Quilting For Creative Stress Relief
Have You Captured
YOUR Undiscovered Creativity?
NEW EASY SETUP FOR CROCHET BINDING!
THE FIRST TIME I ADMIRED A CROCHETED BINDING I listened to a long explanation about measuring the edge, calculating how many 'holes' and how far apart they would be, and then make the 'holes' with an awl.
It was admirable, but it wasn't something I wanted to do. My bindings are not show-pieces and I'm sure I'll always struggle with mitered corners, but cloth bindings remained my system of finishing my quilts.
Then one of the ladies at Silver Threads Quilters brought a baby blanket she made using fleese and a crocheted edge.
She also brought the special 'cutting blade' used to cut the 'holes' in the edge for hemstitching.
I couldn't wait to try the crochet edge on the Heart pillows I was making. What an elegant way to dress up a keepsake! I took my pillows to her house and she graciously used her blade to punch the holes for me.
It was EASY, the result was EXACTLY what I wanted!
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The next day I contacted the maker of the blades and ordered several to make them available for Silver Threads members and for my visitors at WeLoveToQuilt.com
If you're interested, I can mail one to you for $12.50 ( includes shipping/handling costs).
These are made for Olfa blade handles (notice the hole shape in the middle). This offer is for the blade only; you must use your own handle.
Contact LLoni directly to order:
call 702-205-4110 8:a.m to 8:p.m.Pacific Time,
or email LLONI@WeLoveToQuilt.com. |
Hot Summer Weather and Quilting Sounds Like An Oxymoron ---But Is it?
My dictionary defines an oxymoron as two words put together that contradict each other. Summer weather and Quilting are two words that fit that definition pretty well. When the sun is beating down and we're shedding clothes to be more comfortable, making a blanket isn't exactly at the top of anyone's list of what to do with our time.
But during the worst heat of the day, when it's time to hang inside with the A/C running full blast, using our creativity can make the time worthwhile and make summer quilting con't -->.
WORKING WITH NON-STANDARD BACKING . . .
The only quilt finished at my house during this past winter had a back of lime minkey, which is wonderful for kids with tender skin -- or for any kids 9-99 who like the soft feel. (I bought the minkey from ThreadArt -- see their link on this page. Both the product and the service were excellent.)
But the handling of both was awfully similar to ---- quilt backing cont'd
CHECK OUT THE GREAT QUILTER'S PRIZES!
New FabShopHop runs each month! |
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Most of us love to windowshop for fabric sets, and windowshopping on the Internet is great for generating ideas or stimulating your muse. That's why you find such a long list of fabric resources on this website. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten ideas that boosted my energy level just by browsing a few online stores.
And when I'm visiting the family in rural Georgia (where the nearest fabric resource is more than 20 miles away), having access to great selections by a few clicks of the mouse is wonderful!
Be sure to read the contest rules -- you must visit a large number of shops online to qualify for any of the prizes. But it's a FABulous way to get a look at what's out there.
Quilters Click here for the complete rules . Quilters Click here to see the list of shops participatibng.
THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED . . .
WHY DO I LIST SO MANY RESOURCES FOR THE SAME THING? . . . and the answer is --- to provide you with a variety of styles and more choices.
In my search I find some constants at all the shops -- if they carry a particular brand, almost all of them will stock the newest line. But not always for the same price!
Some shops have end-of-line sales to clear out inventory. Some are bargain priced all the time. All of them have ways of grouping colors and prints for display that are unique to that website, and the wealth of ideas is sometimes the best gift for time spent looking.
We all have a few favorites that we visit often. I've received several suggestions from regular visitors for new sites to add, and now there's been a second request to include what state the shipment will come from if an order is placed.
That one surprised me. Most orders are shipped for the same fee regardless. Now I understand it's not the fee that is questioned, but the length of time to wait.
If you're in California, you'll get it faster if you order from a shop closer to the west coast. My friends in Georgia would like to know if they're web-browsing can be guided to east-coast suppliers.
Makes perfect sense to me. I'll try to have that information added, at least for some of the sites, by the end of the month.
The History of Quilting
I like to think all information has value and that all of the varied sources have something valuable to offer. We have many different cultures within the quilting community that provide different perspectives.
So the History of Quilting is like everything else --- it depends on who you're talking to. Many thanks to WeLoveToQuilt visitors for continuing to share resources to add to our list.
Check out these links and enjoy the wonderful stories:
America's Quilting History from Womenfolk.com
History of Quilting from the Amish website
Sunbonnet Sue's Past
Underground Railroad Quilt Code
More Quilting History . . . . . >
Do you have a source to share? Email the link to: LLoni@WeLoveToQuilt.com
Lemonade Quilts
"Don't cry when life gives you lemons, make Lemonade!"
Sometimes life gives us a challenge that requires an attitude adjustment. Like when I thought I could "learn" to make those beautiful quilts I see winning blue ribbons and accolades, and discovered a side-effect from the macular problem I've had for years has an odd effect on my quilting projects.
(quilter's lemonade full text -->)
Quilting Beginner's Diary - LLoni learns quilting one piece at a time
We began by visiting a "Quilt Show" that left my mouth watering to learn more. I'm sure that's what Sue had in mind when she made that my first assignment.
(Quilting Beginner's Diary -->)
Happy Quilting!
Thread Art
