A little over a month ago, I stopped by the Ravelry forums and read, and commented, on the post about Hiya Hiya end caps. Instantly I thought about the panda, which is their logo… and I was hoping it would make an appearance on Hiya Hiya’s point protectors!
I still do not know the answer to your question yet. The stoppers are a bit complex (and really cute) and the design is intended to be used for multiple purposes.
This was my response…
Ok, since you said they’re really cute, I’m now hoping the stoppers are little pandas. 😉
And it looks like my wish has come true…
Hi All,
Here is a picture of the new HiyaHiya Interchangeable stoppers and point protectors. I think they are really cute! We named him Li.
I’m looking forward to seeing them available for sale. I usually don’t choose cute items for myself, but I do like these a lot… then again I’ve always loved pandas.
Hiya Hiya cable connectors do the same thing as end caps – secure your work so you can use the needles for another project. They also can be used to extend your cable length.
Since end caps aren’t available (yet) I’ve been using Hiya Hiya cable connectors as a replacement. Just make sure you order the right size for your needle set since there are small cable connectors and a large cable connectors. You also have the added bonus of using the cable connectors to extend your cables — if that’s needed.
I cannot say enough good things about my Hiya Hiya Sharps, I love them and haven’t touched my Knit Picks (except to wrap up a few and give away) since using my Hiya Hiya needles.
Although it’s winter, we’re still receiving produce from our garden; Collards, Kale, and turnips…
Comparing an apple to one of the turnips. This is one of our “smaller” turnips.
To give you an idea of the size of our turnips I took a comparison shot, shot alongside an apple, and that is one of our small turnips. We use turnips in a variety of dishes, salads, turnip and potato patties but my favorite way to prepare it is eating it raw or adding it to soup.
About an hour ago I got to play around with my Brother SE400’s embroidery function. The sewing machine arrived on Monday.
Brother SE400 Sewing & Embroidery Machine
I unpacked it the same day it arrived, just to see if I received all the parts, but I didn’t actually test it out until yesterday and then I only tested the sewing function. I won’t be using this for sewing, I purchased this machine solely for it’s embroidery feature. Today, I had a little time and so I finally tested out the embroidery feature. I stuck with simple designs and did them all on ‘scrap material’.
Cute designs embroidered with my Brother SE400
In hindsight, I should swapped out embroidery threads, especially for the kitty so you could see the contrast (and it’s eyes) but I was basically just checking out how it embroiders. The SE400 stops sewing so you can swap out the embroidery thread for another color. I didn’t swap, I just started it again to keep the machine sewing with the same color.
I’m really loving this embroidery thread.
Also I should have used plain fabric but I told my daughter to grab some scrap fabric and she choose this. Currently I’m a newbie with machine embroidery… and it’s a strange feeling… I’ve been sewing for over 30 years, hand embroidery for almost as long, but this is my first time embroidering with an embroidery machine.
Wrong side of machine embroidery. I took this picture before I snipped the loose threads and removed the stabilizer – shiny clear stuff you see. Stabilizer is needed for machine embroidery.
Naturally you’ll need to use stabilizer on the back of your fabric… depending on the fabric you choose you might have to add a lightweight stabilizer to the front of the fabric also. The embroidery function is so easy, choose the design you like unplug the foot pedal and the machine does everything for you.
Once I become familiar with the Brother SE400’s embroidery function, I’ll start doing more elaborate designs. My initial reaction is that I like the machine. It’s runs quiet, and I love the hands off embroidery features… the self threading feature along with the automatic thread cutting are nice bonuses also.
Each year our Lutheran church performs the Passion Play. Have you seen it? It’s a reenactment of the events leading up to the death of Christ in Jerusalem. Last year was the first time my daughter and I saw the show and I was impressed by the performance, the sets and the costuming. I guess I shouldn’t have been, there are some talented folks at the church and I know at least one owns a theater, and another produces plays. Our church offers a few showings over a week period so it gives the church members and guests several times to attend the play.
This year is a first for my daughter and myself. I believe she’ll have a part in the play (non-speaking part — I couldn’t convince her to try out for a speaking role) and I’ll be designing some of the costumes.
The clothing design has me excited, I’ve always enjoyed working behind the scenes; Sketching the design, cutting the material, and transferring my vision into an outfit. During my twenties, I’ve participated in local fashion shows. I even had some of my designs featured in boutiques. I stopped when I didn’t want to do it anymore… but recently (as in the past few years) I’ve been thinking about doing something…
Martha and Mary Magdalene (c.1598) painted by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
I’m designing a robe for Mary Magdalene. Her brother, Lazarus and her sister, Martha are also mentioned in the Holy Bible. As a child, I was always fascinated by Mary and read the the small tidbits of information about her at an early age. She obviously was a follower of Christ, and based on some things she did, it led you to believe she was wealthy.
He’s Risen!
I also have the honor of designing Jesus’ Resurrection robe. He was buried in the tomb that Joseph of Arimathea had set aside for himself. Joseph was a wealthy man and was referred to by the Romans as “Nobilis Decurio” which means “Minister of Mines” there a few that speculate that Joseph was a merchant and that Jesus might have accompanied him on some of his journeys by ship.
And while we don’t know that for certain, I’m thinking it’s safe to assume that Jesus body was prepared with fine linens and spices. I’m designing two other robes also. The rest of the costumes are carried over from the past years and others are being rented.
Knowing that the Crucifixion was set during the first century A.D. is helpful. Men and women both wore robes (pants didn’t come until later) the types of robes they wore differed between the sexes. Having knowledge of the characters/time period is important in creating appropriate clothing.
Linen
I already have the designs in my head, the only thing left is to purchase the fabric and start sewing. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to do too much until the second week in February and while I know the style of dress that Romans and Jews wore during that period. History along with designs throughout the ages has always fascinated me… I’ll be doing some more reading since I want to add little extras into what I create. I read more than the Holy Bible, there is lots of information available around that time period that can give you a better understanding of many things written in the Bible. You just have to be willing to do some research.
Tomorrow I meet with the director (who also works in theater) and so I’ll be sure to bounce off some of the ideas I have (and show him a few of my sketches) and of course I’ll listen to his suggestions also. Lent is just around the corner, it is one of my favorite Christian celebrations. I’m thrilled that I’m at a church that actively participates in religious celebrations throughout the year. I was raised Baptist, and besides the obvious celebrations (birth and death/resurrection) that church didn’t recognize most of the Christian celebrations.
My daughter and I didn’t get to the fabric store this weekend, however I have had a chance to check out a few online fabric stores…
Ordering fabric online is a strange concept for myself since I’ve always purchased it from brick and mortar stores but I’m willing try something new. The first blogger that got me interested in possibly purchasing from online fabric stores was Quilts, etc., if you haven’t checked out Karen’s site you should. Her site mainly focuses on the numerous gorgeous hand sewn quilts that she creates, her work is inspirational. I’m always impressed with her skills and the gorgeous fabric that is displayed in the quilts she makes.
I think Curls & Q might also purchase some of their fabric online. I love their site, it’s an eclectic blog and has a delightful mix of knitting, sewing and various other crafts..
I love brocade silk
I must say this above fabric has me tempted… Isn’t it lovely? If I want to make the purchase I’ll have to act on it soon, since the sale ends tomorrow. Also if I do make the purchase it’ll mark the first time I’ve ordered fabric online.
I love brocade silk and I think this would work up nicely in a package I’m sending to someone. I enjoy sending packages to people and do it often throughout the year. It doesn’t have to be much, but its my way of letting them know I’m thinking about them. This past year, I’ve added two blog pals to that list (Q and Nicky ) and I’m really looking forward to sending them something. To be perfectly honest, I’ve been working on their packages for a while and just when I think I’m finished I decided to add something else. I really need to stop that you know. 😉 I’ve given myself a few more weeks after that the boxes are being shipped.
I’m really looking forward to getting my embroidery sewing machine tomorrow, it’s a shame that I won’t have too much time to play with it, since I have a board meeting tomorrow evening. But you know I’ll be squeezing a few moments of playtime. How could I possibly resist? 😉
Friday, I received a certificate informing me that my nine year old daughter had made Honor roll for the second quarter.
She’s in fourth grade. The top grade point average is a 4.0. She currently has a 3.7 GPA (grade point average) so she’s maintaining an A average.
Based on her grades, I already knew she had made the honor roll. I see her tests and help her with homework when she struggles, I always encourage her to strive to do her best. I know her capabilities and encourage her to do better when I know she’s not using all her abilities. She made honor roll in the first quarter also. I review my daughter’s work nightly, occasionally I’ll tell her to look at her work again since I’ll see some errors but I never do her work for her since as I told her if I do your work that’s not helping you out at all. But helping my daughter with concepts that she might have problems understanding, that I will do.
Also on Friday, I received a letter from my daughter’s Lutheran school informing me about an ‘Honor Roll breakfast’. This breakfast is specifically for those children who’ve made honor roll and as a parent I received an invite also. I must say that I look forward to going to school to hang out with my daughter, teachers, her classmates other and parents. She has some amazing teachers and I thank them often for the great job they do with our children.
I firmly believe that our achievements are something that should be recognized. For myself, seeing other do well in areas I might experience struggles has always encouraged me to do better. Yes, even at an early age seeing others accomplishments was enough of an incentive for me strive to make improvements.
I’m going to document my progress with sewing machine embroidery so I’ll be posting many of my new mistakes. One annoyance I’ve always had that many online don’t post their learning mistakes. That can be discouraging for some (not me since I’m very stubborn and will persevere until I get it right.) I really have no issue just showing mine, since we all start at the beginning with something and the results might not always be awesome.
This morning after my daughter and I came inside from playing in the snow I played around with SewArt for a little while…
I converted this Monster High logo…
Monster High Skull
to a Monster High embroidery version, and I was able to save it in the *.pes format
Monster High logo being converted to a *.pes file via SewArt
And here’s a close up of the simulated embroidery via the SewArt program…
Monster High logo turned to an embroidery file
Switching this logo into a *.pes file was fairly easy and should give you an idea why some companies are able to pass off knock off items as the real thing. If a person/business has the right tools … they will fool some people. Last evening, I saw someone selling a Monster High *.pes file on Etsy, due to trademark issues they would be in trouble if Mattel decided to pursue them, since that person is trying to make a profit off of Mattel’s intellectual property. Mattel doesn’t seem to have an issue with ‘fan based art’ and occasionally I’ve seen them link to those artists, but the difference is they aren’t trying to make a profit and I’m guessing they might view that as free publicity.
Oh by the way, the World of Warcraft character, Agrra, successfully converted to an embroidery file. Blizzard is another company that’s fairly good at giving recognition to fan based art. According to the above simulation it should take about 30 minutes to complete the above Monster High logo and Aggra will take over seven hours to complete. If I hadn’t reduced the detail it would take even longer to embroider 😉
If I have time, today, I might create my own designs and convert them to *.pes. My daughter is thrilled about this program since it means she can make her designs on a graphics tablet, convert to SewArt and transform those into a *.pes file to be sewn on an item.
The only thing left is to see how other images transfer onto fabric. Hopefully I’ll be able to post completed machine sewn embroidery sometime next week.
