Posted by Brye Lynn on February 8, 2010
Sorry – no podcast this week. Here’s the story:
I really did not do much this week. I worked on my sock; got about 80% of it done. I am really psyc’d to start on a new knitting project, so I am working quickly on that. I also worked on my embroidery software, trying to digitize the podcast logo and my company logo. It really is A LOT to learn that software and make it stitch out nice. Right now, it is just s0-s0; not perfect.
So that was it. I probably could have still gone on with the show……if, I had a topic. But it didn’t.
A lot of the week was spent researching vacation spots on the internet and going back and forth with my husband about where to go. Planes, hotels, tourist attractions….. my mind was spinning and by Saturday, I could not stand to be at the computer another minute.
Forgive me. In the meantime, I uploaded the United States template I made for my DC Quilt. If you want to make something similar, this may come in handy. Enjoy!
DC Quilt – United States Block
We will talk again next week.
Any topic ideas?
Posted by Brye Lynn on February 5, 2010
352-505-BRYE (2793)
We now have a voicemail number for comments! It is through Skype – you can call me through Skype if you have an account or just dial the number above and my Skype voicemail will answer.
I thought this may be easier for some people. I find that I listen to a lot of podcasts while I am driving. It is hard to comment and hard to remember to comment . But…….it is easy to stop and call (yes, I did say stop – no calling me while you are driving – that is the safety girl in me talking).
Give it a try. I might even use your message in the podcast.. . . . . . . as always, if you don’t want me to, just say so in the message.
Thank you to all the donaters that have made this possible. I hope it work out and helps make the podcast even better.
Posted by Brye Lynn on February 4, 2010
Today I received some buttons from WONDERFUL listeners. Thank you so so so soooooooo much. I am so excited to get started on my button quilt project. I could still use some more. If you are able to donate a few buttons or a bag full – email me! I am looking for a wide variety of shape, size, or color. Whatever you have, I can use.
Receiving this today got me thinking about other things that can be done with buttons. So I went website and blog surfing. Here is what I found.
Which one is your favorite?
Posted by Brye Lynn on February 3, 2010
Tonight, I finally got around to heat setting my paintstick project I talked about this week. The directions said I could do this with an iron or a clothes dryer.
I first tried the iron. I places a piece of freezer paper underneath; paper side up. I ironed it face down on the freezer paper. There was a lot of residue that came off. So if you try this method, definately protect your ironing board. After doing this for a few minutes the material still had a heavy waxy feel to it.
Next I tried the clothes dryer. I put it in for 15 minutes to start on a medium-high heat. After 7 minutes I pulled it out; a lot of the waxy feel was gone, but not all of it. I kept it in for the rest of the time and another 15 minute cycle after that. It is definately dry and nothing rubs off on your hands. But, the fabric has a strange feel to it; it feels think and it feels like there is a residue on it. FYI – no harm to my dryer.
The next time I am at the quilt shop I bought them from, I am going to feel their samples and see if I did something wrong. I don’t think I put it on too thick, because I stenciled some of it. I really believe that it is just how the product feels; I can’t expect it to leave my fabric completely unchanged.
Posted by Brye Lynn on February 1, 2010
Listen to the podcast of this post
This week we talked about my adventures using the Shiva paintsticks.
Thank you to everyone who left comments this week and visited the site. I really liked the thread comments from Shelly Beth and Ingrid.
Debby sent us pictures of her sewing space. Isn’t this an AWESOME idea! She transformed her son’s bedroom set into a sewing/cutting table. She took the mattress out and put in a board for a cutting space. She uses the pull out desk as a sewing table. The chest of drawers is her fabric stash!
I worked on digitizing my blog logo. This is the first draft. Not Bad – huh? I need to work on the black and the word “Create”.
Two new podcasts
Topic of the Week – Paintsticks!
First, organize your space, yourself, and your fabric. These paints are permanent. Make sure you are working on a washable surface or protect he surface you are working on. Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting paint on (I did this, plus an apron). The paints will adhere to just about any fabric, but it works better when the sizing is washed out of the fabric.
You have to get the film off of the paint stick – this is what the film looks like.
Tape your rubbing plate to the fabric and gently rub the paintstick onto the fabric.
Use multiple colors.
Use the negative side of the plate.
Layer different designs
You can also use a stencil. I used a stencil material that was sticky on one side. I cut out a shape out of paper and taped it to the stencil material. Using a razor knife, I cut it out.
Rub the paintstick onto the shiney side of freezer paper. Using a stencil brush (I didn’t have one, so I use a stiff bristle paint brush), dip into the paint and stencil it on. I love the layering you can do with this and the shading you get.
You can sharpen the paintstick to draw somewhat thin lines.
My practice piece.
Posted by Brye Lynn on January 30, 2010
I finished the first block of my Vacation Quilt. I wanted the center block to be an outline of the US with the date and location of the vacation enbroidered on. I designed the block myself. I don’t have the outline in digital form yet; I will try to do that this week. When it is ready, I will post on the site for anyone who wants to make a similar block.
Here it is and below that are the step-by-steps of how I did it.
First, I traced an outline of the US from one of my daughter’s puzzles. Then I flipped it over and traced the reverse side.
I layed a piece of fusable web, rough side down, on top of the pattern.
Since you can see through the fusable and I traced it with a dark pen you can easily trace the pattern onto the fusable. Of course, if you have a light box this is much easier to do.
Iron the fusable onto your fabric. Be sure to follow the directions of the fusable. My iron settings were too hot and it left a faint grid pattern on my material.
Cut it out.
Iron it onto your background fabric. ps. don’t forget to peel the paper off.
Stitch along the edges. I used a very small blanket stitch.
Next I added the borders with mitered corners.
Then I added my embroidery. Do you like the path from Florida to DC with the Star for DC?
Filed Under: WIPs Comments:
Posted by Brye Lynn on January 28, 2010
Does your coffee table do this?
About a year ago we bought a new living room set. It is all oversized and too big for a normal size living room. It was on special at Rooms to Go and we had to take all the pieces to get the deal. This means we ended up with a coffee table that would not fit anywhere.
After the move we thought we would be able to find a place to fit it. No luck. At one point, my husband was going to get rid of it; but I could not part with such a beautiful piece of furniture; not to mention it had great storage space and where would I put all the Wii controllers?! So I put it smack dab in the middle of the living room and stood my ground that we were not getting rid of it. Everyone who visits, I ask “This table looks OK here, right???” All the yes’s got Rick to give in and we kept it
What I have found is that this table, when the top is raised, is at a perfect level for me to cut. I am short, only 5′ tall, so the kitchen counter is too tall. My sewing table is great, but it is small. Because the table is now in the living room, near my sewing space, I can very easily use it as a cutting table!
What unique cutting areas do you use?
Posted by Brye Lynn on January 27, 2010
I finsihed my first sock – Yeah!!!!
It really wasn’t that hard. If you have been thinking about trying it – I say go for it. I was listening to a Knit Picks podcast that encouraged me to try it. The speaker was talking about new knitters and the projects we choose. Scarfs can be the most boring things to knit, she implied. So she encouraged people to jump into socks or hats.
So, that is what I did. Yes, I had a bunch of stumbles along the way; but, WOW! It was so much fun. You can’t really see it, but there are a few holes here and there where I dropped stitches or mixed up the purl and knit in the pattern. But who cares?! I did it.
I can’t wait to finish the next one. I don’t know what I will knit next, but I feel like I could tackle anything. Maybe even a sweater. Heck, if I start now, I may have it finished by next winter.
What do your think I should conquer next? Gloves, hat, Sweater, Shawl,……..
Posted by Brye Lynn on January 24, 2010
Listen to the podcast of this post
No topic this week, just a bunch of crafting tidbits I picked up this week.
Tiffany not only shared her paper pieced quilt with us but a site to get gourmet coffee. Check out Quilter’s Coffee.
On the podcast, I said that Tiffany did not say the pattern but I was wrong. It was from Nancy Mahony’s book “Quilt Block Bonanza”.
Didn’t she do an awesome job. I love the colors and the perfect points. This is a great pattern for paper piecing. I think it is so perfect, it almost looks like an illistration.
Jaye told us about a book (wrong again, she didn’t write it, she has it – sorry, maybe I should write the post before record. lol). The book is “Point Well Taken: The Guide to Success with needles and Threads”.
Point Well Taken: The Guide to Success with Needles & Threads
New Podcast! Welcome aboard Toni. Check it out SillyChickDesigns
Here is the $10 balloon from Disney.
This is Mary’s alternative to a thread stand; it works great and will do until I invest in a thread stand. Mary’s idea is to put the thread in a cup and hand a hanger above and behind the machine. Thread throught the hanger before the machine and it works great. I didn’t have a place to hang a hanger, so I stuck it in a vase and threaded it throught the hook on the hanger.
Here are the three different widths of the threads. My Coats n’ Clark, the sewing machine guys Robinson-Anton and Mettler’s. Make sure your thread fits in your machine and pulls out smoothly; if not use a thread stand or change to a smaller spool of thread.
Fabric and thread I purchased for my United States block.
“Toys” I bought at the Quilt Shop. I am going to play with the Shiva sticks this week. Maybe I will podcast next week about it.
New iPod Application Fabric Journal.
Quilting Natural Florida II exhibit will be opening at the Florida Museum of Natural History from Feb. 6th to April 25.
Donate to the site. If everyone donated $2 a year that would give me over $1,200 to spend on giveaways! There are two quilt shows coming up and I would love to buy things to give away.
Posted by Brye Lynn on January 23, 2010
I finish the prep work for my last block for Frolic. Yeah!!! It is only 56 pieces, but all the pieces are pretty big, so it is a big pile of fabric. I did start stitching it last night and used a new product I picked up at the quilt shop.
It is called “Glue Baste-it”. It is a temporary glue to hold your pieces in place while you are stitching on your applique. This tiny bottle was $5, but is should last pretty long; you don’t use much. To use it you put several small daps on the the fabric and place your piece; try not to put glue where you are going to stitch. It does wash away with water and is not permanent.
I don’t know if I like it yet – over pins. The good part is I can place a lot of pieces at once without the worry of sticking myself with a bunch of pins while I hand stitch. The bad part is: nothing is holding my freezer paper on (see my applique technique post for how I needle turn). Plus, the glue goes through the fabric, even through I am using just a small dot.
No Podcast this Week
