Paper Piecing--ugh!

One of the quilt patterns that I took out of my stash box needs a role of paper piecing--I'm like--UGH!  But, I can do this; just not my favorite form of stitching.

At least, the pattern is large size and needs large pieces of fabric.  I printed off six copies,

for this row by row quilt

I begin with A1 

Position my tree trunk on the square on the back side of the paper.

Stitch along those lines when I add the side pieces to A2 and A3

Way too much fabric, but I can trim it down to the stitching line--rather have

too much than not enough

Okay, finished that section and we move up to

A4 and so it goes

I'm doing each section on each of the six patterns; then I'll be finished with all them

at the same time!

Tally HO!  

Finished!  All Six of the blocks--now to tackle the other five blocks awaiting paper piecing!

Hump Day Yarn Along

I finished my fingerless gloves the other night--just needed to tie up all those loose ends--a project I don't relish to do.  Then I remembered I had a special needle that would help me with that task

This blunt end needle is perfect for working on fiber projects--it doesn't catch on the fibers as you stitch into wooly works.

and see that needle eye--it's open so all you need to do is pull the fiber up close and snap it in!

I always hated trying to thread the needle--now, here is the answer!

And my Fingerless gloves are finished and ready to wear!

You can find these type of needles at Spiral Eye Needles

Melt-Blend Technique

Talking about coloring your quilts--take a look at this technique!

Quite fascinating-- now, I wish I hadn't dumped all my broken crayons!

This looks like fun, so I'm giving a try--some day!

Video to help you with this technique--

color, enhance, embellish just with

crayons!

Sister's Choice Is Quilted!

I'm so happy to report that my Sister's Choice quilt top is layered and quilted by Judy M.  This was a free Bonnie Hunter pattern that I worked on last summer.  The top was finished many moons ago--I just didn't have the backing; then it was at Judy's house for a few weeks--that traveling long arm gal needs to stay home, huh!!??

But, here it is in all its glory!  It was such a fun scrap quilt to make.

Simple nine patch block with wings--

I like the quilting pattern too

All swirly--just need to trim the edges, sew on the binding (which is ready)

and stitch!

Another delight to add to my collection--this could be a charity quilt too if

you twist my arm a little..................

I - AM - WARPED!

I Am Truly Warped!  It has been several months since I did anything with my loom.

It was moved from one room to another room and then it just sat there--

not really naked but piled high with all sorts of things--

it's like 'pile it here' syndrome!

Than--the studio was back in some sense of fashion,

and I looked in my yarn closet to find various 8/2 cotton fibers that

worked together--

warping we go! 

Through the 10 dent reed we go--2 per dent--20 epi

I was so careful that I got the red thread every 6th one.

Through the heddles--using Dornik threading for these towels

and we've tied on!  Oh My Gosh--I'm weaving!

I'm actually throwing a shuttle and I see on threading errors!

do you know how happy that makes me!??

Looking good!

and I like that little bit of red thrown through.

Do you have any idea how long it took me to warp this loom?--

Don't ask--I'm so rusty at this.

Quilts to Color

Get out those crayons and color your next quilt blocks!  At our quilters meeting the other day, Sandy and Karen were discussing their Periwinkle Lane blocks from Black Cat Creations.  They had each bought the patterns and Sandy was putting the finishing touches on her blocks with hand embroidery.

I really liked the looks of these blocks and thought how fun--coloring and

stitching combined to make an adorable quilt top.

Sandy said she asked her granddaughters to color for her;

of course, they said "yes!" and colored away!

That's one clever way to get the task finished.

I wondered if the patterns were still available

and searched Black Cat website to

find--there it was!  Along with some other patterns to color

I thought maybe, machine stitching would work on these details;

that will be on my list of things to try.

I loved the toadstools!

But, I believe this is my favorite block of all--

I'm going to gather up my crayons and color

away!

Pricing Any Textile or Original Work?

This discussion comes up every year--how to price our textiles that we sell?  There is always some pros and cons in the round table topic.  How do you place a fair price on your original work?  Do you get what you paid for your materials?  Your time?  Textile Artist has an article on how pricing of your textile could work.

They have some bullet points to consider:

• Costs
• Market
• Perceived Value
• Don't Focus Solely on your field to price
• Be consistent with Pricing

Artsyshark also has some pointers that he finds helpful.

Be sure to read the comments at the end of the article and Good Luck with your pricing!