Thursday, April 22, 2010

Inspiration is blooming this season on Eileen’s new Blog!

Recently, I was reviewing video that we taped here at Designs. A smile crept across my face when I noticed my Wisteria quilt hanging in the background. I love that quilt. It doesn’t really fit in the décor of my home anymore so it usually lives in the office or travels in my trunk show. But whenever I spot it, it brings back a flood of fond memories.


 The Wisteria Quilt adorns the cover of my first book, Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Quilts. I enjoyed the challenge of making the quilt and writing the book. I was delighted when it was accepted to hang in the show at Quilt Festival (Houston, TX) in 2004. It didn’t win a ribbon – and didn’t deserve a ribbon – but what a thrill to walk the hallowed aisles of Quilt Festival and see it.

My style has changed through the years so many of you, if you’re new to Designs, might find the delicate look of the Wisteria Quilt a bit surprising. Today, my work is bolder, brighter and a bit more contemporary. But I learned so much from creating all of the quilts showcased in Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Quilts. As you know, quilting is truly a labor of love but doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. You can start small with our Spring Bundle.
We’re giving away one Spring Bundle to jump start your creativity – all you have to do is post your comment about quilting with your embroidery machine for a chance to win!  Share with us your favorite quilting tips, your worst quilting disasters or let us know about your current project.  Post your comments between April 23rd and April 29th for your chance to win.  The winner will be announced on Friday, April 30th along with a new giveaway!!   

Spring Bundle includes:
• Wisteria Journal Project Kit! (A $25 value) FREE!
• Personally, autographed copy of Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Quilts (A $27.99 value) FREE!
Total Value: Over $52.99!

Spring Bundle Details:

Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Quilts features 144 pages of inspiration and a CD with 14 multi-format embroidery designs*. Eileen provides step-by-step instructions to make 12 quilt projects including the Wisteria Quilt, Wisteria Blooms and the Wisteria Pillow.

Wisteria Journal Project Kit
We provide the essential materials and the instructions to make your own Wisteria Journal inspired by Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Quilts.

Personalize the journal cover by adding beads, trim, and other accessories to make it your own. You’ll learn Eileen’s techniques to adding depth to your projects with the use of tulle. Make the journal cover to store project inspiration, swatches of fabrics, CDs, family photos, etc.

Kit includes:
• Complete printed instructions to make the Wisteria Journal
• ½ yard green batik fabric
• one 6” x 9” block of dark tulle
• fat quarter of brown cotton fabric (bark)
• batting: 25” x 13”
• Pellon ShirTailor interfacing
• Polymesh stabilizer
• Paper-backed fusible web

14 large format embroidery designs included!

Additional materials will be required and are listed in the instructions. 3-ring binder not included.

8 comments:

nanna on April 23, 2010 at 4:36 PM said...

I am pretty new to machine quilting. I bought a Janome 9500 combo machine and love the embroidery part. Been doing baby quilts, Just becasue I love those babies, there is always someone that is adding a new bundle to the family. I recently did a quilt with the Name applique diagonially down the front of the quilt and was pleased with the result. The winner of the quilt goes to my daughter-in-laws neice. Due in June. I still love to use my Pfaff for the machine quilting. My Janome machine does all that and more I am sure, so far I have only used the embroidery features. I love the Magazine, simply beautiful projects.!

Unknown on April 23, 2010 at 4:43 PM said...

Hi- The beautiful projects in Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine are what prompted me to upgrade from a Janome 350E to the Janome MC11000 machine. I wanted a machine that could do an 8 x 8 quilt block. I am currently working on In the hoop purse accessories and the Hoopsisters Dresden plate quilt.
Your magazine and project contributors inspire creativity and give great instructions.
Thank You!

Barbara J on April 24, 2010 at 11:26 AM said...

I was so excited to learn digitizing with my Bernina so that I could create a one of a kind wildflower quilt. I'm at a stand still. I can visualize what I want but can't seem to get there. Since my time and resources are now limited, I will continue to struggle - I never give up

chellemom on April 24, 2010 at 12:34 PM said...

I love to use my Bernina to embroider quilts and other things. I have also done my labels for the back of my quilts using the embroidery module.
Cindy D

srb4 on April 24, 2010 at 1:12 PM said...

I am currently working on a pieced, quilted handbag. I purchased the pattern several years ago, but kept putting it off thinking it was a lot of work. Well, i started on it yesterday. The main part of the bag is pieced log cabin squares. The ends are just plain quilted calico---it is here I intend to use my embroidery machine to add some bright flowers. I know it will be gorgeous when it is complete, and I hope to complete it by the weekends' end!

Unknown on April 27, 2010 at 2:21 PM said...

When I quilt squares with my embroidery machine I iron on iron on batting on the back of the material with a tear-a-way stabilizer.
Gail

LHart on April 27, 2010 at 3:29 PM said...

I have a Quilt Designer II and embroidered a quilt with sock monkeys on it and the loaded the quilt onto my frame and quilted it with my QD II. My grandson loves his quilt even though I am still learning and the stitches are not even, now I am doing a quilt for my granddaughter. I love my embroidery machine!

Unknown on April 27, 2010 at 4:21 PM said...

I was thrilled to finally get my embroidery machine. I did not know there were so many things that you could do with them. I learned how to do paper piece quilting by doing it on my embroidery machine. In fact my first two projects I ever created on my embroidery machine were a paper pieced Christmas stocking and an applique Christmas ball to hang on my tree. My machine came with a pretty basic autostitch program for digitizing and I was able to create the stitches for both of my projects using simple outlines and sending different color blocks to the machine multiple times. That was a few years ago. Since then I have learned to hand punch my designs and have been learning to do free hand quilting. My best advice I can give to anyone is to have fun and don't be afraid to make a mistake. Sometimes we are our own worst critics.