ScanNCut CM550DX

ScanNCut CM550DX
From Brother Canada

I recently receive an amazing product to review.   This post is essentially to present you the product itself.  In about a month or so I will blog once more about it and present some of the projects I have done with it.

Presenting the Brother ScanNCut CM550DX!

What it is:

ScanNCut is the world's first home and hobby cutting machine with a built-in scanner. It can create outline cutting designs from a hand drawn sketch, original art, or something you saw in a magazine, without the use of a PC. It includes 702 built-in designs, 140 quilting designs, 5 built-in fonts and a built-in 300 dpi colour scanner. The scanner itself will allow you to create sharp and highly personalized shapes for your projects.  Once you choose your design or scan in the image, photo or hand drawn sketch, ScanNcut will precisely cut the shapes or outlines you want. It can cut paper, fabric or plastic at the press of a button- all perfectly. The only thing limiting you is your imagination.

To expand your possibilities, please visit https://scanncutcanvas.brother.com/

The machine is very light and easy to transport.  A lady at our church organize a monthly get-together for women who wants to do some crafting.  It would be easy to bring this machine and use it to make cards and scrapbook pages while being in fellowship with other crafty women.  And don’t forget that this stand-alone machine doesn’t need a computer or software to work.   It will automatically converts your scanned images into a cut data from which you can work.  You can also use the ScanNCut to create intricate designs with easy by using the draw function.

Here’s the information sheet for the ScanNCut machine.

Brother has three models of ScanNCut available – depending of your budget.

CM 100DM Red – 500 Built-in Designs, 100 built-in quilt patterns, 5 fonts, standard mat 12x12, low tack adhesive mat 12x12, standard cut blade, standard cut blade holder, deep cut blade, deep cut blade holder,  high tack adhesive fabric support sheet (2 pcs), iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet (2 pieces), simple spatula, stylus.   Price 399$

CM250 Purple – 600 Built-in Designs, 100 built-in quilt patterns, 5 fonts, standard mat 12x12, additional standard mat 12x12, low tack adhesive mat 12x12, standard cut blade, standard cut blade holder, deep cut blade, deep cut blade holder,  color pen set (6 pens), erase pen set (2 pens), pen holder, high tack adhesive fabric support sheet (2 pcs), iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet (2 pieces), simple spatula, stylus.   Price 449$

CM550DX Light Blue – 700 Built-in Designs, 100 built-in quilt patterns, 5 fonts, standard mat 12x12, additional standard mat 12x12, low tack adhesive mat 12x12, standard cut blade, standard cut blade holder, deep cut blade, deep cut blade holder,  color pen set (6 pens), erase pen set (2 pens), pen holder, 50 appliqué patterns on a CD, Cut Up This Book, high tack adhesive fabric support sheet (2 pcs), iron-on fabric appliqué contact sheet (2 pieces), simple spatula, stylus.   Price 499$

On top of this amazing machine, Brother has put together ScanNCutCanvas which is a cloud-based web application that gives you the ability to easily convert .svg files to .fcm image tracing and processing overlapping patterns.   It allows you to expand your craftwork by importing projects that you have created or edited with ScanNCutCanvas into your ScanNCut cutting machine.  The best part is that it is free!

This ScanNCut machine will allow you to do a multitude of projects like artistic journal, fancy boxes, cards, table setting name cards, banners, beverage tumbler, calendar, lampshades, photo stands, pop-up cards,appliqué tote bag and more.   The possibilities are unending!

More project can be found on the official website of ScanNCut

The Brother ScanNCut is available at amazon.com.

 

Starter Packages:

 

Patterns for Quilts and Appliqués:

 

Other Accessories

 

  

  

  

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Brother Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Sewing Book

The Sewing Book – Clothes, Home Accessories, Best Tools, Step-by-step Techniques, Creative Projects
By Allison Smith
Published at DK Canada

About the book

This is the only sewing book you'll ever need. Every tool and every technique you require for making your own home furnishings or clothing is closely and sharply photographed, carefully annotated, and clearly explained.
The Tools section begins with the basic toolkit, opening up into everything you could possibly need – every type of cutting tool and machine foot is shown. This section also includes information on patterns – how to measure, how to use, and how to adjust them. Gallery spreads appear throughout the substantial Techniques section and showcase darts, zips, pleats, etc., as well as showing key stitches. Plus, you can bring your acquired and refined skills to fruition as you make some of the 25 home decor and clothing projects at the back of the book. With The Sewing Book on your shelf, you've got every sewing question covered.

Written by a passionate stitcher and teacher, with her own sewing school, eager to produce a one-stop sewing bible for her students, this book leaves no hem unturned. You can dip in at any level – whether you're new to sewing or refining your art, whether you want to repair an old skirt or create a new one, whether you want to spruce up a curtain or design one from scratch. And with a Foreword by U.S. sewing teacher, Diana Rupp, this book has it all sewn up.

My Thoughts

One thing I want to do in 2013 is to discover all the possibilities I have in sewing with my Brother SQ9050.   Recently, I have stepped into the adventure with small projects intended for the Maplelea Girls Doll Léonie that my daughter will receive for her birthday.  And I am impressed by what I have done so far with the machine but I want to be able to make much more with it – like dresses for Jasmine or placemats or PJ pants for my boys.    So to re-learn how to sew (because it has been numerous years since I did it….) I asked DK Canada if I could get The Sewing Book which seemed to be the book to have.  

Well after perusing in it, I think that whoever interesting in sewing should have a copy in their house.  Because like it or not, there is always something to learn when sewing – anyway that’s my opinion.  The book is packed with tips and tricks, techniques as well as projects to do with your sewing machine.    There are three sections in the book – Tools, Techniques, Projects.

In the Tools section, you will be introduced to the equipment needed to do your project, the fabrics and the patterns. I will read this introduction section very carefully to understand the various fabrics and how to work with patterns.    Then you have the possibility to learn various techniques in sewing – darts, tucks, pleats, gathers, facing, necklines, collars, waistlines, belts, tie-backs, sleeves, sleeve finishes, pockets, hems, edges, fasteners, lining, interfacing, mending and professional techniques.   This section probably covers everything you will need to know depending what you are doing as a project.  

Finally there is the Projects section which will provide your with a directory of fashion and home goods likes shirts, tops, blouses, cardigans, sweaters, vests, skirts, dresses, pants, shorts, jackets, coats, pillows, blinds, and curtains.    I would love to make more pillows for our living room as well as curtains for our basement windows.    I have plans to make skirts and dresses as well as pajama pants for the kids.     I only have to find a reasonable place to purchase fabrics.  Recently, someone directed me toward Fabric.com which I intend to explore more carefully in a near future.

If you plan to purchase a sewing machine for someone in your life and that person is a beginner, this book would be a great reference to have.   Also the book is perfect for a more advance sewer as it will give you more techniques to try out.  

The Sewing Book is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

    

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Sewing with the Brother SQ 9050

Earlier this year, I have presented a nice sewing machine – the Brother SQ 9050 - to purchase if you considered sewing.    In the midst of packing and unpacking due to a move that never happened, homeschooling, doing the accounting for our business and reviewing products, I knew I had to make another post for the Brother SQ 9050 and present a project that I have done.   At first I thought to make a dress for my daughter… but I quickly put it aside as it has been YEARS since I sewed something.  So I thought of making new placemats for our dining table.   After visiting the local fabric store, I was a bit discouraged as we were tight with our finances (voluntary) and to make 12 placemats would have been too expensive at this point in time.    I didn’t know what I could do as a project with the machine… 

Not too long ago, I received a Maplelea Girls doll to review and giveaway.  Léonie entered our house and I wondered if I could find ideas to make clothes for this marvelous doll.   Turns out that there are numerous ideas on the internet if you take the time to search.   Being on Pinterest I just had to type American Girls pattern to find a wealth of ideas.    I quickly make a board titled Couture-Maplelea Girls Clothes and pin my heart away.   I had found a project that wouldn’t take too much time and will bring joy in my little girl’s life.   I decided to make some clothes for Léonie.  

Since it has been years that I have touched a sewing machine, I needed an easy pattern.   I found the perfect fit for me with the Make Twirls for Girls which gives you a step-by-step instruction on making a wrap-around skirt for an American Girl/Maplelea Girl doll.   

So one afternoon, I carefully installed the sewing machine in my office and proceeded to follow the instructions to make the dress.

My first step was to prepare the pattern so I can cut the material I wanted.   If you look at the instructions for the skirt at the link provided above and keep a close eye on my picture below, you will see that I made a huge error.   I forgot to place the pattern on the folded piece of material so I ended up with two small pieces instead of a big one.   I quickly “repaired” my problem by sewing the two pieces together.    Then I realized that I needed another color to make a double-sided skirt.  So I quickly went to Wal-Mart to get a piece of red material in order to have two colors on the skirt.   

The second step was to install some Velcro on both section in order to be able to attach the skirt around the waist of the doll.   Here I have black sticky Velcro that we had purchased in the US earlier this year.

Here’s the two pieces that I needed to sew together.  So I place them one of top to the other and slowly proceeded to sew them.

It took a bit of time but I am glad that there are three speeds on the sewing machine.

The final product – a sweet wrap-around skirt for Léonie.   Let’s see how she looks in it.

Then I proceeded to make some thighs make out of a knee sock.   I found some black sock at Dollarama near my house and decided to try it out.

The process is quite easy if you follow the instructions.  Cutting the foot part, stitch in the middle of the sock and round the feet, and then cut in the middle to separate the legs.

And voilà!

Léonie with her new double sided skirt and black thighs.

This sewing machine is amazingly quiet and easy to use.  If you are a beginner or a more advance sewer, I think this machine will be a great machine for you.     I had a little issue the first time I tried to fill one bobbin with the tread but that was mostly my fault because I had missed a step.   Once I realized the error I made and corrected it, it work perfectly well.     The machine has three speeds which is fabulous because you can start slowly at first and speed up the process when you feel more at easy with sewing something.    I see the numerous possibilities with this machine and I dream of becoming more gifted in sewing clothes for Léonie the doll and my children.  

Now I realize that I hadn’t explored all the possibilities with the Brother SQ 9050 as it allows you to do numerous stitches while sewing.   I am looking forward for discovering the machine more in the months to come.   Now that it is sitting on my craft desk, I am planning to use it more regularly.

The Brother SQ 9050 is an amazing machine to my point of view.  I am planning to make other pieces of clothing for the doll.   My next projects will be t-shirts, other skirts, and a PJ for Léonie.   I also want to try to make a skirt out a the legs of an older pair of pants of Jasmine.  Then I will consider making a bathing suit and a dress for the doll.   I am having fun planning my future projects and I know that this machine will help me to do so.

If you have a person in your life who loves to sew or someone who would love to learn, the Brother SQ9050 is perfect for everyone.   It can do numerous projects including quilting which I hope to explore one of these days.

The Brother SQ 9050 is available exclusively at a Wal-Mart near you or on amazon.com.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Citoyen Optimum for sending me Brother SQ9050 in exchange of two blog posts. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Sew Magical for KIDS

Sew Magical for Kids
By Laura Lee Burch
Published at Leisure Arts

About the book

Witnessing a resurgence of interest in hand-fashioned gifts at her creative sewing business, Laura Lee Burch has developed 25 toys and gifts that families can create with love and hand down from one generation to the next. Classic designs that invoke a sense of wonder and spur the imagination, these creations will equip kids to enter a magical world of make-believe. A pirate boat has little pirate dolls and accessories, along with a pirate hat and flag. To go with a doorway puppet theater, there are needle-felted puppets for a princess and knight. Simple costumes include a knight helmet, a stick horse, and an Excalibur sword, plus a fairy flower hat, a cape and mask, and embellished T-shirts. Other projects are a giant octopus pillow, a mermaid rag doll, a tool belt with tools, a ballet bag, a soft baby doll with clothing and a carrier, a tooth fairy pillow, and other items.

My Thoughts

This fun book will guide you to create fun toys for your kids without spending a ton of money.   A tread and a needle is all you will need to put together some original toys in the hands of your children or the kids in your life.

In the introduction section, you will get some guidance on how to stitch and how to proceed with certain techniques necessary in order to make some of the items in the book.   The book contains numerous projects for you whether you have a boy or a girl.   Here’s an idea of the projects included in this book:  Little Ballerina Ballet Bag, a big octopus, a superhero cape and mask, a pirate hat, a pirate flag, a sword, a noble knight’s hood, a royal crown, a broomstick stallion, a baby doll, some baby clothes, a pop star microphone, a mermaid, a handy dandy tool belt and tools, a pirate ship and its crew.  The book also contains the patterns to create all the projects.

I am definitively inspired with this book and as soon as I am confident that I can manage taking such a project, I will do.  Right now, I need to learn how to use my new sewing machine.  

If you are blessed with the gift of sewing and have children in your life who would love cool toys I would like to suggest you that you check out Sew Magical for KIDS.   I’m sure you will find a project or two that will be interesting. 

Sew Magical for Kids is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Brother SQ 9050

Many years ago, while I was a teenager, I learned how to sew a bit.   But as I grew up I didn’t pursue this skill even though my mom strongly suggested that I continue practicing.  Today, at age 43, I am itching in re-connecting with sewing and was debating how to do this.

I had the old Brother machine that my mom used when I was younger but it was a bit complicated to use and wanted something that it more flexible.   So I thought of requesting one from Brother Canada not really expecting a positive answer to that request.

So imagine my surprise and delight when a week later, I got an email saying they are agreeing with my offer of reviewing the SQ9050 which is a computerized sewing and quilting machine with built-in sewing font!

All I had to do was doing two posts – one presenting the machine itself and one later on with a project that I have done.

I must admit that I am a bit fearful to do a project but I accepted the challenge and will try to make a pillow case dress for my daughter in the months to come.

But in the meantime let me present you the SQ9050.

This powerhouse machine is loaded with features including 100 unique build in sewing stitches for utility, decorative, heirloom, and quilting stitches.   Also you will fin a 55 alphanumeric stitches for basic monogramming and 8 styles of one-step auto-size buttonholes for perfect buttonholes each time you need to make one.  

The SQ9050 also comes with a wide quilting table and accessories that will help you do simple of more complex projects.   

The machine is also geared with a stop-start button, an easy to use speed control, a large backlit LCD display, and a handy Flip Switch Guide.

My maternal grand-mother has made numerous quilts throughout her life. To this day, I still have some of the quilts she has made. The kids each have one in their bed and I even had one made for a crib. Now I am far from being able to do quilts at this point in time but I would love to explore this skill in the future. This machine will allow me to do so since it is equipped with stitches to help you do so.

Already I am rediscovering sewing thanks to a book I have just received from DK Canada (which will be the subject of another review), and I look forward to explore the possibilities of the SQ9050 from Brother Canada.

Yesterday as I was in Wal-Mart, I saw the SQ9050 in store.   The price is around 250$ or so depending of where you purchase it.

In a few months, I am hoping to write again about my experience with the SQ9050 and post a project (and maybe more than one project) that I have accomplished with it.    But please bear with me as I am learning to use this machine as well as re-connect with the sewing skills I might have lost through the years.   

Disclaimer: Thanks to Citoyen Optimum for sending me Brother SQ9050 in exchange of two blog posts. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.