Baby Lock Ellisimo machine embroidery

I decided it was time to really learn to use the machine embroidery function of my Baby Lock Ellisimo. So, I decided to start on the little girl's purse by Molly Mine designs. This purse is absolutely darling and I am sure that I will need to make more than one for the little granddaughters in my family. I am finding out that the Ellisimo not only sews like a dream but embroiders like a dream too. The functions and the buttons on the machine are not that much different from my old Brother ULT. I was not prepared though for exactly how MUCH embroidery this little purse entails. This is my 4th straight day of embroidery and I am approximately 1/2 done. I'm having a really fun time and the purse(s) will go to little girls who will love them, so I am going to call it a "labor of love".

My Mom tells of the time that my Aunt Marg made Barbie doll clothes (bridal gowns included) for my sisters and me. When my Mom suggested to Aunt Marg that she make Barbie clothes and sell them, Aunt Marg told her that there wasn't anyone that would pay what the clothes were worth. They were a "labor of love".

I have NO PLAN or intention to make these purses to sell. They are a copyright design by Molly Mine and I believe that making them to sell is a violation of her copyright. That being said - if I were to pay myself $1.00 per hour, I would need to sell this little purse for approximately $80.00 Hmmmm - not to many Mom's out there willing to pay $80 for a toddlers purse. :-)

It's kind of like the first baby bib I made with my very first embroidery machine. I proudly showed it to my Mister who responded, "nice - a $500 baby bib". Crafty people need to remember that we do these things and enjoy the process as the end result is not always cost effective. Unfortunately, non-crafty people see things made and think they should be able to pay someone "a few bucks" to whip one out for them. I'm glad I'm one of the crafty people and I try very hard to enjoy the process of the things I make.

The Cat In The Hat

My Cat In The Hat quilt for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is all done. (Well, done when I put the binding on.) I'll sew the binding down tonight while I am watching the Detroit Tigers lose another ball game. After all of The Cat In The Hat quilts are shown at the fair, they will be auctioned off to raise money for the books given to little ones in Ionia County as part of the Imagination Library Project.

Now on to the next project on my list.

The only problem is that the list keeps getting rearranged. I'm really not sure WHAT is the next project on the list. Caris needs a bag like the big kids have, both Alex and Avery will be needing "nap quilts" to take to school in the fall. Rich is patiently waiting for his Detroit Red Wings T-Shirt quilt. I have only completed 2 of the months on my Civil War Tribute BOM quilt. I have not yet even started on my "Be Attitudes" BOM applique quilt for this year.

I really want to make another "Professional Bag" from my collection of black and white fat quarters.

I have about 8 quilt top flimsies hanging in my studio closet awaiting their turn on the frame. And, I am in the middle of planning a baby quilt for a very special baby due in November. I am anxious to start working on the machine embroidery little girl's purse from Molly Mine.


And, I really need new pot holders. So, which project is next on my list?

Help Me! I need to design a baby quilt inspired by this painting

Fellow quilters! I need your help! I am, for the most part, a traditional quilter and I love Civil War prints, 30's reproductions prints and traditional quilt blocks etc. I am not an "art quilter".

I have been asked, by a very dear niece of mine, to make a quilt for her new baby based on this painting. The painting was done by her husband's little sister Gracie, shortly before Gracie died of a brain tumor at age 8. The plan is to use the painting as a focal point in the nursery.

The colors of the painting are most important and I think I can do that with some beautiful hand-dyed batiks. The flowers I can bring into the quilt with the quilting. What in the heck am I going to use for a design for the quilt top itself. Please help me. If you have any ideas, please let me know.