Guy was willing to ride with me today so we went sans boys before the temperatures got too hot. We have a great bike trail system here in town and can get on just outside our neighborhood.
I’ve been seeing a lot of wildlife on my rides and took the camera along this morning. We didn’t see much more than squirrels, rabbits and ducks today, but lots of flowers. It’s amazing they look as good as they did! We were hammered with a couple of thunderstorms yesterday afternoon. It sounded like someone had turned on a fire hydrant. There were several wash outs with silt covering parts of the trail. We rode around in some new construction and I rode through a wash out. I started to think I was in quick sand! The rims of my bike were covered and I finally had to get off and lift it out of the muck. Needless to say, my shoes were also filled. Fortunately they could just be hosed off when I got home.
Here are a few of the pictures I took along the way.
The flowers are lasting later into the summer than usual. In fact it is shockingly green for this time of year. We’ve been getting thunderstorms most afternoons. Yet, according to the meteorologists we are still a few inches behind normal. When does normal change? For the almost 10 years we have lived here, the area has been considered to be in drought conditions.
We rode about 15 miles and explored some parts of the trail we hadn’t seen before. The worst part is always coming home. The last mile and a half is all up hill. I’ve been hosed off and can now move on to quilting for the day.
There is only one place in the whole county this year having a public fireworks display due to budget cuts. Guy is there helping to provide security. However, there are several private communities still having their own fireworks display. I do not live in one of them, but just up the hill is a community that has fireworks every year. For the last 9 Independence Days we have been able to step out on our front porch and enjoy the show. Here are some pictures from tonight.
I hope everyone reading had a great 4th and that those in the U.S. gave thanks for the freedom we enjoy!
I think I’m pretty much finished with my PowerPoint presentation for Thursday night. I didn’t have any good visuals for doing a satin stitch finish on fusible web applique. I really don’t use it much anymore except for when I’m machine embroidering applique. However, I wanted to be able to explain it.
So here is what I came up with:
For a satin stitch I prefer the stitch that looks like a lightening bolt rather than the standard zig zag. Using test pieces deterine what length and width you prefer. I always stitch cover stitches with the needle down function engaged.
The majority of the satin stitch should be on the applique fabric. The outside swing of the needle should fall just off the applique fabric on the background. The idea is to keep the stitches perpendicular to the edge of the applique. Pivoting is a little different from the blanket stitch cover stitch. These are the basics
For concave curves pivot while the needle is on the inside swing (on the applique fabric). The tighter the curve the more frequently the piece will need to be pivoted.
For convex curves the pivot point will be on the outside swing (when the needle is on the background fabric). Again the tighter the curve the more frequently the piece will need to be pivoted.
On inside corners the stitch until the satin stitch is the width of the stitch beyond the corner. With the needle down on the inside swing, pivot the piece.
For outside corners stitch all the way to the corner and with the needle down on the outside swing at the corner pivot the piece.
As one approaches a sharp point or corner it may be helpful to narrow the stitch. These are just the basics, but it is a start.
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
Snappin’ her fingers and a shufflin her feet singin’
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do
She looked good, She looked fine
Oh, sorry — now will you have that song stuck in your head? Quilt Diva is finished and she looks good, she looks fine — I quilted one of these for a customer and Guy told me I needed one. I was collecting fabric for it in 2005, the first time I went on the Western Washington Shop Hop. So 4 years later she seems to have aged appropriately and I can mark her off my UFO list.
The most impressive shop hop I’ve ever participated in was the Western Washington Shop Hop. My sister and Londa were doing that one again, but since I didn’t head for the west coast I did the Heart of Colorado Shop Hop this week-end during the same time frame. It was much quicker and there was way less damage to my finances.
I started in Colorado Springs and my first stop on Friday was Ladybug Hill Quilts. They moved to their current location in 2007. This was the first time I made it into the “new” store. It is a cute shop, but typically is more expensive than where I usually shop.
Next stop Ruth’s Stitchery. If you have been reading my blog long, you probably have a fair idea this is my all time favorite shop. It is a very large store, the prices are reasonable, and I know most of the staff (also several quilts I’ve quilted are on display there.) This store was featured in the top ten quilt shop magazine a couple years ago. Since summer vacation arrived I’ve been in here at least twice each week, so didn’t need to spend a lot of time browsing. Ruth’s has a large hand stitchery section, sewing machines, machine embroidery supplies plus loads of quilt fabric.
The last stop in Colorado Springs was High Country Quilts. They are now the local Bernina dealer and this is where I taught for about a year after the dealership was sold to them. They have expanded since I quit working there and the shop is really adorable!
I took a break after those three and came back home to work on more cleaning. I’ve been on a cleaning binge since school got out. Things just got minimal attention during the school year.
Guy took off work a little early and the whole family went to the next shop. Admittedly, the men waited in the car. Stitcher’s Garden is in Pueblo, and they get points for the neatest building. They are in the historic section of down town. It is a nice shop on the inside as well. The men came along because we wanted to try a Mexican restraunt in Pueblo.
There was only one more shop to do and it was in the opposite direction. I didn’t go on Saturday, because that was Sabbath. This morning I took Nolan and Jesse with me (Guy was out on patrol). Since we were headed that far north we went on to the Lone Tree (just south of Denver) and went to Sweet Tomatoes, which is the boys’ favorite restaurant. I was going to go to Great American Quilt Factory while I was in the Denver area, but I tried coming up with my own directions. Jesse just wanted to go home (he is my home body) so after “touring” a little of the area south of Denver we headed for Castle Rock and the final quilt shop in the hop. I had never been to Sew-Ciety and it was a nice little shop — a little cramped with hoppers there. For the size of shop they have a fair amount of machine embroidery supplies. Here I got to turn in my completed passport ( now I can cross my fingers and wait for the prize drawing — actually I’m not holding my breath).
After all that driving around this is all I ended up buying.
The yellow batik is for flowers on the border of my Prairie Flowers quilt. I’d run out of what I had. The blue and white fabric will be the backing on a project I recently came up with. The rest was impulse buying.
So Sheila and Londa, how did you do? I think they only ended up visiting 17 shops this year in 2-1/2 days. I know they spent more money than I did.
This was today’s project. The shelves need to be accessorized, but I broke a weld trying to level the bottom shelf. So next week I’ll take it to a friend to get it spot welded.
I picked up the shelf from Hobby Lobby on Tuesday. It was from the garden section and was marked down 66%. The pictures are from last year’s calendar.
I had been saving the calendar, because I just loved the pictures. The problem — they were really too big for framing and hanging where I wanted them. My solution scan the pictures and print them in a smaller size. However, the calendar was even too big for my scan bed. So I scanned each picture at 300 dpi in two parts.(Now I can get rid of the calendar) There is a little program that came with one of my Canon cameras called PhotoStitch. I found that it can be downloaded from here . This program will merge pictures together. It works beautifully for panorama landscape pictures or anything you can’t get in one shot or one scan. Anyway, I merged the two parts together. Then I opened the picture in Photoshop and cropped it to 5×7. The original pictures weren’t the same ratio so I did loose part of the picture. I put two pictures on a 8-1/2 x11 page and then printed at the best print quality on photo paper. It worked perfectly.
Frames were 50% off at Hobby Lobby this week so I went to get four frames. Of course there were only three of the ones I liked. I bought them anyway and since we have three Hobby Lobbys in town found the last frame at another location.
A Betty Boop salt and pepper shaker has made it on the shelf. After I get it fixed, I’m going to have some fun putting other small items up there.
The boys have been out of school for five weeks, but I wouldn’t even know they were home most of the time. They have been glued to the computer. I’ve been talking to them about self regulating, but it didn’t seem to sink in. Finally enough was enough. Guy booted them off the computers this evening and they now have certain hours they cannot use any screens — computers, TV, ipod, DS etc.
Jesse pulled out the dominos and I thought he was pretty creative when I saw this sitting on the table.
I guessed a piano, but was immediately corrected. It is a keyboard. The amount of his creativity came into serious question when he said he needed a blue shirt for the cat. The question then was where had he seen this. His response, “If I could use a computer, I could show you.” Nice try kid.
It turns out there is a YouTube video that has been used frequently at the end of “fail” videos. He modeled his little scene after that. It is a real cat and keyboard in the video, so I still give him points for creativity. Here’s the video. I am amazed by what they find hilarious, but they are boys.
I wanted to do a tutorial on mock hand applique for my presentation next week. I woke up this morning with an idea. So I ran with it, and created the following tutorial. I’m going to insert a disclaimer here. This would never be one of my top choices as a method for applique. I know some people love it, but there are at least three reasons I’m not wild about it. First, if I’m going to put this much prep work into something I’d rather do the stitching by hand. Second, I’m just not that accurate with the stitching on this method — it could be my eyes. Finally the backing has to be slit or cut away to remove the paper. I typically avoid doing that so that my finished quilt top is more stable. Having said all that, this is another method for applique so let’s take a look at the process.
1. I created my own pattern in Photoshop. There are many fun ways to use the computer for applique. It is so easy to do lettering. I’m fairly certain I left this jpg at full size so you could click on the picture and then print it for a pattern if you want. You certainly wouldn’t have to use this applique method!
2. I was very lazy today and instead of tracing the pattern onto freezer paper, I cut the freezer paper to 8-1/2 x 11 and put it through my printer. I did mirror image the design before printing it on the freezer paper.
3. I cut out the patterns with a craft knife (aka Exacto knife). Scissors would work, but for this project I ended up using both the pattern pieces and the cut away background.
4. Next a pressed the freezer paper shapes to the wrong side of the applique fabric.
5. I then cut out each applique piece leaving a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. I did clip curves and inside corners as close as possible to the freezer paper.
6. I covered my work surface with scrap paper and used a washable glue stick and a skewer (or tooth pick) to glue the seam allowance to the freezer paper.
A short video might show it better.
7. After all my applique pieces were prepared, I used the background from my pattern as a placement guide. I used dots of washable school glue on the back of the pieces to glue baste. I pressed with a hot iron to dry the glue quickly.
8. The next step is to stitch the pieces down. I used a blind hem stitch which I narrowed to about .7mm. The narrower you can get it and catch the applique fabric the better. I also shortened the stitch. The straight stitches should be on the background fabric right next to the applique and the bite of the stitch that swings in should just catch a couple of threads and then swing back to the outside edge. I think I may need the magnifier attachment for my machine, because this was not a fun process today.
9. After all the pieces are stitched down, the freezer paper needs to be removed from the applique pieces. Carefully make slits in the background fabric behind the applique. The glue needs to be gotten wet to be able to remove the paper. I just soaked the whole piece with water for a little bit and then removed the paper. You could also try laying a damp towel on the piece for a bit to loosen the glue.
10. Finally press the whole piece dry. I did it from the back. You will want to be careful using a hot iron on the monofiliment thread, because it can melt. Here is my final piece. I’m not overjoyed with the quality, but at least it showed the process.
I’m continuing work on the A Tisket A Tasket mystery block of the month. Once again I am slightly behind. I just finished the May basket today. I did modify it slightly. The pattern only had two pieces for each flower — the flower and the center. I made five complete petals on each flower. I’m happier with the flower, not so sure about the butterfly. He is growing on me, which is good since I’m not going to redo it!
May Basket
I took pictures of how to prepare nearly perfect circles for applique. The first time I used this method was over 13 years ago. I know that because I was piecing two of these Cars Cars Cars quilts from the book T.L.C Tender Loving Covers (bottom 5 rows are from the book, the cement truck and race car at the top were my own design to make the quilt longer.. I was pregnant with Jesse and Nolan was sitting on my lap while I was working on the quilt. At that time I was cutting up cereal boxes to make my circle templates.
These quilts are wearing out which is to be expected after over nine years of continuous use.
Later I discovered Mylar — a heat resistant template material — and cut circles from that. However, it can be difficult to cut a perfect circle. These days I use pre-made mylar templates.
Precut Mylar circles
The first step is to cut a circle from the fabric roughly a scant half inch larger in diameter than the template. It doesn’t need to be perfect.
Cut circles from fabric
Next baste around the outside edge of the circle. Any old thread will work. Then place the template in the center of the wrong side of the fabric and pull up the basting thread and knot it off.
Basted circles
3 more things are needed to press the circles — a hot iron, a small paint brush and either Sizing or Starch. I prefer Sizing because I don’t rush through my quilts or necessarily wash them when I am finished. Starch can attract insects, Silverfish in particular. They like to eat starch and will eat the fibers in the fabric at the same time.
Tools for pressing the circles
Spray some of the Sizing or Starch into the lid of the can. You could use a different container, but why when the lid is so handy?
Sizing sprayed into the lid
Now use the paint brush to saturate the seam allowance of the circle piece.
Saturate Seam Allowance with Sizing
Press the circle with a hot iron until it is dry. My iron was on the cotton setting
Press
Carefully snip a stitch in the basting thread.
Snip
Gently pull back the seam allowance enough to remove the circle template. The seam allowance will go right back into place.
Circles after template is removed
The circles are now ready to be stitched onto the design.
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