Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Free-Hand Pillow


I am so excited . . .
because I have been wanting to try my hand at free-hand embroidery 
ever since I started blogging and 
seeing the amazing things that other blogging sisters were making.
This is my first project.


I have to admit that it takes a lot of time,
changing threads and re-hooping your fabric,
over and over again,
but it is also so rewarding to be able to write and
draw anything that your imagination allows.


I'm a beginner, so I didn't get too carried away.
I'll save that for when I have more experience. 
You do need new tools every-time you try a new technique.
Notice the free-hand foot on my machine.
That little bugger was almost $40.


This was the other tool that I purchased.
Whether you embroider by hand or machine . . .this is a great little tool.
It's spring loaded and very easy and fast to move around your project. 
I think it was around $4.


I had been noticing others making little bags to attach to their sewing tables
to collect all of their thread clippings.
After doing this project, making a little bag for thread is the next thing on my list.
I had loads of thread clippings, LOL


Well, that's it . . .my first free-hand project.

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow"
John Lennon


Before I close, this is my 50 cent yard sale basket.
I bought it last weekend and gave it a paint job.
Pretty nice for 50 cents, right?


Have a wonderful week.
Do something fun and enjoy each precious  moment.

Your blogging sister,







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63 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi Beth and thank you so much, I'm delighted that you like it.

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  2. What a very pretty cushion with its lovely machine embroidered flowers. Your first free machine piece - wow!

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    1. Hi Shelia, thank you, you have made my day . . . I needed a Wow, today :)

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  3. Your pillow is so pretty. I thought you did it by hand at first. Love the yardsale basket.

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    1. Hi Betty, you are a sweetie pie, thank you :)

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  4. Loving your embroidery and the basket is a great buy.

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    1. Hi Anne, thank you . . . I had fun doing this project, it is always fun to try new things. :)

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  5. I was just reading about the free hand embroidery the other day and thinking how cool that looked. Your pillow turned out awesome. Great find on the basket too. I'm always on the look out for baskets

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    1. Hi Ann, I want to encourage you to give free-hand embroidery a try . . . it is really fun and your imagination is your only boundary. I love than you can write anything, names, verse, song lyric, etc. It's going to be a new adventure in sewing :) I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it :)

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  6. how lovely is that!! Its brilliant for a beginner, oh how I wish I could be that neat!
    BH x

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    1. Wow! thank you for the compliment . . . I'm not sure neat can describe my pillow, my verse did trail off at the end. I like that you can make one of a kind projects with it and every little trailing off, can become a whimsical artistic feature, LOL.

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  7. What an adorable pillow! It is beautiful! I am so scared to use my sewing machine for the simplest things! So I am in awe of you making this! Dropped by to say you won my ATC weekly giveaway and could you please email me your snail mail address so I can send it off to you. Bless you for your lovely comment on my blog, dear! patsy.paterno (at) gmail.com

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    1. Wow, I am excited, thank you. I'll be right over :)

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  8. The first thing I noticed about the basket was the beautiful color! It matches my living room to a T! Your pillow, honestly when I first saw it I thought you had painted it or used fabric markers, that is how wonderful and fine your stitches are!

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    1. Hi Ginny, thank you for this lovely visit.
      I am happy that you like the basket re-do and my pillow.
      I am having fun learning to draw with my sewing machine :).

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  9. So beautiful Connie!! Love all the pretty flowers!! xo Heather

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  10. Connie-That is just a gorgeous piece and it makes me want a new machine that would do THAT! xo Diana

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    1. Hi Diana, the funny think is that even my old machine will do this. I just never knew it. Any straight stitch machine will work, it is all in the free-hand pressure foot. I had to order mine, but who knows, your machine may have even come with one. It's worth checking out :)

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  11. Hi Connie, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

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    1. Hi Chris, thank you for visiting and for following. Of course I will follow you back. I enjoy sharing ideas and adventures, but most of all I enjoy making new friends.

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  12. I thought it was done by hand, Connie, until reading...love it. And great basket find! Love the color. - Revis

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    1. Hi Revis, thank you :) You are always so encouraging. Sometimes I feel awkward when I share a project, because there are so many people out there that are true artists in whatever I am ,giving a try at. Wonderful blogging sisters like yourself, give me the courage to post them, and I just hope that my courage will be an encouragement to someone else. You are a blessing.

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  13. Oh my goodness Connie! I would love to try this but I am to chicken! One of these days.... one of these days... Your work is beautiful!
    big hugs!!!
    Cheryl

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    1. Hi Cheryl, never put off till tomorrow, what you can do today . . . give it a whirl . . . it may just turn into a passion for you :) What have you got to loose, a little time, a little thread, and a few pieces of fabric :)

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  14. What a wonderful whimsical project! I just love it. The time and care you've put into it shows.

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    1. Hi Melanie, thank you, it did take a lot of time, but it was a good time :)
      I know that you are like me, we like items that are one of a kind :)

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  15. Oh Wow! Connie that is brilliant - and your first attempt too! I did enjoy the free machining I've done - though I'm using my machine less and less these days, as you know, preferring to hand-stitch. But you are tempting me back! The most important thing to remember when you are free-machine embroidering or quilting is .....BREATHE!!! Now then, we expect to see much more of this!! Lx

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    1. Hello Lynne, you are so sweet. getting a compliment from someone like you, that is an amazing artist in needle work, well you have made my day . . . and I thank you for that. I'll be dancing around the house today, just high on your praise. thanks again :)

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  16. your pillow turned out wonderful!! love the stitching!!

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  17. So beautiful...you are very clever indeed. Something I have wanted to try but still on the to do list. xx

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    1. Hello Bron, you are so talented, and if you have been wanting to try this, I want to encourage you to do so. You will love it, I know :)

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  18. Oh I love it Connie its beautiful and the quote is wonderful too. Your basket is very pretty - never thought of painting one though, but such a good idea. I have lots hanging around our garage so might have a go. Have a great week.
    Patricia x

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    1. Hi Patricia, I used spray paint on my basket, because it gets into all the little places between the wicker. then I dry brushed on a little white to soften the green. I just want to let you know that spray paint works great on wicker and it is easy. I am delighted that you like my pillow cushion :)
      Congratulation again on your graduation, I am so very proud of you :)

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  19. That is very beautiful, Connie. You have lots more patience than I do. I don't think I could ever make something like that! I thought you did it all by hand!!
    Dorothy

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    1. Hi Dorothy, it is great to see you, thank you for the sweet compliment, but no, I did it on my sewing machine. It is a technique that is new to me and I'm having a ball :)

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  20. Connie, I knew you were a hippie lol I love John Lennon! What a work of art and oh my all of the thread changes...Yikkes, but so cute! You are really stretching your embroidery wings!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, I am having a ball.
      Thank you for the sweet encouragement :)

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  21. Wow...that pillow really neat Connie...congrats on a good job!!!

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  22. This is your first one......WOW...I can only imagine how others will turn out! This pillow is too SWEET!! Very Lovely! You have such beautiful creativity. You are having so much fun with your new machine.....creating beautiful items and memories! You are such a Blessing!! Have a wonderful week.....glad you were safe during the storm. Roxie

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    1. Hi Roxie, thank you, and thank you. We were blessed that we didn't have a tree fall on us, we only have 6 trees with in 20 feet of the house. You say the nicest things, I am delighted that you like my pillow and yes I am having a ball, playing with my new machine, especially now that I have discovered free-hand embroidery :)

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  23. I've heard the song a thousand times, but I never knew that line was part of the lyrics to Mind Games! It's very sweet, and so is your pillow. No one would ever guess it was your first. Can't wait to see what you create next!
    Happy Fall!
    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, thanks for stopping by and visiting. I am so happy that you like my pillow :)

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  24. hi connie! glad we found each other. hope you enjoy my blog! joyce

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    1. Hi There! I love your blog and I added you to my blog-list. Your recipes are amazing . . . I can not wait to try some of them. I love to bake bread and doesn't it just make the house smell glorious :) Thanks so much for following me back, how sweet, I do appreciate each and every follower :)

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  25. HI Connie (:)
    I love the pillow-- just so cute ..how fun ..!!
    am thinking of doing some embroidering ..with a needle and thread this winter ..(:)
    Patty

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    1. Hi Patty, it is lovely to see you. I've been to your latest post and I love that wreath . . . so pretty. I'm looking forward to seeing your embroidery.
      Have a great day :)

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  26. Wow, Connie! That's an awesome pillow! I love the design and the quote! I'm always in awe of people who sew, quilt, embroider, etc. because I am not good at it! Thanks for the kind words on my closet makeover :) Have a wonderful week!!
    Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage

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    1. Hi Donna, thank you for visiting and for this sweet compliment. I'm so proud of you and your weight loss . . . that is the very best reason for cleaning out a closet. Get rid of those clothes because skinny Donna, doesn't need them any more :)

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  27. Hi Connie, what a wonderful blog you have! I've just signed on as a follower. Just adore the doll you made for your granddaughter, with her fabulous underwear and the scrubs you made for her. And your new free hand embroidery is amazing.

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    1. Hi Jill, I am so excited to have you as a follower. I have been enjoying your 100 days of doodles. Thank you for your sweet compliments on my blog. I do enjoy it. Have a fabulous day and thank you for following :)

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  28. How beautiful, I can't believe it's your first project! My old Singer machine was made the same year I was born (1959) and was never taught the tricks new machines do now, but I enjoy hand embroidery. I look forward to seeing your next project.

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    1. Hi Sherry, if you wanted to try this method of free hand embroidery, I'm sure that you could do it on your machine. The main thing is getting your feed-dogs to move down out of the way, and most every machine with do that. I purchased this special free motion foot, but i've watched videos on YouTube where they removed the foot completely and just worked with a needle and no foot. Check it out. it's a lot of fun. Thanks for visiting and for your very sweet comment. :)

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  29. So fabulous! I love the pillow! The stitching is fabulous!

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    1. Hi Anita, thank you . . . this pillow was so much fun and it has sparked an interest in me to see what other possibilities free-hand has in store for me. I think it is like all things artsy, the possibilities are unlimited.

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  30. Oh, I'm loving this pillow! I saw it on your latest post on the chair -- it caught my attention right away! Free hand embroidery is using a sewing machine? Wow. I have some sweet little embroidery pieces on pinterest and was thinking of doing them the old school way!

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Hi Kay, nothing is so sweet and hand embroidery, but this machine version is must faster and so much fun . . .you will have to give it a try :)

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  31. this is so sweet, connie! i tried free hand...once. let's just say it wasn't for me:) which is why i love this pillow so much!

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