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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

SYS 2015 - Software tools: did you know...?

Final installment of my short series of tutorials about the software tools I use for my crafts.

Before you run away screaming "I am not good with computers, I don't like new software, they are too complicated" please remember that you don't need to know everything about these software to make them work for you.

The tutorials are written in a very simple way, with tons of screenshots, so, let's Stretch our Skills and get our tech love going!!


The eight tutorial of the SYS series is brought you by "Yours Truly" Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com, you are here ;)).



The final tutorial is about other things you can do with Inkscape and Quilt Assistant. There are not too many details for each concept, but enough to get you curious and encourage you to play around with these FREE fun tools!


The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects, pixel quilts, fabric postcards and cross stitching projects!

We won't have prizes this month since there are many tutorials coming and I want you to get some time to catch up on past projects.

--
All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Ups and Downs (and a link party)

Sunday I had wonderful progress... then I got hit by a cold :( oh, well, some progress was made anyway!

The Ongoing Project List:
  1. SYS2015 future projects - working on SYS tutorials, waiting for Oct project
  2. Block Swap Adventure - waiting for Oct project
  3. Charity quilts - another quilt top done! (see below)
  4. Happy Halloween wall hanging - one block done! (see below)
    This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept)
  5. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
  6. Americana QAL - Sept block done (see below)
  7. Applique pictures - new project, started designing
The EverythingElse List:
  1. the SK project - no progress
  2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
  3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
  4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
  5. the Ender project - no progress
  6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
  7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
  8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
  9. As You Wish -  no progress
  10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
  11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
  12. B quilt - no progress
--
September block for my Americana QAL is a Sunbonnet Sue, my first applique try at this very traditional block!
Pattern by Deana
--
Happy Halloween wall hanging. This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept).
One more block done... just one last cat block is missing!!

Pattern by Sonja (with slight changes to include tuxedo look)
--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 
Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 
If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 
If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I am happy to report that I received a great donation from Gigi! 

Orphan blocks that are going to find their ways into future charity quilts!

And I already used some of last week donation: I cut some of the fabric in 10 inches square and tried another of Jean's block from a video tutorial!


After making those blocks I couldn't stop and I pieced together another top (the first toddler size)!

 about 40''x60''
(I know, the piece needs ironing ;) )

I really like using these big prints as they make a full quilt top come together super fast!!

--
How about you? What are YOU up to?
Link it here and share it with me!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

SYS 2015 - Design your own quilts on a virtual design wall

Forth installment of my short series of tutorials about the software tools I use for my crafts.

Before you run away screaming "I am not good with computers, I don't like new software, they are too complicated" please remember that you don't need to know everything about these software to make them work for you.

The tutorials are written in a very simple way, with tons of screenshots, so, let's Stretch our Skills and get our tech love going!!


The eigth tutorial of the SYS series is brought you by "Yours Truly" Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com, you are here ;)).


The forth tutorial is about how to build your own virtual design wall, where it's easy to play with your blocks layout, designs, etc.

Everything done with FREE tools!

The pdf (links below) contains detailed instructions on how to make that pattern from start to finish!!

The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects, pixel quilts, fabric postcards and cross stitching projects!

We won't have prizes this month since there are many tutorials coming and I want you to get some time to catch up on past projects.

--
All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Amazing progress, a lot to report (and a link party)

This week has been great! Let's get down to the updates!


The Ongoing Project List:
  1. SYS2015 future projects - working on SYS tutorials, waiting for Oct project
  2. Block Swap Adventure - received my August block from Sue (no picture)
  3. Charity quilts - one quilt done! another top done! (see below)
  4. Happy Halloween wall hanging - two blocks done! (see below)
    This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept)
  5. Zipper pouches - one pouch done! (see below)
  6. Americana QAL - received Sept pattern, need to work on that
  7. Applique pictures - new project, started designing
The EverythingElse List:
  1. the SK project - no progress
  2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
  3. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
  4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
  5. the Ender project - no progress
  6. Embroidery calendar - no progress
  7. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
  8. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
  9. As You Wish -  no progress
  10. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
  11. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
  12. B quilt - no progress
--
Happy Halloween wall hanging. This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept).
The last wizards/witches are done! Now just two cat blocks are missing and then I will have all the pieces to compose my final layout!
Patterns by Jennifer @ Sewhooked
--
I made another zipper pouch (birthday present). Isn't this cute? Perfect little pouch to feature cute fabric... and it's pretty easy too!!

Cat-eye zipper pouch (8'' x 5.5'')

--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 
Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 
If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 
If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I am happy to report that I received two wonderful donations from Diana and Kaelyn! Look at the amount of fabric/thread goodness that now I can use!! (and yes, my sewing helper tested the donation for comfort and coziness and I am happy to report that the donation received maximum marks and now I can go on and start planning my next quilts) :)


The panels/animal fabric donated from Cynthia already found their way in my third top:

(I know, the piece needs ironing ;) )

And I didn't get just that top done this week... I also quilted and bound the top I made a month ago!

Size: 41'' x 40''
Quilted with organic lines
(Organic = I know they should have been straight and they are not, but I don't care!!) ;)

The quilt needs to be washed but it's already super pouffy and snuggly, so I am very happy about the final result!!

--
How about you? What are YOU up to?
Link it here and share it with me!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

SYS 2015 - Tutorial 8 (3) - Software tools, cross stitching

Third installment of my short series of tutorials about the software tools I use for my crafts.

Before you run away screaming "I am not good with computers, I don't like new software, they are too complicated" please remember that you don't need to know everything about these software to make them work for you.

The tutorials are written in a very simple way, with tons of screenshots, so, let's Stretch our Skills and get our tech love going!!


The eigth tutorial of the SYS series is brought you by "Yours Truly" Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com, you are here ;)).



The third tutorial is about how to take a picture and turn it into a Cross stitching pattern and how to turn the different parts of the pattern in a single pdf file with information about the designer, links, embroidery details, etc.

Everything done with FREE tools!

The pdf (links below) contains detailed instructions on how to make that pattern from start to finish!!


QUESTION: Do you have any question/curiosity about Inkscape or Quilt Assistant? In the last tutorial I will collect some information about those software and present it with example, but if you have any specific question, I would love to hear and maybe I would be able to help! So please, let me know!!

The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects, pixel quilts, fabric postcards and cross stitching projects!

We won't have prizes this month since there are many tutorials coming and I want you to get some time to catch up on past projects.

--
All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Great progress, little to share (and a link party)

Working on secret projects seems to be the trend for this month. But this time at least I can share few non secret blocks too ;)


The Ongoing Project List:
  1. SYS2015 future projects - working on SYS tutorials, waiting for Oct project
  2. Block Swap Adventure - sent and received (see below)
  3. Charity quilts - tested blocks for the Teal mini, in bigger format (cannot share)
  4. Happy Halloween wall hanging - four blocks done! (see below)
    This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept)
  5. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
  6. Americana QAL - received Sept pattern, need to work on that
  7. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
  8. Teal Mini Swap 2015 - top done! (cannot share)
The EverythingElse List:
  1. the SK project - no progress
  2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
  3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
  4. the Ender project - no progress
  5. Embroidery calendar - no progress
  6. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
  7. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
  8. As You Wish -  no progress
  9. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
  10. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
  11. B quilt - no progress
--
Happy Halloween wall hanging. This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept).
Apparently I cannot spell (or count) as I realized that two letters were missing :) now I have all of them and a couple of extra blocks too.

Patterns by Jennifer @ Sewhooked

If I am not mistaken, now I miss two wizards and two cats and then I have all the blocks I need!
Let's see if I can have the top done for next week!
--
Jen (my partner for the Block Swap Adventure) requested a star in yellow/green batik and this is what I made for her
Picnic Pinwheel (by Patch & Chels)

I am not a big fan of batiks nor stars, but I think this block turned out pretty cute!!

--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 
Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 
If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 
If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

--
How about you? What are YOU up to?
Link it here and share it with me!!

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

SYS 2015 - Tutorial 8 (2) - Software tools, applique

Second installment of my short series of tutorials about the software tools I use for my crafts.


Before you run away screaming "I am not good with computers, I don't like new software, they are too complicated" please remember that you don't need to know everything about these software to make them work for you.

The tutorials are written in a very simple way, with tons of screenshots, so, let's Stretch our Skills and get our tech love going!!


The eigth tutorial of the SYS series is brought you by "Yours Truly" Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com, you are here ;)).



The second tutorial is about how to take a picture and turn it into an Applique pattern and how to turn the different parts of the pattern in a single pdf file with information about the designer, links, embroidery details, etc.

Everything done with FREE tools!

The pdf (links below) contains detailed instructions on how to make that pattern from start to finish!!

The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects, pixel quilts, fabric postcards and cross stitching projects!

We won't have prizes this month since there are many tutorials coming and I want you to get some time to catch up on past projects.

--
All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!

Friday, September 4, 2015

Three secret projects done, no pictures (and a link party)

The first post in a while without pictures of my progress! :(

I finished not one, not two but three projects, all secret unfortunately.

Time to update my lists!

The Ongoing Project List:
  1. SYS2015 future projects - working on SYS tutorials, waiting for Oct project
  2. Block Swap Adventure - no progress
  3. Tiny Quilt Challenge (American Made Brand) - TWO minis done! (cannot share yet)
  4. Charity quilts - no progress
  5. Happy Halloween wall hanging - no progress
    This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept)
  6. Zipper pouches - paused for a while
  7. Americana QAL - waiting for Sept pattern
  8. Halloween Haunts 2015 - done (cannot share yet)!
  9. Spirit cross stitch project - started organizing the floss
  10. Teal Mini Swap 2015 - got my partner info and started thinking about the design... so many ideas!!
The EverythingElse List:
  1. the SK project - no progress
  2. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
  3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
  4. the Ender project - no progress
  5. Embroidery calendar - no progress
  6. Project of Doom 2015 @ Fandom in Stitches - paused for a while
  7. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
  8. As You Wish -  no progress
  9. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
  10. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
  11. B quilt - no progress
--
Happy Halloween wall hanging. This is my project for "A Lovely Year of Finishes" (Sept).
I actually have all the "Happy Halloween" letters done. I need to pull out all the blocks and see how many I miss. But I want to get the top done by Sept so maybe this Halloween I will actually have it on my wall!! :)


--
And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts, and I would love your help!! Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 
If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 
If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

Dolores donated these wonderful blocks! The blocks are great and the colors much more bright than the picture! I love them and I have already ideas about how to use them in a future charity quilt!! Thanks Dolores!!!


--
How about you? What are YOU up to?
Link it here and share it with me!!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

SYS 2015 - Tutorial 8 (1) - Software tools

Unfortunately Kat couldn't make her knitting tutorial by the deadline (life! we all know how it is :) ), so I came up with the idea of putting together a short series of tutorials about software (because I don't know anything about knitting, but I know a thing or two about software tools ;))

The idea is that I will have a new tutorial every week about how I use different tools for my crafts.


Before you run away screaming "I am not good with computers, I don't like new software, they are too complicated" please remember that you don't need to know everything about these software to make them work for you.

The tutorials are written in a very simple way, with tons of screenshot, so, let's Stretch our Skills and get our tech love going!!


The eigth tutorial of the series is brought you by "Yours Truly" Alida (tweloquilting.blogspot.com, you are here ;)).



The first tutorial is about how to take a picture and turn it into a Paper Piecing pattern and how to turn the different parts of the pattern in a single pdf file with information about the designer, links, embroidery details, etc.

Everything done with FREE tools!

The pdf (links below) contains detailed instructions on how to make that pattern from start to finish!!

The link up for SYS2015 is still open for your Syndrome blocks, FPP projects, free motion quilting/tangle stitches pieces, crochet projects, pixel quilts, fabric postcards and cross stitching projects!

We won't have prizes this month since there are many tutorials coming and I want you to get some time to catch up on past projects.

And speaking of prizes...

For the forth time there were no new entries since last month, so no winners of the great cross stitching kit offered by Lisa! :(
I'm very sad to see that there is not much participation... but I want to go on and I have high hopes for the future months!! :)

--
All the information about the series (as well as all the previously published tutorials) will be available at the SYS 2015 page.

If you have any question about the series, don't hesitate to contact me via email or add a comment here on my blog (and if you want an answer, make sure you are not a no-reply blogger!).

So now let's go and Stretch Our Skills!!! :)

Until next time
Happy stitching!!

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