2012? No Problem...but when?

[NiniMorris]

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

Sounds good Nini... How about this... I'll do the same thing for you as I do for Marianne... I'll update your PTR when I feel it's necessary?

D~

Works for me! LOL! (because we all know you have nothing better to do!)

Originally Posted by cogero

I should probably do index cards and dining reservation numbers on them for our trip next month. We use a GAC too so that is the extent of my touring plan.

I am just excited we will have 4 adults to corral J next month LOL.

We corral Mr D with a special needs stroller....otherwise I couldn't imagine trying it!


Nini

[Lidian]

I'm here, I'm here! I come bearing ... popcorn apparently.

I think this PTR needs a band ...



I call guitar! Who's on the mic and drums? We'll need some backup dancers, too.

Totally love your shirts! And since I'm new and it can be assumed (because it's truth) that I know nothing ... how do you make them? They are absolutely adorable!!!

Anyway, sorry to hear about the issue's you've had to overcome. Your DIS family will always be here when you need to cry or vent. You are an amazing, strong mom.

[NiniMorris]

Originally Posted by Lidian

I'm here, I'm here! I come bearing ... popcorn apparently.

I think this PTR needs a band ...



I call guitar! Who's on the mic and drums? We'll need some backup dancers, too.

Totally love your shirts! And since I'm new and it can be assumed (because it's truth) that I know nothing ... how do you make them? They are absolutely adorable!!!

Anyway, sorry to hear about the issue's you've had to overcome. Your DIS family will always be here when you need to cry or vent. You are an amazing, strong mom.

Thanks...and welcome!

Those shirts are done on an embroidery machine (at least the good ones are...the earlier ones where just done with a zig zag stitch!) I told my husband the machine was less than the cost of buying the shirts...and he BOUGHT it! Or...actually I bought it, but you get the meaning!

Hmm...popcorn...I am attempting to diet, so I haven't had popcorn in ages! That is my weakness...I am a salty loving girl...I can do without the sweets...give me the salt!



Nini

[Lidian]

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

Thanks...and welcome!

Those shirts are done on an embroidery machine (at least the good ones are...the earlier ones where just done with a zig zag stitch!) I told my husband the machine was less than the cost of buying the shirts...and he BOUGHT it! Or...actually I bought it, but you get the meaning!

Hmm...popcorn...I am attempting to diet, so I haven't had popcorn in ages! That is my weakness...I am a salty loving girl...I can do without the sweets...give me the salt!



Nini

That's awesome! Maybe one day I'll graduate from a straight stitch and try something new!

In the meantime, I'll just pine over all the neat stuff posted on the DIS.

Wait ... can't we have both? I love chocolate covered nuts (eating chocolate covered almonds right now).

[NiniMorris]

Originally Posted by Lidian

That's awesome! Maybe one day I'll graduate from a straight stitch and try something new!

In the meantime, I'll just pine over all the neat stuff posted on the DIS.

Wait ... can't we have both? I love chocolate covered nuts (eating chocolate covered almonds right now).

LOL...guess I should explain...chocolate is not considered a sweet to me...it is in a class by itself!

(my son in law makes a mean cup of Mexican style hot chocolate with Jalapenos in it! Yumm!)

Nini

[DMGeurts]

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

(my son in law makes a mean cup of Mexican style hot chocolate with Jalapenos in it! Yumm!)

Nini

That sounds very interesting... Will he make a batch for our cruise????

D~ <--- who is a grease girl... Give me a bucket 'o french fries any day of the week.

[DMGeurts]

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

Works for me! LOL! (because we all know you have nothing better to do!)


Nini

You are right, I don't have anything better to do. I sit at my sewing machine and try to come up with good fictional stories to post in every one else's PTRs.

D~

[Lidian]

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

LOL...guess I should explain...chocolate is not considered a sweet to me...it is in a class by itself!

(my son in law makes a mean cup of Mexican style hot chocolate with Jalapenos in it! Yumm!)

Nini

That sounds really neat! I'd totally try it.

[miprender]

Originally Posted by cogero

Nini you are a good person. Didn't see it but I think it is sweet that you apologized.

Totally agree!

Originally Posted by Lidian

That's awesome! Maybe one day I'll graduate from a straight stitch and try something new!

Be careful.... it can become very addicting We would always have a matching shirt day on our trips with one of the iron on designs from the DISign thread to buying an embroidery machine and making 17 sets x 5 people for our trip this past summer.

[NiniMorris]

Originally Posted by miprender

Be careful.... it can become very addicting We would always have a matching shirt day on our trips with one of the iron on designs from the DISign thread to buying an embroidery machine and making 17 sets x 5 people for our trip this past summer.

Oh yes...when we went in 2010...we were there for 10 days...times 2 shirts....times 7 people...add to that mix two girls with custom dresses for several meals and a visit to BBB... And as every addict will tell you...it was so much fun!


It is killing me not being able to really plan for our shirts this trip! While I am 99% sure we will go with the week after Thanksgiving, I can't seem to wrap my head around giving up the reservation with the free dining! That free dining is saving us about $3000...actually more like 2800. Once my husband gives me the go ahead (meaning that we will still go at that time even if Free dining isn't released) I can finally get the planning underway. But right now, I is scared.

I did a stitch out of one of Heather Sue's new Christmas designs...and I loved it! I am just not sure I want to do shirts that require an hour stitch out for all of us...kwim? It was a realllllly cute Gingerbread house with Mickey/Minnie ears. I know I will probably end up with doing that shirt anyway, just because I like the way it turned out.

I'm thinking about making a trip to Joanne's to get a few yards of various Christmas fabric ...just in case...but last week my local Joanne's did not have any Disney Christmas fabric. I need to go look again.


Of course, right now I have enough projects to keep me busy for the next year...and I ran out of white thread! Now, for me that is really major! Unless it is top stitching or decorative stitching, the actual construction of garments is actually done with white thread. I buy 5 to 10 spools at a time. How on Earth did I run out?

I have a quilt that needs another border (too small by a few inches for the King size bed it is supposed to be on) and one more Christmas Dress to finish. Next week I will have a customer's quilt to do the quilting on so I have to have MY stuff done by then.

(and to anyone following the ongoing drama about my married daughter's quilt...she has to take the one that is already pieced. I don't have the time (or inclination) to make a new one by December 10th!)

I 'think' that last sentence exceeded the amount of parenthesis allowed in one sentence! My English teacher would be proud!


Nini

[DMGeurts]

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

Oh yes...when we went in 2010...we were there for 10 days...times 2 shirts....times 7 people...add to that mix two girls with custom dresses for several meals and a visit to BBB... And as every addict will tell you...it was so much fun!

I haven't done a trip with customs yet... I didn't sew on our last trip... but we did do coordinating tshirts from the Disney store every day, and we had a blast with those - so I really can't even imagine how awesome this is going to be!

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

It is killing me not being able to really plan for our shirts this trip! While I am 99% sure we will go with the week after Thanksgiving, I can't seem to wrap my head around giving up the reservation with the free dining! That free dining is saving us about $3000...actually more like 2800. Once my husband gives me the go ahead (meaning that we will still go at that time even if Free dining isn't released) I can finally get the planning underway. But right now, I is scared.

I can't wait to hear what you decide. I hope you can go for the holidays.

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

I did a stitch out of one of Heather Sue's new Christmas designs...and I loved it! I am just not sure I want to do shirts that require an hour stitch out for all of us...kwim? It was a realllllly cute Gingerbread house with Mickey/Minnie ears. I know I will probably end up with doing that shirt anyway, just because I like the way it turned out.

I love this one too... it's adorable! Someday I will own an embroidery machine... I just don't understand how you get all the fabric to lay down under the stitches. Because when I hand applique, I cut it out so precicely, but - from what I understand - when you machine embroider and use fabric as the fill, you cut it off after the machine is finished embroidering. So, do you have to be really quick and pause the machine to cut the fabric around the stitching? Or do you lift the project up off the machine after each color then put it back down again. D~ is beyond confuzled.

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

I'm thinking about making a trip to Joanne's to get a few yards of various Christmas fabric ...just in case...but last week my local Joanne's did not have any Disney Christmas fabric. I need to go look again.

I would love to go too... but I am trying so hard to stay away. I am so nervous that my ER visit the other day is going to have to come out of my sewing funds that I've been saving for our trip. DH insists that we don't have to pay a deductable for ER visits, but I just can't imagine that's true, because they are so expensive.

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

Of course, right now I have enough projects to keep me busy for the next year...and I ran out of white thread! Now, for me that is really major! Unless it is top stitching or decorative stitching, the actual construction of garments is actually done with white thread. I buy 5 to 10 spools at a time. How on Earth did I run out?

I buy a ton of white thread too... but then I have every other color under the rainbow, because I am a nut case like that. I still have one full spool of white left, then I will be out, as well.

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

I have a quilt that needs another border (too small by a few inches for the King size bed it is supposed to be on) and one more Christmas Dress to finish. Next week I will have a customer's quilt to do the quilting on so I have to have MY stuff done by then.

(and to anyone following the ongoing drama about my married daughter's quilt...she has to take the one that is already pieced. I don't have the time (or inclination) to make a new one by December 10th!)

I agree that you should just give your dd the quilt you had made. Sometimes I wonder if people even realize how much time and work goes into any sewing project.\???

Originally Posted by NiniMorris

I 'think' that last sentence exceeded the amount of parenthesis allowed in one sentence! My English teacher would be proud!


Nini

Of course she's proud of you... We all are!

D~

[NiniMorris]

Originally Posted by DMGeurts

I love this one too... it's adorable! Someday I will own an embroidery machine... I just don't understand how you get all the fabric to lay down under the stitches. Because when I hand applique, I cut it out so precicely, but - from what I understand - when you machine embroider and use fabric as the fill, you cut it off after the machine is finished embroidering. So, do you have to be really quick and pause the machine to cut the fabric around the stitching? Or do you lift the project up off the machine after each color then put it back down again. D~ is beyond confuzled.




D~

Once you discover how easy it is to applique with an embroidery machine you will laugh!

The first stitch is called the placement stitch. After it stitches, you place a piece of the chosen fabric that is larger than the size you need and place it over the placement stitch. Then you stitch the tack down stitch. This 'tacks down' the fabric. Then you remove the hoop from the machine. (The fabric is secured in the hoop) and cut the fabric around the tack down stitch, and place the hoop back on the machine. The next stitch is the satin stitch. Then there will be any detail stitches.

If it is a multi fabric applique you just repeat those steps.

See how easy that was? Now, there are a couple other things you can do to make sure you get a good finished product...like use heat N bond lite on the backs of all your applique fabrics. Then when you are finished and unhoop your design, you give it a good ironing and the applique fabric fuses to the background fabric. No puckers or frays.

The hardest part is getting the design centered on your fabric...like on shirts. On dresses I always applique on a piece of fabric that is larger than my pattern piece needs to be...that way I have a bit of fudge room in case I mess up

There is actually a couple of video tutorials on how to do it. I think the funny part is that the way my machine tells me to do it is all wrong! I just ignore that and do it the way I know you should.... and yes, I had downloaded my manual a week prior to getting my machine. I had watched every video I could and knew how to do everything (sort of) before I ever got the machine! As long as you start with a simple good design (like Heather Sue's) it is easy peasy!

Nini

[DMGeurts]

OK - I think I get it. Thanks for the explanation! So, you take the hoop out after the tack down stitch, then you cut around that (pretty close?) and then you satin stitch over that? But.... how do you know how big to cut the fabric piece?

The idea of doing the embroidery before you cut out your pattern piece makes a lot of sense - because then you can center the pattern piece over the embroidery vs. trying to center the cut out piece in the embroidery machine. Did I understand that correctly?

See, that's what I love about you all... you are always so willing to help people learn - I feel like that's where I fail - because I can't explain how I do things very well.

D~

[miprender]

Nini I remember you mentioning about the Heat N Bond Lite before and it keeps the design from getting wrinkly after washing. I might have to try this next time.


And Dorrine once you get a machine you will not believe how easy it is. It is easier than sewing IMO.

Here is the link that started my obsession (besides the Disboutique thread) http://www.swakembroidery.com/swak-1...uetutorial.htm

[NiniMorris]

With all D's talk about the Ultimate Park Bag and the cute ones she is making for the kiddie sized travelers, I thought I'd show you the park bag I made myself for 2010's trip.

It is a variation on a diaper bag. With Mr D, I have a ton of stuff I have to take in the park each day. I have a large gallon size ziplock bag that just holds all the meds for the day. (quick tip, if you have to take in a lot of meds in the park...put them in the original container ...the pharmacy will give you a duplicate empty prescription bottle if you ask...and put them in a clear baggie inside your bag. I have never had problems getting them through park security once I started doing this!)

I made this as a Disney/Minnie inspired bag. Started with a Diaper bag pattern and modified it to fit what I needed.



Wow...didn't realize that picture was so blurry! Sorry!

Now, I wish I had taken a picture of the Minnie inspired bag made with the Rosetta pattern. I made one for my Daughter in law for this same trip. It turned out really cute, and since the Grand Princess was not 100% potty trained at that point, it was large (actually HUGE) enough to be used as a diaper bag. She now uses it as a brief case and puts her laptop in there.

This past trip, I just used a fanny pack I borrowed from someone. I still had problems carrying that, so I am considering this next trip to have th meds bag and a couple other clear bags to leave in the bottom of the stroller...and then just put my camera and phone in my pocket.

I discovered I did not like having the fanny pack around my waist...so I was carrying it slung over my shoulder. Anyone with neck problems know that is not smart! By the end of the first day I realized it wasn't going to work...so I ended up leaving it on the stroller most of the time and just grabbing it when I went on a ride or show.

I'm thinking the ideal solution would be to have something that would carry the necessities and attach to the stroller but easily detached to carry on shows and rides. So I might be on the look out for some similar type patterns to see what I can find.





----


D...the way you know what size fabric to cut is by looking at the placement stitch. you just want a piece that will cover all the stitches. I have gotten to the point where I cut all my most used applique fabrics into 5x7 'patches'. That way I know I will never need anything larger...of course this way there is too much fabric waste for my tastes...but it is working other than that...(did that make sense?)



Nini