New Toys

Well today brought a wonderful treat. I have been looking at those computerized sewing machines and thinking how great it would be to have one. I've looked at them forever but just couldn't come to terms with them. Perhaps because it wasn't for me. I even went so far as to ask our local retailer about the Janome Memory Craft 11000.... Whew talk about big ideas...but I have no follow through on that. After sitting down and giving it some really serious thought, it was plain to see that a machine that does embroidery and is computerized, is just not me.
I like simple and those machines are anything but simple. I've also been wondering if I should just get a new sewing machine, just upgrade my current one. But again, that didn't seem necessary because I took this one apart a couple of weeks ago and gave it a good cleaning and it runs like a charm, so no need to change it. I've been hearing so much about Embellishers and thought, why not take a look at those. Having little idea of how exciting they could be, I went surfing. I found two choices to think about. The Baby Lock or the Janome Xpression. I am the first to admit that I didn't have the first clue how they worked. I just sew and do some free motion sewing as needed. Well, how did I know what I would discover... Why has this been missing from my room for so long...Shame on me !!! I decided on the Janome Xpression.

A couple of tips that Barb from Joggles shared. The part that holds the needles, should be designed so that if you break a needle, you can replace just the one needle. I asked about that and Janome saw that problem with their machine, and have developed a new holder for the needles so you can replace just one needle if required. The original design was that if you break one, two or ......you had to continue on with the remaining needles or buy a new part (not a good option). So, this machine comes with a holder that houses 5 needles and a separate one that holds just one needle, great for small jobs. The other thing Barb pointed out, was to ask the retailer to loosen the screw that holds the needle holder in place. It can of course be tightened up again, but the first turn could cause a huge problem if not loosened off in the shop first, as Barb discovered.. When I have something of substance to share that I have done with the embellisher, I will post again and explain how it does what it does. Just below are pictures of the needles and how they are designed. This is very nice because it has a shield in front of the needles incase of a broken needle it acts as a safety feature incase it flies...

Lily 2

Well, here is Lily at the next step. A lot of work in lesson two, but what a treat to see her this far along. I have even more of an appreciation for the work it takes to do the designing of dolls and when the instructions are well written, it just makes it so easy to follow along. The hardest part is done, now it's on to the really fun part. Giving her clothes and embellishments. Stay tuned for the final touches on Lily. Hopefully by Monday...

Water Lily

The class I wanted to take with Colleen Babcock is now running. It's such a cute project. I'm only as far as the head just now, but I've learned how to stitch a pouty lip. That was slick. Colleen gives you lots of detailed instructions and pictures, and she makes it look so easy. I hope more of you will join us...you'll learn some neat tricks here. Here is my first weeks work. I may still do more on her face at the end, but I like to wait until the doll is finished before doing the spraying, because I usually find little touches here and there I want to add or things that I want to tone down.
More when the body is done and that's a big job. I can never figure out how you designers come up with the tricks you do and the time it must take to figure out the structure of the doll bodies and how to draft the instructions so anyone can read them and create the same things. You're all so smart... Take a bow.

Lester and Sally

I finished Lester and Sally last night. We had a bit of an incident at the end of the process. As doll makers know, we spray the faces at the end to set the colours on their faces. Lester and Sally panicked and tried to make a run for it.... Luckily they had nothing to grab onto in order the lower themselves down to the ground and to jump was just to dangerous so they just laid there hoping I would go away while they planned their escape.












I was able to grab them before they dropped out the window and it took some convincing that it was a necessary thing I had to do. Their faces have to be preserved and it won't happen again, I promised them. They stayed on the ledge and listened, but kept one foot on the window just in case.








By morning we have come to an understanding and they have decided that I am telling the truth. Lester and Sally were first discovered at the home of the Keelings. They are very good natured except for a little misunderstanding last night, so if you are in need of something cute, quirky and fun to work on, click on over to the Keelings.

Silvanna in yellow/green

Here is Silvanna revisited in yellow and green tones. She is really a great doll to make. A low stress, not to fiddly and a fun ending kind of doll. Just prepare to work with Angelina fibres, enough said on that front.... ;o) Wednesday is back to work after a wonderful month away from work, but I've enjoyed the time spent getting a lot of clearing, sorting and dolls made. I have two more small projects I want to finish before Wednesday. Tomorrow a class with Colleen Babcock starts...Take a look, isn't she sweet.. Lily So here is Silvanna in her other colour scheme and I'm away to sew sew sew....

Silvanna in blue

I'm certainly getting a good start to my doll making this year. I just finished Silvanna, in blue tones. She is a design by Cindee Moyer and really nice to work on. It was quick and easy and very rewarding. I have one more to make in yellow/green tones. Will post again when she's ready...

The Three R's

Continuing on in clean and organizing mode. I've been busy sorting threads into their respective groups. The top spool holder for my cottons and sulky's. The bottom for my polyesters, and a box full now of bobbins of beading thread, sulkys and polyesters all in one place. Cotton gets wound as I use it.... The serger threads are together as always, but are also sharing space with woolly nylons, two toned cottons, and my heavy duty threads. Where do the the R's come into things. Reduce, reuse and recycle..??Well, I've also been going through my painting supplies and bagging up what I know I won't get to, those will be donated to a local school's art class.That covers my reduce and reuse. I'm sorting all my doll magazines and they have been offered to a doll group, more to go on that front, That's reducing as well. All the paper receipts I've collected and kept in a stack are getting sorted and the backsides being used as scrap paper...reuse and reduce. All the plastic spools I emptied filling bobbins, are going into the blue recycle box to. Anything that has no other purpose that I can think of and that is allowed in the recycling bag and/or box, out it goes. January is a good time for this. Start fresh and keep it going all year....I have just begun...

Candy Cane Elf

Here is the second of Kat Lee's Christmas Elves. I did her in rose and silver tones with a bit of green for contrast. I'm once again impressed with Kat's attention to details. I didn't think there would be as much detail as Connie the Dollmaker, but I was pleasantly surprized. When I finished making the candy and stockings and spent the time setting the whole scene up, I stood back and thought how much work has gone into each of Kat's designs for this set of elves. Not meant to be an advertisement, more of an observation and an appreciation for the hard work. I don't design as yet and totally respect all the work designers put into their creations....
and all I have to do is make them. ;o)

Starting Anew

Starting off the new year with a sorting and cleaning post would be a good thing to do. I have all my cotton and cotton/poly mix, and other threads in my sewing box and separated, but it's a pain. Everytime I need to change colours on the machine I have to open the lid for the type of thread it is, and then tip each spool to see where the right colour is. That's more than tedious. Last week I ordered these from a friend in Alberta. Spool holders.

Okay so they aren't new to many of you, but for me they are perfect. I have a large one on the wall for all my serger threads, but these are for my small spools. They measure only 13" wide X 14" tall give or take a 1/4". For someone with a small working area they are just the right size. In the pictures you can see that there are holes at the top to hang them, or he provides dowels if you prefer to stand them, you just push them into the holes he has drilled in the back. They hold 45 spools with their bobbins. Now for me, this is ideal. I can keep them all together where I need them, no more frustrating searching through the sewing box and I can see right away what colours and types of threads I'm running low on. Alf makes these and the workmanship is excellent and so are his prices, I think. They only took 3 days to arrive and today I will be organizing my threads on them. Please take a minute to see the other types he has ( just scroll down the left side of his site to find spool holders) and take a look at the other products he sells. Totally different than spool holders. Thanks Alf, these are super and I'm really impressed.... Folk Art Connection.