Fabric Wisdom

Just sharing some fabric wisdom, have a great day!

What Should You Write on a Quilt Label?

Do you take the time to create quilt labels for your quilts?  I admit that sometimes when I get to the end of a project, I just want to finish it and get it done.  Have you been there?

I created this post to go along with a guild program that I offer called,  "Telling Your Story--Labeling Your Quilts".  I designed it to encourage quilters to leave a recorded legacy of their work.  After all when you work so hard on a project you deserve the credit. 

It is important to label your quilts for a variety of reasons.  Some are:

1.  It provides a historical record for the future
2. Protects your work, incase of theft or loss
3. Helps us to remember the when, where, and who of the pattern and inspiration
4. Adds value, especially when estimating quilt values or appraisals
5. Shares the story of the quilt

In the program I share a variety of ways to quickly create and add a labels to your quilts.  

There are some things you may want to include in your quilt labels.  They include:

1.  The creator's name and the quilter's name if they are different
2. Who the quilt is designed for
3. Where the quilt was made
4. A starting and finishing date
5. The title of the quilt or the quilt pattern
6.  Special techniques used in making the quilt, inspiration for the quilt, etc.
7. Care Instructions

As I was researching this program, I came across some wonderful items that other creators have used to create quilt labels.  Use the links to grab these fabulous free offers:

These great fabric envelopes are available from Babylock.  

Click here.

Sew Can She offers these great printable quilt labels.  Use your favorite permanent, acid free pen to write in the information. 

 Click Here.

June Tailor also offers an abundance of printable quilt labels.  Click Here

You can find my link to free machine embroidery labels on my website, www.LindaBrattenCreations.com.  Look for this picture and you can download my free designs in PES format.

Looking for more inspiration on how to create a quilt label?  Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to Quilt Labels on the Linda Bratten Creations.

Use this Link to get to my Pinterest Quilt Labels Board.

Be sure to follow my account and be inspired by what I find and share!

https://www.pinterest.com/LindaBrattenCreations/

Are you interested in having me come and present at your guild or favorite quilt shop?  

Simply fill out a contact email on my website www.LindaBrattenCreations.com and I will send you a list of programs and workshops that are available.

Off to get ready for my program,

Survive and Endure, a Photo Transferred Quilt that is Thread Painted

I am currently working on several programs for quilt guilds.  As I create samples, I get to have some fun with my machine. 

I just finished this piece, Survive and Endure.  It is for all of us who have overcome obstacles, but go on finding and sharing beauty with others. This monarch butterfly has a damaged wing, and yet it continues in its work and shares its beauty in the imperfect.

This is a photo transfer, done on my inkjet printer.  Then I thread painted the butterfly to make it stand out.

Would you be interested in learning how I do this?

Happy National Embroidery Month!

Designs by Jenny Haskins on a silk quilt block

February is National Embroidery Month.  As many of you know, I try to do most of my work with a machine.  This is due to an injury to my right hand which limits the strength I need to complete many hand sewn techniques.  That being said, I have found great delight in using my embroidery machine to enhance many of my sewn and quilted items.  

Design by Bonnie McCaffery enhanced with fabric paints on a t-shirt

As a quilter, I never thought that I would need an embroidery machine.  But now having owned one for that past 15 years, and I have a different view on the matter.  So much so that I now own digitizing software and love creating my own designs!

My Papa Bear Applique Design

My Goldilocks and the Three Bears Machine Embroidery Designs, available for purchase soon!

Using an embroidery machine has enabled me to create a handmade look in less time. So I can create more!

My original peacock embroidery design, back of jacket.

The front of my peacock jacket with my original peacock feather design.

 I created this scarf as a "practice" piece for my jacket.  

Testing my original design and created this scarf.

I entered it in the Bernina/Threads Magazine Machine Embroidery Challenge and it was one of the 5 semi-finalist!

Read about how I entered it here. (there is a link to the Threads Magazine Blog that talks more of the process)

This post describes the hoopings.

So do you embroider?  Which do you prefer, hand or machine?

I would love some feedback,