tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87328798190224557872024-03-05T22:02:50.565-05:00With Glittering Eyes"Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." -Roald DahlNadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-91268005810121707382019-09-30T19:08:00.000-04:002019-09-30T19:08:17.457-04:00Renewed Kitchen Chairs - Paint and Fabric<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On my ongoing efforts to update my kitchen now that the flooring, wall color, and window treatments have been done, I am wanting to change my cabinets. ...But replacing cabinets is definitely not in the budget, so I started looking at paint options. Between looking at specially formulated cabinet paint from Sherwin Williams and Lowes, sprayers, refacing options, and other paints, I discovered on Facebook: chalk paint. Once I landed on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/OfficialHeirloomTraditionsPaint/" target="_blank">Heirloom Traditions Paint</a>, with its promise of no sanding and no wax needed for its self-leveling and primer-included paints, I was intrigued. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaDQPBBbjMRq86he7diiijq-N_ddnrXcK9SaiWkpqaA2h0Ds_CSdav0w_a-NHGeZLCjFk94efcVo7gfNTd6yTglykz22ltE5A6nLIsuG4UW3TwvB6ZNR2s31ky1pZhyphenhyphenfm7BOZ9tBq7L57/s1600/Photo+Sep+29%252C+12+02+37+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaDQPBBbjMRq86he7diiijq-N_ddnrXcK9SaiWkpqaA2h0Ds_CSdav0w_a-NHGeZLCjFk94efcVo7gfNTd6yTglykz22ltE5A6nLIsuG4UW3TwvB6ZNR2s31ky1pZhyphenhyphenfm7BOZ9tBq7L57/s400/Photo+Sep+29%252C+12+02+37+PM.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then I realized a huge surprise: the company is based in my city and they had a showroom! I had learned so much about their paint and their recommended application techniques on their Facebook Live streams and on their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQGz04bMeIU" target="_blank">YouTube videos</a>. They don't have real paint chips, something I hope they will re-think. After seeing some of their customers' cabinets in the Facebook group, I decided that I wanted my cabinets to be painted <a href="https://amzn.to/2moDeah" target="_blank">Cashmere</a>, a true, bright white. But taking on all those kitchen cabinets....with a new paint and all that work! I had to really think hard. It made it easier each time a Facebook friend showed off her new white cabinets, painted by a husband or replaced completely. The ones that started as honey oak (like mine) before their transformation always caught my attention the best! I was ready to try it but decided that I would do some smaller projects first! <br />
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I had kitchen chairs that I have owned for 25+ years that were chipped and dingy. I decided that the Cashmere paint would be perfect for those and would give me the experience and confidence I needed before starting kitchen cabinets-- something I had to do correctly and I had to love!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly painted on the left next to the chipped and dinged one on the right.</td></tr>
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This weekend I started the process and painted my kitchen chairs and reupholstered the seats. The chairs would add to the new, clean feel! They were red when I bought them in my 20s! I used spray paint from K Mart to change them to match a farmhouse style when we moved to the country in my 30s. They slowly became shabby chic on their own as they chipped and aged at this current house. <br />
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The first thing I did was remove the seat bottoms.<br />
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Next, the secret sauce: using the <a href="https://www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com/all-in-one-paint-deglosser-degreaser-prep/" target="_blank">Deglosser</a>. <br />
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Their deglosser is odor free and doesn't have to be cleaned off. I applied it with a green Scotch Brite scrubby and wiped it down with a paper towel to remove the dirt and grime. I kept a paint brush nearby, thinking that might help with tight details, but I never used it for this project.<br />
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Then it was a matter of painting. I used <a href="https://www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com/brushes/" target="_blank">their tools</a>: the brush for applying paint and the sponge applicator that they use in their how-to videos for stippling. The paint is the tough part to buy if you are like me and are used to purchasing by the gallon. I am usually heavy-handed with paint, but they were right, I could have painted all of these and more with just a free sample size. (One free sample is available to new customers via their Facebook and website, although when I went to their showroom, they entered my order on their site for me and got me my free sample.) For whatever reason, this paint goes a long way. <br />
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The paint covered everything.<br />
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In sections, I painted and then stippled with a sponge, hiding all the brush strokes and catching drips. I did keep a damp paper towel for the sponge to set on to keep it moist, but not dripping wet.<br />
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It was quick to dry. Super quick. That is one reason why stippling and painting is best done in sections!<br />
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Once I finished the four chairs, they were dry enough for any areas that needed an extra coat and dry enough to flip over to get the bottom of the rails. I debated letting them cure for a few days before adding a newly upholstered seat bottoms but I couldn't wait. I did allow them a few drying hours though. Then I gathered my upholstery tools.<br />
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I stripped off the old fabric using a staple lifter. When I inherited my dining room chairs, upon redoing those seats, I realized my grandpa never removed the old fabric. As much fun as it was to try to remember previous coverings, that meant that he could never inspect or change the padding. In all those decades, those chairs really needed new padding. These chairs though, I have redone a few times, and the padding has been updated.<br />
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I elected not to replace the foam rubber and dacron batting this time. The high density foam rubber I had still had support. I placed the wooden seat bottom and padding on the wrong side of the new upholstery fabric and, starting at the centers, began stapling (with 3/8" staples) toward the corners.<br />
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The corners should have no fold or tucks unless using a super thick foam, in which case a perfectly vertical fold on each exact corner is standard.<br />
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After screwing the seat bottoms back into place, the chairs are done!<br />
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I will say that when I needed to take breaks from painting and stippling, I placed each the sponge and the brush in separate plastic zipper bags to keep the air away from them. Clean up was simple with warm water and dish soap. The brush cleaned up perfectly. The sponge had some areas where the paint had dried but I think it will be fine for many more uses. I kept my stir stick as a paint chip for my house decorating swatchbook.<br />
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In reviewing this project and process, I loved the ease of use and finish of this paint. My kitchen chairs look refreshed. This was a great one day project. Once the paint is cured, I will have a better idea of its durability. My next project will be painting the oak cabinets in my first floor powder room. Those cabinets are exactly like the ones in my kitchen so they will be a great sample. Although they won't be painted in the same color, they should give me a good idea of the work involved and give me opportunities to learn a bit more.<br />
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Links to places and projects mentioned in this post:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/OfficialHeirloomTraditionsPaint/" target="_blank">Heirloom Traditions Paint Facebook Group</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQGz04bMeIU" target="_blank">Mini how-to video for painting with HTP</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com/all-in-one-paint-deglosser-degreaser-prep/" target="_blank">Deglosser</a></li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2moDeah" target="_blank">Cashmere (white) paint</a> (on Amazon) </li>
<li><a href="https://www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com/faq-1/" target="_blank">FAQs for this paint</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com/brushes/" target="_blank">Brush and Foam applicator</a></li>
</ul>
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Thank you for checking out this new kind of project for me. If you were looking for my machine embroidery projects, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Gallery</a>.</div>
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For my paper projects, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">Paper Gallery</a>.</div>
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For my soap making posts, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soap Recipe Gallery</a>.</div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-11998140033151440812019-09-24T12:07:00.001-04:002019-09-24T12:07:10.831-04:00Cats Pajamas! Lined Crossbody on an Embroidery Machine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNGr7bM5bs9Q4JEZtqbmU7ejcqezYZK2K_O92j3s39_p89I3YsndQkhfYkNvHmdIydPuhSeMY7dNZbB3Zi3u3Iqyo0KgeuNXLeE3cH15y9rZsG3zxL-CPgF19s0AjNxjhEdyY8Fnpu7fB/s1600/IMG_8483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNGr7bM5bs9Q4JEZtqbmU7ejcqezYZK2K_O92j3s39_p89I3YsndQkhfYkNvHmdIydPuhSeMY7dNZbB3Zi3u3Iqyo0KgeuNXLeE3cH15y9rZsG3zxL-CPgF19s0AjNxjhEdyY8Fnpu7fB/s400/IMG_8483.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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For a gift, I made a pattern I have had in my digital files since I started machine embroidery: <a href="https://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/in-the-hoop/2-zipper-prse-set.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Garden's Two Zipper Bag</a>. This is an in-the-hoop file that allows the stitcher to make a fully lined, multiple pocket, multiple zipper bag in the hoop. The strap is the only part made on a conventional sewing machine. The inside bottom of the bag's lining gets whip stitched by hand. All else, including zipper installation is done on the embroidery machine. The one I made was the 5x7, stitched on my Brother PE770. I hooped no show poly mesh instead of the suggested Vilene because I took a class from Reen of Embroidery Garden when she came to town and that was an innovation she discovered. Using the poly mesh means that you MUST cut a window from the back of the zipper so that the bag is not ruined! But doing that small thing allows you to use a stabilizer that can stay in the bag. Vilene must be dissolved in water, leaving a wet bag that must dry. To me, the poly mesh is a much better choice!</div>
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The fabric I used is a long-retired Laurel Burch print called "Fantastic Felines" that I bought years ago (like more than 10 years ago!) when I worked at Baer Fabrics. I am working through my stash! I used a thin cotton batting from my stash that I ironed to press as flat as possible. The zippers were also from the stash from a purchase of bulk nylon zippers I bought years ago. Thread is Metro; needles are titanium embroidery eye sharps by Organ, size 75/11.</div>
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I did make a couple of adjustments to the pattern. After stitching step three from the extensive illustrated directions, as instructed, I added batting and pulled down the front piece of outside fabric (leaving the lining tucked up). Then I stitched the name. This is a font from <a href="https://www.appliquecorner.com/grandly-embroidery-font.html" target="_blank">Applique Corner called Grandly.</a> I needed something thick since it was going on a busy print. I picked a thread color from the many in this fabric print that would not be directly under the font once stitched. I use Embrilliance Essentials and that makes adding a name, nudging the letters so they look like script, and adding a <a href="https://sewbubbles.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/adding-a-basting-box-to-a-design-why-how/" target="_blank">basting box </a>to the name a snap! I removed the basting box after stitching and used my SteamFast mini iron to press it flat since the batting gave the personalization a little loft that looked like puckering. It pressed flat, hower, and was able to because the basting box kept even tension. There was no puckering, just loft. Ironing made it smooth again and I proceeded from there with the instructions as printed.</div>
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My next alteration was with the strap. I knew the length of strap I wanted but I find it easier to make looped fasteners and attach a free-standing strap with swivel claw-hook findings (like the kind you use for snap tabs). Next time, I will attach the findings to the loops instead of the strap so that the bag can also be hooked onto belt loops without the strap as an option! My loop fasteners were cut to 5-1/2" each. Next time I will also make those shorter. My strap was cut to 44" (based on the size of the recipient) and sewn to the swivel claw-hook findings on each end.</div>
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Once the bag was done, the strap was clipped onto the loops.<br />
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I did add the optional back pocket. It is large enough to hold my iphone 6+ in the Otterbox. I take that to mean most phones will fit!</div>
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I used a scrap of fabric fused and sewn to cardstock to make a matching birthday card. My card was my participation in a friend's weekly challenge. I used a punch to make the polka dots. The buttons were made with two punches and I added ink to look like the buttons were sewn on.<br />
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My gift was complete. Hopefully it will be considered fun and practical.<br />
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Links shared in this post:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/in-the-hoop/2-zipper-prse-set.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Garden 2 Zipper bag</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.appliquecorner.com/grandly-embroidery-font.html" target="_blank">Grandly embroidery font from Applique Corner</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sewbubbles.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/adding-a-basting-box-to-a-design-why-how/" target="_blank">Basting box info</a></li>
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To see my other embroidery projects along with links, tutorials, and resources, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">Embroidery page</a>. To see my paper projects, check my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">Paper Gallery</a>. This blog contains my recipes, soapmaking formulas, loom knitting, doll clothes sewing, and screen printing projects. You can get to those from the header at the top of the blog when viewing on a computer or by scrolling just under the banner if viewing on a phone. When viewing on your phone, you can always get to the web view version by scrolling to the very bottom and clicking on the "View Web Version" link in order to see side bars and other elements visible on a computer. </div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-13546908595118210862019-08-06T20:39:00.001-04:002019-08-06T20:52:13.403-04:00Zippered Wristlets Made with the Embroidery Machine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the summer my daughter lived in the dorms during a ballet intensive out of town and I was prompted to make a few things to make life a bit more convenient. I wanted something specifically helpful for trudging down to the laundry room in her building. I found that the <a href="https://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/in-the-hoop/purses-wristlets/in-the-hoop-wristlet-set.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Garden In The Hoop Wristlet Set</a>, made in the 5x7 size, is the perfect size for quarters for the machines. I made a couple because they were so quick and super handy to have.<br />
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"In the hoop" refers to 3D finished items made entirely (or mostly) in the embroidery machine. This is a fully lined pouch and even the zipper is installed in the embroidery machine. (A nylon zipper must be used (never metal) for in the hoop (ITH) projects because the embroidery machine will be sewing over the zipper.) I took a class with Reen, the owner of Embroidery Garden a few years ago when she came to town. Her great tip for ITH projects, that differ from her own printed instructions, is to hoop <a href="https://www.worldweidner.com/polymesh-cut-away.aspx" target="_blank">no show poly mesh</a> (cutaway stabilizer) instead of the prescribed tear away. The no show poly mesh is so soft that it can stay in the project with a window cut out behind the zipper. (Cutting out behind the zipper is a must in order to turn the bag when completed!)<br />
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For this project, the strap was made on a regular sewing machine, however, using modified instructions that are included with the file instructions.<br />
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I preferred these without the flower embellishment or the decorative quilting on the file, but I did still use a cotton batting to give it a little structure.<br />
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The second one I made was embellished with a file my daughter picked out from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/598333297/peace-love-and-harmony-whimsical-and?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=frublomgren&ref=sr_gallery-1-48" target="_blank">Frublomgren on Etsy. Her fantastic hipster bunnies</a> get the rare distinction of being the ONLY design in my collection of thousands that my 15-year-old liked!<br />
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We decided to remove the bubble with PEACE from the original design. When I edited it out, I also lost part of the circle applique with blanket stitching behind the bunnies. I wanted that background so my little bunnies wouldn't get lost in the printed base fabric of the zipper bag, so I went on and edited out the circle background too with my Embrilliance software (Essentials module's tools) and then used the Embrilliance Stitch Artist module's tools to digitize a new circle applique with a blanket stitch edging. Using the shapes library made it a cinch to do!</div>
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I used a swivel lanyard claw hook on the strap to finish, a slight modification to the Embroidery Garden instructions. The strap can be unclipped to be used as a wrist fob for keys.<br />
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Quick Links to Blog Mentions:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/in-the-hoop/purses-wristlets/in-the-hoop-wristlet-set.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Garden Wristlet Set</a> (this is a digital embroidery file)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.worldweidner.com/polymesh-cut-away.aspx" target="_blank">No show poly mesh cutaway stabilizer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/598333297/peace-love-and-harmony-whimsical-and?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=frublomgren&ref=sr_gallery-1-48" target="_blank">Hipster Bunny Design by FruBlomgren on Etsy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://embrilliance.com/" target="_blank">Embrilliance Embroidery Software</a></li>
</ul>
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To see my other embroidery projects and links to tutorials and resources, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">Machine Embroidery Gallery.</a> Paper projects can be found in my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">Paper Gallery</a>. Soaping recipes can be found in my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soapmakers Gallery</a>. </div>
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Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-59856175534631142662019-06-02T08:00:00.000-04:002019-06-02T08:00:04.826-04:00Dorm Towels! My favorite high school student will be living in dorms this summer for a special ballet intensive. I picked up some Costco bath towels, hand towels (which my makeup-loving daughter calls face towels), and wash cloths for her to take.<br />
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To help her keep up with them, I thought a monogram would be perfect. Now...you must know that this is a bit of an issue. Or at least it has been such an issue that I was banned by her from doing three-letter monograms. And the reason? Well, a typical woman's monogram is "first name" "LAST NAME" "middle name". For this kiddo, that would spell: pMs. PMS?? What was I thinking? All I can say is that I was never an expert on monograms and never even had an embroidery machine when she was a baby. When I was looking at baby names, I remember thinking about her initials: PSM. Looked fine and I was done. But a monogram is not the same as initials!! The order is different!<br />
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So, the only thing she would allow me to do was single letter monograms or we have put her entire first name on things.<br />
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That was until I found this new monogram called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/703305765/massey-monogram-font-tall-thin-satin?ga_search_query=massey&ref=shop_items_search_1&pro=1" target="_blank">Massey from Jack N Mack on Etsy</a><br />
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And look how it looks if you use the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/691089872/two-line-dash-underline-accent-add-on?ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-5" target="_blank">Two-line Add-on</a> and re-arrange the letters!!! This orders the letters just like initials and I am out of hot water!<br />
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How cute is that? I sent it to my daughter to get her approval -- and she loved it.<br />
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I used my Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software to put together the letters (the Massey font is available in BX as well as all the regular formats) and the Two-line add-on.<br />
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I used the full monogram for the hand towels and bath towels. I used only her first name initial with the lines that come with the font on the wash cloth. What I also love about this design is that you can use two colors because the letters are made with a satin stitch outlined with a bean stitch. The double dash is just a satin stitch and I matched it to the bean stitch color. The single line details have the bean stitch.<br />
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Because these are are super skinny, I used the knockdown feature in Embrilliance Enthusiast. I stitched the knockdown in white to match the towels.<br />
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I decided I wanted the "P" on the washcloths to be located on the lower right quadrant of the washcloth. That way, when folded, it was in the middle.<br />
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This is the 1.5" size for the washcloths.<br />
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The hand towels and bath towels were different in that they were centered. The hand towels were sized up from the 4" letter for the last name and sized down a bit for the first and middle initial letters. The bath towels were 6" for the last name and 5" for the first and middle initials.<br />
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I placed the monogram so that the bottom of the basting box would be 1/2" above the top band on the hand towel and 1" on the bath towel.<br />
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I hooped tearaway and floated the bath linens. I topped with WSS but many stitchers feel that WSS is not necessary with knockdown. I like how it puts the pile in its place for the knockdown.<br />
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On pre-washing: I would normally not pre-wash embroidered towels. But...I have purchased these Costco towels before and I have found that they are not very absorbent until after they have been washed. I am not sure if they are coated with something to keep them white or what but they are almost resistant to water until that first washing. Since my daughter is taking these to school, I wanted them ready to use. No way would she wash them first. (That idea actually made me giggle!) That first wash also brings out tons of lint. After I embroidered these, I washed in hot water again to get rid of all the WSS. That is another thing I would not do if it were a gift. I wanted these soft, absorbent, fluffy, and ready to use for this kid.<br />
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They are packed in an Ikea bag and waiting with the rest of her stuff. One more thing off the list!<br />
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Sources for things mentioned in this post:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Embrilliance Essentials and Enthusiast software - <a href="https://embrilliance.com/">https://embrilliance.com/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/703305765/massey-monogram-font-tall-thin-satin?ga_search_query=massey&ref=shop_items_search_1&pro=1" target="_blank">Jack N Mack Massey font </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/691089872/two-line-dash-underline-accent-add-on?ga_search_query=two%2Bline&ref=shop_items_search_2&pro=1" target="_blank">Jack N Mack Two Line Add-on</a></li>
<li>Towels - Costco in store</li>
<li>Tearaway and WSS purchased from World Weidner</li>
<li>Ikea bags - in store</li>
</ul>
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This project was stitched on a Brother PE770 single needle embroidery machine with Metro polyester embroidery thread using an Organ titanium needle with an embroidery eye size 11.<br />
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To see my other embroidery projects, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">embroidery gallery</a>. To see my paper projects, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">paper gallery</a>.Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-68460685982517831542019-05-29T18:15:00.000-04:002019-05-29T18:27:50.317-04:00The No Good Very Bad Day That Led to My First Monthly Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This has been one heck of a year! In February we awoke in the middle of the night to a plumbing catastrophe with a waterfall from our second floor to our dining room, living room, and kitchen. I have never felt more panicked or more helpless! We shut off the water, got out shop vacs, moved furniture and belongings, and called the insurance company. It got worse before it got better.<br />
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After a bit over two months of water mitigation, walls, ceilings, and flooring ripped out and replaced and renewed, moving all of our belongings out of our home, and lots of extra projects on my part, we got our home back. It was crazy because I was still dealing with my knee problems after tearing my ACL, as well as pain in my shoulder, foot, and hand after falling off a ladder before all this happened. Well, I never thought I would get back on a ladder, but the home repairs and redecorating encouraged me to get back on that horse! The insurance company paid for some rooms to be repainted and flooring for almost all rooms to be replaced. I painted many of the rooms that they didn't handle because I figured not having flooring was the easiest time to paint walls. Drips and spills would not matter! In the end, I picked new colors and I love it all, despite the horrible and upsetting way it all started.<br />
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Aside from the lovely new walls, ceilings, flooring, fresh paint, and new colors, everything naturally is cleaner since it was all ripped out!! I packed stuff up and movers took it away for two days but I didn't want the clutter back so I took close to 30 minivan loads of stuff to Goodwill before packing. I had our treadmill picked up by a charity. I gave stuff to family and friends. I seriously thought out every object in my home minus stuff in my husband's music room and office, and my daughter's room, which were spared from purging because they suffered no water damage. I looked in every drawer and cabinet and on every shelf. I went through my sewing and craft room for days, clearing out and really considering how I now wanted to organize and store things. I re-thought my workflow and storage. I got rid of more stuff than I can describe! And now I love it!! Aside from being clean and fresh and new, everything in my home is organized and clutter-free. I feel like it was an extra gift from the Home Repair Fairies. I just figured if we were going through all that pain, we were going to have a better home all the way around as a result. No more stuff piled on top of any thing-- not my China cabinet, not my counters, not my wardrobes or chests of drawers. Nice clean lines, a place for everything, and an easy place to live is what we traded for all that extra stuff.<br />
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I also decided it was time to rethink my window treatments. I took everything down, washed what very few treatments I was keeping, and re-hung those. I made new kitchen window treatments and I have plans for new treatments for my living room and dining room. My family room was untouched by all the drama, but those windows will also be getting a face lift. I made new roman shades and a new valance for my kitchen using fabric from my stash. That's when I decided that I would try to use my stash for all my home sewing projects. This is where I will admit that the only two things I regret getting rid of in all that were two pieces of fabric!! (I got rid of so much fabric).<br />
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The water mitigation people took down all my framed photos and artwork. I decided they would not be going back up. I decided that my family room is where all my family photos would be going. No more tablescapes with photos in frames. No more framed family photos scattered like an 80s living room museum. Instead the family room walls would allow me to tell the story of our family! The walls in the rest of the house I wanted for artwork that was all about us too; I wanted things we made. For my living room, in a corner with my husband's guitars and instruments, I hung framed articles about him (like the front page of our local newpaper's business page that I had framed back when we were dating) and a poster of a big event he organized at Freedom Hall last year. I wanted my own artwork and my daughter's. I wanted things that people made specifically for us. I finally framed a St. Francis that my friend Sis Patterson made for me when I became Catholic. It had been a favorite item for years, but I kept it safely in a drawer. Now it is in a shadow box on a wall in my kitchen so I can enjoy it every day.<br />
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That thinking is what caused me to decide to do a project a month for my walls. The month of May was a wall hanging I originally thought would go in my family room. But in the end, I put it in my entry. It is made using the Anita Goodesign Homestead files. That is an embroidery file collection that was one of the very first ones I bought when I started embroidery but it always seemed too labor intensive, too stitch intensive. Giving myself a month to do it, it was very doable! I started by figuring out the finished size I wanted. I am limited to a 5x7 hoop so the "D" size was the one I had to use. I chose a palette of fabrics and a palette of thread colors --all from my stash, nothing purchased.<br />
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I made a color copy of the project in the book, then I cut up the paper, choosing which blocks I would use, re-taping it for the design I wanted. That allowed me a plan to use.<br />
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I hooped No Show Poly Mesh stabilizer and cut up a bunch of 5" cotton batting squares to use in step two of each block.<br />
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I put every single block through my Embrilliance software. I was able to get a clear list of color steps and I had space on my print out to make notes related to thread colors I wanted to use, when the color mattered, and when it was an applique step. Watching the virtual stitchout meant that I knew what to expect on these little blocks, some with over 20 steps. I started stitching all the animals, then the trees, then the quilts, and ended with the tiny detailed buildings. Unlike the way I usually do applique, I did not use Heat N Bond Lite. I did starch my fabrics though. </div>
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I sewed them together to make the strips. Then I stitched the sashing and border pieces and stitched them all together.<br />
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I added a backing, quilted minimally in the ditch to attach it to the project.<br />
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I bound it using tips I learned from Mimi Dietrich's Finishing School class on Craftsy (now Bluprint). I own that class and have referred back many times (I quilt very rarely so I forget often)! I love her tips for perfect miters and her trick for meeting the ends of the double fold bias is genius.<br />
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I added a piece of wood to the back, hidden with fabric, and hung the quilt using drapery hardware that I had on hand.<br />
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<span id="goog_428472130"></span><span id="goog_428472131"></span><br />
I loved getting this first new wall project up!<br />
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Having a clean and organized sewing/craft room has made all my projects so much easier! I have lots of projects to share that I have done since getting my room back that I will be sharing soon. It has been a productive time in my little studio!<br />
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Thank you for checking out my post. I have to figure out my June wall project.<br />
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To see my other embroidery projects, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">embroidery gallery</a>. To see my paper projects, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">paper gallery</a>.Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-26868038448627828462019-01-08T00:37:00.000-05:002019-01-08T00:37:00.398-05:00Christmas Journal 2018 Plus Embroidery Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I don't know about you, but I sure am glad 2018 is over! I haven't blogged since 2017, and I thought that was a hard year! 2018 almost killed me! It started with my daughter recovering from a second knee surgery, my husband selling one of his companies, and an IRS audit on one of our businesses. It ended with me falling off a ladder, completely tearing my ACL in my left knee, spraining my MCL, hurting my elbow, shoulder, hand and back. In between, my husband started a new company while simultaneously a company he started a couple of years ago started to take off as government licenses and labels were completed and approved. Seriously, it was work, risk, and pain! </div>
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So, here I sit without any New Year's Resolutions but plenty of things that need to improve, after two bad years, and one improvement needs to be finding time to create stuff! I have missed being creative, making things, and writing about it! In that spirit, I reversed my decision not to do a Christmas Journal this year and gave myself one day to do it. I have been doing my Christmas Journals since 2012. Typically, I work on that year's journal daily. It really makes me focus on the holiday season and special Christmasy things each day. This year, I didn't have it in me. I had to move all the big family celebrations to my cousin's house due to my injuries, I didn't put up a tree until a week before Christmas (and even then it was just lights, garland, and a star!), I missed Black Friday, I did all my shopping on-line or at the gift card display, I made very few gifts, and did almost no baking. We decided not to see the Nutcracker Ballet (my daughter danced in the Nutcracker at her ballet school in June and was Nutcrackered-out). Despite all that, I am a serial picture taker with my phone and a list maker. My Christmas Journal is heavy on both of those, plus journaling, so deciding to make one made sense because I was half-way done!</div>
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I decided to use only papers in my stash and to do a simple design that I would bind with my Zutter and wire o-rings I already had. Some of my pages opened up and some had internal pockets to hold journaling tags. I ordered my photos via app and picked them up. Despite having my new Cricut Maker that I won from the company (my Christmas gift from the Crafting Fairy), my Christmas Journals have always been done on my old Expression using carts. I used it for my tags this year. The one thing my Christmas Journals always have is a Letter to My Future Self, a prompt from Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas that she sends each year. Something about that is cathartic so it is a must but I do hide it in my journal in plain sight.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stopped putting a CD of all the holiday's photos in the back of my journal since everything now is by date and duplicated on Dropbox. I do, however, still keep all the Christmas cards I received by friends and family. This year, our Christmas card was one of my pages.</td></tr>
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The cover was simply acid free mounting board adhered with regular acid free scrapbooking paper. I didn't have time for a complex cover so I picked busy paper for the cover and created a belly band (since I knew this thing would be fat and pop up). I like the idea of a fabric-and-elastic belly band (instead of a card stock one) so that it will hold up with repeated movement as the album is viewed over time. I used my simple Brother PE770 and Embrilliance software to do mine.</div>
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To do this, I merged the 'Lorie' frame from Lynnie Pinnie with BX format font 'Good Morning' from Applique Corner. I deleted the text from a <a href="https://www.soniashowalterdesigns.com/christmas/merry-christmas-with-santa-hat/" target="_blank">freebie by Sonia Showalter</a>, leaving the Santa hat. I moved the hat to the "0" of 2018. I made sure the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azdgavyC54" target="_blank">Remove Hidden Stitches</a>" was selected in My Preferences in the software. I resized everything to fit the width of my hoop. I stitched it on Vilene, using the same technique I explained in my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/02/making-embroidered-patches-and.html" target="_blank">patch-making post</a>, which can be found by <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/02/making-embroidered-patches-and.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. That technique includes adding a piece on the bottom of the hoop to cover all back stitches except the final satin stitches and wetting the finished edge to remove all trace of the Vilene. I joined a piece of fold-over elastic and sewed it to the patch. </div>
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Finished and final, my Christmas Journal was complete just as decorations were put away-- and I appreciated how little decorating I did once it was time to put it all away! My husband said he was thinking the same thing!</div>
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I will say that I did create time to do a few projects for gifts before Christmas. Nothing like the amounts of things I normally make, but I was trying to ease back into it and thought it would be easier but I didn't anticipate pain issues from my back. That made these even more special to me to give.</div>
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The first thing I did was an applique project. </div>
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My daughter is a ballet dancer and she gave this to her little cousin, along with a set of ballet student dolls. I was trying to find something that seemed like something she would give. This took me forever because the file had missing elements that I didn't notice initially. Luckily, I always open my file in my Embrilliance software and print out a list of color steps so I can take notes while I watch the virtual stitch out. I eventually found a format that had all the elements. I am not sure if this was a problem with the file or just my download. I saw this artwork as a png on Etsy last year so I fell in love with it as a blanket stitch applique! It turned out so cute with its million color steps! This was from <a href="https://alphaliciousdesigns.com/products/nutcracker-christmas-blanket-applique-three-in-a-row" target="_blank">Alphalicious</a>. It was personalized with <a href="https://www.jolsonsdesigns.com/products/231-hand-lettered-floss-stitch-font.html" target="_blank">Jolsens 231 in .5" size</a>. Embrilliance allowed me to size it perfectly and curve the text.</div>
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The next thing I made was a bed-sized reading pillow for a preschooler. I just cut the fabric to the size of the pillow for the body of the pillow and for the pocket. The peeker design was from <a href="https://frenchfrillsemb.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=160&zenid=3EIzeYjPDwUroMPVy1Shs2" target="_blank">French Frills/Sweet and Sassy</a>. The alpha was <a href="https://www.theitch2stitch.com/Closer-To-Free-Alphabet-Set-Applique.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch Closer to Free </a>and is available in BX. I used a 5x12 hoop for the name and Embrilliance split it for me so that I could stitch it nice and big.</div>
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Next I tried something new to me: I opened up the leg on toddler pants to stitch near the hem. It was quick and painless to serge closed.</div>
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I stitched a design to go with a larger design on the top. These were from Lynnie Pinnie: <a href="https://www.lynniepinnie.com/shop/see-it-all/colorwork-mini-ballerinas-sketch-machine-embroidery-design-file-4x4-5x7-6x10.html" target="_blank">mini colorwork ballerinas</a> and matching <a href="https://www.lynniepinnie.com/shop/search.html?search%5Bkeywords%5D=colorwork+ballerina&_a=category" target="_blank">larger ballerinas</a>. </div>
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Hyperlinks of Things Discussed in This Post:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.shimelle.com/Journal_your_Christmas.html" target="_blank">Journal Your Christmas</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.binditall.com/" target="_blank">Zutter binding system</a></li>
<li><a href="https://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5NT14Zjd3wIVxp-zCh0Q8QgAEAAYASAAEgLXFvD_BwE" target="_blank">Embrilliance Embroidery Software</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lynniepinnie.com/shop/see-it-all/lorie-applique-frame-4x4-5x7-6x10-kck.html" target="_blank">Lorie Frame by Lynnie Pinnie</a></li>
<li>Good Morning font by Applique Corner (I do not currently see this on their site)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.soniashowalterdesigns.com/christmas/merry-christmas-with-santa-hat/" target="_blank">Freebie by Sonia Showalter with that hat</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azdgavyC54" target="_blank">Video for learning how to Remove Hidden Stitches in Embrilliance Essentials</a></li>
<li><a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/02/making-embroidered-patches-and.html" target="_blank">My tutorial on making patches</a> -- the same method I used here before adding the elastic </li>
<li><a href="https://alphaliciousdesigns.com/products/nutcracker-christmas-blanket-applique-three-in-a-row" target="_blank">Alphalicious Nutcracker applique</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.jolsonsdesigns.com/products/231-hand-lettered-floss-stitch-font.html" target="_blank">Jolsen Hand Lettered Floss Stitch #231 font </a></li>
<li><a href="https://frenchfrillsemb.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=160&zenid=3EIzeYjPDwUroMPVy1Shs2" target="_blank">Mickey Peeker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theitch2stitch.com/Closer-To-Free-Alphabet-Set-Applique.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch Closer to Free alpha</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lynniepinnie.com/shop/see-it-all/colorwork-mini-ballerinas-sketch-machine-embroidery-design-file-4x4-5x7-6x10.html" target="_blank">Lynnie Pinnie Mini Colorwork Ballerinas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lynniepinnie.com/shop/search.html?search%5Bkeywords%5D=colorwork+ballerina&_a=category" target="_blank">Lynnie Pinnie Colorwork Ballerinas - large</a></li>
</ul>
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I have a few other projects from 2017 that never made it to my blog that I will try to post soon! Until then, you are welcome to view my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Gallery</a> with most of my projects and links to their posts. My papercraft posts are on my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">Paper Gallery</a>. I never posted my 2017 Christmas Journal but these are links to other previous Christmas Journal posts on this blog: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2017/01/2016-christmas-journal-completed-with.html" target="_blank">2016</a>, <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/01/on-11th-day-of-christmasmy-christmas.html" target="_blank">2015</a>, <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-finished-jyc-2014.html" target="_blank">2014</a>, <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-journal-check.html" target="_blank">2013</a>, <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2012/12/last-of-journal-your-christmas-dec-25.html" target="_blank">2012</a>.</div>
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Happy New Year and thanks for visiting!</div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-23820646806270210482017-12-22T19:06:00.000-05:002017-12-22T19:06:02.920-05:00Official Cookie Tester Gift Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGLfq4x-EiaQlGPH7S3VQ9ktZbfNom7fA59W8VtBJZMwgeMXVp8EDb1QSejrccs1DNH7USZmO8jRASzy4c5Ff_SXUDW1T-XlpasYsluQa7ClE_WuO_Mfhx8StQFyUDj5abgb42hRcpHX4/s1600/IMG_5939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGLfq4x-EiaQlGPH7S3VQ9ktZbfNom7fA59W8VtBJZMwgeMXVp8EDb1QSejrccs1DNH7USZmO8jRASzy4c5Ff_SXUDW1T-XlpasYsluQa7ClE_WuO_Mfhx8StQFyUDj5abgb42hRcpHX4/s400/IMG_5939.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Just a quick post to share a gift set I made for a niece. The child-sized apron and chef hat were from my stash but originally purchased at Hobby Lobby. <br />
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For the apron, I used <a href="http://www.embroidery-boutique.com/official-cookie-tester-applique.html" target="_blank">a file from Embroidery Boutique</a>.<br />
For the name on the chef hat, I used a font from <a href="https://www.designsbyjuju.com/she-persisted-embroidery-font" target="_blank">Designs by JuJu called She Persisted</a>.<br />
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The little gingerbread man was made in-the-hoop in my embroidery machine. <a href="http://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/in-the-hoop/gingerbread-softies-set.html" target="_blank">The file was from Embroidery Garden</a>. This was the fasted thing and so, so easy! I will be making this for lots of kids next year.<br />
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I'm marching on with my Christmas crafting. Hope your sewing room is buzzing along. To see all my embroidery projects, check out <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">my embroidery page on this blog</a>. Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-60686376196402792112017-12-21T12:28:00.004-05:002017-12-21T15:39:47.943-05:00Home Printed Fabric for Zipper Pouches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz-ZkHdJjPtoXA0ISPGP_ATFzirMr72SLyZb5vYOrfMg9UNja4-cZ_HKvUoxLcw-IedxNj7rIRQsEhp_RzfiE8-gRdhwf_yAexrwfYH8dDk3IahUa1LS_-JN9g-niq_GXdsIIOLO3Fewo/s1600/IMG_6040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz-ZkHdJjPtoXA0ISPGP_ATFzirMr72SLyZb5vYOrfMg9UNja4-cZ_HKvUoxLcw-IedxNj7rIRQsEhp_RzfiE8-gRdhwf_yAexrwfYH8dDk3IahUa1LS_-JN9g-niq_GXdsIIOLO3Fewo/s400/IMG_6040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the last minute I found a fantastic video intended for owners of the Cricut Maker that instructs crafters how to use a photo as a pattern fill to make a pouch. Of all the Cricuts I have, a Maker is not one of them, but you don't actually need a Maker (or any die cutter) to make a pouch! Anyone can cut rectangles with a ruler and a rotary cutter and maybe even faster than a Maker. But using the free Cricut Design Space software to draw a pattern piece, fill it in with a photo, edit it for size or even to repeat it, that was a FABULOUS find! Once all the design work is done, you simply click the button to send it to your printer and print on inkjet printable fabric. Then, you have your pattern piece that you can cut anyway you want, including with your Cricut...or like me, with a rotary cutter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63U1eQIPFen7j7ad9wlUB_4XON3F6DHHdiz1ER7rPYqJ15lka2SY0rZ-VouHYsHNmqmtET57Kgu_DU7lxk07lXAdbdxZtQPQPIaitYB9_oekRd9ztyJQdl6o3Hihrd19o0Bd9Q3uQUand/s1600/IMG_6029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63U1eQIPFen7j7ad9wlUB_4XON3F6DHHdiz1ER7rPYqJ15lka2SY0rZ-VouHYsHNmqmtET57Kgu_DU7lxk07lXAdbdxZtQPQPIaitYB9_oekRd9ztyJQdl6o3Hihrd19o0Bd9Q3uQUand/s320/IMG_6029.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the video for using Design Space to create a pattern piece and import a photo to create a pattern fill: <a href="https://youtu.be/K5Ntg-8WYqI">https://youtu.be/K5Ntg-8WYqI</a><br />
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This is the printable inkjet fabric I used:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdsi2qc0reBYOjDd_EkUM8humQ3t4Q09LbR-acNfImOntuNxdhnKAd5uT5VLg87qfx670Nhb2-yILtRnw30XnLBRiWG5XhSs6_MORiTjFEhshJgWN8H5wX4hVZ_jM5ttH4FlJFyywx7p7/s1600/2017-12-18+02.05.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="721" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdsi2qc0reBYOjDd_EkUM8humQ3t4Q09LbR-acNfImOntuNxdhnKAd5uT5VLg87qfx670Nhb2-yILtRnw30XnLBRiWG5XhSs6_MORiTjFEhshJgWN8H5wX4hVZ_jM5ttH4FlJFyywx7p7/s400/2017-12-18+02.05.30.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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I have made tons of pouches, even some with my embroidery machine, but I love a tutorial I found that makes fabric ends on the zipper and that has to be done on a sewing machine.<br />
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This is tutorial for sewing a lined zipper pouch with fabric zipper ends: <a href="http://jedicraftgirl.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-favorite-zipper-pouch-tutorial.html">http://jedicraftgirl.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-favorite-zipper-pouch-tutorial.html</a><br />
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These two tutorials were great inspiration for my gift card holder project that I did for my sister-in-law. I used a photo I found on her Facebook page. I sized mine to hold the packaging for the gift card too. For that, my cut shape was 6" high and 8" wide. The bottom cut out squares are 1.25" but I cut those manually instead of including them in the design work. Once the bag is sewn, the finished dimensions are 6" for the zipper top; the base is 5" x 2.25"; the height is 4.25" and it stands up on its own.<br />
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For the front, I chose to edit a single photo image. For the back, I edited to repeat the image.<br />
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Unlike the sewing tutorial, I do machine quilt my outer fabrics. I use cotton batting.<br />
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And to know what I would do differently next time: You can see that the faces look off center both vertically and horizontally. One problem is that the child on the left as her foot up and it throws the centering off as the fabric raps around due to the bottom gusset seams. That same issue turns the lower part of the photo under the bag. For a pouch without that gusset, the centering would work. But I like a pouch that stands on its own so for the future, I would take note of where the image is placed as a result of the sewing and nudge the image in the editing in Design Space. There are controls for altering the vertical and horizontal placement. This is the front.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtHEARMEjdQuESQswZkcgxRI632r8W3OYOWNL_u43sXDE-Glz5LVSXM_UOArrB8nllrCgZ54JbRNKwNZZ96_HdZtkYZWrARkQPch1QeMeJMUGO0rdA7NeEPooxEeCrRgpoESFJ2Mlr6Z0/s1600/IMG_6038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtHEARMEjdQuESQswZkcgxRI632r8W3OYOWNL_u43sXDE-Glz5LVSXM_UOArrB8nllrCgZ54JbRNKwNZZ96_HdZtkYZWrARkQPch1QeMeJMUGO0rdA7NeEPooxEeCrRgpoESFJ2Mlr6Z0/s320/IMG_6038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wasn't sure how I would like the repeating pattern but I loved it on the finished bag. This is the back.<br />
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The cool thing with this project, is that in Design Space, you can add text and other images!<br />
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I took better care to think of the pattern placement on my next experiment.<br />
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This was such a fun way to combine my sewing and my crafting! I hope you are enjoying your holiday gift sewing!<br />
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<br />Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-43672163402671650062017-12-17T09:09:00.002-05:002017-12-17T09:09:16.866-05:00Rolled Reindeer Washcloths for Soap Gifting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While in one of my Facebook groups that is completely unrelated to soap, I found a link for how to make these adorable washcloth deer. Here's the link: <a href="https://youtu.be/KzY0-Esa6vs" target="_blank"> https://youtu.be/KzY0-Esa6vs</a><br />
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I found my washcloths at Walmart for 47 cents and used the tiny hair elastics from Dollar Tree that I had on had from <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-daughters-christmas-craft-fuzzy-sock.html" target="_blank">that gnome project</a>. Unlike the video, I didn't glue anything because I wanted it to be usable so I found adhesive googly eyes so they could just peel off and I tucked in the nose instead of gluing it. <br />
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I put it with my soaps #36, #37, #44, and #45 from <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">my soap page on my blog</a>. These were made over the summer or fall and are all fully cured. I changed the names on a couple to relate to the gift recipient (for example, #36 is scented with ginger ale fragrance oil, but that also smells like Ale 8, one of my recipient's favorite soft drinks. That was labeled as Ale 8 soap!) These are the general formulas and all of my soap information can be found on my <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soaping page on my blog</a>. These are NOT intended to be complete instructions with safety measures; these are intended for persons already advised on basic soap making and already fully understanding lye safety. I am not telling you how to make soap, I am simply giving you my formulas for what I used to make these soaps.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soap #36: Red Bottom Marble</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqYJeWnhioA8XDg3L6H-PC_3ioBEoKQzrwr88fJpiCsTw9QJG3-Is1EDVEN5cTmJNidgxFKGhULHwuFdNMy9IYZ8nVR4pDd3VSvoIGpNtZgl-bD98al90VFfB_Xu0JnfwHmdi4EejouIx/s1600/IMG_3307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqYJeWnhioA8XDg3L6H-PC_3ioBEoKQzrwr88fJpiCsTw9QJG3-Is1EDVEN5cTmJNidgxFKGhULHwuFdNMy9IYZ8nVR4pDd3VSvoIGpNtZgl-bD98al90VFfB_Xu0JnfwHmdi4EejouIx/s320/IMG_3307.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">30% olive oil, 20% lard, 30% coconut oil, 10% rice bran oil, 8% cocoa butter, 2% castor oil. 33% lye concentration, 5% super fat. Temps: 75° lye, 95° oils. Powdered sugar added to water before combining with lye. Sodium lactate added to cooled lye water. Fragrance: 2T kaolin clay mixed with Bramble Berry Ginger Ale fragance oil. Colorants: Red layer-oil from oil mix combined with 1/2 t of each color from the Mad Micas True Red Color Set. Black and white swirl- activated charcoal and titanium dioxide mixed with 1T oil mix. Red layer was poured into slab mold bottom. Black and white batter was added concentrically, using up all batter. It was swirled using a skewer. This fragrance is fantastic and is staying put during cure.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soap #37</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys3P1D_HbA7nyPLLR7opMBYh1ATTOnZYvFnifxL6OSp5TW8DFHnjQGqNvRQwE54S0vOccR0soes0qD4O6qdWivoBQSx9B0EHuiWjV1QIvfV1orR2bFzt0lKpRAeItnbCqIa2Tkw6t4RRn/s1600/IMG_3308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys3P1D_HbA7nyPLLR7opMBYh1ATTOnZYvFnifxL6OSp5TW8DFHnjQGqNvRQwE54S0vOccR0soes0qD4O6qdWivoBQSx9B0EHuiWjV1QIvfV1orR2bFzt0lKpRAeItnbCqIa2Tkw6t4RRn/s320/IMG_3308.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">30% olive oil, 20% lard, 30% coconut oil, 10% rice bran oil, 8% cocoa butter, 2% castor oil. 33% lye concentration, 5% super fat. Temps: 75° lye, 95° oils. Powdered sugar added to water before combining with lye. Sodium lactate added to cooled lye water. Fragrance: one sample each (.5oz or so each) Litsea Cubeba and Grapefruit essential oils from Bramble Berry. Two previously made embeds were inserted. Colorants: From Bramble Berry, zinc oxide, ultramarine blue pigment, and cellini blue mica mixed oils from the pot. Regular loaf mold used. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Soap #44: Mechanic's or Gardener's Soap</span></b><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UIadpqeLpXE6hK6k2qEcpDPvBq3M0kzQhN2SWy-tNLbufMvH6nijeAYpxsfNGw688EiJSbBZkjPCx3CKu5T45GZw_OKYSotlMcw-5lZw3Pb8GuYfNz7zUSYC7ehER9QgJojHKGvfRP0n/s1600/IMG_6025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UIadpqeLpXE6hK6k2qEcpDPvBq3M0kzQhN2SWy-tNLbufMvH6nijeAYpxsfNGw688EiJSbBZkjPCx3CKu5T45GZw_OKYSotlMcw-5lZw3Pb8GuYfNz7zUSYC7ehER9QgJojHKGvfRP0n/s320/IMG_6025.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">34% coconut oil (76 degree), 16% shea butter, 5% cocoa butter, 40% olive oil, 5% castor oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Mixed with lye when oils were 114 degrees and lye water solution was 80 degrees. Soaped warm and got to medium trace with stick blender to go fast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Additives: (for 32oz oil weight batch) 2 T cranberry seeds, 22g grapefruit EO, 5g peppermint EO, 6g spearmint EO, 12g 10x orange EO, sodium lactate, 2T clay (mixed with EOs). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is for hand washing only because the seeds are really rough but they work great for scrubbing.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Soap #45: Snowflake Soap</span></b><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07wZ7QDLpW3yvQoms5l0Fa4GnqurgITaYpAI_AYci3jEJAeTM73PbNYt9p6XexCo-7THLvaNfAob2wXxSBth3kZ_D5zwSYr6jFRbS6pGGWDWQj50DDNcfjky-qE6dO0qUViGzMubL1UNs/s1600/IMG_6024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07wZ7QDLpW3yvQoms5l0Fa4GnqurgITaYpAI_AYci3jEJAeTM73PbNYt9p6XexCo-7THLvaNfAob2wXxSBth3kZ_D5zwSYr6jFRbS6pGGWDWQj50DDNcfjky-qE6dO0qUViGzMubL1UNs/s320/IMG_6024.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">25% coconut oil (76 degree), 30% lard, 15% shea butter, 5% cocoa butter, 20% olive oil, 5% castor oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Mixed with lye when oils were 106 degrees and lye water solution was 80 degrees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Additives: (for 33 oz oil weight batch) 2 T coconut milk powder (used 1 oz from soap calc's water quantity that I reserved from that which was to be mixed with lye), 2 t powdered sugar added to water pre-lye, 2 t sodium lactate, 2 t titanium dioxide mixed with 1T oil from the oil mixture, 1 oz fragrance oil mixed with 2 T kaolin clay. This ended up not being pure white due to clay, cocoa butter, and FO. More like the color of a sand dollar-- will have to remember that when using my sand dollar mold! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy holiday crafting! Hoping your gift-giving crafty workspace is humming along as we near Christmas!</span></div>
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Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-2785569484824255652017-12-07T22:25:00.000-05:002017-12-07T22:25:45.871-05:00My Daughter's Christmas Craft: Fuzzy Sock Gnomes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My kiddo likes to make special gifts each year. Past years have been pine cone birds, glitter-filled personalized ornaments, and personalized ITH hand sanitizer cases. This year, we found a fantastic video for making gnomes from rice and fuzzy socks and that is her crafty gift project this year. You can find the video tutorial we used on Facebook here:</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Apieceofworkontario/videos/1503644006423698/?hc_ref=ARQdh1ximU3grmcKJZkko8IxoCma9WSVhO1xA7_WM22bO_dJ3d9HiLLp0TE-5r0Rnx4">https://www.facebook.com/Apieceofworkontario/videos/1503644006423698/?hc_ref=ARQdh1ximU3grmcKJZkko8IxoCma9WSVhO1xA7_WM22bO_dJ3d9HiLLp0TE-5r0Rnx4</a></div>
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I found $1 fuzzy socks at Walgreens and at Dollar Tree. We used care not to grab the ones with rubberized non-skid dots. </div>
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We did make a change from her tutorial in that we did not use hollowed out Styrofoam cones; we rolled up card stock cones instead and trimmed them down to 5-1/2" because I have tons of card stock. We also used fake fur for the beards because I have tons of that stuff too! </div>
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We used white socks from Walmart, but next time we will look for pale pink or tan. As it is, the white socks and the beard blend too much so we used a dobber and a pink stamp pad to color the nose. One thing we learned after our first ones: make the nose really, really big! </div>
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What I love most about this project is that my 13-year-old daughter and I had such a fun time learning this and making some samples together. We laughed so hard at one point that we were in tears. That kind of time with a teenager is precious and rare.</div>
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Happy Christmas crafting with your family! </div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-24944491253081469612017-12-04T22:51:00.000-05:002017-12-04T22:51:17.140-05:00Embroidery Samples on High Pile FabricsThis is just a quick post to share my notes on embroidering on super plush blankets. I do lots of throws and baby blankets at Christmas-time but I had one to do that had very deep pile and I wanted to figure out how best to deal with it. My samples really helped me figure it out for this and future projects, and I thought others might find this helpful too. <br />
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I did some tests on high pile blanket fabric.<br />
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On both of these, I hooped tear-away and floated the fabric. I covered both with water soluble stabilizer (WSS) topping and I used a basting box. The one on the bottom was also stitched with the knockdown stitch from Embrilliance Enthusiast. I even trimmed the pile on the top one, hoping to make it work, but the stitch quality was so much better when using the knockdown stitch.<br />
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Knockdown stitching simply looks like underlay stitching to me. Typically, the knockdown stitching is matched to the fabric (blanket, towel, robe, etc.) so it doesn't stand out visually. It just pushes the pile down. The WSS holds the pile down temporarily.<br />
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I posted this photo on a message board and a couple of people told me that the WSS was unnecessary so I did a third sample-- one with only the knockdown, without the WSS. In the photo below, the top sample was stitched only with knockdown stitching. The bottom sample was stitched with knockdown AND WSS:<br />
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The best results for me happened when I used both knockdown stitching and WSS. <br />
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Items Noted in this Post:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Water soluble stabilizer topping - I get mine from World Weidner. I keep mine in plastic to keep it from drying out. This is the plastic-looking, filmy kind, not the fibrous kind. </li>
<li>Basting Box - this is a temporary stitching that is done with long stitches for easy removal that holds the floated item in place and keeps even tension on the fabric around the stitch area. Most embroidery machines have a built in basting box, and you can get basting box files from digitizers like Embroidery Garden, but I use the one in my Embrilliance software. In Embrilliance, it is located under the Utility tab. For more info: <a href="https://sewbubbles.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/adding-a-basting-box-to-a-design-why-how/">https://sewbubbles.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/adding-a-basting-box-to-a-design-why-how/</a></li>
<li>Knockdown Stitch - similar looking to underlay. It holds down pile so that stitching can lay flat and so that the stitching won't get hidden by the pile after the WSS is removed. Itch2Stitch and Applique Corner both offer drop pile shapes (circles, rectangles, hearts, etc.) but the knockdown in my Embrilliance Enthusiast conforms to the stitch area and can be adjusted so that it is the least obtrusive visually. For more information: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/products/enthusiast">http://embrilliance.com/products/enthusiast</a></li>
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I hope these samples are helpful to you. Happy holiday stitching! </div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-835120349504036062017-11-30T20:50:00.000-05:002017-11-30T20:50:44.613-05:00Personalized Ballet Bears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the first time, my 13-year-old daughter's ballet teacher asked her to assist with the kindergarten class and she has loved it. She comes out of there with a smile from ear to ear and stories about how cute the little dancers are. This weekend is the annual Christmas Tea at the ballet school. She wanted something to give each of her little dancers. She had her second knee surgery of the calendar year about three weeks ago, so she has missed her little class and is so excited to have something to give them.<br />
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I needed an idea that wouldn't mess up my Christmas budget. I started by going to the Dollar Tree. I had hoped to find girl elves that I could personalize with heat transfer vinyl and my heat press, but a happy accident happened: they had no elves. They had bears! I had hoped for all polar bears, but I was happy to find what I did and noticed that their cheap little raggedy scarves were barely attached. That sold me. I knew I could take off those scarves and make these into ballet bears for the little students.<br />
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I picked up a 25 yard spool of sparkle tulle and a 5 yard spool of 5/8" wide grosgrain ribbon at the craft store. I use 3 yards of tulle for each bear and just under 30" of ribbon that I trim down after I tie it on the neck for each bow. The GREAT news is that this time of year is the best time to get that for half off so that put my supply budget at $4. That meant I could make six personalized gifts for a total $10.<br />
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For each 3 yard length of tulle, I folded it in half, making it 3" wide. I put the fold side under the presser foot of my sewing machine and zigzagged gimp cord on top. (Perle cotton and buttonhole twist can also be used for this.) This is the method I use to gather stuff.<br />
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It makes it really easy to gather quickly--- just make certain that the stitching clears the cord and never catches it! I leave a short tail at the beginning and leave a short tail at the end. The stitching doesn't even have to be perfect. The tutu is so tightly gathered that uneven cord application will never be noticed because the cord never shows.<br />
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After stitching, I hold the cord and draw up the tulle, keeping it from twisting.</div>
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I put a tutu on each bear, using the gimp cord to tie it on. I make several knots and trim the excess length of cord right off. It is so full and fluffy, it stays put with no other stitching needed.<br />
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Next I am ready to stitch on my ribbon. I think there is something really special about personalized stuff. It is my favorite thing to take something inexpensive and transform it into something no one can buy off the shelf. I love that the tools in my craft studio afford me that.<br />
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I opened up my Embrilliance embroidery software. Using the list of names the ballet school owner texted me, I used a free BX font that was created by Lisa Shaw. I originally picked it up off the CME Magazine website, but Lisa has it <a href="https://sew-bubbles.com/product/small-script-bx-font/" target="_blank">on her blog and that makes it easier.</a>. One thing I know for sure: stitching on ribbon without a basting box is a disaster... but with a basting box, it is perfect every time. I highlighted the first name and, in the software, I clicked the utility tab and chose "Baste Design." I continued all down the virtual hoop. That put a basting box around each word, just as I need it to keep even tension on the stitch area of each ribbon.<br />
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I printed out my design (that's just done by clicking the 'file' on the toolbar and clicking 'print'). That allowed me to put my ribbon over each word to make sure the basting box would fit inside the width of the ribbon. For the names with the "g" and "y", had to adjust the height of the name. This font resizes and adjusts just fine. I simply removed the basting box for the specific name and then used the handlebars to squish the text so it would be less tall. I highlighted the name and gave it its basting box back. The program automatically sizes the basting box to the adjusted design size.<br />
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Next, I printed my design again because I needed the corrected copy and I went to my light box.<br />
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I hooped tearaway and marked my cross-hairs on my hoop using a pencil. I extended the cross-hairs on my printout to make it easy to match up over the light box. I used tape to hold the ribbon in place. I used about 30" of ribbon for each name even though I knew 22" would be the final length. I wanted a little wiggle room even on the end by the name. It is much easier to trim down than to keep having to re-adjust the bow! I pinned the ribbon out of the way and stitched. (Little note from me on this-- make certain that your first needle prick on each basting box is going in the ribbon. Stop your machine and move the ribbon a teeny bit if you need to because having the basting box around each name is just that important!)<br />
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Then I simply removed the basting boxes and tore the ribbon free from the stabilizer. I tied a bow on each bear and trimmed the ends. They each seem to have a little personality. I guess that is the silver lining of cheap bears: the lack of quality control means they have unintended expressions. Ha!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR9dRVlSMr1OOXMLmwGCgamJBm_lmnzyxsSruckwhMfBpjWwlmA8K0sUC31ZAn4HY4clPvOS37i93-VgMeCRArZDlv_Sr5ImTbIkp4ZhDeiijy1O2dPG9yU9o5-nTxHiZoGuUOPdUxejy/s1600/IMG_5773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR9dRVlSMr1OOXMLmwGCgamJBm_lmnzyxsSruckwhMfBpjWwlmA8K0sUC31ZAn4HY4clPvOS37i93-VgMeCRArZDlv_Sr5ImTbIkp4ZhDeiijy1O2dPG9yU9o5-nTxHiZoGuUOPdUxejy/s320/IMG_5773.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one has an attitude! I think he's a boy and hates his outfit but don't tell Lydia.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8kZKE8KfyplL7ANVwOW4Ksmjqwt4ZzmL2tdGyqeNn7eXL379PFu7qA9TFCzDPDOSfI40Z3i2hyRJcthoBeU0fyRswLkiIQacKJmsPoEH0kIgRC2CRbBUde1lI3PLw54hs5tMb_iwcTEp/s1600/IMG_5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8kZKE8KfyplL7ANVwOW4Ksmjqwt4ZzmL2tdGyqeNn7eXL379PFu7qA9TFCzDPDOSfI40Z3i2hyRJcthoBeU0fyRswLkiIQacKJmsPoEH0kIgRC2CRbBUde1lI3PLw54hs5tMb_iwcTEp/s320/IMG_5774.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Right now, my Dollar Tree also had Nutcracker storybooks so I also got one of those for each student. We find out at the Christmas Tea what ballet the students will be performing in June. We did the Wizard of Oz last year, Sleeping Beauty before that, Alice in Wonderland before that. It is different every year and this will be the 10th one my daughter dances in and hopefully her knee will finally be healed and healthy and for that we are so excited. <br />
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Mentioned on this post:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Bears from Dollar Tree are called Christmas House Plush. The bar code is 639277309624. I don't see them on their website. They were at my neighborhood store.</li>
<li>6" wide Glitter Tulle</li>
<li>5/8" wide grosgrain ribbon</li>
<li><a href="http://www.embrilliance.com/" target="_blank">Embrilliance embroidery software</a></li>
<li><a href="https://sew-bubbles.com/product/small-script-bx-font/" target="_blank">Small Script BX font by Lisa Shaw -- link to her blog</a>. This is a freebie and I use this all the time. Definitely grab this!</li>
</ul>
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Thank you for checking my blog post! Happy holiday crafting!<br />
<br />Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-74507519019145258412017-10-19T14:15:00.000-04:002017-10-20T11:19:21.072-04:00Halloween Treat Bag - Lined Drawstring Bag with Embroidery Charm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNCTGdAkdAhJhQNMKnwUgr9SQhHNFo3s9Ns_kzaHbt4wYFVWsVpfIGpSgaY8Lc0gtJf31bkkfj98635GcoLgvSzCLyFbNCxjQtd9MmkkQr8GdTrfMxDF2ymJ7GW6rWcv5jZ_w0tVZiZbV/s1600/2017-10-13+10.55.49-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNCTGdAkdAhJhQNMKnwUgr9SQhHNFo3s9Ns_kzaHbt4wYFVWsVpfIGpSgaY8Lc0gtJf31bkkfj98635GcoLgvSzCLyFbNCxjQtd9MmkkQr8GdTrfMxDF2ymJ7GW6rWcv5jZ_w0tVZiZbV/s400/2017-10-13+10.55.49-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In putting together some soap shares, I wanted to make Halloween candy treat bags to go with them. I was inspired with <a href="http://www.soniashowalterdesigns.com/halloween/skeleton-earrings/" target="_blank">skeleton earrings digitized by Sonia Showalter</a> and thought they would be perfect for charms.<br />
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I opened the file in my <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">Embrilliance embroidery software</a> and added as many skeletons as I could easily fit in the virtual 5x7 hoop. I used the color sort feature so that the black loops and the area that will make the eyes are stitched first on all of the bodies, then the white stitches are all done. That would allow the embroidery machine to handle this part of the project while I made the bags. My machine stitched three hoops of skeletons.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tx5VbTTqQWWDEZsv07QIOl-XXiTim8yNENShk55teEJ6Q77bjp_PHPZDdZIa5BNGjHYKx7z9SJ5AIiN0ueu_vHj5QBkC_MKN4LVhUx1serdXEeUHT4SE-TjKQ_kEDerAOeqzg6Z-mUsi/s1600/2017-10-10+20.52.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tx5VbTTqQWWDEZsv07QIOl-XXiTim8yNENShk55teEJ6Q77bjp_PHPZDdZIa5BNGjHYKx7z9SJ5AIiN0ueu_vHj5QBkC_MKN4LVhUx1serdXEeUHT4SE-TjKQ_kEDerAOeqzg6Z-mUsi/s400/2017-10-10+20.52.16.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I hooped two layers of <a href="http://www.worldweidner.com/vilene.aspx" target="_blank">vilene stabilizer</a>. This is a heavy water soluble type of stabilizer. After stitching, I trimmed close to the stitching and ran each skeleton under hot tap water, dissolving the stabilizer, leaving me with these free-standing-lace-style charms! Leaving in some of the starchy stabilizer meant that they are kind of stiff and have a little character! (Allow them to dry completely before using.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsieBujhj-HdapF7hwMIHNIhPOWcuQK-u09CHy9kkd4enHAmhUgSWvZbYH-fIY7C_dI1BqYLxYSuPx6fKxs9KF-BKt_iZTJYv_8ryPlaomB9PHs9rWpeA8wh0QfecXbfco4K2ZUplFrgh9/s1600/2017-10-10+21.04.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsieBujhj-HdapF7hwMIHNIhPOWcuQK-u09CHy9kkd4enHAmhUgSWvZbYH-fIY7C_dI1BqYLxYSuPx6fKxs9KF-BKt_iZTJYv_8ryPlaomB9PHs9rWpeA8wh0QfecXbfco4K2ZUplFrgh9/s400/2017-10-10+21.04.20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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These are very stitch-heavy, as you can imagine they would need to be! The good thing is that while the machine stitched these, I was able to use my sewing machine to make the bags.<br />
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I started with stacking my fabric and using my rotary cutter and mat to cut bag pieces that are 7.5" wide by 6.5" tall. I cut two for each outer bag and two for each bag lining.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQePjTCIpzFigh4DLqFIRccUNMDhKnGyNZXzNcKOGsbP-mNsFyv6sMWxmV3wwmvcKKS2M4yclPFcnGbL-Peg9SwJXW1jhasXMJnKU10AL1IMPnd_LWi5Q0MFc5pnnGeK-bo8H7rcOe0EEX/s1600/2017-10-12+02.56.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQePjTCIpzFigh4DLqFIRccUNMDhKnGyNZXzNcKOGsbP-mNsFyv6sMWxmV3wwmvcKKS2M4yclPFcnGbL-Peg9SwJXW1jhasXMJnKU10AL1IMPnd_LWi5Q0MFc5pnnGeK-bo8H7rcOe0EEX/s320/2017-10-12+02.56.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzEqgWOPq5neo-R5y72fzZUndYzye20yaj8_mK1oDhgJ5Qj800eow5VJ1GhYv7miSxnjrjLQWomaN230Imr_AomaGp6V6mhxnWbJ6aJZTAyJyMbCKRc4HBBog-CtgIpewfP1hYd43QRvI/s1600/Capture6.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="346" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzEqgWOPq5neo-R5y72fzZUndYzye20yaj8_mK1oDhgJ5Qj800eow5VJ1GhYv7miSxnjrjLQWomaN230Imr_AomaGp6V6mhxnWbJ6aJZTAyJyMbCKRc4HBBog-CtgIpewfP1hYd43QRvI/s400/Capture6.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I sewed two bag fronts, right sides together, sewing all the way down one side, across the bottom, and down the second side, leaving open a space on one side. I did that by stitching down 1/2", backstitching, leaving a 3/4" gap, backstitching, and sewing down the side. (see diagram above) When I turn this right-side-out, I see a gap in the seam. This is required for the ribbon casing later in the project!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb7Twis43YrZwEd6Na0-KEJgspU_MGZfFMiy-9tyP96s3WKPdCAiq_YNN7vT9TGlJRDYE6PK-YxH70fS167nNcs-BBMI1SZUflHjUSPkfYwOx4yPg9q5G26_-A2ER1EkrchCfn07na31X/s1600/2017-10-12+03.09.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb7Twis43YrZwEd6Na0-KEJgspU_MGZfFMiy-9tyP96s3WKPdCAiq_YNN7vT9TGlJRDYE6PK-YxH70fS167nNcs-BBMI1SZUflHjUSPkfYwOx4yPg9q5G26_-A2ER1EkrchCfn07na31X/s400/2017-10-12+03.09.14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Now, at this point, I must say something: in the picture above, you can see that I serged the edges of the fabric pieces. There was a time in this project when I thought I would make an unlined bag so in true workroom style, I prepped all the pieces, but after I tried one, I really didn't like it! I decided that a lined bag would be better looking and take only three extra steps so it was a no-brainer! Un-serged edges are much easier to work with in the casing so don't serge the edges!<br />
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Next, I sewed the lining.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUSP-Nnv_zUZbgEcHDbait1zaDrxqLYdxbzEM56Wm0a0xWKbuxImcmY7uRHumAfSQ_1h-wtZykFrZk8bMrgPKNBkZS7cPsQT26dy9W5hQTFYwTI7eX1LGdLcnGayCoo_8ySP2gPgTFQ86/s1600/Capture7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="277" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUSP-Nnv_zUZbgEcHDbait1zaDrxqLYdxbzEM56Wm0a0xWKbuxImcmY7uRHumAfSQ_1h-wtZykFrZk8bMrgPKNBkZS7cPsQT26dy9W5hQTFYwTI7eX1LGdLcnGayCoo_8ySP2gPgTFQ86/s400/Capture7.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I did that by placing two lining pieces, right sides together, and sewing both sides and the bottom, leaving a nice, big opening on the bottom. (see diagram above) Leaving this opening in the bottom is required so that the bag can be turned!<br />
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I clipped the points off the corners of both the outer sewn bag pieces and the lining bag pieces. This will help later when I square the bag so it sits up by iteself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOSdgPmi_a76Kmpbssqu3S07wtPrNXKR4yDfdQnjccfk8SGJLHhrvNAOSVdxhDlxMtLrrO3ELhrufNQ_rf0DxVgXaTFEkbpjN6w6RGT4Y5_p5VzCJbEhk8YxfSyY93etKMNJq0_JTkIU9/s1600/2017-10-13+01.13.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOSdgPmi_a76Kmpbssqu3S07wtPrNXKR4yDfdQnjccfk8SGJLHhrvNAOSVdxhDlxMtLrrO3ELhrufNQ_rf0DxVgXaTFEkbpjN6w6RGT4Y5_p5VzCJbEhk8YxfSyY93etKMNJq0_JTkIU9/s400/2017-10-13+01.13.50.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I turned the outer bag right-side-out but kept the lining right-side-in and put the outer bag inside the lining. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2oK-lc3rEJkN81mz8t0q0bVFuJFKAbG9-04A8deiZiiukQFse8ucRyo5grA0DsfshHmm1MmpfD11Vb9xPYcrtooybGCy6-ryaJflkK0pf0xCZhgxyE7oA5HZz1jUpcrHuyjWV5pxj7Rr/s1600/2017-10-12+03.30.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2oK-lc3rEJkN81mz8t0q0bVFuJFKAbG9-04A8deiZiiukQFse8ucRyo5grA0DsfshHmm1MmpfD11Vb9xPYcrtooybGCy6-ryaJflkK0pf0xCZhgxyE7oA5HZz1jUpcrHuyjWV5pxj7Rr/s320/2017-10-12+03.30.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I stitched the upper edge with a 1/2" seam, matching side seams.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtuiflbyFwv2a3SRNzsdKbjMXMDu-oHGOYsXs3c_GC_HDG_v_H_foW7Z1zw9c4M3ZQfXZKgMUGlrurbwuYhf5wMlmIdkdanBJhfu-cBM_P4EQvfUpRRKabPER-Lcn02b2OD0kRIoilwxP/s1600/2017-10-13+01.16.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtuiflbyFwv2a3SRNzsdKbjMXMDu-oHGOYsXs3c_GC_HDG_v_H_foW7Z1zw9c4M3ZQfXZKgMUGlrurbwuYhf5wMlmIdkdanBJhfu-cBM_P4EQvfUpRRKabPER-Lcn02b2OD0kRIoilwxP/s400/2017-10-13+01.16.50.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Using the opening in the bottom of the lining, I pulled out the bag, ending with both fabrics right-side-out and looking like a long rectangle.<br />
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I stitch the lining closed by folding in the seam allowance and top stitching. It will be in the bottom inside the bag so it really doesn't need to be perfect!<br />
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I tuck the lining down into the bag and find the upper edge seam, rolling in my fingers to get the seam on the very top edge.<br />
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I stitch my casing by stitching 3/4" from the top edge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHnbfG1huWNSESIPzqfuFoN5YpTGzkPBfXUdt-zrQh-FoMbV6aw9ROlnM-h7n04qmhG1NPJS7db03MVQPmysCmKp8AtV5fep2IL-iDFUeAWAjuDVW5f33QaDc8EnxIY2wA7-eNOKbY0e6/s1600/Capture1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="643" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHnbfG1huWNSESIPzqfuFoN5YpTGzkPBfXUdt-zrQh-FoMbV6aw9ROlnM-h7n04qmhG1NPJS7db03MVQPmysCmKp8AtV5fep2IL-iDFUeAWAjuDVW5f33QaDc8EnxIY2wA7-eNOKbY0e6/s400/Capture1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To make the bag one that will sit on its own on the table, I square off the corners. I do this by turning the bag inside out, lining up the seams (peek inside to see), and stitching 1" from the point.<br />
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Now, when I turn the bag back so that it is right-side-out, the corners are gone and the bag sets on the table open (easy for getting candy out!)<br />
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Next, I measure 17" of ribbon and stick a safety pin in one end to make a bodkin with which to feed ribbon into the casing. This is the drawstring.</div>
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I feed it into the hole that was left in the seam.</div>
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I pull the safety pin through, keeping the ribbon flat, and feeding it until I get back to the opening and pull the ribbon through so both ends are out.</div>
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I pull the ends to even it up and tie in a knot close to the end of the tails.<br />
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I set my sewing machine for a wide zigzag and zero length to sew on the skeleton charms below the casing.<br />
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Ta-da! Making these essembly-line style, meant that I got 15 done while my embroidery machine made the charms! This is much, much faster than doing an in-the-hoop style bag (and I don't have any size restrictions)!<br />
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These were filled with packaged candy.<br />
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I combined these with soaps (calorie-free Halloween treats!) that I made a couple of months ago in order to have them completely cured. There were eight soaps used (three were combined with each treat bag). All the soap recipes can be found on my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">soap page (or click here)</a> and are soaps #29, #31, #32, #33, #37, #39, #41, and #42.<br />
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I wrapped the soaps with <a href="http://amzn.to/2zmdU5A" target="_blank">food-safe paper</a> and used decorative washi tape to keep together. I made ingredient labels this time for each soap and wrapped with bakers twine for decorative purposes. I included a homemade soap info sheet to explain a bit about my soaps. I don't sell my soaps, so the labels and info sheet are just for educating my gift recipients.<br />
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My super simple tags were made using the Tim Holtz stamping platform and Close to My Heart #S1608 Purr-fect Halloween Stamp of the Month set. (It's an oldie from my stash).<br />
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List of links and items mentioned in this post:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.soniashowalterdesigns.com/halloween/skeleton-earrings/" target="_blank">Sonia Showalter skeleton earrings file</a></li>
<li><a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.worldweidner.com/vilene.aspx" target="_blank">Vilene water soluble stabilizer</a> (this link goes to World Weidner because that's where I get mine but it is available in many retail locations)</li>
<li>fabrics and ribbon are from my stash</li>
<li>Embroidery thread is from Metro Embroidery thread</li>
<li><a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">My soap page on this blog for recipes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2zmdU5A" target="_blank">Logan Wrap (paper for soap wrap)</a></li>
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Happy Halloween crafting!Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-32657031143077273222017-08-18T11:51:00.001-04:002017-08-19T08:25:44.425-04:00August Soap Challenge: Intaglio Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <a href="https://soapchallengeclub.com/" target="_blank">soap challenge</a> this month uses a technique called Intaglio. You say you have never heard of doing this technique on soap? Neither had I! Intaglio is usually thought of as a print making technique of engraving but we were instructed to pour a super thin base of soap in the bottom of a slab mold and cover with a contrasting color to create a surface that could be carved. That thin layer became the top of the soap and we removed parts of it to expose the contrast while creating a pattern.<br />
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My first attempt was actually soap #36 in my Soap Gallery (<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">click here</a> and scroll down the page to see that one). That one had too thick a layer for carving. I didn't want to plane it off because I really liked it as it was. I decided that I would work at getting my top veneer thinner and give it another go with different colors and a different idea. <br />
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I made a coffee scented soap and initially thought of a faux bois design. I love faux bois! <br />
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But I hated that there was no connection between the coffee and the design so I tried some coffee motifs, carving out coffee cups and coffee beans with rays behind them. <br />
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I didn't add color to the batter for the top surface because I didn't have a brown (and I had been thinking of faux bois at the time of making the batter), but I did use Bramble Berry's Espresso fragrance oil that promised that the soap would turn dark. I could see a difference in just a day between carving and going back to clean up the 'crumbs'. You can see it in the two previous photos! I am gambling that as it cures it will be more brown and hoping it won't be as dark as the black charcoal base. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My recipe and process:</span></b><br />
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This soap is #43: Coffee. The recipe was part experiment and part using up odd amounts of oils I had in my soaping cabinet to make room for new stuff or before they get old! I wanted to see if I could "feel" a difference in using sunflower oil with the vitamin E it provides without adding vitamin E as I have been doing recently. I wanted to use up the bottle of that, the olive oil pomace that I bought before understanding how it is made, and I wanted to use up the last bit of grocery store lard before moving to a new supplier of preservative-free, organic lard (to explain my weird percentages of oils). <br />
My Recipe: 30.77% sunflower oil, 20.51% coconut oil, 20.51% olive oil pomace, 13.59% lard, 5.13% shea butter, 4.36% cocoa butter, 5.13% castor oil. 33% lye concentration. 5% super fat. Soaping temps: 91° oil; 114° lye water. Additives: Powdered sugar was added to distilled water pre-lye. Sodium lactate was added to cooled lye water. Fragrance: Bramble Berry's Espresso fragrance oil mixed with 1T kaolin clay. I used the lightly scented quantity per their fragrance calculator and it was plenty. <br />
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Once it traced, I added a thin layer of batter in the bottom of my slab mold, trying to keep it as thin as possible. This will eventually turn dark per the supplier's website but now it is a buttery yellow. <br />
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To the remaining batter, I added 3 teaspoons of activated charcoal that I had mixed with 2 tablespoons of my oil mix that I reserved before adding lye. I mixed in 2.7 oz of brewed and squeezed espresso coffee grounds (the amount in my husband's coffee maker-- probably needed more for the exfoliation I wanted). <br />
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Because I soaped hotter than usual and mixed to a heavy trace, my soap was ready to unmold within a few hours. For carving my designs, I used a lino cut tool, ceramics tools, and my peeler.<br />
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My first cut was the faux bois design but before it was even finished or cleaned up, I started thinking a coffee theme design made more sense.<br />
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I used a stylized coffee bean and coffee cups for my designs.<br />
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Having the top layer thin is really the key to doing this!<br />
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I am still learning how much is too much and how much is not enough when it comes to activated charcoal, but the good news is that this soap doesn't seem to have a gray lather.<br />
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This was a fun challenge and definitely nothing I would have tried without the <a href="https://soapchallengeclub.com/" target="_blank">Soap Challenge</a>! I just peeked at the soaps other people have done for this challenge and already posted and I was blown away by the talent and detail. My soapy entry is so simple comparatively, but fun is fun and soap making is addictive so I am so grateful to have had a chance to play along! I can't wait for these to be cured so I can test again and see if I can tell a difference with this oil mix. And I am curious how this scent will be in a couple of months. Thanks for checking my blog post. To see all the 42 soaps I have made, along with their recipes, notes, and links to stuff I learned to make them, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soap Gallery</a> page on this blog or <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">click here. </a><br />
<br />Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-72614981634753025072017-07-21T00:56:00.001-04:002017-10-19T11:16:59.866-04:00Natural Soap Additives: Coconut Milk, Salt, Clays, and Sugar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrurkqMSvxFy7MPkh33PHH8tfs6MWetQQYfc7i15b4nW-73N8p4OuM_jPY04PEJfrGo2U3NuDJZScrgH-BUib5QovLyO8yLaXqNHWoGLxA6OO7ay26m-EsukDswaduUVlDui1XGK_ypG3K/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1255" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrurkqMSvxFy7MPkh33PHH8tfs6MWetQQYfc7i15b4nW-73N8p4OuM_jPY04PEJfrGo2U3NuDJZScrgH-BUib5QovLyO8yLaXqNHWoGLxA6OO7ay26m-EsukDswaduUVlDui1XGK_ypG3K/s400/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">**If you are here for the July Soap Challenge, scroll down near the bottom of this post. It is the last soap.**</span></b><br />
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On my on-going search to make my handmade soaps better, I have discovered some new additives and some new soaping temperatures! I have soaps to share in which I have added one or more additives: coconut milk (for creaminess), salt (for hardness and skin benefit), clay (for exfoliation, detoxification, and for anchoring fragrance), and sugar (for added bubbles)! The results have been fun, although it is like learning how to soap all over again as the additives can affect a dozen things from trace to set up to temperature to color to acceleration, in addition to remembering to add these at different times during the process!<br />
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These are some of my attempts. As always, I share everything I have learned but if you are new to soaping and are wanting to get started with making soap, you would be wise to investigate safety with soaping and start with basic soaps. I have links to all kinds of beginner videos and info on my <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soaping Page</a> on this blog that you can see by clicking <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I am not telling you what to do here; I am simply sharing what I am doing. We are all responsible for our own attempts and our own safety and good choices! All of my soaps are there, including my very first soaps.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Salt</span></b><br />
My first new-to-me additive was sea salt. I found a great bargain on Pink Himalayan Salt at Costco and gave it a go. (I actually used sea salt in a Castile-Brine salt, my #14 soap that can be found on my <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soaping page on this blog</a>, but I was just following an established recipe and didn't even understand the purpose of using it until later!) I used information I found on The <a href="https://wellnessmama.com/91703/sea-salt-soap/" target="_blank">Wellness Mama site</a> to make my own recipe. I learned to increase the coconut oil for lathering, to increase the superfat to prevent over-stripping, and to use between 50% to 100% salt to soaping oils (in weight). For my 33oz of oils, the amount needed for my Bramble Berry cavity mold, I used 17 oz of pink Himalayan salt. I added the salt after trace. The soap sets up fast once the salt is added and it is advised to use a cavity mold because slicing a salt loaf can be very difficult because the soap will be so hard that it will crumble. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKRWhoM7S7WjaqvXWf7JLst9B8OvmWX_LJtoEya_Z4IJ2ArPPjUKLaM8QoUjdSzjIk3pxoW6eSELY5KSEg2gRqoqSEsdpYy7ZMldis9QoW_h2FZDXiSkPWqUDHR8wfgcFVbSBK1jFAX26/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKRWhoM7S7WjaqvXWf7JLst9B8OvmWX_LJtoEya_Z4IJ2ArPPjUKLaM8QoUjdSzjIk3pxoW6eSELY5KSEg2gRqoqSEsdpYy7ZMldis9QoW_h2FZDXiSkPWqUDHR8wfgcFVbSBK1jFAX26/s400/IMG_2388.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the color of the salt I used. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnRQRU5dFoybWa4T7uf4d27oY-i6iZ87Qt5EiMLrX7VaO1oZvmNm_SJBuLCmfZK3uiU3kIjwbed0Kyy4kJJjsI8kDM0d7eiYju75gBUx_I-M9_Jxd41da0M-B4N6HBgkbKgLbDnnjw63a/s1600/IMG_2930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnRQRU5dFoybWa4T7uf4d27oY-i6iZ87Qt5EiMLrX7VaO1oZvmNm_SJBuLCmfZK3uiU3kIjwbed0Kyy4kJJjsI8kDM0d7eiYju75gBUx_I-M9_Jxd41da0M-B4N6HBgkbKgLbDnnjw63a/s400/IMG_2930.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the soap has cured, you can see that my fragrance oil greatly changed the color. It is a dark brown with the salt giving it a texture. <b>This is my soap #27.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK9dtPeibpoysdDYmD6oJx_IsUyaPttBtQ4KBYF4OqO6QU2raj2J2CeO8pea-LVD2jKBRT7skZ8DoOfnO7QD162amIXI-NCbbQtuS8XuxaMr2TpuVg120LoDyWmX4TchRSPNlUgov0_Tb/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK9dtPeibpoysdDYmD6oJx_IsUyaPttBtQ4KBYF4OqO6QU2raj2J2CeO8pea-LVD2jKBRT7skZ8DoOfnO7QD162amIXI-NCbbQtuS8XuxaMr2TpuVg120LoDyWmX4TchRSPNlUgov0_Tb/s400/IMG_2931.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I usually slice up a bar of any soap I make so I can have samples to try since they will take less time to cure. Once this soap is cooled, it will crumble when cut as a result of the salt. </td></tr>
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Salt bars are very hard and long-lasting. I have always used sodium lactate in my soap to make them easier to unmold, but adding this much salt adds different benefits as well. <br />
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My recipe for this soap: 70% coconut oil, 20% olive oil, 2% castor oil, 8% shea butter, Himalayan salt that is equal in ounces to half the total ounces of oil. 15% superfat. 33% lye concentration. (Always run any recipe through the Soapcalc!)<br />
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Fragrance oil: 1 oz Lemon Sugar fragrance from Bulk Apothecary. This has a strong vanilla scent, which I love but it also discolors greatly. See my soap #8 on my <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soap Page</a> to see my notes on this. It ruined my yellow soap but I decided "earthy" would be fine for this soap and I love it!<br />
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Soaping temperature: I mixed my lye water into my oil mixture when the lye water was 127° and the oils were 117°.<br />
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Link to site I used for info for using salt:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://wellnessmama.com/91703/sea-salt-soap/">https://wellnessmama.com/91703/sea-salt-soap/</a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Coconut Milk</b></span><br />
For the past few weeks, I have read comment after comment and post after post in the soap groups about the luxurious quality that adding milks gives to soap. One of my favorite soapy gurus uses coconut milk, instead of goat or cow milk, in all of her soaps and so that is the direction I took. I like that, unlike animal milks, there is no "smell" and that it doesn't risk discoloration. The soaps I saw that I loved with milks were as white as snow and that is what I want to achieve. They also still have all the beautiful designs and I have done that by chilling the lye water. After some trial and error, I eventually found that I liked using a powered coconut milk and I like adding it at trace or just before trace for soaps that are intricately patterned. <br />
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My first effort at using coconut milk was with a liquid product I bought at the grocery in the baking aisle. It was called Culinary Coconut Milk and I am still not sure that this is the best product for this, but I tried it and had mixed results. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtk3Yu_rzDj32sP-PY2HpziNdFhhicBmjUJMXorKpLWg3SBJjqSbYy0ahdODLM1y9QtgVCp7850J2aAXVamWbZhh1jTBYhLYIJVH4cDKeyoEzzs1DbnxXLbSZ_C-Klw-jCQHQ0oyJh9Wnh/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtk3Yu_rzDj32sP-PY2HpziNdFhhicBmjUJMXorKpLWg3SBJjqSbYy0ahdODLM1y9QtgVCp7850J2aAXVamWbZhh1jTBYhLYIJVH4cDKeyoEzzs1DbnxXLbSZ_C-Klw-jCQHQ0oyJh9Wnh/s400/IMG_2713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is my Soap #29.</b></td></tr>
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For this soap, I used this recipe: 33% coconut oil (76 deg), 8% rice bran oil, 17% avocado oil, 17% shea butter, 5% castor oil, 20% olive oil. 5% superfat. 33% lye concentration. (Always run any recipe through the Soapcalc!) My soapcalc printout called for 7.75 oz water, but I dissolved the lye in only 4 oz water. I added the additional 3.75 oz in the form of coconut milk, which I added to the oils directly. (So I used a bit over 1/2 of the water required in the form of water and used the remaining in the form of the milk to be added to oils.) I added to the oils to avoid color change.<br />
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I used a Tall and Skinny loaf mold. <br />
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Fragrance Oil: Bramble Berry Tropical Vacation. No colorant was used.<br />
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Soaping temperatures: I placed the lye water in an ice water bath and combined the lye water into the oil mixture when the lye water was 70° and the oils were 88°. This accelerated fast due to the milk so I made a note to try cooler temps for designs next time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq_6sbkFE8UeFxzkbWGKxhgUfUEofkJ7KhpslDTrDR00910Y7npIAGtNj0unXdR8Q-3D1CTsIhdBJR4yRH2MIiCzH79LRF7o9oZMj_3LrQG3marhE4SSzMkoIlx_LbeY_m1hU-AO7dXiT/s1600/IMG_2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq_6sbkFE8UeFxzkbWGKxhgUfUEofkJ7KhpslDTrDR00910Y7npIAGtNj0unXdR8Q-3D1CTsIhdBJR4yRH2MIiCzH79LRF7o9oZMj_3LrQG3marhE4SSzMkoIlx_LbeY_m1hU-AO7dXiT/s400/IMG_2505.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-csP3hzZe-acm_Zmn8tce_WX4nzjroWBTNHdfOLNtIXfB0ojCyvG8beQ-RDdZ6bs4x1BKH-_Y9MbLJ-MFwMe8SrdCBO9KgvPiXbJUrV8XnUEf1H_RWdyWi5jQjgOBzh15hykR8OtCARHo/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-csP3hzZe-acm_Zmn8tce_WX4nzjroWBTNHdfOLNtIXfB0ojCyvG8beQ-RDdZ6bs4x1BKH-_Y9MbLJ-MFwMe8SrdCBO9KgvPiXbJUrV8XnUEf1H_RWdyWi5jQjgOBzh15hykR8OtCARHo/s400/IMG_2506.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This got to a heavy trace really fast but I think it was because I over-mixed. The cream of the coconut milk worried me and I probably over-did the mixing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3XrCm4F_C6S4JLqsP51pufP9pr2aOXVkZBlK1k5H_BmT5LvyN97H5L6-cfnfwe8Pw3PnEQrjbmDm7sbF6a2UrkQzC0QRzfo5131yIyri_98-aJK18Ya34Dj7ibAJm6YFY8iS_NmeFPpk/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3XrCm4F_C6S4JLqsP51pufP9pr2aOXVkZBlK1k5H_BmT5LvyN97H5L6-cfnfwe8Pw3PnEQrjbmDm7sbF6a2UrkQzC0QRzfo5131yIyri_98-aJK18Ya34Dj7ibAJm6YFY8iS_NmeFPpk/s400/IMG_2574.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see that there was partial gelling. Much of this has faded but I sure hated to see this!</td></tr>
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I was afraid to use a heating pad to gel because I had read not to but I was told by one of the soaping gurus on Facebook that she always gels her soaps. After this soap went through partial gel, I decided I would force gel from now on or try the freezer method to completely prevent gelling.<br />
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Overall, I was happy with the soap and I learned some new things and got a few new ideas for my next soap. Like all my soaps, I keep lots of notes. As a soaping newbie, the only thing I will recommend to anyone is to also keep good notes including soaping temps, soapcalcs, and resources. Pictures help as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_dViahzr3VScgfaDekfI6k8-FO-3Lg8To0IBi3Yl9C74M3wm2eloxu7K-xjQdtF35XM1aHsB1DDVIJ5oqNfrV5plWi3IPEcE4X4TdTLLGiTFv-doraHojNss8gCprJA9Z0uSFA1EorO/s1600/IMG_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_dViahzr3VScgfaDekfI6k8-FO-3Lg8To0IBi3Yl9C74M3wm2eloxu7K-xjQdtF35XM1aHsB1DDVIJ5oqNfrV5plWi3IPEcE4X4TdTLLGiTFv-doraHojNss8gCprJA9Z0uSFA1EorO/s320/IMG_2739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Link to site I used for info for using coconut milk:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.northcountrymercantile.com/soapmakinglibrary/tips-for-making-coconut-milk-soap/" target="_blank">http://www.northcountrymercantile.com/soapmakinglibrary/tips-for-making-coconut-milk-soap/</a></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Clay</span></b><br />
My next soap used both coconut milk and clay, as well as infused olive oil for natural colorant. I typically add clay for the benefit of anchoring my fragrance, but it is also considered a natural additive, lightly exfoliating, and it adds a slip to cold process soap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbUdIu82tHpkXnJt1RRx9VwF9WrXG8V2jKo8PkZMLKQ_5jonxqLp8kb8fPkZB_u_4LEiu3SuBcxVwtXZvc6CcuXefSarXCm12Le5Bx3YUHk0f8dhSMe0wgAiGWaOs8BffRilBZDvYIsEt/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbUdIu82tHpkXnJt1RRx9VwF9WrXG8V2jKo8PkZMLKQ_5jonxqLp8kb8fPkZB_u_4LEiu3SuBcxVwtXZvc6CcuXefSarXCm12Le5Bx3YUHk0f8dhSMe0wgAiGWaOs8BffRilBZDvYIsEt/s400/IMG_2714.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is my Soap #30.</b></td></tr>
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For this soap, I employed some of the paprika infused olive oil that I have had sitting ever since reading about doing this in Jo Haslauer's ebook on natural colorants. Links to her articles and to her ebook can be found on my <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soaping page</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37Omang-L5xNrbJDqUDaVY_4Cnxaie7HH9kDXG38xqpBrbvAIJSOOJ82uqX9DMLQcDrwVmAJfrikScQYTmucdMSTrk6CpC77NExQqlzWxy_ehDmau-Zb-d93ImgEqrHekyhmx3BB7_7aC/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37Omang-L5xNrbJDqUDaVY_4Cnxaie7HH9kDXG38xqpBrbvAIJSOOJ82uqX9DMLQcDrwVmAJfrikScQYTmucdMSTrk6CpC77NExQqlzWxy_ehDmau-Zb-d93ImgEqrHekyhmx3BB7_7aC/s400/IMG_2332.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I placed 16 oz of olive oil pure in a jar with 2 oz paprika. I let it set on the shelf for about 17 days, shaking it every day. When I was ready to use it, I just poured off some of the oil on the top, letting the settled paprika stay on the bottom. I only used the colored oil. This colored oil and activated charcoal are the only colorants in the soap.</div>
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For this soap, my recipe: 30% olive oil (all of this was the infused, colored oil), 20% lard, 30% coconut oil (76 deg), 10% rice bran oil, 8% cocoa butter, 2% castor oil. 7% superfat. 33% lye concentration. Again, I used just over half of the water amount from the soapcalc to dissolve the lye and the remaining water was swapped with coconut milk that was added to the oils. I added sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. (Always run any recipe through the Soapcalc!)</div>
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I used my regular loaf mold.</div>
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Fragrance: I wanted to keep this natural so I used 26 grams Bramble Berry Grapefruit Essential Oil. This is the full 1.75 oz bottle. I used the Bramble Berry fragrance calculator to determine amount. </div>
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To anchor the fragrance, I mixed it in two tablespoons white kaolin clay at light trace. It has been curing for three weeks at the time that I am writing this, but I have been warned that the fragrance may fade too much. I will know for sure if the clay helped prevent that at all in another month.</div>
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Soaping temps: Oil was 87° and lye water was 64° (I used an ice water bath to get lye temps low). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmKSMxu8EksTYbmE9p6DMthQIPMYsiqTkI7pBQU_81xWRSL-W4Bs0RZq9ouBGEhwleLr_Iwp8i8z9nOj0640w22heri-YRmq5lHDBSHYAxt96D7J6S5CJbg76Rk25zwXe5kXYZZ5mkAw5/s1600/IMG_2717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmKSMxu8EksTYbmE9p6DMthQIPMYsiqTkI7pBQU_81xWRSL-W4Bs0RZq9ouBGEhwleLr_Iwp8i8z9nOj0640w22heri-YRmq5lHDBSHYAxt96D7J6S5CJbg76Rk25zwXe5kXYZZ5mkAw5/s400/IMG_2717.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To get the color variations, I added a base of just the orange soap batter. Then I added 1/4 teaspoon of activated charcoal to the remaining batter. I mixed and poured in another layer. I added an additional 1/4 teaspoon, mixed it, and poured a layer. I continued this process until all the batter was used up. Then I used a hanger swirl for the design. Having the temperatures so low meant that I had time to swirl even with the additives of the coconut milk, clay, and charcoal!<br />
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After the soap was in the mold and air bubbles were tapped out, I placed it in the freezer for an hour and them moved it to the refrigerator. I was trying to keep it from getting too hot, partially gelling, and overheating my scent out. I did still get a faint partial gel ring but the pattern of the soap hides it well.<br />
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I simply love this soap! I photographed it in front of a sunny window and it glows! The final soap has been beveled on the edges. You can also see that, even though I added the darkest soap last, I used that for the bottom on the final soap. <br />
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My next soap also used clay for anchoring the fragrance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is my Soap #31 (Starry Night)</b></td></tr>
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This soap was done on a whim after reading on one of the Facebook soap groups that someone swirled her soaps by pouring in a base color, then standing on a chair and dropping her colors in so they break the surface hard. She was able to achieve curls! No curls here but it was a fun mess. Not so sure I will be doing that again, but I was glad I tried it once. I will be going back to the hanger tool for my future swirls.<br />
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Recipe for this soap: 34.85% olive oil, 30% lard, 25.15% coconut oil (76 deg), 3.94% avocado oil, 6.06% rice bran oil. (The percents are weird because I actually entered for the amount of oils I had as I used up the end of a couple of bottles and the soapcalc did the math for me. I insist on keeping the percents so that is what I am sharing). 5% superfat. 31% lye concentration. (Always run any recipe through the Soapcalc!) I added sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. <br />
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I used my Tall and Skinny loaf mold.<br />
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Fragrance: 2 oz wt Bramble Berry Spearmint Eucalyptus fragrance oil added to 2 tablespoons white kaolin clay. <br />
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Soaping temps: Lye water 74° and oils 80°.<br />
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Colorants: Bramble Berry Fizzy Lemonade, Neon Blue Raspberry, Ultramarine Blue, and Titanium Dioxide, each mixed with 1 tablespoon of canola oil.<br />
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I poured in the dark blue then poured in (hard by dropping!) all the other colors, repeating until they are all used up. It was a mess!<br />
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Links to sites I used for info on clays: <br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.lovinsoap.com/2016/07/clay-cold-process-soap/">http://www.lovinsoap.com/2016/07/clay-cold-process-soap/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-prevent-scent-fading-in-soap/">https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-prevent-scent-fading-in-soap/</a></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sugar</span></b><br />
My next soaps were done for the July Soap Challenge. We learned to do a fluid pour, similar to the acrylic fluid pour, with the rule that the soap batter had to be poured into the mold, we had to use a straw with our breath or gravity to move the colors, and we had to use a slab mold. So...off to Amazon I went to order a slab mold! Once it arrived, I measured it to figure out how many ounces of oils I needed so I could plug my recipe in the soapcalc. <br />
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In addition to using coconut milk and clay, I used powdered sugar for the first time with these. Sugar is supposed to add bubbles to soap. It is added to the water before the lye is dissolved so I will admit that it took a couple of soaps before I remembered to do this!<br />
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My first attempt was also the first time I used powdered coconut milk instead of the bottled liquid kind. Thoughtlessly, I just dumped the unmixed, powdered milk into the oils. Folks, that is just dumb and I will tell you that it took me forever to get all those lumps out--worse than a new cook's gravy! Lesson #1 was that I should have dispersed it in water before adding it.<br />
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My recipe for this soap: 30% coconut oil, 5% cocoa butter, 40% olive oil, 6% hemp oil, 15% rice bran oil, 4% castor oil. 5% superfat. 31% lye concentration. (Always run any recipe through the Soapcalc!) 1 teaspoon powdered sugar per lb of oils added to water before adding lye. Sodium lactate added to cooled lye water. 1 tablespoon powdered coconut milk per pound of oils added at trace (would have been smarter to mix with water first!)<br />
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Fragrance: 1.1 oz Bramble Berry Energy fragrance oil added to 1 tablespoon white kaolin clay. Added after emulsification. This is less than Bramble Berry's fragrance calculator suggested but I based my quantity of fragrance on what I used on a previous soap. <br />
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Soaping temps: Lye 68° and oils 84°.<br />
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Colorants: 1 teaspoon each Bramble Berry Electric Bubble Gum, Neon Blue Raspberry, Tangerine Wow, and Fizzy Lemonade. Each were mixed with 2 teaspoons of canola. (It really should have been 1 tablespoon). To the whole batch before adding colors, I added 1 teaspoon of titanium dioxide mixed with the whole batch of fixed oils. I just wanted the colors to be as bright as possible.<br />
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I started the process by pouring colors into each cavity, layering.<br />
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Right after colors were layered, I used the straw to blow the surface to add pattern.<br />
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I continued the process, pouring, layering, and moving the color by blowing through the straw, just sort of playing.<br />
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My soapy selfie.<br />
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The final soap reminded me of a patterned fabric. This is the wet soap.<br />
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Once it was set, I could see the big problem with adding that powdered, unmixed coconut milk: I can sorta see it on the surface in that white area. This soap was so soft, too soft. I had a hard time unmolding. Undisciplined, I tried anyway. I wasn't sure if this was caused by my not gelling this soap, by using a slab mold, as a result of my additives, or what. I think now that it was a combo of each but that gelling and then setting in the freezer would have solved it and I did do that for my next attempt.<br />
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It was so soft that when I turned it over to cut it (there are indentations from the mold for cutting on the bottom), it actually smeared the front! Yikes! (But look how cool the bottom looks!)<br />
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I let the cut bars set for a few days to harden before beveling and planing. I hated loosing so much soap but the smeary surface had to go!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is my Soap #32 (Tie Dye). </b></td></tr>
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I was armed with new knowledge and some ideas for improvement for my second attempt. <b><span style="font-size: large;">This attempt will be the soap I submit for the <a href="https://soapchallengeclub.com/" target="_blank">July Soap Challenge</a>:</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hZHiRP6-JMZHRBUfwLnarHHTurecnUB0ELNjsuBKWjvKF-bBt0YfiRYYwK-LMayT_VmG1H8mpkPs5LJFDV7UIRrktq18vfCDywWvJsNV4Q_DEfxmZkqDXabKWoBfNNiTE1kyHCrD-ZvA/s1600/IMG_2891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hZHiRP6-JMZHRBUfwLnarHHTurecnUB0ELNjsuBKWjvKF-bBt0YfiRYYwK-LMayT_VmG1H8mpkPs5LJFDV7UIRrktq18vfCDywWvJsNV4Q_DEfxmZkqDXabKWoBfNNiTE1kyHCrD-ZvA/s400/IMG_2891.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is my Soap #33 (Pineapple Flame fluid pour).</b></td></tr>
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For this soap, I still used the coconut milk, powdered sugar, and clay, but I corrected the amount of sodium lactate I added, I gelled the soap by laying it on a heating pad and insulated it, I put it in the freezer before cutting it. Although it was a bit softer than I am used to, it was fully set and much easier to unmold. <br />
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My recipe for this soap was also altered a bit to add more saturated oils to help with hardness: 20% coconut oil, 20% lard, 5% cocoa butter, 6% hemp oil, 14% rice bran oil, 5% castor oil, 30% olive oil. 5% superfat. 31% lye concentration. (Always run any recipe through the Soapcalc!) 1 teaspoon powdered sugar per pound of oils was added to water before adding lye to water. Sodium lactate was added to cooled lye water. 1 tablespoon of powdered coconut milk per pound oils MIXED with 1 tablespoon water was added at trace. <br />
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Soaping temps: 60° lye and 92° oils. (Ice water bath was used to get lye temp low).<br />
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Fragrance: Bramble Berry Pineapple Cilantro fragrance oil was mixed with 2 tablespoons kaolin clay and added at trace.<br />
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Colorants: Each of these Bramble Berry colorants were mixed with 1 tablespoon canola: activated charcoal, titanium dioxide, Tangerine Wow, Fizzy Lemonade. <br />
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I used my new slab mold again for this soap. <br />
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This was my process:<br />
I poured a base first. Then I poured all the layers, forming concentric shapes. I wanted to be sure each bar would have the design.<br />
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Then I used the straw to blow the color. At this point, it looked like fire! I wish I had left it at this point, but like a kid, I kept playing!<br />
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In the end, I had another pattern that reminded me of fabric! This is my wet soap.<br />
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Then I forced gell by setting it on a heating pad. Ok- true confession: I fell asleep and it stayed on the heating pad all night. I ran down the stairs the next morning to find that the soap was set and the colors were super dark. I popped it in the freezer to cool it. Out of the freezer, the colors were back. That was odd. <br />
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I flipped it over to cut it. <br />
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It kind of matches my roman shades over the soaping table. <br />
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Because the soap was not level as it set on the heating pad, some bars are thicker than others. That meant I would have to plane a bit to even these up. I was disappointed in that.<br />
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I did let these dry a bit for a couple of days before planing and beveling. They smell delightful!<br />
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In the end, I love the finished soaps. I do think these will require a longer cure time. I tried out a sliver that was planed off and I love the feel and the lather! I am thrilled with the effect of the additives. This was quite a process to figure it all out. <br />
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Links to resources on additives:<br />
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<ul>
<li>For an interesting look at the lather generated by different additives, including powdered sugar, kaolin clay, and powdered coconut milk: <a href="http://www.modernsoapmaking.com/updated-lather-lovers-additive-testing/" target="_blank"> http://www.modernsoapmaking.com/updated-lather-lovers-additive-testing/</a></li>
<li>What additives cause a soft bar of soap: <a href="https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/cold-process-soap-soft/">https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/cold-process-soap-soft/</a></li>
<li>Additive chart: <a href="http://www.lovinsoap.com/soapmaking-additive-chart/">http://www.lovinsoap.com/soapmaking-additive-chart/</a></li>
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Thank you for checking my blog today. To see all my previous soaps from the very beginning, with my resources, links to videos and all my notes as I figured stuff out, check out my <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soaping page</a> on this blog, or click <a href="https://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-68844710912039307832017-06-27T16:48:00.001-04:002017-07-20T11:51:36.384-04:00My New Obsession: Soap Making!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJx5xwvs6P7nCQ70I-vfAOhheG0JBc2kKMmjkYUJpKLJbFvu6i7_2eOz7IfUkVVBOBVKK6HuArz8bjeoeJtA9syImX6ID9Xvj9lExmdm1naMb460BKVwfQFoVLp6zd227I0lmbaMGnQDP/s400/PicMonkey+Collage3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have spent some time recently making small-scale batches of cold process soap in order to learn how to make it. I have been working on oil combinations, learning how to make swirls, figuring out designs, and working on how to make natural soaps (those with natural colorants and essential oils) as well as those with lab-created fragrance and color.<br />
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So, since it is me, you know that means that I like to share all the info, the how-to, the resources, the tricks, and lots of photos as I figure it all out. I have made a Soap page on this blog that has all 24 of the soaps I have made since May 19 (yes, I admit to being obsessive) and plan to update it as all the soaps cure with additional notes. (Some have already cured.) The very end has a gallery for new soaps, just like I have a gallery for paper craft and for machine embroidery. You can find it by clicking the <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">Soap and Gallery button</a> at the top of the blog or by clicking <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html" target="_blank">here: http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/making-soap-gallery.html </a> I am not telling you what to do here; I am simply sharing what I am doing. We are all responsible for our own attempts!<br />
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Happy Crafting!<br />
<br />Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-73744584800193720032017-04-23T15:20:00.001-04:002017-05-05T06:42:31.392-04:00Monogrammed Straw Hat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixodEqZDzv9lKG2RgO4a8Ek7ZOVW9AAhoNn82GoUwZ-zP6bVt8M-CoEER6ISmhA-nvCZCfFb1Q-PTZCRpATU-TRoF6W82Lr6gk5z75kyGvNwdnJt_eL52u28v2K81ZS4F3yVqsu6E47lio/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixodEqZDzv9lKG2RgO4a8Ek7ZOVW9AAhoNn82GoUwZ-zP6bVt8M-CoEER6ISmhA-nvCZCfFb1Q-PTZCRpATU-TRoF6W82Lr6gk5z75kyGvNwdnJt_eL52u28v2K81ZS4F3yVqsu6E47lio/s400/IMG_0628.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We went to Sarasota, Florida for a spring break trip for work and I was struck by all the ladies who wore their pretty straw hats while shopping at St. Armand's Circle. I knew I wanted my own before we went back to Sarasota. I have done ball caps before so that was my previous hat experience, and I do have a tutorial on that on this blog that you can visit by <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2015/04/baseball-cap-embroidery-using.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>, but following are my notes on embroidering on a straw hat.<br />
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As luck would have it, I found this sweet and simple straw hat at <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Faded-Glory-Women-s-Bow-Floppy-Hat/55347271" target="_blank">Walmart</a> for just under $9. I used my <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">Embrilliance Essentials software</a> to type in a font from Eight Paws and a Claw called Infinity at 3". This is a BX font. In my Embrilliance software, I have the ability to adjust density, which I accessed by selecting the object, clicking on the stitch tab in the Properties Box, and sliding the satin density lever. I wanted to add to the density since this font was not digitized for foam. I have not done much in the way of experimenting here so if you have insights, I would love to see your notes! I stayed a bit conservative on my adjustment just to keep it from getting crazy. I moved the slider to 11%. I knew my foam would match my thread exactly since I was using black, so I had a lot of margin for error! If I had been using a different color, I might have been more inclined to test this before stitching on my hat.<br />
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I printed off my monogram to see if the size looked right.<br />
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I hooped tearaway in my 5x7 hoop, extended the cross-hairs on my printout, and aligned the cross-hairs on my design with those on my stabilizer. I taped it in place.<br />
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I use the thumbtack method to place my project so that the exact center of what will be my embroidery design is in the exact center of the hoop, instead of moving my needle to the center. I place three thumbtacks from the back, through the stabilizer and the paper print out. I pick places that will be covered in stitches so that no holes would remain!<br />
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I used a pen to circle the pin holes, just to make them easier to see.<br />
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I remove my paper print out, leaving behind the thumbtacks.<br />
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I pin my paper print out to my hat, making sure to align the vertical crosshair with the center back of the brim.<br />
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Then I place the hat and print out on the hooped stabilizer, carefully making sure that the thumbtacks go back in the EXACT holes that were made previously in the paper. This is the key to the whole thing.<br />
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I pin the hat in place and remove the paper print out AND THE THUMBTACKS. I squish the crown of the hat to get it (and the bow) out of the way of the embroidery machine. I want my pins out of the way too so the needle won't chance a meeting with them!<br />
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I cut two pieces of 2mm <a href="http://www.worldweidner.com/embroideryfoam.aspx" target="_blank">embroidery foam</a> a little bigger than my template. SPECIAL NOTE: I have thought this was just craft foam ever since I received it from World Weidner. I said that in the cap tutorial as well. It looked like craft foam just like the kind I have gotten at Walmart in the craft department. There is a part of me that still wonders if it is simply craft foam because it is so much less expensive than the Sulky brand foam, but the company promotes it as "embroidery foam". Kyla McCrary, so knowledgable and from one of the embroidery Facebook groups, has clued me in that regular craft foam is not good for embroidery machines. For this reason, I have to alter my notes here to suggest that, washing or not, I will be using embroidery foam in the future and investigating from World Weidner if their product is as stated or simply just craft foam.<br />
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I let the machine stitch out the design.<br />
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I trim any jump stitches and then peel off the foam.<br />
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The tweezers help for little pieces. I tear off the tear away, making sure to get all the little bits. This is the reason I didn't use spray textile adhesive. Although the wrong side of the stitching is hidden by my neck, I want the back as clean as possible just for neatness.<br />
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Now...this is where I have to tell you something. You may have noticed in my baseball cap tutorial that I used the tip of my iron to melt away an little raggedy bits of foam. Well...and this is the confession part of this post, I got a clever idea to use my Plaid 2-in-1 Wood Burner so I could easily pinpoint just the edges and bits. Apparently this tool heats roughly to the temperature of molten lava. It melted my polyester thread a bit. You can't see it by looking but there *might* have been a little smoking and I can feel it! It didn't seem to ruin my hat at all, but DON'T DO THIS (said in my firmest parental voice). I won't be doing it again. Next time, I will go back to using the iron (or more likely, I will keep my eyes peeled for something similar with a heat control). <br />
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Despite that, I love how this finished up! <br />
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List of links and resources from this post:<br />
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<ul>
<li>My baseball cap tutorial on this blog: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2015/04/baseball-cap-embroidery-using.html" target="_blank"> click her</a>e.</li>
<li>Floppy hat with bow from Walmart (I got mine at the store): <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Faded-Glory-Women-s-Bow-Floppy-Hat/55347271" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Embroidery foam from World Weidner (this is what I used but until I find out if it is true embroidery foam, I will be using Sulky brand foam from here on out): <a href="http://www.worldweidner.com/embroideryfoam.aspx" target="_blank">click here </a>for the World Weidner. Sulky makes verified embroidery foam. </li>
<li>Infinity font by 8 Claws and a Paw (website is no longer available but they are on Etsy)</li>
<li>I used polyester thread by Metro and tear away from World Weidner. I used an Organ titanium embroidery needle (size 75/11 sharp). </li>
<li>I got the idea for what I call "The Thumbtack Method" from a class I took on Craftsy by Lisa Shaw called Big Embroidery with a Small Hoop. I highly recommend this class. She uses this method for aligning designs but it took it past that and now I use this method most of the time for centering my projects on my hoop. She recently blogged about this if you are not quite ready for a class but are hungry for a little more: <a href="https://sew-bubbles.com/aligningdesigns/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
</ul>
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Thank you for checking my post today. To see all my embroidery projects with my notes, my resources, links to videos, and other handy embroidery info, check out my Embroidery page on my blog or <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-37912974874460841182017-03-25T16:38:00.000-04:002017-03-26T09:09:15.395-04:00Personalized Wrist Strap Key Fobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6AQdDyjMWbjUODoZpa-CK0Hqaij-687ZlkGtph5cn_DjTa8WUxAsUUFOJPAn03q1Y1wOZmEiGk0KAMVRwbFfzJNUlKmhGGBbs6tip2W6_xmPWZP4aKI8CSh7IueJo_at4CDydWvnBUIq/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage++even+better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6AQdDyjMWbjUODoZpa-CK0Hqaij-687ZlkGtph5cn_DjTa8WUxAsUUFOJPAn03q1Y1wOZmEiGk0KAMVRwbFfzJNUlKmhGGBbs6tip2W6_xmPWZP4aKI8CSh7IueJo_at4CDydWvnBUIq/s400/PicMonkey+Collage++even+better.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These are my notes on making personalized wrist strap key fobs. These are made by using an embroidery machine to stitch on ribbon, then attaching the ribbon to cotton webbing using a sewing machine. The ends are finished and made into a loop with hardware using a pair of rubber-tipped crimper pliers. The embroidery stitches are completely hidden. </div>
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Step 1: Add text.</div>
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I start by opening <a href="http://embrilliance.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=6" target="_blank">Embrilliance Essentials</a> embroidery software and adding text. This is <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/caleb-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-2-5-3/" target="_blank">Caleb by Stitchopia</a> in 1/2". I chose this size because I am using 7/8" ribbon.</div>
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Step 2: Add a basting box.</div>
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After adding the text, I add a basting box (under the utilty tab, baste design). For more info on how to do this, check out the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3XMKyvKUXQ" target="_blank">Quick Tips #4 video</a> from Embrilliance. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XF9Ud4zvB9quf5Y1dAwcdfDLIXvXr5OTz9omgB1Zu9ZfBRR_aCG5ZKYmIfXoE8nBJiYRa-8cMYl10Q-aciKF_0HXI8Gc1Ok-iD3c2yAvO9lt_eGAnU-9ccCWCEojrUz_K0aiyZUndly3/s1600/Capture1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XF9Ud4zvB9quf5Y1dAwcdfDLIXvXr5OTz9omgB1Zu9ZfBRR_aCG5ZKYmIfXoE8nBJiYRa-8cMYl10Q-aciKF_0HXI8Gc1Ok-iD3c2yAvO9lt_eGAnU-9ccCWCEojrUz_K0aiyZUndly3/s400/Capture1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The reason I do this now instead of at the end to encompass all the lettering together is that I will be turning the text diagonally but the basting box works on the x-y axis. It will grow to the size of the hoop! I need my basting boxes to stay close to the text so that they can provide a placement guide for my ribbon and to provide even stress on the ribbon so that the text stitches without pulling the ribbon.<br />
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Step 3: Copy text.<br />
I drag a box around the name and its basting box and group them together by clicking the edit tab and then "group" in the drop-down box. This magically holds the two together. Then, while they are still selected, I copy and paste twice. I pull them off the original to have three. (Extra thing here: I pull them off in the order I want them to stitch so the top one will be the last to stitch so I scoot it to the far right. The next will be second to stitch so I scoot it in the middle. My original will be the first to stitch so it stays on the far left. If this doesn't make clear sense now, no worries. We will double-check stitch order later.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifW2oEM4wCKzOVNxyVDx3VCcG61Hq2Z_JPXSavF9cWpwuilojZI7qp3ZCgQsKSXDEBSJxwPHRuSWpVv-ZLF6q6KFgeMyyFxmOUR_qKT2IOhYp5SJhZ0LMaU9PKJsPf0OcpMktTr9ly1awh/s1600/Capture2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifW2oEM4wCKzOVNxyVDx3VCcG61Hq2Z_JPXSavF9cWpwuilojZI7qp3ZCgQsKSXDEBSJxwPHRuSWpVv-ZLF6q6KFgeMyyFxmOUR_qKT2IOhYp5SJhZ0LMaU9PKJsPf0OcpMktTr9ly1awh/s400/Capture2.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Step 4: Set the length.<br />
I know I want my text to be repeated evenly over a space of 7-1/2". That is a length that fits diagonally in my 5x7 hoop and that works perfectly for my wrist fob. (My wrist strap will be 12" long before being joined with hardware).<br />
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I move the first and last "Nadia boxes" so that from the left edge of the first letter to the right edge of the last letter of the last box is 7-1/2". (I think it helps to move the first box to a grid line. I just eyeball it using the grid to get close. When I drag a box to include all three text groups (or CTRL and A to select them all), I can double check the length. I want it close to 7-1/2. The arrow on the screenshot below confirms that the length is correct. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu3qLAklQhQN-XH2_9hl4-IX8CMDddAugsoZXxYho0jLhShYn03edOv6L3xyLE30zRnwbKWYnF7lyO9ocJHqWCHkuc0JwEQTTvPs6xqlyp4pJov8Bp-YAE3rHnoBECAXekfhz7xLgrauc/s1600/Capture3arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDu3qLAklQhQN-XH2_9hl4-IX8CMDddAugsoZXxYho0jLhShYn03edOv6L3xyLE30zRnwbKWYnF7lyO9ocJHqWCHkuc0JwEQTTvPs6xqlyp4pJov8Bp-YAE3rHnoBECAXekfhz7xLgrauc/s400/Capture3arrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Step 5: Automatic spacing.<br />
While they are all still selected, I click the Align and Distribute button. I click the Distribute tab. I make sure that both center boxes are selected and I click the box for "EXTENT of SELECTION". This will keep the length the same, even though it is longer than my hoop. I click Apply. My "Nadia boxes" are perfectly spaced!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrCusUb18vqt4WEVFzf7l2kKGlt0BICdADuxfWSLss5vRo5Qyc4YuMXvow0PN5VhkZQJ8E5YgGJzI0WLooO5lBi8hJM3qmn8YBd5wzEj7-xEo7-TWA3UWJRSVR5XW3OeH8bjvHvffZWXi/s1600/Capture4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrCusUb18vqt4WEVFzf7l2kKGlt0BICdADuxfWSLss5vRo5Qyc4YuMXvow0PN5VhkZQJ8E5YgGJzI0WLooO5lBi8hJM3qmn8YBd5wzEj7-xEo7-TWA3UWJRSVR5XW3OeH8bjvHvffZWXi/s400/Capture4.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Step 6: Turn diagonally.<br />
Again, while they are all still selected, we will group them together (Edit tab, Group). Grab the blue dot and turn the line of boxes diagonally. I just eyeball it. Then I click the Center-Designs-In-Hoop button. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhW71zWOErwwzkTlGsdvfMzS-CWuJWiQamhONa5FP00wl3RDkVj8em1XELMmOZLcaEp_T-E58JqYqz9wAF2Ty1O4IIMpziH4cMZIUiGNIGIQcFCgi5mN-7HS6voeQ8F1DJvi1b3AAd0d/s1600/Capture5arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhW71zWOErwwzkTlGsdvfMzS-CWuJWiQamhONa5FP00wl3RDkVj8em1XELMmOZLcaEp_T-E58JqYqz9wAF2Ty1O4IIMpziH4cMZIUiGNIGIQcFCgi5mN-7HS6voeQ8F1DJvi1b3AAd0d/s400/Capture5arrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Step 7: Double-check stitch order.<br />
I want to be sure that my embroidery machine will stitch the bottom left, then the middle, then the upper right, and not is some weird mixed up order, making unnecessary, crazy, extra jumps. I just click each object in the object pane and watch what gets highlighted with handles on the virtual hoop. Since I was mindful of this in Step 3, it is correct. If yours is not correct, simply select an incorrect one in the Object Pane and right click, selecting 'move earlier' or 'more later' to scoot them into correct order.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_XC4ABBUZSlKYlyDXYNiPmU1UULLoV1nCCkBtbNzlKv8AX5AZIYhoO0EzXk3Cf6u4VroSfc1-y2GruBr3zbOistAx_WOUxr6zw_7O7Zc6n8jWZqDCxBjv2Xszy5_rNX0d8sHYbMoEc3j/s1600/Capture6.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_XC4ABBUZSlKYlyDXYNiPmU1UULLoV1nCCkBtbNzlKv8AX5AZIYhoO0EzXk3Cf6u4VroSfc1-y2GruBr3zbOistAx_WOUxr6zw_7O7Zc6n8jWZqDCxBjv2Xszy5_rNX0d8sHYbMoEc3j/s400/Capture6.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(You can't take a screen shot of this so I took a snapshot to show the selections when you select an object and then right click. These allow you to move objects in a different order. You can also drag, but I tend to get confused when they all look alike!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oz8lTp633v8FtKdH6rmIqSV4i_GeAnCQ5R_Jvfpp0Akgjd0kNSyhf9sFyN1I2NCU8-ly45j5yhdEM_Fgy8jsHxAKmnFUJ1TUui5wM7pOMVaMCrUA7KJjBfLbH0T-1a2Gwa1yg9StVbAO/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oz8lTp633v8FtKdH6rmIqSV4i_GeAnCQ5R_Jvfpp0Akgjd0kNSyhf9sFyN1I2NCU8-ly45j5yhdEM_Fgy8jsHxAKmnFUJ1TUui5wM7pOMVaMCrUA7KJjBfLbH0T-1a2Gwa1yg9StVbAO/s400/IMG_0139.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Step 8: Move the boxes to stitch first. <br />
Our goal is to have boxes that stitch a placement stitch, then another set of boxes that stitch the ribbon down, then the actual lettering will stitch. With that said, the first thing to do is to move the basting boxes to stitch first, but still in the order of lower left, middle, upper right. These boxes will be our placement stitches! I just select one, right click, and select 'move earlier' to place it correctly. The screenshot below shows that now all the basting boxes are first, then the text objects are later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNxd2-PdM5OVxSIRhvoyMGK_pJ3TqwBxNi5g-bvPMIUshKSsRm5G_y7bDyh00KfuFYW3eWLQrHoLV42-iNFgG6wQYqki4ZvHiGRL10hqhaZBFGE83jZ1Oj2x9Zu8DN6plyT38qsr1mY7U/s1600/Capture7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNxd2-PdM5OVxSIRhvoyMGK_pJ3TqwBxNi5g-bvPMIUshKSsRm5G_y7bDyh00KfuFYW3eWLQrHoLV42-iNFgG6wQYqki4ZvHiGRL10hqhaZBFGE83jZ1Oj2x9Zu8DN6plyT38qsr1mY7U/s400/Capture7.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Step 9: Add three more boxes.<br />
This is a step that I could skip and just use the repeat step button on my embroidery machine. But for the sake of doing it in the software, these are the ribbon tackdown boxes. I simply copy each basting box and it shows up at the end. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1plGPm2MgAZ-SLGXB76ehcU5lWzyfqTHWCBcG4acJe-jMSj0nGQ0snM1UxtCLBqUDV00ACtbEZab-AE9yUjmvgSbTemm_bwNd1fQ99a0nTL8pyl3TZjkvrtmknol_DNO1IKkYmckAk3-/s1600/Capture8.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1plGPm2MgAZ-SLGXB76ehcU5lWzyfqTHWCBcG4acJe-jMSj0nGQ0snM1UxtCLBqUDV00ACtbEZab-AE9yUjmvgSbTemm_bwNd1fQ99a0nTL8pyl3TZjkvrtmknol_DNO1IKkYmckAk3-/s400/Capture8.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Again, I right click each and move to stitch right after the first three boxes. While doing each one, I also change color. This will force my machine to stop after the first three boxes stitch so I can place my ribbon before the next three stitch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhTjs3Bo1XfYhi4qtRZXxdzGvz2Wvt61CesDT6H3Dlx9YqICEX91XLRG3F9C1B9GPg_jF0j7NqcFoRlkHSzpGAkbMuuffOLPT8kHjFSKzPh32yTTlW8aeG0ycI04dkZyn-cEbquD6RT7d/s1600/Capture9.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhTjs3Bo1XfYhi4qtRZXxdzGvz2Wvt61CesDT6H3Dlx9YqICEX91XLRG3F9C1B9GPg_jF0j7NqcFoRlkHSzpGAkbMuuffOLPT8kHjFSKzPh32yTTlW8aeG0ycI04dkZyn-cEbquD6RT7d/s400/Capture9.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The software portion is complete! I save my file and transfer it to a USB and move it to my embroidery machine.</div>
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I hoop tearaway stabilizer on my 5x7 hoop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PtdTnJ-Na4jAd2uEjF7nQOeekBA2shcOSUJBeJrhTSp_oHluerZyEKrO21Ui2y2GVaNwIpPLrh5NRKPL2qxuRPXKzX197rQ4j2SK5v-ebY74GH8RjgJfeuOkYadgW3RWOJl5AwkKVHlF/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PtdTnJ-Na4jAd2uEjF7nQOeekBA2shcOSUJBeJrhTSp_oHluerZyEKrO21Ui2y2GVaNwIpPLrh5NRKPL2qxuRPXKzX197rQ4j2SK5v-ebY74GH8RjgJfeuOkYadgW3RWOJl5AwkKVHlF/s320/IMG_0141.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I stitch the first color step, the ribbon placement boxes. For you smart thinkers, use thread that matches your ribbon. For us dummies, we will suffer the consequences. Haha.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jI6tj-l8uXIcp-I1fKNHt0afXK1hzjjGvgplB8U_K3ilYCh0BvVGbTwI_h9vPik2TTUBV5sJ1e5-6itK_N-Inl-vA8_E1wGkz6RXybIYtuy6uENucqrXXc5n054DNrQekj-yyk_zqNDY/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jI6tj-l8uXIcp-I1fKNHt0afXK1hzjjGvgplB8U_K3ilYCh0BvVGbTwI_h9vPik2TTUBV5sJ1e5-6itK_N-Inl-vA8_E1wGkz6RXybIYtuy6uENucqrXXc5n054DNrQekj-yyk_zqNDY/s400/IMG_0142.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Place the grosgrain ribbon. I cut off about 13" or 14" of 7/8" wide ribbon. I will trim it down to 12" size once it is all stitched. Normally I would use a textile spray adhesive but something nudged me to use this painters tape and it worked great. I carefully centered over the boxes. If I had used matching thread, I could have used a light box to ensure that the ribbon was placed correctly, but with the black, I could see right through it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3ZoN-Pxb2RThyphenhyphenGGOVhDxRpw-GsZCBBQGw-XeKwG_KlLachTugj4TIvxusK4uWmfTOrxD1yBH2nMCxTr3jaNC8p-tOwQq8_5z8CjsfTW09Ce6-1ij7JtygdYgwYqt9CxgYYzkQbVI7Bo3/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3ZoN-Pxb2RThyphenhyphenGGOVhDxRpw-GsZCBBQGw-XeKwG_KlLachTugj4TIvxusK4uWmfTOrxD1yBH2nMCxTr3jaNC8p-tOwQq8_5z8CjsfTW09Ce6-1ij7JtygdYgwYqt9CxgYYzkQbVI7Bo3/s400/IMG_0143.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPy_INn1TKJOKEJY5I0abJzVS4fKxCx0Al2YsnrzGWsYNB7C3lXGrHG32daUViUZ6rK3fWj19GjfL4hqj_DSbQ9q2WzMUGz-sIsA5vG8ubljrd81BDDCbZA3C3r_ajnwblZXurLXrcFUE/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPy_INn1TKJOKEJY5I0abJzVS4fKxCx0Al2YsnrzGWsYNB7C3lXGrHG32daUViUZ6rK3fWj19GjfL4hqj_DSbQ9q2WzMUGz-sIsA5vG8ubljrd81BDDCbZA3C3r_ajnwblZXurLXrcFUE/s400/IMG_0145.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Next, I stitched the next color step, the basting boxes to hold the ribbon in place and to offer even tension on the ribbon to prevent pulling of the embroidery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Uwf8eiuw6HoWhhix9yKA6Zz4IHdIeHNdnccLBSznpxVqPX2PPG0kQBZ3BNe0dW25eydYXdhgI-LSk9uCrxrBaLloD9nBVWuJagsC2FvcMCnbJaLlV2OMcsR7Q3-Akw8_TQc9dVl5ZiPY/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Uwf8eiuw6HoWhhix9yKA6Zz4IHdIeHNdnccLBSznpxVqPX2PPG0kQBZ3BNe0dW25eydYXdhgI-LSk9uCrxrBaLloD9nBVWuJagsC2FvcMCnbJaLlV2OMcsR7Q3-Akw8_TQc9dVl5ZiPY/s400/IMG_0146.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I removed the hoop, removed the tape, removed the basting stitches and tore the ribbon from the tearaway stabilizer.<br />
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I used my tiny pointed Kai scissors to cut jump threads.<br />
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The ribbon looks a little wavy despite the boxes but that irons right out and it lies perfectly flat.<br />
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I use Steam A Seam tape to fuse the ribbon to my cotton webbing instead of pinning in place. <br />
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I place thread in my sewing machine's bobbin that matches my cotton webbing and top thread that matches the edge of the ribbon. I just stitch with a straight stitch.<br />
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the back is perfectly clean with no embroidery back stitches showing and even the straight stitches are hidden in the texture of the webbing because they match.<br />
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I trim each side so that the total length is 12".<br />
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I fit the webbing into the hardware and clamp down using special pliers. I got this hardware from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/97901335/50-sets-key-fob-hardware-1-inch?ref=shop_home_active_10" target="_blank">Brees on Etsy</a>. The <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/107416230/key-fob-hardware-pliers-crimper-assembly?ref=shop_home_active_8" target="_blank">crimper pliers</a> were from the same shop. <br />
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I slide on a split ring for keys and it's done!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl4Gh-3jAIl_Kou-O9dURU67foqeOkBw2De4kRtNjpKQJvQqSGnZ04Iu2SzIKU4Jnd9S35lVnJURFafbR6L-QXoP0uCQJfY6dfhZ7vxPzNQYXVL7CYTXkM9z3bOpPFbdHrEzgCNiU_NQX/s1600/IMG_0161corrected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl4Gh-3jAIl_Kou-O9dURU67foqeOkBw2De4kRtNjpKQJvQqSGnZ04Iu2SzIKU4Jnd9S35lVnJURFafbR6L-QXoP0uCQJfY6dfhZ7vxPzNQYXVL7CYTXkM9z3bOpPFbdHrEzgCNiU_NQX/s400/IMG_0161corrected.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The black strap fob above used Stitchtopia's <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/classic-style-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-2-5/" target="_blank">Classic Style font</a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrc_behEO9IInjg2UdUVDJ69k0ukzoBVYwsKcdqXy7mcTxSvAHGg_exD4AIjEejRyVl92ubLh6iUKAJnOSOwo8V5_FWygI4fGr4W2e9RNmJhFZjHBatcFGhYhfMHIhlSNIAWRU8j3ACOA/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrc_behEO9IInjg2UdUVDJ69k0ukzoBVYwsKcdqXy7mcTxSvAHGg_exD4AIjEejRyVl92ubLh6iUKAJnOSOwo8V5_FWygI4fGr4W2e9RNmJhFZjHBatcFGhYhfMHIhlSNIAWRU8j3ACOA/s400/IMG_0167.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small one on top is two layers of ribbon on black webbing with no embroidery.<br />
The second one down with keys attached is black ribbon with white edging sewn onto black cotton webbing. The font is <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/classic-style-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-2-5/" target="_blank">Stitchtopia Classic Style</a>.<br />
The third one is fabric that was starched and folded and sewn onto cotton webbing. The font is <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Pinky-Swear-Embroidery-Font-.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch Pinky Swear</a>.<br />
The fourth one down is black grosgrain ribbon sewn to nylon webbing. The font is <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Pinky-Swear-Embroidery-Font-.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch Pinky Swear.</a> The tiny shamrocks are from <a href="http://amazingdesigns.com/clover" target="_blank">Amazing Designs</a>.<br />
The bottom one is the one from this tutorial. Font is <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/caleb-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-2-5-3/" target="_blank">Stitchtopia's Caleb</a>.</td></tr>
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List of links and resource info shared in this post:<br />
<ul>
<li>Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=6" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Stitchtopia Caleb font: <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/caleb-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-2-5-3/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Embrilliance Quick Tips video on adding basting boxes: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3XMKyvKUXQ" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>7/8" grosgrain ribbon, 1" cotton webbing, and Steam A Seam fusible tape were from Joann Fabrics.</li>
<li>Fob hardware with rings: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/97901335/50-sets-key-fob-hardware-1-inch?ref=shop_home_active_10" target="_blank">click here</a>. They sell the hardware for 1" and 1-1/4". I used the 1" for this project.</li>
<li>Crimper pliers: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/107416230/key-fob-hardware-pliers-crimper-assembly?ref=shop_home_active_8" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Stitchtopia Classic Style font: <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/classic-style-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-2-5/" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
<li>Itch2Stitch Pinky Swear: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Pinky-Swear-Embroidery-Font-.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Tiny shamrock: <a href="http://amazingdesigns.com/clover" target="_blank"> click here</a>.</li>
</ul>
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Thank you for checking my blog post today! To see a gallery of my other projects and tutorials, a linked list of resources, and information for machine embroidery, check out my Embroidery page on this blog, or <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-21656275263550573012017-03-23T19:58:00.000-04:002017-03-23T19:58:21.491-04:00fruBlomgren MugRugs - Mix and Match Designs with Embrillance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OeDUG5J7C5D4bJ_CQY9ucxBHtnyBH5A1Eexta6M4FQlFLAO1u6qUj6t6F_Lb9XSc1-5rm4pFtHcaeN8gtqCtg2LPeLWe7hDlIWvq-D7E_IKa0Ku6n9KBj9aAHHqLT5jQSkT6ns-IMi7k/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OeDUG5J7C5D4bJ_CQY9ucxBHtnyBH5A1Eexta6M4FQlFLAO1u6qUj6t6F_Lb9XSc1-5rm4pFtHcaeN8gtqCtg2LPeLWe7hDlIWvq-D7E_IKa0Ku6n9KBj9aAHHqLT5jQSkT6ns-IMi7k/s400/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I recently "found" a new digitizer on the Brilliant Embrilliance Facebook group. Around Christmas, Marianne of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/fruBlomgren" target="_blank">fruBlomgren on Etsy</a> began promoting some caroling 3D angel files made with Stitch Artist. As a Stitch Artist user, I was excited for her and intrigued. Her angels were unique and again, I began thinking of new options. Then she began sharing more designs as she created them. I was enchanted by the whimsical and folk-style designs, unlike really anything else I have seen on my happy online embroidery-shopping scavenger hunts. For some of my favorite of her designs, she credits the artist Stefanie Muehlbergen of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/de/shop/KITTIEKATSTUDIO" target="_blank">KittieKatStudio on Etsy</a>, who allowed her to digitize her original creations. <br />
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As much as I loved these images, and really loved that they were so different and wanted to find a way to use them, I was drawing a blank until Marianne recently posted her version of the mugrug, an in-the-hoop embroidery project. Hers was cloud-shaped and it came with a bird! Or is it an egg? I knew instantly that I would finally stitch out her designs on a stack of her mugrugs, which I really needed for my family room coffee table. <br />
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I chose a gray base fabric, a fleece, from my stash and teal thread for the edges to make them coordinate with the fabrics in the room. I used my Embrilliance Essentials software to merge, mirror, and resize-to-fit her designs into her mugrug shape, as well as to add text on a couple.<br />
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I imported the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/520085139/cloudy-mugrugs-ith-4-different-shapes?ref=shop_home_feat_1" target="_blank">plain mugrug</a> that I purchased from the fruBlomgren shop, which she calls the "neutral" one. <br />
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I had decided on four designs that I wanted to use. This one is the angel. Although she does have a flat angel file, I purchased <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/516335919/angel-angelina-ith-adorable-kitschy-and?ref=shop_home_active_11" target="_blank">Angelina</a>, a design that she shows stuffed. To use this design, I had to simply delete the last step, the outline that is normally used to sew the front, embroidered fabric to the plain back. I also used the lasso tool in Embrilliance Enthusiast to remove some of the stitches of her cloud so that she would fit into the shape.<br />
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The key to inserting the design into the mugrug form is to look at the the Objects pane, select the angel design, and slip it in between the applique material sewing step and the next to last step that tacks down the back piece of fabric. I do that by selecting the angel and dragging her to the right spot. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see from the Objects pane above that the machine will stitch (1:1) the cloud shape to show the applique position, then it will stitch again (1:2) to tack down the fabric, then it will stitch (2) the angel design, then it will stitch (3:1) the cloud shape again, then it will end with the (3:2) satin stitch all around in the shape of the cloud. </td></tr>
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To prep, I saved my design and transferred it to my thumb drive, cut two pieces of base fabric about the size of my hoop, hooped my 5x7 hoop with Vilene (fibrous water soluble stabilizer -- NOT the filmy topper kind of WSS). I printed my design in Embrilliance.<br />
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On designs like this with a number of short color changes, I like to use Embrilliance's Stitch Simulator and take a few notes so that my print out is a true guide and I know exactly what each little icon is.<br />
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I selected a palette of threads. I wanted to make these mugrugs look like they are all part of a set. I tried to do that by keeping the size and shape the same, keeping the base fabric and outside thread the same, and by using the same palette of colors within the different designs whenever possible.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">To illustrate the general way that these were made...</span><br />
The machine stitched the placement (1st outline of the cloud). I placed my fabric and allowed the machine to repeat that design (the 2nd stitching of the cloud design) to tack down the fabric.<br />
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Once it was done, I removed the hoop from the machine (NOT unhooping the fabric!) and trimmed close to the stitching, like you do for an applique or for making a patch.<br />
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I returned the hoop to the machine and allowed the decorative design to stitch out completely.<br />
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There were a couple of long stitches that were the result of my lassoing off part of her cloud in Enthusiast. I made sure to snip those because I wanted no threads below my eventual satin stitch that will be the outline of the mugrug. <br />
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I removed the hoop from the machine while keeping the fabric hooped....<br />
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...I flipped the hoop over to the backside.<br />
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I placed my second piece of fabric base right on top and pinned it in place from the front.<br />
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Then, the cloud shape was stitched a 3rd time. This time to hold the back fabric in place. The back fabric covers all the backside stitches. <br />
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I removed the hoop again (and again NOT unhooping the fabric!) and trimmed close to the stitching. <br />
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The hoop was placed back on the machine and this time the cloud outline was stitched using a heavy satin stitch. This is the outline of the mugrug.<br />
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The hoop is removed and the front and back are done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHkCcpKs2kNeJFVZe1S6bUUSH4caBmSaM4xMzujCLQxhZAnO9Xhb3lA_X0jEpafmreth61sxc-STS75nR90oicleipwG7fSILYX8WYR68l6i6DbheW9EvjFAOLl1C6pN8YCYfy52-O6tF/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHkCcpKs2kNeJFVZe1S6bUUSH4caBmSaM4xMzujCLQxhZAnO9Xhb3lA_X0jEpafmreth61sxc-STS75nR90oicleipwG7fSILYX8WYR68l6i6DbheW9EvjFAOLl1C6pN8YCYfy52-O6tF/s400/IMG_0109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could have used matching bobbin thread so that the back of the outlining satin stitch was a bit prettier. I slacked on that!</td></tr>
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I trimmed the vilene stabilizer close to the outline stitches, careful not to cut so close as to nick a stitch! I use warm water and my finger to dissolve the vilene just on the outside edge of the satin stitching to avoid getting the whole project wet.<br />
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I allowed the edges to dry, which only tool a few minutes. <br />
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These are my four coasters with details...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxXuW8NoQ8rTLsGn6G6SMLPLsxbUWH9J1rhmyecw4gj81IDXCbURc73Q_xlB94yqdVaEmj9WMJkT6_66UrIB_1_zu2_F4zIh3X2oZCFShyphenhyphen_TEwcZ7bfIry06izf6hZ_kFoJLSgUPEDDYL/s1600/IMG_0122fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxXuW8NoQ8rTLsGn6G6SMLPLsxbUWH9J1rhmyecw4gj81IDXCbURc73Q_xlB94yqdVaEmj9WMJkT6_66UrIB_1_zu2_F4zIh3X2oZCFShyphenhyphen_TEwcZ7bfIry06izf6hZ_kFoJLSgUPEDDYL/s400/IMG_0122fixed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/512921869/frau-blau-and-ede-a-cheerful-cat-loving?ref=shop_home_active_24" target="_blank">Frau Blau and Ede </a>from fluBlomgren. <br />Free tiny text font can be found at <a href="http://www.cmemag.com/articles/Free-Tiny-Text-Font" target="_blank">http://www.cmemag.com/articles/Free-Tiny-Text-Font. </a><br />(I triple stitched the lettering so it wouldn't get lost in the pile.) <br />Her expression is hilarious to me. The cat doesn't seem too happy either. I added "Frau Blau is blue....today" to play on her name, Mrs. Blue, and because I just love that look on her face. There is an option to have the face filled in. I was trying to make it fast, but I would have preferred that for the set as a whole. Next time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H3sic84nLK1pAEitBO58jIz9QyCLwiH8HprRk4LRUhu74hGrIsELYidgCeSmpVd_m-tBwTO0tg1gWnTC7TMuODU8fsGNUuLVSnE4SV8b2yvopXTQHCROakPEHyNBcwXEyoMx_3-MZdFJ/s1600/IMG_0123fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H3sic84nLK1pAEitBO58jIz9QyCLwiH8HprRk4LRUhu74hGrIsELYidgCeSmpVd_m-tBwTO0tg1gWnTC7TMuODU8fsGNUuLVSnE4SV8b2yvopXTQHCROakPEHyNBcwXEyoMx_3-MZdFJ/s400/IMG_0123fixed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/516335919/angel-angelina-ith-adorable-kitschy-and?ref=shop_home_active_11" target="_blank">Angelina angel from fluBlomgren</a>. I used metallic organza for the wings and glitter dot for the cloud. The hair is metallic gold thread from Robison Anton. It was so much fun for me to use these kinds of fabrics. So often, applique is all cotton. I like that this project allowed me to think outside the cotton print box!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQczsCxoNq9vfM6dOWUhDb_SS2dci7zpDRCXxkI6NrskiUfeN63Xcuh12l0Qt1MxzVSzh-zSt2uM-1pOHmqLCwpT6Etm_rH6uzWPFSyTR-amCcjq19z3ZxaJ6g-JsQxrEDtDrEN4P74LOD/s1600/IMG_0124fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQczsCxoNq9vfM6dOWUhDb_SS2dci7zpDRCXxkI6NrskiUfeN63Xcuh12l0Qt1MxzVSzh-zSt2uM-1pOHmqLCwpT6Etm_rH6uzWPFSyTR-amCcjq19z3ZxaJ6g-JsQxrEDtDrEN4P74LOD/s400/IMG_0124fixed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/520085139/cloudy-mugrugs-ith-4-different-shapes?ref=shop_home_active_5" target="_blank">bird is on the file with the mugrug</a> itself. I simply copied and pasted it and used the mirror image key in Embrilliance so they would face each other. I did make the one on the right a little shorter. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMAT0VhLW8pN6xP4zdjpDLJFR7UMFjAYYaDIt4Rg6rQgFTAdn4hctk0Dq836gBu-iHpvzGXk-PRwZ_O08cixbzHbqzOO4cgl3VVoF8v5j6-S92S1ltfotyvxLoDO-KFuFsZERqSQytInN/s1600/IMG_0125fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMAT0VhLW8pN6xP4zdjpDLJFR7UMFjAYYaDIt4Rg6rQgFTAdn4hctk0Dq836gBu-iHpvzGXk-PRwZ_O08cixbzHbqzOO4cgl3VVoF8v5j6-S92S1ltfotyvxLoDO-KFuFsZERqSQytInN/s400/IMG_0125fixed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This mermaid is simply my favorite. I have a little mermaid collection and used to try to find unusual ones or kitschy ones or whimsical ones whenever we went to the beach for a vacation. She fits all three descriptions. In the information about the file on Etsy, we are told that mermaid in German is meerfrau so her name, Frau Meer is a little play on that. This is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/493452448/mermaid-in-the-water-logo-machine?ref=shop_home_active_44" target="_blank">fruBlomgren's Frau Meer</a>. She is also in a separate file sitting on a rock. That one is on my wishlist. I don't know if it's the "Mimi makeup" or the blue "parts" but I just love this character. </td></tr>
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I was so happy with my little mugrug collection. I think they will be cute on my family room coffee table. I am not sure if they will be used for hot mugs or just enjoyed. I do think this project is gift-worthy, as I usually give away everything I make...but I'm keeping this one!<br />
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List of Links on this Blog Post:<br />
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<ul>
<li>fruBlomgren embroidery design shop on Etsy: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/fruBlomgren" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
<li>KittieKatStudio gallery of paper, paper mache, and clay original works on Etsy: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/de/shop/KITTIEKATSTUDIO" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>fruBlomgren's cloud-shaped mugrug with applique bird: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/520085139/cloudy-mugrugs-ith-4-different-shapes?ref=shop_home_feat_1" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>fruBlomgren's Angelina angel: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/516335919/angel-angelina-ith-adorable-kitschy-and?ref=shop_home_active_11" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>fruBlomgren's Frau Blau and Ede: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/512921869/frau-blau-and-ede-a-cheerful-cat-loving?ref=shop_home_active_24" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Free Tiny Text font by Lisa Shaw: <a href="http://www.cmemag.com/articles/Free-Tiny-Text-Font" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
<li>fruBlomgren's Frau Meer: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/493452448/mermaid-in-the-water-logo-machine?ref=shop_home_active_44" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
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Thank you for checking my blog post today. To see all my Embroidery projects, resources, tutorials, and links, check out my <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">Embroidery Page on this blog, or click here</a>.</div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-54000695206372418292017-03-13T12:46:00.001-04:002017-03-13T12:46:38.974-04:00Bunny Birth Announcement and Baby Gift Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thirteen years ago, when my baby was born, I remembered something that a customer (a mom of eight) had told me back when I worked at a fabric store. She said that giving birth wasn't exactly fun so she always waited to learn the gender of her kids at their birth. That it was the "fun" of the day for her. I took that advice. And she was right; the wait and the work made finding out that I had a precious little girl even more exciting!<br />
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Not until recently did I realize how annoying that decision must have been for the people at my two baby showers! Ha! So, when my husband's cousin announced her pregnancy and that she too would be waiting to learn the gender, I knew she would be getting my {personalized} baby gift after her baby was born. I remember how I felt with all those neutral colored and themed clothes and baby items... I went on a pink shopping trip the first time I headed out the door with my new little girl. I bought the girliest stuff you have ever seen! Those were the days before having a die cutter and having an embroidery machine. If my child were born today, everything would have her name or monogram on it. So that was on my list for Baby Margaret!<br />
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I started with a Nate Berkus lovey from Target that I embroidered using a file from <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Magnolia-Sky-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch, Magnolia Sky. </a> I float the item over hooped tearaway and top with WSS. I pin the item in place and stitch a basting box to hold it in place. The basting box, as always, also has a secondary function: it helps me to make sure that the text will be centered and placed just as I envisioned it. The basting box is removed before the WSS and tearaway. For a great article all about basting box usage (in case you were wondering), check out the <a href="https://sewbubbles.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/adding-a-basting-box-to-a-design-why-how/" target="_blank">blog post by Lisa Shaw</a>. <br />
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I picked up a pack on PUL lined baby bibs. (Avoid the plastic lined ones at all costs!!)<br />
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This one was embroidered using <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Floral-2-Frame.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch's Frame</a> and 8ClawsAndAPaw Infinity monogram (the 8 Claws website has been taken down at the time of writing this, but they are setting up a store on Etsy if you are wanting to search for this monogram font). <br />
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This bib was embroidered with <a href="http://lynniepinnie.com/shop/see-it-all/flowers-and-birds-applique-monogram-name-frame-4x4-5x7-6x10-7x11.html" target="_blank">Lynnie Pinnie's frame</a> and <a href="https://www.appliquecorner.com/rodney-embroidery-font.html" target="_blank">Applique Corner's Rodney font</a>. I particularly adore this frame. This is one of the very first embroidery files I bought the first few months after I received my embroidery machine! I have loved it for a long time and am so happy that I finally have a project for it!<br />
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What to do with a bib with a big print? Just add text!<br />
This is <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Barnyard-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch Barnyard</a>.<br />
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This bib has an <a href="http://www.hangtodryapplique.com/anchor-scalloped-monogram-frame/" target="_blank">applique anchor monogram frame</a> and <a href="http://www.hangtodryapplique.com/scalloped-circular-mini-monogram-with-topstitch/" target="_blank">scalloped circular monogram</a>, both from Hang to Dry.<br />
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I really needed a tiny monogram for this (the 4x4 size was chosen for the anchor so the monogram space is really small. This is my pinky next to the monogram.) My favorite thing is the tiny outline around the monogram letters. I loved that detail.<br />
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Next, I worked on the birth announcement bunny. This is a bunny I found at Kroger. I tried the appliqued bunny ears last year for Easter and<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2017/02/personalized-embroidered-easter-bunnies.html" target="_blank"> my last blog post (click here)</a> shared all my notes on how to embroider on bunny ears. I show how to do it through the closed ear as well as by opening the ear, embroidering, then sewing the ear back. That second method is how I treated this bunny project. I anticipate that this bunny will be kept for a long time so spending a few extra minutes is time well spent on this keepsake! <br />
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I used my Embrilliance software, using the block font that is built in and included with <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">Embrilliance Essentials</a>. I lassoed off the dotted lines from an Applique Corner birth announcement using <a href="http://embrilliance.com/products/enthusiast" target="_blank">Embrilliance Enthusiast</a> just for those divisions. (Using the dot from a font, repeated over and over would have resulted in the very same effect however. I had to make my birth announcement "fit" bunny ears!) I printed the design to make sure I liked the size and to plan the placement.<br />
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I placed the baby's name on a coordinating baby blanket. This is Circo brand from Target. This was particularly thick and without a way to open it up, I was forced to allow the wrong side of my stitching to show, a real pet peeve of mine on keepsake blankets. ...But I liked the look of the set so I used it. Like the lovey embroidered first, this is also Itch2Stitch Magnolia Sky.</div>
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I was really happy with the set!<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">List of links noted in this blog post:</span><br />
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<li>Itch2Stitch Magnolia Sky font: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Magnolia-Sky-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Lisa Shaw's blog post all about basting boxes: <a href="https://sewbubbles.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/adding-a-basting-box-to-a-design-why-how/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Itch2Stitch's floral frame: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Floral-2-Frame.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Lynnie Pinnie's flower and birdie frame: <a href="http://lynniepinnie.com/shop/see-it-all/flowers-and-birds-applique-monogram-name-frame-4x4-5x7-6x10-7x11.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Applique Corner Rodney font: <a href="https://www.appliquecorner.com/rodney-embroidery-font.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Itch2Stitch Barnyard font: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Barnyard-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Hang to Dry anchor frame: <a href="http://www.hangtodryapplique.com/anchor-scalloped-monogram-frame/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Hang to Dry scalloped circular mini monogram: <a href="http://www.hangtodryapplique.com/scalloped-circular-mini-monogram-with-topstitch/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>How to embroider bunny ears (both methods) on this blog: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2017/02/personalized-embroidered-easter-bunnies.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Embrilliance Enthusiast editing module: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/products/enthusiast" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
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Thank you for checking my blog post today! I think the new mom will like this set; I know I would have loved stuff with my little girl's name on it and some pink and purple to go with all the yellow and green and cream stuff that I received at my gender-neutral showers! </div>
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To see all my project notes, tutorials, links for resources, you are invited to check out my Embroidery Page on this blog: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-50654737343056162672017-02-12T13:21:00.000-05:002017-02-12T13:21:00.398-05:00Personalized Embroidered Easter Bunnies - Two Methods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH_4NHI8uT56FKXnahYwy9uQVDQLoV7QA1f8v58Zi54Yj4Q_rtdqlpR190fvJ0cK-Hh3V57EV-Wuhdc2Xq1gIRxASzVRkxvlm5OSl1iE7I3RaNQHCLQmyrhhDD6QzbYe6csnCCTyvrdCP/s1600/2016-03-25+11.17.41-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYH_4NHI8uT56FKXnahYwy9uQVDQLoV7QA1f8v58Zi54Yj4Q_rtdqlpR190fvJ0cK-Hh3V57EV-Wuhdc2Xq1gIRxASzVRkxvlm5OSl1iE7I3RaNQHCLQmyrhhDD6QzbYe6csnCCTyvrdCP/s400/2016-03-25+11.17.41-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last year, I finally embroidered names on stuffed Easter bunnies for some of the kids in my family after seeing the posts on the embroidery pages the year before. I kept my notes to share here for doing this both ways: (1) by sewing straight through the ear and (2) by opening the ear, embroidering, and stitching closed. Both methods have merit and are quick and easy to do! I was so late to the party last year that I decided to post this nice and early this year to be helpful to someone wanting to try this for the first time!<div>
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<b>Method 1: Stitching Straight Through the Ear</b></div>
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The first time I did this, I simply stitched through the ear, allowing the wrong side of the stitching to show on the back of the ear. The deep pile of the fake fur will somewhat hide the stitching on the wrong side and matching the bobbin thread to the fabric color will also hide the wrong side of the stitching a bit.</div>
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First, I measured the ear to know the approximate size of the space where the name will go.</div>
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I picked out a font (this is <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/daphne-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-3/" target="_blank">Stitchtopia's Daphne</a>) and used the virtual hoop grid to make sure the name fit the measurement I took. I printed it using my <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">Embrilliance</a> embroidery software in order to see what it would look like at the size I picked. <br />
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I pinned the bunny ear onto hooped tearaway that I marked with crosshairs to show the center. I matched the center of the ear making sure it matched the paper printout's cross hairs. I pinned the ear in place.<br />
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I placed the hoop on the machine and added a piece of water soluble stabilizer (WSS) before stitching. WSS is the filmy topper-style of stabilizer to keep the stitches from sinking into the pile.<br />
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Once the stitching was complete, I removed the hoop, removed the tearaway, and the WSS. I wanted to be sure the ear would hang to best show the name so I folded the ear open and put in one stitch to keep the inside of the embroidered ear visible. I didn't want it to flop over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyFTe85uCnYb4qCRXbIQqtiC8HUFj-aA7u5p7H11KREf6OzPUETx2Fx2Fx5t7QFqv6SoDWyXKGsM1r3KWd0EFPbZnZLrdIIvNEvqB0w8aG9-8zDiDhjjOkROJqnwkguUv8ZnQQWeqAvJM/s1600/2016-03-12+08.09.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyFTe85uCnYb4qCRXbIQqtiC8HUFj-aA7u5p7H11KREf6OzPUETx2Fx2Fx5t7QFqv6SoDWyXKGsM1r3KWd0EFPbZnZLrdIIvNEvqB0w8aG9-8zDiDhjjOkROJqnwkguUv8ZnQQWeqAvJM/s320/2016-03-12+08.09.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUOkvjwfIwJ8x3iFdydHrBiinnq3x5IRqS_NkaVO7XhL1ITB6aweUd8D4DryM78ZxAfxnsKL9HEZjK5VqGZ05s4t8suL05siyp8gOCTf_SXZi7mfSwCb8MyJWGtdt4qzmCHGR72-6NEWq/s1600/2016-03-12+08.19.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUOkvjwfIwJ8x3iFdydHrBiinnq3x5IRqS_NkaVO7XhL1ITB6aweUd8D4DryM78ZxAfxnsKL9HEZjK5VqGZ05s4t8suL05siyp8gOCTf_SXZi7mfSwCb8MyJWGtdt4qzmCHGR72-6NEWq/s320/2016-03-12+08.19.16.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I put the finished bunny in a metal bucket with an embroidered patch I adhered. Directions for doing that are on my blog. <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/02/making-embroidered-patches-and.html" target="_blank">Click here</a>. </td></tr>
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<b>Method 2: Opening the Ear to Hide the Backside of the Stitching</b></div>
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I was fine with the finished bunny I did above but really always prefer for the backside of my stitching to be hidden. I was promised that it was much quicker to do than my imagination allowed me to believe so I tried it once and was hooked. I will always do my bunny ears this way, in fact! These are my notes on doing one ear at-a-time as well as multiple ears on a single hoop.</div>
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First, like above, I printed the name from my Embrilliance Essentials software. This font is from <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Magnolia-Sky-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">Itch2Stitch Magnolia Sky</a>. I used a pen to extend the crosshairs to go all the way to the edge of the basting box to aid in lining up later. Adding a basting box makes it easier to hold the WSS in place. The corners of the box may stitch right off the edge onto the tearaway, but that will not be a problem at all.</div>
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I trim the the name so I can see it with the edges of the ear. I also make of habit of marking left and right just to be sure it all goes as designed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HHkpLBZKhqBaMaQGh-vcvbaPWsR6WwkLJBDRnfifKdOLAMOVjLSI714priouWtIxqnhn1fHCxnw3v9sL9HBxtiLi8VrE1VnoPpFCXJ4q7Ml3atDeoNTSWTlVtLNxcD8GfLai1_YYpgIP/s1600/2016-03-24+14.27.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HHkpLBZKhqBaMaQGh-vcvbaPWsR6WwkLJBDRnfifKdOLAMOVjLSI714priouWtIxqnhn1fHCxnw3v9sL9HBxtiLi8VrE1VnoPpFCXJ4q7Ml3atDeoNTSWTlVtLNxcD8GfLai1_YYpgIP/s320/2016-03-24+14.27.38.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I use a seam ripper to open the ear, centering it based on the crosshairs on the printout, matching with the crosshairs I draw on the hooped tearaway. (A ruler can help to match them up perfectly).<br />
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I remove the paper printout and pin the ear in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc9wT_XOQYSRo-N9zdRTa6nxPraU34ZAvej9NFN6IUtYiiL_H5fNH8Q73WzbMN5C6QCbiY4B2HqUga9jeC7HuRzUez3tJ-FhIgwnMNsh4kCdm4dzV-31LHgjb_p4lOv_74Y3Ie_1g3jd3/s1600/2016-03-24+22.01.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc9wT_XOQYSRo-N9zdRTa6nxPraU34ZAvej9NFN6IUtYiiL_H5fNH8Q73WzbMN5C6QCbiY4B2HqUga9jeC7HuRzUez3tJ-FhIgwnMNsh4kCdm4dzV-31LHgjb_p4lOv_74Y3Ie_1g3jd3/s320/2016-03-24+22.01.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I place the hoop on the machine, add a piece of WSS, and stitch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC3O2XJIQMgkunmN64xv2Blgf4F8CqHTEgK5fTP26kRdeSUCZz7C47X6LTHaJIAoLPSHQpODajbUozEQ91ohHTl9tzKDodNYHlIDPj0gOaW-11Wy2pQjVOXbfnu1zwhhdEv78_cySAVyq/s1600/2016-03-24+22.15.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC3O2XJIQMgkunmN64xv2Blgf4F8CqHTEgK5fTP26kRdeSUCZz7C47X6LTHaJIAoLPSHQpODajbUozEQ91ohHTl9tzKDodNYHlIDPj0gOaW-11Wy2pQjVOXbfnu1zwhhdEv78_cySAVyq/s320/2016-03-24+22.15.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once stitched, I remove the hoop and then remove the basting box. I tore off the tearaway and pulled off the WSS. A rubber-tipped tool (even an eraser will do) to help remove the WSS without adding water. <br />
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Next, I pinned the ear back together right sides together and used my regular sewing machine to stitch all but about 1" closest to the bunny's head. I turned the ear through the hole to make it right side out.<br />
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And the cool thing: all the embroidery's wrong side is enclosed and the backside of the bunny ear is untouched...<br />
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...and the embroidery is pretty on the inside of the bunny ear!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AHKvBnEhu-M6IgmdZD9nOYMc31xV5yK7c1BsJtwyokFcBvQIceweKFF-vl5PuqsJdb3CbA9n3mwKr4tpJSXPmiUbQ8TWE6gKf8m0aU7O0v3Q93ArtVs0VubXmU0sRKI_kp3xB8eyUrj-/s1600/2016-03-24+23.01.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AHKvBnEhu-M6IgmdZD9nOYMc31xV5yK7c1BsJtwyokFcBvQIceweKFF-vl5PuqsJdb3CbA9n3mwKr4tpJSXPmiUbQ8TWE6gKf8m0aU7O0v3Q93ArtVs0VubXmU0sRKI_kp3xB8eyUrj-/s320/2016-03-24+23.01.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>To do more than one ear on a single hooping:</b><br />
The key to this is the printout from the Embrilliance software to know exactly where to pin the ears!<br />
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I added the names to the screen, adding a basting box to each and printed off the design. I actually made the names upside down (just to make it easier to get the bunnies on the left side of the machine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5OEO3yRP3LmE-A-gjGK02lkZbAkqrpTadPFIRacnL_LEsJ1qBGtgPNo8T4sXIhr60c1qLYyp__65xloEk1uLQdDvAT0T6ukIsvQ0zL8G53jtgKiTYEWLaMUv7tk-eU4i9HUoTuIv_TY3/s1600/2016-03-25+09.25.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5OEO3yRP3LmE-A-gjGK02lkZbAkqrpTadPFIRacnL_LEsJ1qBGtgPNo8T4sXIhr60c1qLYyp__65xloEk1uLQdDvAT0T6ukIsvQ0zL8G53jtgKiTYEWLaMUv7tk-eU4i9HUoTuIv_TY3/s320/2016-03-25+09.25.17.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I opened up the ears and found the centers of each.<br />
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I put a little tag on each bunny with the direction of the lettering and so that I wouldn't mix up which was which for each name.<br />
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I hooped with tearaway and marked the crosshairs on the tearaway. I placed my printout under the hoop, matching crosshairs.<br />
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I used my lightbox to place the ears on the hoop, matching the crosshairs on the ear to the center of each name. I made sure the name was not inside the seam allowance!<br />
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I added WSS and began the stitching. <br />
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Again, it was an easy process pinning the right sides together on each ear and stitching while leaving a hole to turn. After turning the ears right side out, I had my finished bunnies.<br />
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I hope that these notes are helpful as you experiment on bunnies for the kids in your life! I love how this turned inexpensive bunnies from Walmart and Kroger into custom toys! To see my other embroidery projects, check out my Embroidery page, or <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">click here.</a><br />
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Links to products mentioned in this post:</div>
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<li>Stitchtopia Daphne font: <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/daphne-monogram-set-5-1-1-5-2-3/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Tutorial on making customized patches for Easter baskets and anything else: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/02/making-embroidered-patches-and.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Itch2Stitch Magnolia Sky font: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Magnolia-Sky-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">click here.</a></li>
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Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-86011830296383022282017-01-02T11:30:00.000-05:002017-01-02T11:47:10.930-05:002016 Christmas Journal Completed (with tips for doing them fast!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year! 2016 was crazy and super busy but I have to admit it would not have been Christmas for me without doing my Christmas Journal, which I just finished. I have been on a bit of a journey to make things easier and faster. Last year, after Christmas, I went through all of our boxes of decorations and tossed the things we never use, labeled everything left, and made sure that all the boxes were properly filled and sealed. That really helped this time around when I didn't feel like making the effort to decorate. I will say that I probably would not have decorated except that I have a kid and she was adamant that the house would be in shape, decorated, and ready to go before her annual Christmas party she hostesses for her friends. To make it seem doable, I bought a new tree-- prelit and only three pieces. What a nice change from the old tree that required every branch to be hung in place on a 6-part base before several strings of lights had to be painstakingly added. Even my inner cheapness felt that the purchase was worth it. The 7' tree that I put in my daughter's room had been replaced the year before with a similar style so I knew with the ease of that one, that our big family tree would have to be replaced. <br />
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My need to make Christmas easier and less time consuming got filtered into my Christmas Journal as well. I have been doing these since 2012. I love <a href="http://www.shimelle.com/Journal_your_Christmas.html" target="_blank">Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas</a> for this, not because I do all of her prompts every year, but because she reminds me daily to think of the Christmas season and what makes it special. Her JYC is a program where you pay once and then get the daily prompts and tips (and even a forum to connect with other JRC-ers) every year after that too! They just start December 1 of each year unless you tell her to stop (which I can't imagine doing!) They continue until January 6 but I typically end my journal on the 25th to keep it from getting too fat. The journals became instantly important to me the first year I did one because it helped me to focus on the meaning of the season, what was important to me, what we were doing right then, my memories of Christmases past and wishes for Christmases in the future, and ways in which we change each year. My daughter who is 12 loves looking at past years' journals. I love that they are important to her too.<br />
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These are my previous journals that are here on my blog:<br />
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<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2012/12/last-of-journal-your-christmas-dec-25.html" target="_blank">2012 Journal</a></div>
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<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-journal-check.html" target="_blank">2013 Journal</a></div>
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<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-finished-jyc-2014.html" target="_blank">2014 Journal</a></div>
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<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/01/on-11th-day-of-christmasmy-christmas.html" target="_blank">2015 Journal</a></div>
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Since starting them, I have found that I don't have to journal every single day, although I like them best when I have time to do that. I always try to include one photo of myself, a suggestion that I learned from another on-line scrapping class that reminded me that I was never in any of my albums! Now, I make sure that there is at least a selfie of me and it has been fun to see how I change too and to know that I am in these memories as well as my fabulous family. This is the kind of thing that I think will be important for the future. I include a one page calendar so that the month is easy to see at a glance and to help with organizing when I get behind on doing pages for the book. (I get them every year from a blog called <a href="http://stitchintime.typepad.com/stitch_in_time/2016/10/december-calendars.html" target="_blank">A Stitch In Time</a>.) I include a CD of all the photos I took the whole season, not just the ones that made the journal. (That is my expectation that someone will want to see the photos I decided not to include!) I stick our ever-dwindling stack of received Christmas cards in the journal so that I can remember those and keep them. <br />
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This year, to make my Christmas Journal fast to do, I didn't worry about doing an entry for every day. I just focused on what I wanted to include. I take photos of everything all the time with my phone so there's always something to use. I bought a small binder and protective pages from Staples instead of making my own pages and binding it myself. I bought numbers, dimensional stickers, and envelopes from Michael's instead of making my own. I bought one coordinated Christmas paper pack so I wouldn't have to worry about making sure it went together. <br />
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I used my embroidery machine to create a one-color (mostly) merged design using my embroidery software, <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">Embrilliance</a>. I was able to set it up and go do other things with only one small and fast color change near the end. In this way, my cover sort of made itself. <br />
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The embroidery files I used for my cover were: tree - <a href="http://www.urbanthreads.com/products.aspx?productid=ut8858" target="_blank">Urban Threads</a>, 2016 - <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/grace-1-6-complete-set-2-3-4/" target="_blank">Stitchtopia</a>, tiny font used for the text Christmas Journal - <a href="http://www.cmemag.com/articles/Free-Tiny-Text-Font?bc=c" target="_blank">Lisa Shaw's free Tiny font</a>. <br />
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I printed out my embroidery design and used it with my lightbox to cut a paper border from the cover.<br />
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I pre-made a bunch of identical tags for journaling. I used my Cricut Expression without software. For you dinosaurs like me that occasionally enjoy using your Cricut like a punch (cartridges and no software), my tags were from the discontinued Holiday Frames and Tags (a Creative Memories cart that you collectors like me will have) on page 42. <br />
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These are the inside pages of my 2016 Christmas Journal. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2_apbwjIakNu5n6zioey3OV0ddeaoCpt30Md3IFkbtS-OaH0_OnoE9P_0h631LUK7muslRm9sNI-X1g8WXwoH_y4s-07iXHN4LTm3NgUKkdc6lxH-1N1wpu41GUw9w3GQUODZ61Vs8fc/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2_apbwjIakNu5n6zioey3OV0ddeaoCpt30Md3IFkbtS-OaH0_OnoE9P_0h631LUK7muslRm9sNI-X1g8WXwoH_y4s-07iXHN4LTm3NgUKkdc6lxH-1N1wpu41GUw9w3GQUODZ61Vs8fc/s400/IMG_9016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's calendar went right in the front. I picked one from the free Stitch In Time printables that matched my paper pad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tuESFr44lt6ZKvoPNc3Ei0Q9SmuQbRRnY3o5LbqcSQkL2dtTg7uVF_rorK5gzL3PXvn7N7UCHX444b8ce9zhMTss3lmert9UJn8B0aACB7OZim6LwTKCOTQ5qhKXpxfEEgt5AiWnZlCm/s1600/IMG_9017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tuESFr44lt6ZKvoPNc3Ei0Q9SmuQbRRnY3o5LbqcSQkL2dtTg7uVF_rorK5gzL3PXvn7N7UCHX444b8ce9zhMTss3lmert9UJn8B0aACB7OZim6LwTKCOTQ5qhKXpxfEEgt5AiWnZlCm/s400/IMG_9017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On days that were true to the date, I added numbers. I only did this for a few of my pages this year. I made journaling pockets for my tags using the photos. Using ribbon on the tags makes them easy to remove from the sheet protectors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did all our Angel Tree buying and stitching before December on Black Friday but it is an important thing to us that really makes it feel like Christmas so I include it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfNfxiKUc3V4wF0exTXr-tigK7YjeN6ttny_8FH8omfr9_YDsRjxJlg_qJeBO9fx1q3jyA7KVHx5O2gxud2ljgERBSvIUyBuiHIXYN8vgyOZBwCWUOLLTF0s5pHOB-W6wrviCgGWT6VLC/s1600/IMG_9022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfNfxiKUc3V4wF0exTXr-tigK7YjeN6ttny_8FH8omfr9_YDsRjxJlg_qJeBO9fx1q3jyA7KVHx5O2gxud2ljgERBSvIUyBuiHIXYN8vgyOZBwCWUOLLTF0s5pHOB-W6wrviCgGWT6VLC/s400/IMG_9022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the first time ever, a cultural icon was included. My daughter and I listen to the OCR of Hamilton or the Mixtape almost daily so it seemed appropriate to include. I used fan art that I found on line and saved as a screenshot on my phone. <br />
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I always make sure that I include one picture of myself so that I am part of the narrative (you Hamilton fans will get appreciate the choice of words there.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRav3WzD7SFvI8YHZspLlvklHsJbIlZSDqatbFr5txcMF4cWKXq6IFgMOWF63cwcPPwhBUC2LQraLkXMU8TCg9sK7maUO0qR3ZBsB9hXG8LXGo_WwQJaNTxVN1sDtRrWN9-Nuzjm67O56/s1600/IMG_9023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRav3WzD7SFvI8YHZspLlvklHsJbIlZSDqatbFr5txcMF4cWKXq6IFgMOWF63cwcPPwhBUC2LQraLkXMU8TCg9sK7maUO0qR3ZBsB9hXG8LXGo_WwQJaNTxVN1sDtRrWN9-Nuzjm67O56/s400/IMG_9023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't do my own manifesto this year, and I didn't put it up front. I found something to take its place though that I thought was fitting. Another time saver for me and probably more meaningful. <br />
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This season was also overshadowed with political stuff for me. I allowed it in my journal this year. Another first. I think ignoring what is most on your mind and in your heart is a mistake. Including it will make it more poignant when looking back once this becomes a "past journal." Some of the journaling is a bit hidden, as it is on other pages as well. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaozK0ouTt7ST-5Op1gyzHgDfE4EHmgRgYaMGlqmsxKa6TEvJkcb89joYvIFQiBekUslANIONaeQe7U1Wrm2ysVCr3Q4ZvYQg8vAMErBgYx2TRIORHzJ610kQ3khsXMdiVS_lBaUP1EgkH/s1600/IMG_9024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaozK0ouTt7ST-5Op1gyzHgDfE4EHmgRgYaMGlqmsxKa6TEvJkcb89joYvIFQiBekUslANIONaeQe7U1Wrm2ysVCr3Q4ZvYQg8vAMErBgYx2TRIORHzJ610kQ3khsXMdiVS_lBaUP1EgkH/s400/IMG_9024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our date night for our anniversary was cut short due to a sick kiddo we had to pick up so I put our wedding photo in a phone app to make it different from the original. I wanted to commemorate it even though I hadn't taken any photos of the evening.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMZYv3MrwR3YVtQf6EvaC5tBebgF1k5t7ECvKDQxPwkw-LEsxS6LFuEIIRh0DUMeCAYOzPR33thT-d8SKR_PgLrUlS6pT4qOQl7EtOYcLktr16yVy0jmiU0T9vv9tkUPOSkJVTGwyIqj8/s1600/IMG_9025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMZYv3MrwR3YVtQf6EvaC5tBebgF1k5t7ECvKDQxPwkw-LEsxS6LFuEIIRh0DUMeCAYOzPR33thT-d8SKR_PgLrUlS6pT4qOQl7EtOYcLktr16yVy0jmiU0T9vv9tkUPOSkJVTGwyIqj8/s400/IMG_9025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJopz3VtWv325ExKcFGPyXOmt2NTAYyGNg0g0Sjub6pA-Al7GfQ29ahGT5qO3TFk-mltvdp-ZZxuWb0QECAJy9xL2gDSxW149iN3CV-iKZQWeyPnTyRvAuyCZbLKi2EdIJt8GKCfhgMdNW/s1600/IMG_9038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJopz3VtWv325ExKcFGPyXOmt2NTAYyGNg0g0Sjub6pA-Al7GfQ29ahGT5qO3TFk-mltvdp-ZZxuWb0QECAJy9xL2gDSxW149iN3CV-iKZQWeyPnTyRvAuyCZbLKi2EdIJt8GKCfhgMdNW/s400/IMG_9038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nLlXBGxs_UvzfYitXjytNGzrVVUsnuSOFNQl56BIQEGMexdzyS7dldsz5svvHWOEYAo2xFz8zB6IVBicv2FOovwXzJAgnBRi3GVmsc8_SW5lygEsnjlY1sBSPMMkgVYPk0ZEpJUKJ2OU/s1600/IMG_9027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nLlXBGxs_UvzfYitXjytNGzrVVUsnuSOFNQl56BIQEGMexdzyS7dldsz5svvHWOEYAo2xFz8zB6IVBicv2FOovwXzJAgnBRi3GVmsc8_SW5lygEsnjlY1sBSPMMkgVYPk0ZEpJUKJ2OU/s400/IMG_9027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jzW-NOX2N6LqPNAhdQwBHYi_XiXgWsa5OqUBgrIbz8BCrr0cvIHMWCpOKvRhqCd5XYhihvehMIj9bjdy936TwodjTPjutKIQpY9opxxtQfDqVAIlHvAYdOP3AwTYeCWf_agsK6iBmbuw/s1600/IMG_9037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jzW-NOX2N6LqPNAhdQwBHYi_XiXgWsa5OqUBgrIbz8BCrr0cvIHMWCpOKvRhqCd5XYhihvehMIj9bjdy936TwodjTPjutKIQpY9opxxtQfDqVAIlHvAYdOP3AwTYeCWf_agsK6iBmbuw/s400/IMG_9037.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My daughter got braces on this day. I didn't journal it. The picture said it all to me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sDYVW94cKObVzNP5mSorHjKL-ySIVaruIl5soLxbfcB0h9m78mKOwyxEJKsbvH2MnnnIoCwH7gUC_hpVVyyhNVTAn-hksUzG_BLu2NqBG-LRbLx65mzyf5eXJWElsdu2ltaVsdUvxt2k/s1600/IMG_9029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sDYVW94cKObVzNP5mSorHjKL-ySIVaruIl5soLxbfcB0h9m78mKOwyxEJKsbvH2MnnnIoCwH7gUC_hpVVyyhNVTAn-hksUzG_BLu2NqBG-LRbLx65mzyf5eXJWElsdu2ltaVsdUvxt2k/s400/IMG_9029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used photo collages using phone apps to allow me to get lots of photos on single pages. In past years, I have cut them apart just to have tiny photos in my journal, especially when my pages were tiny. I had all my photos printed at Walgreen's every few days this year. I just worked picking them up into my errand-running. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnl-it2mxOWDioAlLWiy6LKn_rs986pwPvul0S8NmnTdhvmZUR_bYVZnrIwSOZHstDPHTuKhgfMJ0LMAAO7x4wCJtslX42BPkyHOjcGYs1FnXFHTuepVslRiV-jFQJQ_3VNlJ6qaEhIhe/s1600/IMG_9030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnl-it2mxOWDioAlLWiy6LKn_rs986pwPvul0S8NmnTdhvmZUR_bYVZnrIwSOZHstDPHTuKhgfMJ0LMAAO7x4wCJtslX42BPkyHOjcGYs1FnXFHTuepVslRiV-jFQJQ_3VNlJ6qaEhIhe/s400/IMG_9030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always like to add a page about Santa-- what my daughter wanted, what she got, what it looked like. She "knows" now but I still have fun with this. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsgRrEh-jz2xS7DlRThuXLI5tuG6fQMnwOz2_8hEgIBxnUqwRveTCPMLrjJvZfDm5aEPSDM-72UtCnaxIXAX4S_NH4eBZAjsh2-jtVMIl-sGyxVccTovylCNBunCvvDbdIozvyybGfxbE/s1600/IMG_9031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsgRrEh-jz2xS7DlRThuXLI5tuG6fQMnwOz2_8hEgIBxnUqwRveTCPMLrjJvZfDm5aEPSDM-72UtCnaxIXAX4S_NH4eBZAjsh2-jtVMIl-sGyxVccTovylCNBunCvvDbdIozvyybGfxbE/s400/IMG_9031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't add recipes this year but did still find ways to "hide" thoughts that I wanted to keep a little out of the way. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdPp0j-ZwTHCOK5-5clvdjIpenNLxuPAq26epX8fFaLfztKnNVcSDJ2Nh5TfD34n5pT6RX6JG-X7atGd6xuIVS1E04qUOuNRnTbAXtQqaRdwengb6pTFk0wCyEmTYCu2s2qagtKjqGz97/s1600/IMG_9032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdPp0j-ZwTHCOK5-5clvdjIpenNLxuPAq26epX8fFaLfztKnNVcSDJ2Nh5TfD34n5pT6RX6JG-X7atGd6xuIVS1E04qUOuNRnTbAXtQqaRdwengb6pTFk0wCyEmTYCu2s2qagtKjqGz97/s400/IMG_9032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instead of a letter to my future self, I answered these questions posted by someone I follow on Facebook:<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What did you create this year that you’re most proud of?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What did you invest in that’s most aligned with your
destiny?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How can you respond to your setbacks & losses from
this year so as to use them to fuel your vision for 2017?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What is no longer serving you? What are the patterns,
relationships, structures, old beliefs or anything else in the way of your
destiny?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Who do you need to forgive and what do you need to let go<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span></span>of to be free to shine your light in even
greater ways?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What can you commit to in 2017 that will most support you
to becoming the [person] you came here to be?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What is the most powerful intention you can set for 2017
that’s most aligned with the greatness of your soul and the needs of the world?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yRlFYFvUsWHiXfLA6LREDHIP17_tQTQ_TSqlhCWHDbLhLrdbVp3-9ldl8ksBNxBPazI3g0OYZ4Hnz_PSylrIb2nquO9g8Pg1Q-LThAOxklc5VZTaD5ebmA0hxkurfHEmiYcOvrsNcpcR/s1600/IMG_9033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yRlFYFvUsWHiXfLA6LREDHIP17_tQTQ_TSqlhCWHDbLhLrdbVp3-9ldl8ksBNxBPazI3g0OYZ4Hnz_PSylrIb2nquO9g8Pg1Q-LThAOxklc5VZTaD5ebmA0hxkurfHEmiYcOvrsNcpcR/s400/IMG_9033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas cards received this year (like this one from my mom) are in the back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9LhuEiUIiZmKo55eDk07iZ14hCmTsLhUkj0S8HFHZnbeF6oCrp02VqskxdPVzwAnpQdBzJf4PMck0lqkvU1fg1EVH6oqABM2TKVMnjhlkyNFW6h31U2OnDQMxI-pH4HWKYyUqVsGe23V/s1600/IMG_9034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9LhuEiUIiZmKo55eDk07iZ14hCmTsLhUkj0S8HFHZnbeF6oCrp02VqskxdPVzwAnpQdBzJf4PMck0lqkvU1fg1EVH6oqABM2TKVMnjhlkyNFW6h31U2OnDQMxI-pH4HWKYyUqVsGe23V/s400/IMG_9034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I embroidered my cover using fabric and thread to match the papers inside. To the embroidery, I added a paper frame and added the same paper on the spine.</td></tr>
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And now, I did attempt a little video to show all my journals along with tips to make them fast. This is why I don't do videos very often. Ha! You will notice my cover for this year's journal had an upgrade after I made the video. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6F0-wQv7r2A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6F0-wQv7r2A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Quick List of Links from This Blog Post (none of these are affilitate links):<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Shimelle's JYC: <a href="http://www.shimelle.com/Journal_your_Christmas.html">http://www.shimelle.com/Journal_your_Christmas.html</a></li>
<li>My 2015 Christmas Journal: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2016/01/on-11th-day-of-christmasmy-christmas.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>My 2014 Christmas Journal: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-finished-jyc-2014.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>My 2013 Christmas Journal: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-journal-check.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>My 2012 Christmas Journal: <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/2012/12/last-of-journal-your-christmas-dec-25.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>My 2016 Calendar page was from A Stitch In Time: <a href="http://stitchintime.typepad.com/stitch_in_time/2016/10/december-calendars.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. She has been doing them at least as long as I have been doing JYC so I always have gotten them from her. </li>
<li>Embrilliance Essentials embroidery software for merging designs and adding text: <a href="http://embrilliance.com/embrilliance-essentials" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
<li>Folksy Tree by Urban Threads (embroidery file): <a href="http://www.urbanthreads.com/products.aspx?productid=ut8858" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
<li>Grace font (includes numbers) from Stitchtopia: <a href="http://stitchtopia.com/shop/grace-1-6-complete-set-2-3-4/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Free Tiny Font by Lisa Shaw: <a href="http://www.cmemag.com/articles/Free-Tiny-Text-Font?bc=c" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I hope you will try your hand at a Christmas Journal or, even better, that you are preparing to thumb through your completed (or soon to be completed) journal! Best wishes for a creative, happy, and peace-filled 2017. </div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-14937228957256582352016-12-18T10:41:00.000-05:002016-12-18T10:41:09.939-05:00Another Red Truck With A TreeI'm not sure how a trend happens or how retailers know it will work, but the whole red-truck-with-a-Christmas-tree is everywhere. My Facebook feed is filled with 3D paper ones, embroidery and applique ones, ornaments, free SVGs a few crafters have made and shared, even wrapping paper with that icon. And it is kinda cute so I had to find one to hold a gift card. I found the truck at Target and added personalizing text to make it fun for my recipient.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYsYZ50639L8M8EPpgcZicjLyNMcuFhWXGLosy1uxBI-vg_SIydl2KeldQ9HSlT2qzh3lvv2tt9Z02tf2cQiNa4We_FuSqDWG_BV5rbZZ6sMIKw6_6hIhO01akCrnzhr_tgCh2AJoEct1/s1600/truck+for+blog.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYsYZ50639L8M8EPpgcZicjLyNMcuFhWXGLosy1uxBI-vg_SIydl2KeldQ9HSlT2qzh3lvv2tt9Z02tf2cQiNa4We_FuSqDWG_BV5rbZZ6sMIKw6_6hIhO01akCrnzhr_tgCh2AJoEct1/s400/truck+for+blog.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It has been the busiest year yet for our family business so crafting has taken a back seat. But I finally got the dust cover off my Cricut Explore and used a scrap of vinyl to make personalized lettering for each door and the front and back fenders. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0QVE3TvIjSm3plAmSukfrZZM9NCrTUURJjzcx_jcyFcn7cHJo4cEcrzgFf9qSpVBSPDpbKDkI6WTPAEE_IdGrSI7Zhx9jMrtN__EraREOximoJp2E4qbtqdBZqW853WcPZoiYBWs1Fhc/s1600/for+blog+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0QVE3TvIjSm3plAmSukfrZZM9NCrTUURJjzcx_jcyFcn7cHJo4cEcrzgFf9qSpVBSPDpbKDkI6WTPAEE_IdGrSI7Zhx9jMrtN__EraREOximoJp2E4qbtqdBZqW853WcPZoiYBWs1Fhc/s400/for+blog+2.PNG" width="297" /></a></div>
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I am doing my annual Christmas Journal this year, and this will help with some photos for it! ha! <br />
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Hoping you are finding time for what is fun for you this season! Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-21124803269169643852016-11-15T07:35:00.001-05:002016-11-15T07:35:21.823-05:00Prime Members Awesome Deal of the Day: PE770 Embroidery Machine!If you are a Prime Member with Amazon, you can get the same embroidery machine that I use, the Brother PE770, for $437.99 and free shipping today (Tuesday, November 15)!<br />
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The price without Prime and after today even if you do, is $588 so grab it if you have had it on your list to start machine embroidery!</center>
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To see what I have done with mine, my list of resources and other info on machine embroidery, check out my embroidery page on my blog or <a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">click here</a>!</center>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8732879819022455787.post-3092854073860758082016-08-28T20:57:00.000-04:002016-08-28T20:57:47.384-04:00Busy Summer StitchingOur family business kicks it up several notches in the summer so my poor blog and fun crafting suffers greatly during this time of year. I did get a few projects done, mostly for fun and one for necessity. I wanted to share what I have squeezed into the summer work schedule.<br />
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I repaired my 25-year-old bath robe...yes, I am just that silly...but I love that robe. After years of laundering (and I used to be a bleach-user in my twenties) the wear on the robe included thread-bare areas and totally worn out and missing areas. I am pretty frugal but mostly, I really wanted a very absorbent robe. For the past few Christmases, I requested a terry robe and received polar fleece, minky, and flannel robes. (Clearly, I need to educate the family on fabric types). I gave up on them and started looking on line and in stores but I have noticed one thing: vendors like to call things 'terry' that aren't. Plush robes are NOT absorbent; they are warm and fuzzy but that is not what I wanted. I looked at fabric, thinking I might just make one, since I have made lots of robes and they are really easy. Even with 50% off fabric coupons, however, a robe was looking to cost more than $50 to make it myself and that just seemed silly since I had a robe I loved. The perfect ones I found were over $200. So, instead I bought a hand towel and used it to replace the parts of the robe that were worn out. <br />
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I drafted patterns from the robe itself just by tracing and sewed it all in place. It took almost no time. I finished it by adding a monogram. This is the <a href="http://apexembdesigns.com/embroidery/product/bamboo-monogram-embroidery-font" target="_blank">bamboo monogram from Apex</a>.</div>
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For a little stress relief, I worked on dressing up some pillow cases. </div>
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The frame is from the <a href="https://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/product/monogram-frames-borders/" target="_blank">Monogram Frames and Borders</a> CD that was in the Anita's Attic sale. I really love the texture and attention to detail in the digitizing. This is an example of why I have gone hog wild on Anita Goodesign since I discovered them this year: really special designs unlike the other stuff in my obsessed-with-embroidery-files collection.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwzJjFv4_CeNlBHAdKnepZkNJFmn9DjQZo7FpEQhnMasAofzIGTQtxIjeMUks_v-dXp2-k2W33mUDylxgFSPXJte-hr4xYgjLQnJrncnzxmxXnSRg7X3Ln00Gz1UJHZWqyn1Fwit62OqF/s1600/IMG_7190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwzJjFv4_CeNlBHAdKnepZkNJFmn9DjQZo7FpEQhnMasAofzIGTQtxIjeMUks_v-dXp2-k2W33mUDylxgFSPXJte-hr4xYgjLQnJrncnzxmxXnSRg7X3Ln00Gz1UJHZWqyn1Fwit62OqF/s400/IMG_7190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The monogram is <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Carson-Monogram-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">Carson from Itch2Stitch</a>.</div>
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I did these using a repositional 5x12 hoop with Embrilliance software. </div>
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The pillow cases were one of the unopened packages at the back of my grandmother's linen closet. She has been gone for a while now but embellishing something from her house just makes me happy. I have no idea how long she had these or why she never used them, but the price tag says 97¢ and the store on the tag closed in our city in the late 70s (or early 80s?) It is going to take a few washings to get the creases out because my steam press couldn't do it. Vintage pillow cases are one of those things I like to collect so this is sort of in line with that even though the embroidery is new. </div>
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My current wish on my project board is a purse set with matching accessories. This is the first accessory: an eyeglass case. After trying a pattern that was a total pain, I decided to make my own pattern. This includes a zipper top and an extra pocket to hold my readers. The monogram is <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Elegant-Scroll-ONE-COLOR-SMALL-Monogram.html" target="_blank">Elegant Scroll from Itch2Stitch</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToEySrM7Tksz5QV79Ep_ftGBT0iBmRApVkwyL4P_iQiwYskyRTs_IBqaV1jSO7yxwzPzhHD63GZPwtMCVSY_LY8m3y7ew7hRAf21O0LhiAIro751jeV-EHXHsZnpTYJLHpLAwuiZekXHN/s1600/IMG_7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToEySrM7Tksz5QV79Ep_ftGBT0iBmRApVkwyL4P_iQiwYskyRTs_IBqaV1jSO7yxwzPzhHD63GZPwtMCVSY_LY8m3y7ew7hRAf21O0LhiAIro751jeV-EHXHsZnpTYJLHpLAwuiZekXHN/s400/IMG_7241.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I enjoyed doing this so much that I decided to try another and work out some things I wished were a little different on the first one.<br />
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The monogram on this one was <a href="http://apexembdesigns.com/embroidery/product/curlz-fun-circle-embroidery-font" target="_blank">Apex Curlz Fun Circle font</a>. I quilted the floral with my sewing machine, but I let my embroidery machine and a block from the <a href="https://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/product/quilting-123/" target="_blank">Anita Goodesign Quilting 123</a> collection quilt the strawberry fabric. I enjoyed these little cases so much! I have a tutorial coming soon. <br />
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Links from this post:<br />
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<li>Apex Bamboo embroidery font: <a href="http://apexembdesigns.com/embroidery/product/bamboo-monogram-embroidery-font" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Anita Goodesign Monogram Frames and Borders: <a href="https://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/product/monogram-frames-borders/" target="_blank"> click here</a>.</li>
<li>Itch2Stitch Carson font: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Carson-Monogram-Embroidery-Font.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
<li>Itch2Stitch Elegant Scroll: <a href="http://www.theitch2stitch.com/Elegant-Scroll-ONE-COLOR-SMALL-Monogram.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Apex Fun Circle embroidery font: <a href="http://apexembdesigns.com/embroidery/product/curlz-fun-circle-embroidery-font" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>Anita Goodesign Quilting 123: <a href="https://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/product/quilting-123/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
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The sewing was done on a Bernina 1230. Feet used were the #0, #37 (quarter inch foot), walking foot, and a generic cording foot. Embroidery was done on a Brother 770PE and Embrilliance embroidery software. </div>
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Thanks for checking my blog post today. To see many of my other embroidery projects and resource info, check out my Embroidery page (<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/pe770-embroidery.html" target="_blank">click here</a>). My paper crafts can be found in my Paper Gallery (<a href="http://withglitteringeyes.blogspot.com/p/my-project-gallery.html" target="_blank">click here</a>). I am looking forward to getting back to more regular sewing and crafting in a couple of months when work slows down. I hope you are loving your summer!</div>
Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10021075082379160347noreply@blogger.com3