EQ Photo Fun Blog Hop and Giveaway

Today SewCalGal is participating in a EQ Photo Fun Blog Hop, hosted by Carol of FunThreads Designs.   We hope to inspire you and increase awareness on how you can incorporate photos into projects you design in EQ7.  And, SewCalGal thinks you'll be amazed with the insights, tips, tutorials and inspirational projects shared by the participating bloggers in this blog hop. Plus, there is a great giveaway opportunity too!

Today, SewCalGal wants to share insights on some of my favorite uses of the EQ Image worktable, which offers a vast amount of functionality within EQ7.
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 One of the most popular uses of the EQ Image worktable is to create memory quilts.  You can easily upload a photo  to EQ7 software, edit your image and decide how you want to place your images on your project.  

It is also easy to size your images in this software and print your image to EQ Printable fabric.  There are a many varieties of Printable fabric, but Premium Cotton Lawn Inkjet Fabric is SewCalGal's favorite.  

You can easily print your pictures to EQ Printables and piece them into your projects to create special memory quilts.  

Or even a  seasonal "memory quit" table runner.

It is very easy to use EQ7 to decide what blocks, fabrics and images you may want to use in your project.  

And, as I'm a batik lover, I'll share that I just purchased the most recent EQStash online which has over 1,100 new batik fabrics from top fabric manufacturers such as Hoffman, Island Batik, Moda, Robert Kaufman, and Timeless Treasures.  Wow, am I having fun designing with these beautiful batiks too!

The Image Worktable will also allow you to:

• Trace a photo to create an quilt design
•  (e.g. applique design, paper pieced design, etc.) 
•  photo editing
• resize
• rotate
• flip
• cropping
• hue saturation and lightness
• color changing
• apply effects to create watercolor artwork (47 different options)

• create an art quilt / photo collage quilt

• photo layout to create backgrounds/print your own fabric

• And, it is also a popular tool to create quilt labels

• And, you can even use the Image Worktable to create greeting cards! Imagine sending out personalized greeting cards throughout the year, that could contain your photos, favorite clipart, as well as designs that you've created in EQ7!

TUTORIAL - Create A Quilt Label:

For those with EQ7, here is a mini tutorial to help you get your feet wet with the image work table in EQ7.  This exercise will show you how to create a quilt label, as shown above.  But you can also use this tutorial to create clip art to make a greeting card, or for your blog.

Start a new EQ7 project and name it Playing with Images.  

Click the work on Quilt button ( located on your top menu bar)

Click on the Layout tab and change the settings to:
1 block horizontal

7" wide
5" high 

(or your desired size)

Click on the Borders tab and change the settings to: 

.5 for all sides of the border.

Click on Layer 2 tab.

Click on the Text tool icon

In the popup menu for Applique Text that appears select your favorite font and size of your text.

Press and hold your Shift Key while clicking your left mouse button down and draw a box on Layer 2 for where you want your text to appear.

Using your mouse click once inside of that text box and now type the text you wish to add to your quilt label.

Click the paintbrush icon and select the color (or fabric) that you want your text to use.

Now click on your text to "paint it the color you wish.

Click on Image Worktable in the menu icons.

Click the upload an image icon.

Browse to where the image you want to play with is located. Open it and then you might want to crop it before you start.

click the Zoom Fit button

click the crop button and use your mouse to grab the nodules on the dotted line around your picture, to drag to where you want to crop.  Essentially you reframe your picture and then click the checkmark in the green circle (on the main menu bar) to accept the change.

Click the Add to Sketchbook button. 

Repeat for as many photos you wish to add to your quilt label.
click on the work on quilt button 

click on the layer 2 tab (at the bottom of your menu)
Click on the set photo button 

You can click on the export image button to create an image that you can use as clipart to print a greeting card, share on your blog.  

You can also click File > Print > Quilt and print this image on Electric Quilt Printable Fabric to use as a quilt label, as you feel appropriate.

You can save these images each time you make a change and they are saved to the Photo section of your sketchbook. Design quilts with these unique pictures and print them on photo fabric for one of a kind quilts.

TUTORIAL - Create A Greeting Card:

Click on the Work on Quilt Icon

Click on the layout tab and use the following settings

Number of Blocks Horizontal = 1  Vertical = 1

Finished Block size = 8.5 width and 11 height

Sashing = 0

Click on the borders tab and set to 0 borders

Click on the Work on Image Icon

Click on the Upload Image icon and browse to find the image you want to upload.

Click add to Sketchbook

Click on the Work on Quilt Icon

Click on the Layer 2 tab

Click on the set photo icon

Click on the photo in the “Sketchbook Photos” that you want to place on the cover of your greeting card.

Hold down your shift key and your left mouse button and draw a box on Layer 2 in the lower right quadrant

Click on the Adjust Icon and click on your image to move or resize it.  To move simply click on your image and hold down your left mouse button and drag your image to the location you desire.  To change the size of your image you can use your left mouse to click on any of the crosshair boxes on your image and hold and drag to change the size.  Or, type in the measurements you desire in the size box on the menu bar and press enter.

Caution:  Be careful to change the size of your image keeping the scale aligned to the original image to avoid distortion of your photo (e.g. don’t stretch too tall or too wide, unless that is what you intend to do).

Click on the text icon to add text to your greeting card. 

An Applique Text popup box will appear.  Select a font that you wish to use and set the size of your font, as desired.

Use your mouse to draw a box in the upper left quandrant by holding down your shift key and your left mouse button.

Click inside of this box and type “Happy Easter”, or your appropriate text.  For my sample, as I used a 1” font size, I inserted enter after the Happy to get my text to appear on two lines.

Click on the paintbrush color to select a color (or fabric fill) for your text. 

Click on your text with your paintbrush to paint your text the color you have selected.

Click on the adjust tool and click on your text.

Type 180 in the rotate text box

Click the save to sketchbook button

Click the save button to save your file.

Click File > Print > Quilt

On the Print Quilt Pop up menu, be sure the following options are unchecked:

Print Name

Print Block Outline

Print Patch Outline

Before you click the “print”, to send to your printer, consider printing your card on a heavier paper than typical everyday inkjet paper.  You may want to use a white cardstock for your greeting card, but really just about any paper that you can run thru your printer will work fine 

Fold your paper in quadrants to create the greeting card and you are ready to give your handmade greeting card away.

You can also save this card to an image and print a card from your photo manager.  From the main menu in EQ7 click File >  Export Image.  But be sure when the “Export Image File of Quilt” pop up menu appears to uncheck Outline Patches and Outline blocks.

Think of the possibilities of adding quilting blocks, appliqué, or an endless variety of photos or clipart to personalize your greeting card.  Of course, I’d love to see what type of greeting cards (or quilt labels) that you create with the Image Worktable and EQ7.  Super Easy Peasy and Fun.  And if you have questions about this tutorial, simply email me   

and let me know if you need help.  I'll also gladly update this tutorial to try to make this tutorial easier to follow, based on your feedback.

  

Don't forget to visit all of the blogs participating in this hop, as they are sharing great tips, tutorials and inspirational projects all focused on the Image Worktable in EQ7.  Here is the lineup for this hop:

April 14th

FunThreads  

Beaquilter   

Seams to be Sew 

April 15th

SewCalGal

Patchwork Breeze  

April 16th

Sew Incredibly Crazy  

FunThreads  

DoYouEQ  

Did I mention a Giveaway?

Electric Quilt is the sponsor of this blog hop and 

Carol of FunThreads Designs has coordinated a giveaway using a Rafflecopter form that you can use to enter to win a pack of Electric Quilt Inkjet Fabric or a copy of Digital Essentials.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Favorite Tutorials - Electric Quilt (EQ7)

Have you ever found a pattern you liked, but it just wasn't the right size?  Did you know EQ7 can be used to re-size a pattern?  And the DoYouEQ blog has a great tutorial on how.












Such a great tutorial, I wanted to add this to my favorite tutorials list:

http://doyoueq.com/blog/2013/01/using-eq7-to-re-size-patterns/

Playtime with EQ7 - It's All About Borders (and a special challenge opportunity for EQ users)

SewCalGal always enjoy playtime with EQ7.  It is fun to quickly create a design and then change it to create a completely new design, as well as to help select fabrics and color palettes.   Today I had fun thinking about design layouts for the 2013 FMQ Challenge #5 - It's All About Borders, with Patsy Thompson.  This particular challenge is focused on inspiring quilters to learn/improve their FMQ skills, but I've also come up with a way to make this a fun challenge for EQ users.  So, this post has two opportunities:

1)  Anyone interested in  learning/improving their FMQ skills can participate in any/all 2013 FMQ Challenges. And, while Challenge #5 encourages you to also create your own unique design, this post shares insight on how I used EQ7 to quickly come up with some design ideas.  You are welcome to use these designs or adapt them to make them your own.

2) For EQ Users, consider this a call for your quilt designs using EQ7/EQ6.  Simply take a look at the 2013 FMQ Challenge #5 and  to design a project layout for this FMQ Challenge - It's All About Borders!  Keep in mind this challenge will focus on borders that show off FMQ vs pieced, but that doesn't mean you can't enter a design, with a lot of borders that also uses piecing.  Your design can be any size (e.g. table runner/tolpper, wallhanging, lap quilt, full size quilt, etc.). Bloggers and non-bloggers can enter by way of a linkup at the bottom of this post.

The Challenge calls for 8-10 borders to a project.


Here are some of my design ideas for the It's All About Borders Challenge:
 



 {above} Wall Hanging measures 38"x38" Inside ble mock measures 12"x12"  Borders measure: #1 - 2.5", #2 - 1/2", #3 - 1/2", #4 - 1/2", #5 - 1", #6 - 1", #7 - 2.5", #8 - 1/2", #9- 4".

 

{above} Table Runner measures 30"x65"
Inside piece measures 5"x40.5"
Borders measure:  #1 - 1", #2 - 2.5", #3 - 1/2", #4 - 2", #5 - 1/2", #6 - 2.5", #7 - 1/2", #8 - 3".



{above} Large Throw measures 66"x74"
Inside piece measures 40"x48" and could easily contain a large area for FMQ or blocks.
Borders measure:  #1 - 1", #2 - 2.5", #3 - 1/2", #4 - 2", #5 - 1/2", #6 - 2.5", #7 - 1/2", #8 - 1/2", #9 - 3".



{above} Wall hanging or Table Topper measures 45"x45"
Inside block measures 9"x9".
Borders measure:  #1 - 6" wide and uses half drop diamonds", #2 - 2.5", #3 - 1/2", #4 - 2", #5 - 1/2", #6 - 2.5", #7 - 1/2", #8 - 1/2", #9 - 3".

For EQ Users, this is a unique challenge this also a great challenge for you and they'll be special prizes awarded to one lucky winner.  But do take time to look at the 2013 FMQ Challenge #5 as your designs need to support the theme of this challenge.

To enter the FMQ Challenge - It's All About Borders click here.

To enter this EQ Challenge - It's All About Borders:

Rules to enter this challenge:

Deadline to enter is October 31st, 2013.  SewCalGal is coordinating working with sponsors.  You can find a current list of sponsors and prizes on the main page for the FMQ Challenge.  Those that enter this EQ Challenge - It's All About Borders will receive one entry to win a prize in the 2013 FMQ Challenge.  SewCalGal will also have more sponsors and prizes for this EQ Challenge and will announce more info this summer (and update this post).  But either way, I hope if you are a EQ Fan you'll use this challenge to help inspire others.

For bloggers:

Please post your entry on your blog. To clarify, you can include as many photos of this  exercise in your post, but you can only add one link to the linky tool below. You can share tips, tutorials if you like, but your design ideas are a must requirement for this challenge.  And your design ideas need to be appropriate for the FMQ Challenge - It's All About Borders.

Bloggers should not add a link to their blog, but a direct link to their blog post to a current post that references they are entering this EQ theme challenge.

For non-Bloggers:

1) You will need to have a Flickr account (www.flickr.com). 

2) Upload your photos for this month's challenge to Flickr, batch organize, send your photos to groups, select "FMQ Challenge". While Flickr, limits the amount of text you can share in your description, feel free to share your perspective on this exercise and/or your past FMQ experience, if you wish.

3) After your photos have successfully been loaded to the "FMQ Challenge" group, click on your best photo in that group, ideally one that shows you created a project or sharing your practice sandwich that reflects insights shared in this  tutorial.  Be sure to Copy the URL link to your specific photo entry. Add that link to the linky tool above, to officially enter this show.

Beaquilter's EQ Applique'd Animals Blog Hop - EQ7 Tutorial & Giveaway

SewCalGal is delighted to be participating in Beaquilter's EQ Applique' Animals Blog Hop this week.  I hope you are having fun visiting all the participating blogs too!  If you are not familiar with this blog hop, all the participating bloggers LOVE EQ and are sharing tips, tutorials, inspiration and giveaways on their blogs this week, all with a EQ Applique' animal, bug or critter theme!

I enjoy using my Silhouette Cameo to easily cut out applique' shapes.  I want to create a project that incorporates some Geckos, using a shape I purchased at the Silhouette online store.  But, of course, you can easily draw your own Gecko shape in Electric Quilt (EQ7) and manually cut it out.   I really like how easy EQ7 is to use to plan out a project, as it helps my creative juices flow.

I was initially thinking of a simple table topper, but didn't get very excited about this design.  Although I have ideas on how to add more pizazz to the blocks, to make this table topper more interesting. And, it is super easy to do this in EQ7.  For me, it isn't just a matter of being easy but fun.  I find it quite relaxing, de-stressing, and super fun to use EQ7 to let my creativity run free......

In playing with EQ7, I did decide that I have to make some Aloha Mug Rugs.

But, as I like Hawaiian Applique, EQ7 definitely inspired me to want to make a table runner and use the geckos in the setting blocks.    



I love combining Modern Quilting Tools, such as EQ7 and the Silhouette Cameo to help plan and create projects quickly and easily. I don't like to take time to draw on paper, nor do I like to manually cut out an applique' shape. From an EQ7 perspective, I also selected the gecko shape to share insights on a few of my favorite tools in EQ7 that help me quickly trace an image of such a detailed shape as this gecko.

Importing an image and tracing it in EQ7 is really very easy.

It is a matter of becoming familiar with a couple of very simple tools.

The Zoom tools definitely help to fine tune a trace that needs to be at a detailed level, such as with my gecko.  And, the drawing tools (pick, shape, line, bezier, freehand) are the artist tools that are also easy, along with the undo tool.

The Edit Arc tool allows you add segments (nodes) that make it easier to use the shape tools to have your trace match a detailed drawing.  If you have not yet used these tools in EQ7, or are not comfortable with them, I highly encourage you to play with them.  They really are easy and fun to use and you can easily create very detailed applique' shapes.

EQ7 allows you to create an applique' block that you can use to set in your quilt designs, or you can create an applique' motif that you can place anywhere on your quilt top (e.g. sashing, borders, blocks, etc).   It is also easy to convert an applique block to an applique' motif or a motif to a block.  

If you are interested in seeing my tutorial , please click this image to download a PDF tutorial for creating a detailed applique' motif.  It has been uploaded to Google/Drive and you should be able to view it, do a save as to save to your computer and/or print it from within Google/Drive.  It has far more details than I could include in this post.  

I hope you found my post insightful on using EQ7 for applique and for those that are learning, that my tutorial is helpful.  Beaquilter has pulled together a talented group of quilters that use EQ software and have shared many wonderful tutorials this week.  If you haven't yet visited them, I hope you'll take time to check out the tutorials.  And, they are also hosting giveaways sponsored by the Electric Quilt Company that there is still time to enter.  Here is the line up for this blog hop:

Monday April 22nd

Seamstobesew (Summer Animal)

Freemotionbytheriver (Critters and Bugs)

Sewincrediblycrazy (Critters and Bugs)

Beaquilter (Summer Stuff)

Tuesday April 23rd

Kissedquilts (Summer Animals)

Seamstobesew (Critters and Bugs)

Funthreads (Summer Stuff)

Wednesday April 24th

Funthreads (Summer Animals)

Patchworkbreeze (Critters and Bugs)

Beaquilter (Critters and Bugs)

Sewincrediblycrazy (Summer Stuff) 

Thursday April 25th

Beaquilter (Summer Animals)

Janesquilting (Critters and Bugs)

Seamstobesew (Summer Stuff)

Friday April 26th

SewCalGal (Critters and Bugs)
Behind The Mouse, the Electric Quilt Blog

• DoYouEQ has excellent free tutorials for EQ7 and other EQ software.  For those that don't have a lot of time, try my "15 minute" approach.  Take advantage of the free Benni Harper Lessons and spend 15 minutes a day.  You can easily start/stop in the middle of a lesson and also repeat as often as you need to embed it into your muscle memory.  You'll be surprised how much you'll learn in a short period of time, just spending 15 minutes a day with your EQ software.  
• More confident users and advanced users should take advantage of the monthly EQ Challenges at Club EQ, hosted by the very talented Barb Vlack.  These challenges are free and an amazing way to learn/improve your EQ AND Design skills!  
• The EQ7 Summer Drawing Series starts May lst and is FREE to everyone.  Simply visit the EQ blog to follow this series.  SewCalGal is definitely looking forward to it.  And, the EQ Blog is a great blog for all EQ users to follow as they share tips, tutorials, inspirational projects and a lot of fun activities!

• Beaquilter also has a great EQ tutorial that she shares every Tuesday on her blog.  SewCalGal certainly enjoys Bea's blog and looks forward to her weekly EQ tutorials too!

Did I mention a giveaway?

The Electric Quilt Company has generously sponsored this blog hop where participating blogs are hosting a giveaway for different versions of Quiltmaker's Quilting Designs (1-8).  SewCalGal has a copy of version 8 to give to one lucky follower.  

This CD allows you to easily browse through the designs, print them in any size to precisely fit your borders, blocks, sashing for all of your projects.  This particular collection includes all over designs, feathers, flowers, whimsicals, leaves and geometrics.  You can use with out EQ7, or within EQ7 you can easily pull in these designs to plan out how you will add free-motion quilting to your project. SewCalGal is a big fan of these Quiltmaker Quilting Designs.

Click here to enter this giveaway via a Rafflecopter form


SewCalGal is also happy to announce the winner of the Fun Friday Giveaway from last week, sponsored by the Quilt Show.  The winner is Jean.