Sometimes, its the smallest of ideas that can trigger off a reaction, leading to something 
exciting and innovative. Such has been the case with Analiese. It is not often that I get a chance to play with designs for long, and cherish every moment that I do get. Playing with the freestanding lace tatted designs from the collection, I decided to use it not just for creating ribbons from my own fabric stash, but to try adding it to regular ribbons. The designs in the collection are meant to be attached as a cutwork edge, but there is no need to use the cutwork placement and trimming part of the design, if the edge is a finished one, as in a store bought ribbon!
So, for my first test, I decided to not be kind and tried out a 1/4″ ribbon. As you can see from the picture, it worked! 1/4″ is rather a narrow ribbon but it is great for adding to clothing, especially if there is a tatted edge.
The process is actually 
very simple. Since the cutwork edge has three steps: placement, trimming and finishing, we can eliminate the trimming altogether. Stitch out the placement on water soluble vilene (see picture on left). This becomes the guide to placing the ribbon edge directly next to it. It is best to first try the technique with a wider ribbon than my selection of a 1/4″ one. 
As my pictures of the beige 1/4″ ribbon came out too light, I am going to show the ones that I took of the black ribbon. Pin the ribbon to the water soluble vilene, or use a water soluble glue stick. Btw, I’ve tried the water soluble glue sticks and love them. There are several different varieties out there, so make sure that the glue stick is a water soluble one, otherwise the ribbon will remain sticky.
Once the ribbon is secured to the water soluble vilene, skip the trimming step on your machine and go directly to the 
finishing step. Voila, your ribbon has a tatted edge. One thing to be careful when pinning the ribbon to the water soluble vilene is not to stretch it, otherwise your ribbon will have a bit of wave to
it.
Ofcourse, you do have to repeat the steps for the other side as well. Once the edge is completed, soak and rinse the water soluble vilene out completely. The best method for preventing waves is to roll the ribbon tightly while it is still damp on a dowel or any large empty thread spools. This takes out the waves (if there are any) and also prevents the need of ironing out any wrinkles. The black ribbon that I used, is about 
1/2″ (a better choice and easy to work with than the 1/4″) wide and has a satin finish. I couldn’t find a velvet ribbon in my stash, but this worked just as well for making a choker. Lovely idea and the project can be finished in less than an hour.
More ideas are to use the tatted edged and embroidered (if preferred) ribbons on t-shirts, blouses, and any amount of wearables. To attach the ribbon to the garment or other fabric is to stitch directly next to the tatting edge. This leaves the tatting picots sort of dangling on their 
own and gives a lovely hand tatted effect. Plush towels, which really are difficult to embroider, can be given an expensive and personal look, simply by attaching an embroidered with 
tatted edge ribbon. The ribbon on the left was created with bits and pieces of left over silks. I joined the pieces together using a french seam and then embroidered and created a 2″ wide ribbon. Pinning the ribbon onto the towel, I used the same thread to use a tiny zigzag stitch to attach it to the towel.
Ribbons of various widths embellished with embroidery (or plain) with the tatted edges can also be joined together to create a ribbon fabric. Simply use an entredeux stitch or fancy stitches on your machine to join the ribbons. Stitch directly on top of the picots matched on either side, as this will give strength to the joint.
I hope this innovative idea can spark creative juices with friends. The Analiese collection was released at the ASG National convention and hopefully will be on my website and Carolyns‘ soon.
All I can see on the Brother website is a tease of 3-D or 2-D release on August 16th, however, Babylock has the subtle hints of the 10 needle, PR type machine. What I can’t figure out is why Brother calls is “Dimensional”… Here are the links: Brother and Babylock.
For those who are new to the machine embroidery world, Brother is the manufacturer of all Babylock machines. Both have their affiliated designers’ and educators’ designs on the machines and some minor color (machine itself) differences, but overall, the products are the same. If anyone does go in to their dealer to preview the “new” machines, do share your experience and what you think of them. Am I dying to see it? Yes, of course, but I seriously doubt I will get around to seeing one until the Sewing and Quilt Expo at Chantilly, end of September.
Re-creating heirlooms on the embroidery machine, 
Analiese is the most delicate of embroidery collections. Its designs capture miniature cutwork windows, dainty tatting, fragile tiny flowers and the meandering vines that in the past were stitched by hand and today we stitch just as lovingly by machine. Such was the passionate ideology behind the designs when Carolyn and I first started working on them.
With the plan in 
hand, I knew that the edges could not have any satin stitches as satin tends to become heavy and the look is not dainty at all. For that a simple cross over stitch was created so when it repeats onto itself, it is not heavy yet it is strong enough to withstand time. The little tatted picots were all manually digitized as it was imperative that they don’t have too much weight otherwise they wouldn’t blend with the edge. The handkerchief above and the old fashion bonnet on the left show a fine example of what I mean. The tiny 
spokes coming off the picots were the final touch giving the hand look to the edging, achieved completely by manually placing each stitch with the faintest of breathing space for a single thread criss-crossed onto itself. For those who digitize, you will understand that the need of breathing space has to be given for the width of the actual thread, otherwise you end up with a stiff glob which can break needles and cause all sorts of mischief and grief.
Another aspect to consider while digitizing these designs was that they should be able to become one with light weight cotton fabrics. 
Batiste, lawn, light weight damask and cottons were tested over and over to see if the result would be soft and delicate. My preferred fabric somehow these days has become lawn. The fabric is made of cotton combed yarns, giving it a silky effect. As a child growing up in Pakistan, all my summer outfits were made with lawn, printed or plain. As it is cotton, it breathes well yet doesn’t wrinkle easily. The best place to purchase it online is at Dharma Trading. I checked and they mostly carry it in white but as the fabric is cotton, it can easily be dyed to the preferred color. It is absolutely lovely for handkerchiefs, blouses, dresses, christening gowns and any number of heirloom garments or home decor items. Not only that, it is extremely affordable, how can you beat that?
Over the years, one of my passions has been to collect embroidered ribbons 
and in my birth country, where everything is hand made, I saved a few hand embroidered treasures. Embroidered ribbons cost quite a penny and while creating Analiese, the idea hit me and I decided to try it out. See for yourself…the ribbon is about 2″ wide, stitched out on lightweight crepe. This was a test and now I’m encouraged to create ribbons (any width can be made) out of silks and satins to match whatever I may be creating. Panels of fabric can also be made in the same manner and used to decorate 
items which are not easily hooped or embroidered, like thick plush towels. The method is really very simple and easy, cutwork edge on both sides!
The designs in the collection, Analiese, were carefully thought out to resemble European textured hand embroideries, with a bit of stump work in the teeny tiny florets. These florets have a very tiny 
blank center, perfect for placement of heat set Swarovski crystals! I haven’t checked the size of the crystal yet and will share the size as soon as I find out for myself. I thought the bottom of the baby t-shirt needed some uplifting and the little scalloped tatted edging gives it an adorable look. For the bling, I will use the crystals in each of the tiny florets.
Another aspect that I wante
d to try out with the designs was to create quilt blocks. Quilting is fast becoming popular again and allows the embroiderer’s personal imagination and creativity to shine through.
I wanted to share something special with all my friends. Over the past few months, I have shared my dear husband’s fight with cancer. Today, the MRI showed no progression and spread of the cancer, and with a light head and a grateful heart, I wanted to share the good news. I am grateful for all the kind words and the prayers in lovely emails. Thank you so much. Hugs to all, and oh…Analiese will be released at the upcoming ASG Convention , that starts on Thursday, in Atlanta, GA. If you are attending, be sure to stop by Carolyn‘s booth to say hello and look at all the lovely patterns and designs that she will be showcasing. If you are there, give a hug from me to her. Happy day…love to all.
Since my last post, lots has been happening, 
the best ofcourse was the trip home! After the sweltering heat in Maryland, it was nice to have a couple of rainy days without any humidity, with temps in the 70′s, instead of the triple digits that I was enduring in Maryland. The view of my front yard is my favorite and one where I dream up a lot of inspiration and ideas.
The stay at home was a week long, which gave me ample time to 
catch up with friends, even a night of playing Canasta with my girlfriends! Although, it wasn’t exactly Canasta that we played, rather a version of “foot and ….something I don’t remember”. And, yes ofcourse! I had to pose with Uncle Sam, after the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. Great times indeed! (Sorry for the fuzzy picture).
Among all my embroidery machines, my PR 600 is my most prized and beloved machine. It has well over 50 million stitches and (touch wood) purrs still. Lured by the many promotional sales, I had a weak moment, and decided to go for the new PR 650C. My inquiry from the dealer about a trade-in with my present baby left me speechless….alas, my baby is only worth $500, and I spent about $10,000 to purchase it! “It’s the number of stitches” was one of the replies to my queries. Never mind, the machine still runs and besides, isn’t it supposed to be in the category of commercial machines? Oh well! No winning there, but it is a nice plug for Brother that their product has lasted throughout all these years, with such a high count of stitches and still working. Nothing can compare to that.
A little birdie tells me that Brother has done remarkably well with the semi-commercial machine, the PR series, that there will be a newer model coming out at the Back to School with Brother event. Is it a six-needle machine? Nope, something even better…how about a ten needle machine! YEAH! So, friends, if the deals on the PR 650C sound too good to be true right now, they really are. If you had plans on purchasing one of these machines….now is the perfect time to do so. My 
birdie didn’t tell me about the price of the new model, but I am sure it will be on the up side.
The last couple of months, Carolyn and I have been busy again. Yes, Lady Jayne was very successful and we were pleasantly surprised by the response from friends. Our next venture is….sneak peak here….”Analiese”. The collection is adorable and fast becoming my favorite. Not only does it have many aspects to it….embroidery, cutwork, tatting, quilt blocks…but the designs are extremely versatile to where they are lovely for embellishing baby items, home decor and items for adults. Carolyn will debut the collection (fingers crossed) at the ASG Conference 2010 in Atlanta, next month. I would dearly love to be there but have to save my days for the Quilt and Sewing Expo, Chantilly, in late September, early October. It would be lovely to see friends at the shows, so mark them and be sure to stop by.
One of my most memorable moments was this past weekend, meeting Santi and Peter, 
along with my dear friend Jean at the Fish Market Restaurant. Both Santi and Peter were on their way home to South Africa and had stopped over in Virginia. It has been several years since I had seen Santi and good times were had by all! This was my first time meeting Peter 
and he is truly a gentleman. The restaurant is one of my favorite places in Alexandria and yes, I did get teased for ordering a “blue burger” at a fish place, LOL. Afterwards, we toured the Torpedo Factory which is a great place to view artisans and their works, very inspirational. Santi’s digitizing has been a great inspiration to me over the years and I was bowled over by her Apricot Blush Quilt many years ago. I almost feel like saying something to the effect of “you have come a long way baby”…truth be known…we really and truly have.
Before ending today, I do want to remind friends about the mid-year sale on my website, which will end July 30, 2010. And an update on John…as you can see from the picture above, he is doing well and I’m grateful. Till next time, love and hugs to everyone.
July 19th,2010
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Seems like the year is flying away and it is hotter than the equator for sure. 
Rather ironic, as last year, I couldn’t find the sun here in Maryland, and this year, I’m aching to see the clouds. Oh well, soon as I post this, I’m sure clouds will come about and give relief, or maybe I need to go wash the car!
I want to dedicate this post to the members of the Heirloom Yahoo 
group. Members have created such lovely items that I want to share them here with everyone. These images belong to friends at the Heirloom group and by posting them here, I want to acknowledge their step into a completely different level of machine embroidery. This is most definitely an advanced level and I am extremely pleased to have inspired others to think outside the box.
First quarter of the Heirlooms group had some of the most beautiful and ingenious enteries. It was quite difficult to choose and as it was, the competition was neck to neck. 
My biggest joy and delight is to see friends venture forth trying new techniques, as well as inspiring others. The two pillowcases shown above are absolutely stunning, don’t you think. Our friend, and she is definitely one of our stars, embellished the pillow case edges using several free samples from my website and the cutwork edges from Vintage Borders I collection. The method in how she combined the designs is superb!
Another breath-taking entry were two scarves with designs from 
Vintage Linen II cutwork edge collection. Both the scarves were identical, which is quite a feat in itself. I love the idea and may have to steal it to make scarves for friends…hmmm….holidays will be upon us soon enough!
A new comer to the Heirloom group, but certainly not a newbie to the embroidery world, as is apparent from the next enteries, created a bell pull
and a holiday table setting! Both the entries are unique and I specially love the bell pull made using the Kashmir designs. Definitely an innovative way to use the designs. Kanta Lace 8 and the Grace 2 heart design were used to create a table setting for the holidays! I love the candle and think that is such a lovely idea! Great for gifts and also for decorating around the house. The napkin ring is a free sample from the Kanta Lace I collection. If you don’t belong to the Heirloom group, do join us as there is so much inspiration. The Heirloom group is at Yahoo and anyone can join.
Two inspiring photographs that I want to share, will definitely give 
everyone a look at the ingenious twist used to create quilts. This is definitely thinking way outside the box. The quilt on the right is made with designs from Kashmir, absolutely stunning, don’t you think? I wish I had the time to create more, but, as I don’t have that luxury, I will live by the creativities of friends. This is a full size quilt and as I was 
told, not completely finished at the time. The amount of time that went into making it is not known to me, but I can vouch that it had to be within a couple of week after purchasing the designs. Kudos to our new member at the Heirloom group for such a lovely project. The second quilt is a splash of color and reminds me so much of the Amish quilts, but with a twist. Believe it or not, those are Farsi I applique designs used in between the bargella style blocks. Now this is something 
I would love to have, and it is on my wish list to create!
Jeannie Miller is an extremely talented person and the latest pictures that she sent me of her award winning quilt, which by the way, she is teaching now, along with several other wonderful classes. Do check out her website, lots of interesting classes. The quilt has a mixture of designs from the Exotic Butterflies and Jacobean Symphony. A stunning work of art!
Okay, I know what you all are thinking! What have I been doing. Really and truthfully, not a lot. I do have several collections that I’m working on, but don’t have a release date set in my mind yet. However, here is something I will share. Carolyn gave me an interesting idea when I was at her home. I bet you will flip as much as I flipped when I saw it. The lingerie on the left is actually the most easiest lingerie that I ever made for myself. The cups are made from, believe it or not, Grace I Bonnet panels! Each of the cups was made using two of the bonnet panels. I had wanted it to be very simple but somehow, more of the laces from the Grace collections got into it. The straps are made with the Grace I booties connector panel, with ribbon woven through it. Its a great gift idea for a bride to be or for your own self!
I want to thank everyone who sent me lovely emails and posts about John. He is doing well and trying to learn a complete different lifestyle, which is not the easiest thing in the world to do when you have been an active person all your life. I appreciate everyone’s comment and shared them with John, who says thanks. We both take off for Missouri soon and I’m looking forward to a few days of the country lifestyle.
I’ll end this post with the encouragement to think outside the box and try something out this year that you have never done before. My friends’ creativities above are amazing and I hope they have inspired you. Hugs.
P.S. Mid-Year sale starts tomorrow!
It has certainly been a long while since my last post, well over two months ago! No, I’ve not gone away, just that life has been hectic for me. Truth be told, I haven’t really spend that 
much time in my sewing room but a lot of it on the Interstates between Maryland and Missouri. In February, my dear husband John was diagnosed with GBM IV, which is considered the worst type of brain cancer. Prayers and surgery has given him a chance and we continue to hope and pray that treatments and care will give him quality of life. Last weekend, I went to Missouri to bring him to Maryland and to move his treatments and care to the East coast. My visit home was nice as dear daughter and her boyfriend came over!
Although I have spent time away from my machines, yet somethings 
have been in the planning stages. Take a peek and let me know what you think!
The sneak peak is from Lady Jayne collection, which is a complete set of Victorian Sewing box and accessories. Carolyn and I have been working on it now for somewhile and we hope to release it soon.
May 29th,2010
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After several years of absence, the Sew Expo Atlanta was my first show after a long while. It was so great to meet up with friends whom I had not seen for some time as well as to acquaint with new ones. Moreover, it was great to see Carolyn and Evanlee, and share good times again.
I think the Sew Expo 2010 will be the most memorable conference I ever attended. My samples and creations of the past twelve years, managed to drop off the back side of my truck, somewhere between the Gwinnet Conference Center and Satellite Boulevard. It didn’t help that by the time I realised anything was amiss, several hours had elapsed and with the rain and heavy traffic, there was no hope of recovery. I was devastated for some while, but then pulled myself together and I hope to recreate better and elaborate samples in the coming years.
There were several new samples that I had created for the show, but the show
stopper was the Grace collection and the Battenburg I lace collection. I am glad that I did take some pictures of my favorite shirt using the designs but the t-shirt (of which I hadn’t taken pictures) is gone forever, until I re-create another. The white linen shirt with the designs from Marrakesh stitched in white on the front and the hemline and sleeves, as well as the neckline trimmed with the battenburg lace was stunning. I am a bit sad that I never got the chance to wear it even once.
The battenburg lace 1 is a wonderful collection of freestanding lace motifs which blend together to create edgings, insertions or lace panels.
Although there are only eight (8) designs in the first of the lace collection, each one is not only perfect in size and texture, but also allows the embroiderer the choice to create multiple different lace designs. The other most important factor is that the laces do not have to be joined in the hoop, rather they are extremely easy to join in the sewing machine without the hint of the joint ever showing. In the same manner, they can be attached to wearables and home decor items, whether as edges or as insertions. As both the top and bottom sides of the lace are alike, they make excellent candidates for insertion laces. The shirt shoulder, seen above in 
the close up is a prime example of my vision. My t-shirt was emellished in the same manner giving it a totally different look. The floral medallion was used as an accent on the back side of the shirt, giving a discreet peek-a-boo effect, romantic and vintage all blend together.
The battenburg lace 1 was the most sought after designs, even by those who didn’t own an embroidery machine! Years ago, when I had first created the battenburg lace collection, I always felt that there was some element missing and with the present collection, I’m proud to say that they fulfill the look and feel of the real tape lace. I hope to upload the collection to my website in the next few days as time allows.
There were several interesting items that caught my attention at the Expo. I saw more quilts and wearable quilts than I have ever seen before…yes, there are some patterns that followed me home. Batiks were the fabric of choice and I indulged there as well….despite my vow not to purchase any more fabric, until I finish the stash that I possess. All in all, the show was great and I was pleased to have attended it. Its memory will stay with me forever, and yes, I do intend to check the tail gate from now on.
Looking at the storms all over the US these past two weeks have encouraged me that Mother Winter is almost at the end of its
term and Spring is surely around the corner. At least, I want to think that way. Last December, I had already started the ground work for the first collection for 2010 and what better inspiration than to draw it from my paternal background of Kashmir. Kashmir is known as “heaven on earth” and heaven it is indeed. The snow laden mountain tops overlooking rolling hills of greenery and sweet smelling wild flowers besides lakes of an undescribable shade of blue. I can recall my mother’s stories of summers spent in Srinagar and my father’s youthful adventures while growing up. The stories pulled at me to recreate the legendary Kashmiri embroideries which are famously adorned on shawls and shirts. The Pashmina shawl on the right was embellished with designs from the mono-color scheme of Kashmir.
Most Kashmiri embroidery is self created without any set pattern. It depicts stories of the villages and reflects the 
beauties of the land. Florals are a constant within the various cultures that exist in the lands and that is what I chose for the designs in the collection. The designs are separated in two sub-collections: multi-colored and mono-colored. The wool scarf on the left shows the designs in the multi-colored scheme.
I know what some of you are thinking…how does one embroider on wool especially an item where both sides may be seen. What stabilizer should be used and should the bobbins be wound in the same color as the top 
color. Wool has to be handled carefully and if washed, it does have a tendency to shrink. Years ago, Rachel Stirling of stirlingembroidery.com had introduced me to iron away stabilizer which is ideal to use on items which cannot be laundered. The best way to remove the stabilizer is to place a piece of brown paper bag or paper on top of the embroidered area before using the iron. This way, the stabilizer sticks to the brown paper or paper. As for winding bobbins in the same color as the top color, I recommend loosening the top tension so the top thread covers the bobbin thread and it seems as if colored bobbin was used.
The designs have a distinctive shading and dimensional feel to them and can be used on a multitude of items for adornment. My utmost desire was to embroider and recreate a Kashmiri shawl. I have several, some antiques and handed down through my family while others were purchased or given as gifts. Most of the stitches used in these shawls is an elongated satin stitch or a single long stitch which I have tried to recreate in the designs. The only item in the designs that is different are the candlewicks, which are my own signature. The designs stitch out fast and
are for the 5×7 hoop, with special markings allowing the designs to be stitched out cotinuously.
Whiile I was dreaming up shawls and garments to adorn with the designs, my dear friend Carolyn sent off a picture of the most adorable velvet purse she created using the designs from Kashmir. I love her approach to colors and have always been amazed at how she presents them. Not only did she create the cute purse, but followed my instructions to create the scissor case that is included in the collection.
Another collection that has been on my absolutely “to do” list is the Battenburg lace collection. 
Years ago I had created the battenburg lace but always felt that it was still too heavy, so over the past few months, I have been working on perfecting the concept of the lace. Battenburg is actually a form of tape lace and one of my last posts were about perfecting the open joints of the tape. I am pleased that I left the open joints on the inside rather than on the outer edges. Either way would work in the making of the tape, though.
Hope to release both collections shortly before the Sewing and Quilt Expo Atlanta. I am planning on being there, booth 241, along with Carolyn from Creative Needlecraft.com.
exciting and innovative. Such has been the case with Analiese. It is not often that I get a chance to play with designs for long, and cherish every moment that I do get. Playing with the freestanding lace tatted designs from the collection, I decided to use it not just for creating ribbons from my own fabric stash, but to try adding it to regular ribbons. The designs in the collection are meant to be attached as a cutwork edge, but there is no need to use the cutwork placement and trimming part of the design, if the edge is a finished one, as in a store bought ribbon!
very simple. Since the cutwork edge has three steps: placement, trimming and finishing, we can eliminate the trimming altogether. Stitch out the placement on water soluble vilene (see picture on left). This becomes the guide to placing the ribbon edge directly next to it. It is best to first try the technique with a wider ribbon than my selection of a 1/4″ one. 
As my pictures of the beige 1/4″ ribbon came out too light, I am going to show the ones that I took of the black ribbon. Pin the ribbon to the water soluble vilene, or use a water soluble glue stick. Btw, I’ve tried the water soluble glue sticks and love them. There are several different varieties out there, so make sure that the glue stick is a water soluble one, otherwise the ribbon will remain sticky.
finishing step. Voila, your ribbon has a tatted edge. One thing to be careful when pinning the ribbon to the water soluble vilene is not to stretch it, otherwise your ribbon will have a bit of wave to
it. 
1/2″ (a better choice and easy to work with than the 1/4″) wide and has a satin finish. I couldn’t find a velvet ribbon in my stash, but this worked just as well for making a choker. Lovely idea and the project can be finished in less than an hour.
own and gives a lovely hand tatted effect. Plush towels, which really are difficult to embroider, can be given an expensive and personal look, simply by attaching an embroidered with 
tatted edge ribbon. The ribbon on the left was created with bits and pieces of left over silks. I joined the pieces together using a french seam and then embroidered and created a 2″ wide ribbon. Pinning the ribbon onto the towel, I used the same thread to use a tiny zigzag stitch to attach it to the towel. 
