to watch and listen for when sewing:

Broken or Shredded Threads
Skipped or Uneven Stitches
Puckered or Damaged Fabrics
Popping Sound Made By Sewing Machine

That's right!  If you see or hear any of these clues while sewing, it's time to . . . .

Change Your Needle!

A small investment to make your machine sing and your sewing soar.  :)

Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sulky Holoshimmer Thread

Meet Eric Drexler, Sulky National Educator.  We met up in Portland OR at International Quilt Market and I asked about the beautiful Sulky Holoshimmer Thread.  I love the special beauty and shimmer that metallic threads lend to sewing projects, but confessed that I am intimated to use metallic threads more frequently.  Eric was very gracious to make this video to share with you and me too. 


Holoshimmer is a thin, flat ribbon-like polyester film that is metalized with an aluminum holographic layer resulting in shimmery, brilliant reflectiveness.  Wow, this sounds like an engineering marvel!  Like Eric mentions in the video a key component to successful stitching with Holoshimmer is using a SCHMETZ Topstitch or Metallic needle.  The eyes of both needles are enlarged . . . and you may need to tweak or reduce the stitch tension.  Visit my February 5, 2013 blog post for the SCHMETZ Needle Eye Comparison chart.

Thanks Eric for your very helpful information.  Eric is a machine embroidery artist and loves to teach.  If you have a chance to take one of Eric's machine embroidery classes at your local shop or a sewing expo, you will be more than glad.  Sulky Holoshimmer . . . I'm going to grab a spool and start stitching!

Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda

www.sulky.com

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Lunch Box Quilts

The curve of the tail, that certain look, that attitude. . . Angie Steveson has captured that certain "cattitude" in her new quilt pattern Cat's Meow.  I have enjoyed the mystery and humor of living with cats, but since I don't have a cat in my life now, a cute colorful cat quilt will more than do. 


Cat's Meow, Lunchbox Quilts

Meet Angie Steveson, designer and owner of Lunch Box Quilts.  Angie has created Cat's Meow - 7 embroidered and applique kitty cat designs complete with optional embroidered paw prints, balls of yarn and fish scales.   I like that the designs are already loaded onto a USB key.  Plus each block is stitched in the machine embroidery hoop.  Easy! 

I met up with Angie in Portland OR at International Quilt Market and made this short video.



Lunch Box Quilts patterns are fun, just like Angie!  Find Lunch Box Quilts patterns at your local quilt shop.  Visit Angie's website to view her full pattern line and her schedule - maybe she will be teaching at a store near you. 

Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda

www.lunchboxquilts.com
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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

New SCHMETZ App!

That's right.... the new SCHMETZ Needles App is available.  Yahoo!!!!!

There's a reason SCHMETZ makes a variety of needle types and sizes and it has to do with performance.  Stitch quality improves with the appropriate needle.  In the SCHMETZ App take a look at the different types of needles available for your home sewing projects. 


Mark Your Favorite Needle with a Red Heart

Not sure what needle to use with a certain fabric?  Use the Needle Fabric Reference - just select a fabric type and a needle will be suggested. 




For those of you that may think a needle lasts forever, check out the "Change Your Needle" clues.  Yes, you really do have to change your needle.  You will see and hear the difference!  There's a terrific photo of a needle that looks sewing-ready to the naked eye, but close-up views show otherwise. 

On the SCHMETZ App learn about needles, select a needle, then buy your SCHMETZ needles at your local quilt shop, fabric store or machine dealer.

Android users, we love you!  The Android SCHMETZ App is in the works.

Download the SCHMETZ App now.  It's free!


Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
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