 |
| Mae's quilt, Totally made entirely from scraps, circa 2009 |
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Well Done, thank you Your Honor
I was intrigued by an IG post from a fellow Quilter and Physician, Kathryn Dundas. It was picked up and posted by Kayy, kaythesweinglawyer.blogspot.com It was written by Allan Fredsham, a criminal court judge in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. PLEASE go read this. It's long, but it's written with keen insight, and loads of love and admiration for his wife Gloria. Now if we all could get our spouses to see our quilting life this way, the world would indeed be perfect!!!
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Labeling in the 21st century
I am a firm believer in quilt labeling. I am because I can't tell you how many times in my rush to get things done and out the door/into the mail, I have neglected to do this.
In the past I hand stitched a cloth label to the quilt back. It typically had the recipients name, quilt title, date and my name on it. It could easily be removed if someone wanted it gone. I tried to get a bit tricky and sew a few through stitches into the label (stitching all the way through to the front) and although it might slow someone down the label could still be easily removed.
I then took to stitching my name and date onto the edge of the quilt, in the same color as the "negative space". I used a preprogrammed alphabet on my machine. Again (and only because I had to once), this too can be removed. Trickier, takes longer, but it can be done. I will continue to do this regardless of it's drawbacks. 2 labels are better than one right??
So, I got thinking. What if I could in some way, add my "Spontaneous Threads" title too. What if I could do it in addition to these other labeling techniques. How would I do that? Some have had labels printed (Spoonflower is a good example) and then they are pieced into the backs before quilting. That's one way, and a good one at that. It's permanent. But sometimes I can't decide on where to label, or heaven help me, I forget all together….. then the back is pieced and now what?
I turned to my friends at Versatranz for some help. They make commercial heat press labels for teams, schools etc, etc. I spoke to a very helpful young lady who guided me through the ins and outs of designing custom labeling and we came up with something that works perfectly for me. I knew going in that I wanted something reflective. They had something that would fit the bill. Although it's not as striking as the fabric I've been using, (I'm guessing its a nano particle density thing), it's pretty cool none the less.
I got a single run (about 70 labels total), knowing that I may be spending money for something that wouldn't work. The person who helped me told me, several times, this was not an iron on process. I nodded my head, we were on the phone after all, she wouldn't know I also had my fingers crossed that perhaps it wouldn't matter. You see, I do have an iron and a sense of adventure (even with quilting) and she really didn't have to know that I was going to ignore their only use a heat press directions and give it a try regardless. It's my money and I'll try if I want too.
So, once the labels arrived, I heated up my Rowenta, got out my test fabric and gave it a whirl. I decided I should start my (mis) adventure by attempting to follow the directions for the type of label/fabric I was using. It was an excellent place to start. It worked like a charm. I can apply it to a piece of fabric or a pieced quilt back. I can make it go exactly where I want it. I can quilt right through it like it wasn't even there. It's washable and lightly reflective. It's ME!!!!
If YOU decide to go this route a few things you NEED to consider:
Cut out the labels individually. Don't try and iron directly from the label sheet. If you order any you'll see what I mean.
Use your iron's hottest setting and some muscle. Remember you are the heat press, be the heat press.
I counted out the time in my head, One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand etc. This seemed to work just fine.
Don't move your iron back and forth, just place and press.
Which then states the obvious, if you can't press in place on your fabric at the highest setting of your iron for 10-12 seconds without completely ruining your fabric then this is not the type of label for you (the disclaimer).
Each label cost me about $1.50, I can't remember if that includes shipping but I think it does. (This amount is based on my design and the material I chose). A small price to pay to have your quilt labeled and done!
In the past I hand stitched a cloth label to the quilt back. It typically had the recipients name, quilt title, date and my name on it. It could easily be removed if someone wanted it gone. I tried to get a bit tricky and sew a few through stitches into the label (stitching all the way through to the front) and although it might slow someone down the label could still be easily removed.
I then took to stitching my name and date onto the edge of the quilt, in the same color as the "negative space". I used a preprogrammed alphabet on my machine. Again (and only because I had to once), this too can be removed. Trickier, takes longer, but it can be done. I will continue to do this regardless of it's drawbacks. 2 labels are better than one right??
So, I got thinking. What if I could in some way, add my "Spontaneous Threads" title too. What if I could do it in addition to these other labeling techniques. How would I do that? Some have had labels printed (Spoonflower is a good example) and then they are pieced into the backs before quilting. That's one way, and a good one at that. It's permanent. But sometimes I can't decide on where to label, or heaven help me, I forget all together….. then the back is pieced and now what?
I turned to my friends at Versatranz for some help. They make commercial heat press labels for teams, schools etc, etc. I spoke to a very helpful young lady who guided me through the ins and outs of designing custom labeling and we came up with something that works perfectly for me. I knew going in that I wanted something reflective. They had something that would fit the bill. Although it's not as striking as the fabric I've been using, (I'm guessing its a nano particle density thing), it's pretty cool none the less.
I got a single run (about 70 labels total), knowing that I may be spending money for something that wouldn't work. The person who helped me told me, several times, this was not an iron on process. I nodded my head, we were on the phone after all, she wouldn't know I also had my fingers crossed that perhaps it wouldn't matter. You see, I do have an iron and a sense of adventure (even with quilting) and she really didn't have to know that I was going to ignore their only use a heat press directions and give it a try regardless. It's my money and I'll try if I want too.
So, once the labels arrived, I heated up my Rowenta, got out my test fabric and gave it a whirl. I decided I should start my (mis) adventure by attempting to follow the directions for the type of label/fabric I was using. It was an excellent place to start. It worked like a charm. I can apply it to a piece of fabric or a pieced quilt back. I can make it go exactly where I want it. I can quilt right through it like it wasn't even there. It's washable and lightly reflective. It's ME!!!!
If YOU decide to go this route a few things you NEED to consider:
Cut out the labels individually. Don't try and iron directly from the label sheet. If you order any you'll see what I mean.
Use your iron's hottest setting and some muscle. Remember you are the heat press, be the heat press.
I counted out the time in my head, One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand etc. This seemed to work just fine.
Don't move your iron back and forth, just place and press.
Which then states the obvious, if you can't press in place on your fabric at the highest setting of your iron for 10-12 seconds without completely ruining your fabric then this is not the type of label for you (the disclaimer).
Each label cost me about $1.50, I can't remember if that includes shipping but I think it does. (This amount is based on my design and the material I chose). A small price to pay to have your quilt labeled and done!
Monday, June 8, 2015
Mother, May I?
May as always, is busy, between several birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and end of the school year stuff there is rarely much time to do other things. But other things got done….
Quilty things:
Haven do.good stitches Modern blocks- we did our version of the Moda Modern Building blocks, and since I didn't have that specific pattern several free 12.5" blocks were suggested for our use. We could only use solids. I can't wait to see this quilt come together.
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| Golden Gate Block by Patchwork square |
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| Capital T block by Janet Wickell |
I also made a few curvey clutches by Pink Door Fabric. Also a free pattern. These also got gifted as graduation presents, although I forgot to take pictures of those.
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| The Curvy Clutch |
Bee Sewcial: May was all about Marci and she had us listening and improv piecing with intention. Houses, Hills and Happy colors.
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| rotate 90 degrees to your right (clock wise) |
I have also been working on a Denver Metro Modern Quilt Guild project, and trying to finish up a few quilts of my own.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
A heartfelt Quilt
A beautiful quilt for a BeeSewcial Bee Member. Blocks for the quilt top (Me, Diane, Kari, Melissa, Felicity, Leanne, Hillary). Here are my 2 blocks. One landed on the front and the other on the back.
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| it's really little. (improv heart without flash) |
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| improv heart with flash (glass nano particle fabric) |
HeartBEEts for baby Evie and mom Marci, by the women of Bee Sewcial
A total group effort and a simply beautiful quilt for a brand new baby girl.
Marci we love you, and welcome to the newest member to the group, congratulations!
Photo credits, Leanne, shecanquilt!
Friday, May 15, 2015
Aspirin anyone?
I seem to be easily distracted these days. I should be working on things I have ready and waiting. I keep finding other things to do. Case in point. My daughter's (and my son's) favorite teacher is leaving their high school at the end of this school year. My daughter asked if I could make her a quilt. (Of course she did). This teacher is very special and she will be missed. The class is AP Chemistry. And what kind of quilt do you make a chemistry teacher? Well, a chemistry quilt of course.
My daughter asked and got her favorite compound. The teacher likes it because it's fun to say, acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin to most everyone else.
I thought about construction of this for a little bit, I actually slept on it. And the best solution seemed to me was to try bias tape. Thanks to the perseverance of some wonderful quilting friends, I did have my reservations but I also had resolve. I muscled the 1/2" black Kona cotton bias tape to my will (no evil scientist at work here, just glue and pins and a really hot iron).
Once the molecular compound was in place I had to tackle the elements, you know some C (carbon) H (hydrogen) and some O (oxygen), and a number, the number 3.
So may I present,
"Take some aspirin and call me in the morning"
60 x60" square
Fabrics: Kona cotton black (bias tape/letters C,H,O), Kona snow (background), Kona steel, 2 circles, glass nano particle fabric (the 3 and 1 circle). The back is pieced (from stash) chemistry fabrics (thank you Christine) and more Kona solids.
Thread: Piecing: Aurifil #2024 in 50 wt, 100% cotton.
Quilting, same as above with the addition of Black for the bias tape and letters. Superior threads metallic in silver for the accent.
Batting: 100% recycled cotton batting from Pellon
Binding: pieced 2" straight of grain (Kona snow, WOW scraps, IKEA black and white scraps)
Quilting: FMQ irregular triangles around compound and pebbles (bubbles) for the rest. 3 circles outlines only.
Techniques: Bias tape appliqué, turned edge appliqué, glue basting, FMQ
New and different:
Labeling: Although I will have an additional post about the label specifics, let's just say for now, I have a new way to label, and I love it. The "spontaneous Threads" is on the quilt and it can't be removed. It's also "reflective".
Just some random things: I used the glass nano particle fabric that I have used previously in this quilt as well. It was the easiest solution to the number 3 and it wouldn't give me any frayed edges. Since the quilt is aspirin, and since I made a fuss about the 3, I thought it needed 3 representational aspirins on the quilt. I've been known to put a small statement in my quilt tops in the lower right hand corners and this quilt is no different. I did make one aspirin out of the glass nano particle fabric as well. I like that it's not "in your face" aspirin, unless of course, you are up on your chemistry.
I also pulled my love of metallic threads into this quilt too. It was suggested to me, and a great suggestion it was, to outline the triangular quilting in metallic thread. Kind of like the cartoon "Kapow" and "Boom" you see in comic books. I used the metallic to outline the transition from the very angular to the very circular. I like how it looks. And because I'm one to carry a theme to distraction, I did it three times.
There is nothing about this I don't like, look, even the selvedge on the periodic table of the elements fabric is in theme. (If there has been 3 of them, it would have been epic).
I'm linking up with Amy's Creative Side, I couldn't decide what category to be in, Original design, Machine quilting, Small quilt, modern (because there is some of all of these in this quilt) …… I finally decided on appliqué as it was a technique I hadn't tried and I ended up using 2 different kinds (bias tape and turn-edge).
My daughter asked and got her favorite compound. The teacher likes it because it's fun to say, acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin to most everyone else.
I thought about construction of this for a little bit, I actually slept on it. And the best solution seemed to me was to try bias tape. Thanks to the perseverance of some wonderful quilting friends, I did have my reservations but I also had resolve. I muscled the 1/2" black Kona cotton bias tape to my will (no evil scientist at work here, just glue and pins and a really hot iron).
Once the molecular compound was in place I had to tackle the elements, you know some C (carbon) H (hydrogen) and some O (oxygen), and a number, the number 3.
So may I present,
 |
| Quilt front |
60 x60" square
Fabrics: Kona cotton black (bias tape/letters C,H,O), Kona snow (background), Kona steel, 2 circles, glass nano particle fabric (the 3 and 1 circle). The back is pieced (from stash) chemistry fabrics (thank you Christine) and more Kona solids.
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| Quilt back. showcasing a small collection of Chemistry fabrics. |
Thread: Piecing: Aurifil #2024 in 50 wt, 100% cotton.
Quilting, same as above with the addition of Black for the bias tape and letters. Superior threads metallic in silver for the accent.
Batting: 100% recycled cotton batting from Pellon
Binding: pieced 2" straight of grain (Kona snow, WOW scraps, IKEA black and white scraps)
 |
| pieced binding is subtle |
Quilting: FMQ irregular triangles around compound and pebbles (bubbles) for the rest. 3 circles outlines only.
 |
| The addition of metallics is subtle but effective. |
Techniques: Bias tape appliqué, turned edge appliqué, glue basting, FMQ
Labeling: Although I will have an additional post about the label specifics, let's just say for now, I have a new way to label, and I love it. The "spontaneous Threads" is on the quilt and it can't be removed. It's also "reflective".
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| Periodic table fabric compliments of Christine Perrigio |
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| The flash is on for this photo and the glass nano particle fabric really stands out in the "aspirin" circle and the number 3. |
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| Subtle metallic outline (x3) |
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| Erlenmeyer Flasks, how cute is that!!!! |
Please stop by and see all the other fabulous quilts on display!
Saturday, May 9, 2015
April makings
Busy as a bee again in April with a quilt for a birthday and some Bee blocks.
First up, Haven do.good stitches
This fun and very spring Tulip block. I'm going to say it again, I'm not good with directions. But I thought I'd give it a try. I started cutting and cutting and the realized that perhaps the directions were for the entire quilt, not for a quilt block. So I stopped and reassessed and my mistake hopefully will be someones pleasure as I made 4 blocks instead of 2.
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| Amsterdam Blocks |
The Bee Sewcial blocks for Diane. I loved her color palette and her inspirational art. Her request is that each block have not just curves but round/oval things with a pop of black. I needed to come up with enough for the equivalent of 2 12"blocks and I did that with 3 blocks of different sizes. I forgot to take good outside photos before I sent them off in the mail (typical).
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| My 3 blocks. |
My local guild had a name tag swap. I got carried away and made 2. One for a guild mate and one for a lovely IG follower who entered into a small giveaway I had.
My guild mates name is Sheri
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| Sheri, right? All done with inset seams and lots and lots of glue |
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| The back, name more obvious This name tag is about 5 x 4" |
The IG winner is Tamara
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| I had a blast with this one. The flash is on so you can see the retroreflective fabric |
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| Added a grommet for hanging. The nano particle fabric is silver gray when not reflecting light This name tag is about 4 x 4" |
I really had fun messing with their names.
Tamara also got some nano particle fabric. That stuff is showing up in lots of little things I'm making.
I also had a first in April. I made a bed and carrying bag for a hedgehog. My niece is adopting one. Hopefully she'll send me photos of the goods in use.
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| Carrying bag on left, bed on right, both lined with fleece. Hedgehog fabric on both. |
Lastly, I had planned on a pillow for the X-factor pillow swap, this rounds theme was drunkards path. I went with a modified drunkards path and then ended up keeping it. It will be a gift instead. I used my fun nano particle fabric (again).
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| Front, no flash (pay attention to the purple oval) |
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| With flash. Ta dah! |
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| I quilted the right side to mimic the piecing on the left. I ended up calling it Blank Canvas. It's 20 x 20" |
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| The back, simple with a zip closure |
And some utilitarian things for a talented crowd of teens- I modified slightly a pattern by sotakhandmade, eliminating the lining fabric.
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| patriotic red-white & blue fabrics from my stash, all cut |
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| Shoe bags for the competitors. |
I'm still working on quilting my Bee Sewcial quilt. I took a break to get some other things done.
I have a few other quilts in the works. Don't forget to check back.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Quilting with nano particles
New things are just too good to let go. Take my mini obsession with metallic threads. Thanks to Superior threads and their helpful sales staff, I have a new found love for sparkle. I have used their threads in many quilts stitched in 2014 and continued the trend into 2015.
Ditto for inset seams. They do add a few more steps to a finished piece, but the extra effort was totally worth it. They showed up in projects late 2014 (both quilts and quilt blocks). Looks like I wasn't the only one intrigued by their striking impact- the judges at QuiltCon liked them too. If you want to give them a try, I have a tutorial here.
But it's 2015 now, and I was looking again for that something that I would use again and again in different ways, perhaps even mixing it with inset seams and metallics. And I found it. It's magic, truly.
Let me first say, that this quilt was conceived in my head, but I quickly realized, it was not a quilt I could just go and piece. I did (gasp) draw a picture on a piece of note book paper. I then (while in the car but not at the wheel) transferred this design to graph paper (free hand). I toyed with colored pencils, but abandoned that because I kept changing my mind on the colors. I even decided on a size before starting. I did some basic counting and calculating and I did follow (for the most part) my own directions. I cut some pieces the wrong size, and forgot to cut other pieces all together- (not surprised at all). I encountered errors on the way (ha), made some design revisions to make the piecing more practical and ripped out several areas more than once when I just couldn't get the parts to align. I persevered. I mixed mediums, toyed with transparency and pulled out some skills I had become familiar and comfortable with over the last year. In the end I made a quilt. Once again inspiration comes from something utilitarian….. derived once more.
We have all seen the high visibility reflective strips on vests and work clothing. Makes the wearer more visible at night when light hits the silver strips. Safety first right? But, leave it to some top designers to be weaving these hair thin reflective yarns into their clothing lines making a beautiful custom suit illuminate when light hits it. I've also heard it's becoming a bit of a fashion trend with the often photographed. Once a flash hits the fabric the result is startling, showcasing the clothing but obscuring the wearer. But I was wondering, what makes this fabric so special? How does the fabric work? Is it even fabric? Well, I never thought I'd get some hands on experience with nano particles, but that's just what this fabric is. Teeny tiny glass beads embedded in fabric. Space age technology meets old fashion craft. I wonder what a quilter who is open to trying new things could do with some of that very precious material? Shall I tell you? But first, the story of the fabric because it is the best part of the whole process.
I did my research, called manufacturers, spoke to people who really didn't understand what I was looking for until I decided to just tell my story ("Hi, I'm a quilter and I'd like to use some of your material in a quilt"), to a lovely man who listened and then sold me some. Luckily he was open to me not buying the entire run of fabric (I think somewhere in the arena of 1000 yards). I just wanted a little, you know to try it, see how it worked. He sent me a small sample. I touched it (lovingly), showed it to my friends and family, used a flash light on it, ironed it even. I was smitten. So I called him back and talked myself into 2 yards. I talked him into 2 yards too, but at the price I was paying 2 yards was a HUGE commitment. It is the MOST expensive fabric I have ever purchased, I have big plans for this precious material, but first I needed to make one quilt and see how it went. I opted for minimal use, maximum impact, because one thing you need to know about this fabric before you start sewing with it, is that its one big drawback is sewing needle marks. Once you sew and make a needle hole, the hole is there forever, like leather, and paper, just way more expensive.
"Retroreflective"
Derived inspiration No. 4
49 x 53 inches
original design (designed/pieced/quilted)
Fabrics:
top: retroreflective glass nanosphere fabric (seriously never thought I'd get to use that descriptor anywhere never mind in quilting). Without a flash the material is a dull almost pewter gray. With the flash, well it's magic.
Kona 100% cotton solids in snow and shadow.
back: IKEA gray check duet cover, deconstructed, 100% cotton. Inset remnants of Kona cotton quilting solids and reflective material left over from piecing the top.
Threads: Metallics- Superior threads: silver; Marathon Metallic 3015 (white)
Cotton- Aurifil 50 wt, 100% cotton in: 2021, 2630, 1158, 2606, 4020, 1153, 2810, 2600
Mettler, 40 wt in 594
Batting: Hobbs heirloom 100% cotton
Quilting: dense straight line quilting with random areas of FMQ in the colorful insets with color matched threads all on a Bernina domestic machine (1630 as my 180 was in for service).
New things: reflective nano particulate material, pattern sketching, earnest attempt at direction following.
I used every little bit of that precious fabric. For reference the inset length is 1/4" the width, 1/8 ".
Tried and true things: inset seams, inset binding, metallic threads, keen sense of adventure, more than occasional disregard of "directions".
Stay tuned for more projects using nano particulate reflective fabrics and reflective yarn (oh yeah, I talked my way into some of that too).
Ditto for inset seams. They do add a few more steps to a finished piece, but the extra effort was totally worth it. They showed up in projects late 2014 (both quilts and quilt blocks). Looks like I wasn't the only one intrigued by their striking impact- the judges at QuiltCon liked them too. If you want to give them a try, I have a tutorial here.
But it's 2015 now, and I was looking again for that something that I would use again and again in different ways, perhaps even mixing it with inset seams and metallics. And I found it. It's magic, truly.
Let me first say, that this quilt was conceived in my head, but I quickly realized, it was not a quilt I could just go and piece. I did (gasp) draw a picture on a piece of note book paper. I then (while in the car but not at the wheel) transferred this design to graph paper (free hand). I toyed with colored pencils, but abandoned that because I kept changing my mind on the colors. I even decided on a size before starting. I did some basic counting and calculating and I did follow (for the most part) my own directions. I cut some pieces the wrong size, and forgot to cut other pieces all together- (not surprised at all). I encountered errors on the way (ha), made some design revisions to make the piecing more practical and ripped out several areas more than once when I just couldn't get the parts to align. I persevered. I mixed mediums, toyed with transparency and pulled out some skills I had become familiar and comfortable with over the last year. In the end I made a quilt. Once again inspiration comes from something utilitarian….. derived once more.
I did my research, called manufacturers, spoke to people who really didn't understand what I was looking for until I decided to just tell my story ("Hi, I'm a quilter and I'd like to use some of your material in a quilt"), to a lovely man who listened and then sold me some. Luckily he was open to me not buying the entire run of fabric (I think somewhere in the arena of 1000 yards). I just wanted a little, you know to try it, see how it worked. He sent me a small sample. I touched it (lovingly), showed it to my friends and family, used a flash light on it, ironed it even. I was smitten. So I called him back and talked myself into 2 yards. I talked him into 2 yards too, but at the price I was paying 2 yards was a HUGE commitment. It is the MOST expensive fabric I have ever purchased, I have big plans for this precious material, but first I needed to make one quilt and see how it went. I opted for minimal use, maximum impact, because one thing you need to know about this fabric before you start sewing with it, is that its one big drawback is sewing needle marks. Once you sew and make a needle hole, the hole is there forever, like leather, and paper, just way more expensive.
"Retroreflective"
Derived inspiration No. 4
 |
| Front, no flash there is a tiny inset piece in the lower right corner that is almost invisible without a flash. |
 |
| Back, no flash |
49 x 53 inches
original design (designed/pieced/quilted)
 |
| Front, with flash The fabric becomes reflective (actually retroreflective- throwing the light right back at the viewer). The fabric "changes" properties from dull gray to bright white! |
Fabrics:
top: retroreflective glass nanosphere fabric (seriously never thought I'd get to use that descriptor anywhere never mind in quilting). Without a flash the material is a dull almost pewter gray. With the flash, well it's magic.
 |
| before quilting/ front. Yes, I got really excited when I turned on the flash. |
Kona 100% cotton solids in snow and shadow.
back: IKEA gray check duet cover, deconstructed, 100% cotton. Inset remnants of Kona cotton quilting solids and reflective material left over from piecing the top.
 |
| Back, flash on. |
Threads: Metallics- Superior threads: silver; Marathon Metallic 3015 (white)
Cotton- Aurifil 50 wt, 100% cotton in: 2021, 2630, 1158, 2606, 4020, 1153, 2810, 2600
Mettler, 40 wt in 594
Batting: Hobbs heirloom 100% cotton
Quilting: dense straight line quilting with random areas of FMQ in the colorful insets with color matched threads all on a Bernina domestic machine (1630 as my 180 was in for service).
New things: reflective nano particulate material, pattern sketching, earnest attempt at direction following.
I used every little bit of that precious fabric. For reference the inset length is 1/4" the width, 1/8 ".
 |
| pieced inset seams. |
 |
| pieced inset seams with flash There is not batting behind this s you can see the piecing details. |
Tried and true things: inset seams, inset binding, metallic threads, keen sense of adventure, more than occasional disregard of "directions".
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| Inset seams all the way into the binding. Aurifil thread on the white, superior metallic thread in the gray. A little sparkle makes this special. |
Stay tuned for more projects using nano particulate reflective fabrics and reflective yarn (oh yeah, I talked my way into some of that too).
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