Trying New Things...Success!

I posted the other day about trying new things to see what I can do with applique and embroidery. This weekend I finished up a project using some new applique designs that I could just see turning out so cute. My idea was to make a burlap wreath with an applique initial made out of burlap and add on stuffed appliques for different holidays. The idea started when I found this beautiful new applique font. I knew I wanted to get it on a wreath somehow. I thought I would try to applique it out of burlap on burlap. I had no idea if that would work or not! I was pleasantly surprised when it did! I also found an adorable applique design for a stuffed pumpkin to be all stitched out in the embroidery hoop. I had never used an "In The Hoop" design, but it was very easy. The burlap wreath was very easy to do, but then I had to figure out how to put all the pieces together. I love the way the end product turned out, even though there are several things that I will do differently next time. I have other designs that I am looking forward to doing for Christmas and Easter in order to change the wreath to match with the holiday.

Happy Fall!

I have now completed two more fall shirts that I absolutely love! I thought, when buying applique patterns for fall, that I would love the ribbon turkey design the most. And, I do love it. Then, I stitched out this dotted pumpkin design. Oh boy! Now I don't know which I love more! I am so glad I don't have to be the one to choose! But, yesterday, I stitched out this old truck with a pumpkin design. Oh my goodness! This shirt turned out so cute! Now my son is asking for one! With all these fall designs to choose from - decisions, decisions?!

Trying New Things...If At First You Don't Succeed, Try Try Again

I have been so excited to share this outfit on the blog. That is, until this morning.

I tried a new kind of applique using vinyl for a bubblegum machine and buttons for the gum. I thought I had researched it, figured it out, and even tried it out on a sample. I learned a lot through completing the sample. Such as, the vinyl I used CAN NOT be ironed, even using a press cloth! That was fun to see it all wrinkled up! Completed the sample, washed it, and thought it was great. Completed the outfit this weekend and washed it last night. I put it on my daughter this morning to take some pictures, only to find out that the vinyl had a small tear in it pulling away from the stitches!

I have since done more research to find that I should have used a heavier vinyl. So, this is not the end of this applique pattern! As the saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again!" And that is what I will be doing. In the mean time, I think I have figured out how to at least "fix" my daughter's. She is thrilled because she loves the outfit. And who wouldn't love all this polka dot cuteness?!?!

Linking Up

I am pretty much writing this blog post as a trial for me! Setting up and linking up three accounts is a bit time-consuming, and I am still trying to figure out the best ways of doing that. I have tried one way, so this is my trial of posting a picture on this blog to be able to pin and post.

It is also amusing that I just picked my picture to link up...one of a turkey applique dress I did for Thanksgiving! I guess you could say that my trying to link up these sites has been a turkey! At least it is an adorable one!

Christmas Pajamas

Here are some of my latest projects...Christmas pajamas! These pajamas are so cute when personalized! They are also apparently very comfortable as these are the ONLY pajamas that my kiddos would love to wear all day long! These pajamas have already gone through a couple of pre-orders, and the extra stock should be available in a few weeks. If you are interested, please let me know so we can see if the color and size combination you need is available.

Expanding and Connecting

I am starting to blog for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love what I am doing with Jumpin' Jacks Stitches! I can not thank you enough for both being interested in the things I am creating and letting me create some of those things for you! Since I love what I am doing, I am trying to figure out some ways to expand. I also would like to be able to connect with more people, including those who are not on Facebook.

I hope that this blog will be a place that I can show what I am creating and also share some ideas of things that I could create. I see so many designs and have so many ideas of things to create, and I am hoping that this blog will give us all a place to share and comment.