I am having entirely too much fun.  I admit that freely.  Ever since
I started creating my own motifs in my digitizing software, I have been
finding ever more ways to use them.  My latest is this Cathedral Windows
water bottle caddy.  I created a panel that fits in my 200 x 360 mm hoop
and embroidered two of them to make a caddy.  The panel includes a base and
a strap sleeve (the top of the caddy finishes raw edges and has an opening
for the strap).  The base has centering lines to help you add text to your
design.  Here is a picture of one of the panels ...



... and here is the completed caddy.



     I used a Superior Rainbows variegated thread for the fill pattern.
The lettering is arranged with my Contour Script 75 alphabet and is
stitched in white.

     There are five repeats of the cathedral windows motif so I named this
design wbc_cw_5.  I also arranged versions with four and six motifs per
row, called wbc_cw_4 and wbc_cw_6, respectively.  In the next image, the
four-motif arrangement is a wine caddy (a gift for friends who like to
bring a bottle of wine when invited to dinner).



     I also offer three sizes of shell designs, wbc_shell_6, wbc_shell_7,
and wbc_shell_8.  The numbers again refer to the number of repeats per row.
Wbc_bicycle_1 has straight lines of bicycles, while wbc_bicycle_2 has wavy
lines.  The bicycles appear to go up and down hills.  The final two designs
in this collection are wbc_octagon, and wbc_waves (representing water).  The
following picture shows all ten fills together.



     The base alone fits in a 200 x 260 mm hoop.  Two strap sleeves
together will also fit in that hoop, so I arranged the designs for ease in
embroidering.  Embroider two _base panels, mirroring one as suggested in
the instructions included with purchase.  Stitch only one _sleeves panel.

     Each design is available as a single design for the 200 x 360 mm hoop
and as a set of two or three designs for the 200 x 260 mm hoop.  I mirrored
one strap sleeve for the _sleeves design, so the panel is ready to stitch.
For the bicycle fills, you may want to reverse one panel, but you may prefer
to see your bicycles riding in one direction all around the caddy.  Therefore,
I arranged the design of two strap sleeves for both options.  The design ending
_1rev indicates that one strap sleeve has been reversed.  Individual designs
are available here.  The designs are also available as a complete set.
See my Water Bottle Caddy Stitch Counts document for a listing of all designs,
their stitch counts, and other information you may find useful.  Instructions for
embroidering and assembling the water bottle caddy are included with purchase.

NOTE:  The 13.92" x 7.5" designs fit in the 200 x 360 hoop mm.  The 28.71" x 7.50"
and 19.26" x 7.5" designs fit in the 200 x 260 mm hoop.  The longer ones include
the second strap sleeve design as described above.

I have been doing this blog for nearly 4 years and I still love doing it.  I would never have thought that I would ever say that!!!  When I first started, I figured I had about 6 to 8 ideas in me and then it would be over with.  At this time, I have completed 108 of them.  Geeze, I may have done more laundry, but never had this much fun. 

I always want to remind my readers that I am just sharing my love of embroidery.  I am not an expert, nor do I have any tricks that will change the universe.  I do have a joy for embroidery and writing and they fit together very well (at least for me).

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I want to share something I find to be a super gift and a super savings. 

First the gift - Here are some free embroidery designs from right here at AnnTheGran:

Blue Floral Embellishment:   

Floral Heart Embellishment -

And, my favorite, Heart Wings: 

If you are not a member of the Club (Ann's Club) you are short changing yourself.  The facts are that:

• You are entitled to 3 designs per week.  With a total of 10,526 designs, you will have to download for a total of 3,509 weeks - 67 years and 5 months to get them all.
• Those Half-Price Stabilizers are very reasonably priced.  I did a blog on them, where I compared other stabilizers - totally at random.  I found that Ann's prices were an excellent bargain. 
• New designs every week (that 67 years is going to be longer. . . . ) 
  
• Club Phrases - You can see the latest items at the Club site.  These Phrases are in assorted sizes which may not sound too exciting, but doing something for a poster versus a hankie is a digitizing challenge.  Each has their own methods and procedures.
• Ann's 85 fonts that can be used individually.  (These are not keyboard fonts.)  However, with 25% off, doing "Happy Birthday" with names and dates are quick and easy.
• AlphaXpress and the fonts which are keyboard letters is reasonably priced at $59.99 with an 8% reduction for Club Members.  Likewise for the 50 fonts, have a discount of 8% as well.  It is easy to use and very modest in price.  Competitor X, which is the next in price is set between $100 up to $170 and only has 30 fonts.
  

Why would I select three of the (already free) Free embroidery designs from the selection here at AnnTheGran to give to you?  Well, the answer is simple.  I am a very firm believer in patronizing where I am learning my cherished craft.  We all know that there is no such thing as a 'free' lunch. Here are some of the significant items that may not have already occurred to you:

• The example of these three designs so intricate.  Some sites don't offer nearly as many but if you see the quality above, you know you may not find something this nice elsewhere.  These are not the 'left overs,' they are really beautiful.  Additionally, there is everything from angels to zebras with so much in between.  The selection is incredible.  Even if you only selected 5 per month, at around $5 per design, the math is that you would have $300 in free designs by the end of a year for which you paid $59.99.
• The stabilizers are of the very highest quality.  I have been studying them for the last year trying to find quality at a lesser price.  I CANNOT beat Ann's Stabilizers.  

It takes a village to raise a child and a community to support a really good site!  I hope you agree with me.