Brat I have made some very cute minis with a 12 and 15inch block.It has to do with what fabric you use. I do a lot of making up my own pattern.

Me too LJ, with the right placement and choice of fabrics most of the time simple can be better or at least some of the time. I've used lots of block patterns, I love them brat! Do what you're comfortable with

thanks guys I appreciate the feedback. I do ok with blocks its the applique that stumps me. I can do it.. just slowly really slowly. the curves get me! ok the points get me too. lol.

You could try your hand at thread painting Brat? :thumbup:
I really love appliqué. I find it mesmerizing/soothing I guess. The machine does all the work, I just have to go into a trance and guide it along.It's great for movie listening (notice I didn't say watching) The only real drag is changing threads. I know someone that only uses black for all appliqué but I love to accent mine with color!

Seriously whatever method of creation you use is great! Every mini is unique and a beauty to behold! Just because it was made by a wonderful quilty friend. They are all one of a kind originals :)

Wanted to take a second to thank all of you nice ladies for making our swap run so smoothly. I truly appreciate the lack of babysitting on my part! You gals are great!

how do you chose what your going to do? >>>

I look online, on Pinterest, etc. I've also collected a ton of pictures & saved in my library so sometimes I'll scim through my pictures and get an idea.

I ended up choosing a picture from my library to make for this swap. Of course, if I shared the pic, Juanita would see it - - - and we can't have that, now, can we??? hehehehehe

Here's a tiny peek - - -

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Like it very much!!!!

Rain, rain go away!! Nice not having to water but picked up 7 -5 gal. buckets of pinecones this morning...waited for the lawn to dry so I coud mow. Wind and rain so have to do pinecones again. Feel like I could die so tired. Now to feed the chickens and dog. Post office tomorrow. Where is that hubby when I need him. Think I'm going to need a vacation when he gets back :)

All of you helped me by reading all your comments to Elisabrat. Thanks Elisabrat. :D I almost didn't join this month, because I am not very good with patriotic, but then I guess I have not made one. All the more reason for me to do one. :p

I have also sent a pm to my partner for June Marilyn43, and awaiting to hear from her. :)

Tlambing, I like your avatar. So pretty!

TL love your new avatar!

I've PM'd my partner and I am ready to get going. I have a plan and will have it done in a few days. Whoop Whoop!

JoKid03

Wow!! I am *thinking* of working on mine this weekend! We'll see how motivated I am!! I need to rummage for some more patriotic fabric, I know I have some but of course I can't find it!!

Oh I'm so excited to start another mini quilt. My partner and I have been in touch, so let the minis begin. Hugs to all.

I picked out a pattern, and cut it whoop whoop! now to sew it hoping to have energy to get started on the top on Friday morning. Today is clinic so no sewing for me but tomorrow just maybe it will happen. a tiny burst of energy for say an hour or two should do it. I have not tried thread sewing thought you need a fancy machine for that? I have a brother csi600 which is a pretty basic sewing machine with 60 patterns to chose from but no fancy foot for quilting? just basic ones. think I would need something for the bottom plate also wouldn't I? this is why I haven't tried it.. ever. grin but it sure looks lovely. there is a quilter here who makes cards and does a lot of thread painting on her quilts. amazing stuff. I will have to settle for stitch in the ditch and hope that I get better each time.

If you can lower your feed dogs and have an open toe or darning foot, you can thread paint Brat. I'm no expert, I've only tried it as an embellishment a couple of times but think of you're artistic and can somewhat draw, you might really enjoy it! I saw an iris that someone had appliquéd and then did thread painting on....omg! It was gorgeous!
cant wait to see a sneak peek!

Have my pattern and fabric. Hope to get on it real soon. It is going to be blasting in the air (hint)

Tlambing if I can drop my feed dogs I would. I don't know how even if its available. so if anyone has a brothercsi 6000 and knows if this can be done on my machine then I would love to try it. I don't think I can but darn its so cool when someone does it right. there are books on projects just like there books on quilting. Its a fascinating art thread painting.

Your machine does not have that feature brat:( About the only thing you can do is tape a business card over the feed dogs so they don't catch the fabric. Or any paper about that weight and size. ( I remember looking at that for you last year) :)

I have a CS-6000i and I can drop the feed dogs on mine. Brat, is yours a 6000i?

I will be sending out your mini Brat on Monday! I really like it. Can't take pictures only from my ipad.So I do have a picture but cant post it. Hope you like it.

Brat if your machine is the brother cs6000i then yes you can drop the feed dogs. My husband pointed that out to me right away. It's on the back side down under a bit of the bed and it flips left and right for the feed dogs. The slider is the same color as the machine. Hope this helps. :)

Came home to a nice package from Jaba. My mini quilt, and goodies. I will post a photo tomorrow. Love it.

I don't think I looked on the back for the switch, never seen one there. You better look brat...then you can thread paint :)
Glad it arrived Nelco

Brat, if you have the 6000i here is a picture of the back where the switch is to lower the feed dogs.

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I have the same machine. There us a little lever that moves sideways on he back of the machine to drop the "dogs. I love my Brother machine. Marie

Yes Karen that is where mine is too. I have that machine, and love it. I have used it for about 4 years now, and it seems like the more I use it the better it does. I would buy another one in a minute when this one gets all used up one day. :) I have a stand by too that my mother had given me. It's a metal one, but haven't used it since getting this one.

I will check when I get off the computer. You ladies are so incredibly helpful. I cant believe how much so. I will check it out and if I have it will get a book on how its done properly. Oh boy if I do another way to get more ufos! lol. I start things and move around from one project to the next. I cant imagine only having one project at a time I am working on. no way! I have yet to decide between two patterns. I have the base finished now to decide on how to embellish it. hum.. that is today and tomorrows project. then its binding (oh what fun!) and in the mail it goes. yahoo! I have designated this weekend for finishing it so crossing fingers. I didn't do so great yesterday with energy but today I will have a bit more and Monday a regular dose of it!

Now that's what I call planning ahead. I always think I'm going to do better and get mine done at least by the middle of the month. Something always interferes with my plans. lol. Gotta blame it on to something.

mini quilt
 

I am about done with yours. I think it is looking rather cool. LOL :p

Kathy

Well, someone needs to light a fire under my bottom because I haven't started yet! I have the pattern, I have the fabrics, what I lack is the impetus to get on the sewing machine. Sigh.

I am right there with ya MizMelly. It must be the summer time. I will hopefully get started on mine today as in cutting, and sewing a bit. Cutting would be good. I think I know where I am going with it now.

Well, I'm on a 4-10's work schedule for the summer, so I don't even look in the sewing room until Fridays if I'm awake yet! I will this coming weekend tho. I don't want to keep putting off what I've got obligations for.
I'm ready for summer vacation tho!! Three more weeks!! Woot!!
And one more year til retirement. That's the biggie! I can't wait!!

For once I beat Ya'll! Well, not all of you :(

I haven't even started on mine yet either. I just finished a couple other obligations so now I can concentrate on this one.

Now that I have my mug rug and fabric postcard done, I can start on Jaba's mini.

Had to get mine done and sent. Didn't want to loose my swaps in the chaos that starts tomorrow, have to get everything moved out of the sewing room, that I can move. Hubby will help move furniture and heavy stuff. Thursday morning the regulation pool table is going bye bye, then I'm going to paint and redo the room. No sewing until I get it done. I'm replacing it with a 4X8' table for cutting, squaring up quilts,etc. still will have lots of room but this will make a big difference for the floor space...about 1 1/2' length and width. We'll see, if I want it "roomier" then I'll cut down the table size. Anyone like to paint??

Retirement is awesome!!! I's been 1 year now and I love it!

JoKid03

It's been a year and five months for me too and I'm loving it!!! :thumbup:

Retirement does give you more time to play with your sewing machine :-)

Financial adviser is coming next week to lay out a sweetheart plan for post working years. I'm anxious to see what number crunching they come up with. Although I have little faith in them saying I have to work another 2 years to see the money on their plan. Ain't happenin'.

2 more years? that is long when your doing it but it seems to go so fast its scary too MizMelly. Jaba I love to paint.. watercolors nice tiny ones you can do while sitting in a chair. lol. not big walls! ugh! you have a LOT to move in those rooms down there sure you really want to tackle that ? big project! she has this amazing sewing room then a quilting room and a storage room or four and its a big space. hope you are not moving anything .. your back. its simply too precious to end up in a the hospital over

Teresa your zooming right along this month. must love to do patriotic things? sneak peak? Mine is getting there. not pleased with the applique I chose but when I cut another to do instead I didn't like that either. argh! going to just go for it and hope it turns out the way I hopefully intended it to.