Be Kind a *Paper and Fabric* Quilt

*Be Kind* is a small 10" x 7" quilt I made with *paper and fabric* for the next 2014 SAQA Trunk Show. They are celebrating their 25th Anniversary! All the quilts will be mounted on a black mat. The great thing about the trunk shows is that the quilts travel and many people get to view them first hand. Each artist has their own style.
When the paper-cloth was painted and dried, I started doing the appliqué. With the help of my sewing machine I sew around each motive, in this case the flowers and little person, with thick 12w Aurifil thread. Afterwards, I did hand embroidery.
When finished sewing all the details by hand...
I did free-motion quilting on the background.
The world can be a better place if use this is a moral: *Be Kind* to each other.

*TRAPUNTO* with Thick Threads


As I promised I will show you how I did this small quilt. To warm up follow the exercises explained in the previous post HERE and adjust the tension in your sewing machine if necessary.
Draw a house shape on a piece of paper and use it as a template. Iron fusible webbing on the back of a colored fabric and trace and cut the house. Iron to a piece of solid color fabric. In this case, I used white fabric.
Following the first step of my TRAPUNTO technique published in Quilting Arts magazine Dec13/Jan14, prepare the first layer. Choose your thread, in this case I chose 12w Aurifil in a monochromatic color.
For the focal point I chose a combination of my *practice designs* and changed the color thread to add interest. I did not draw the shapes on my final piece only a straight line on the roof where I wrote with dark brown 12w thread the words "my house".
After finishing sewing the design by machine, I decided where to place my *toppings* (that's what I called the hand-embroidery or beading details). In this case, I decided to use only thread, so with the same 12w thread I started to do hand embroidery.
Following the instructions of the article, prepare the  final layers.
Load your sewing machine with 28w thread on top and stitch the background. I chose a variegated color to give the viewer a surprise element once they get closer to the quilt. Finished the border with a zigzag stitch.
I hope you will try this technique adding texture to your work with trapunto combined with thick 12w and 28w thread.

Aurifil Thread GIVEAWAY


Let's start the New Year with a giveaway! If you are new to my blog, I am happy you are here! As you can see I *love* threads, especially thick Aurifil 12w and 28w threads.

Let me show you how I do a FUN practice piece before I start any project using these threads.
I could never begin with a white piece of fabric so I came up with this design which includes all the basic quilting lines: straight, curves and angles to help me started.

How it works: on a white piece of paper draw the design with a black sharpie. Pass over the lines with Sulky iron-on transfer pen. You can skip this step and draw directly on your fabric but I like the versatility of this pen because it prepares the design for future use.

As you can see, I only drew half of each shape so when it is time to sew first I follow the line and then freely complete the rest of the shape.
Cut two pieces of the same fabric you would use in your project and following the manufacturer's directions, transfer the design with the help of an iron.
Sandwich your fabrics with the same batting you would use in your project. First, load your sewing machine with 12w Aurifil thread on the top and 40w thread in the bobbin, insert a new 90 or 100 needle and start to sew at a slower pace. Once finished, load your sewing machine with 28w Aurifil thread on the top this time and 40w thread in the bobbin and complete the exercise as before.
 This is how it should look in the back after sewing with 12w Aurifil thread.
Final practice pieces are pictured. The picture above shows the 12w Aurifil thread and bottom picture shows the 28w Aurifil thread.
Make any adjustments in your machine with your tension if necessary.

Now that you are familiar with these threads, why not do a small project?
I made this small quilt with my TRAPUNTO technique published in Quilting Arts magazine  Dec.13/Jan14 (you can find the article on page 54) and a combination of Aurifil 12w and 28w thread sewn by machine and  by hand. In my next post I will show you how I did it.

Now let's talk about the GIVEAWAY:

Aurifil is giving away two sets of 7 spools each of 12w and 28w thread
It's open to all readers-International shipping
If you are interested in winning this giveaway just leave one comment telling me what would be your first sewing project of the year.
Please make sure to leave your contact information if you are a no-reply blogger.
I do usually respond to comments, but with the volume received for giveaway day, I apologize in advance if I am not able to do so.
For a BONUS entry you can become a follower and/or LIKE my Facebook page and comment again telling me you have, but it's not required.
 
THE GIVEAWAY DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED!

Learn how to add *Texture* in your work with my NEW Article in Quilting Arts Magazine

 
The Dec2013/Jan 2014 issue of Quilting Arts magazine is out, you can find it here. In there you will find my latest article where I teach you how to add *Eye Popping Texture* to your work.
 Let me show you another idea on how I use this technique by doing Christmas ornaments.
For the hearts I use one of my drop cloth fabrics with a variety of Aurifil 12w thread colors.
After observing the marks left on the cloth I decided which parts to enhance with hand embroidery and I started to work.

Once finished, I cut the hearts out and pasted them on a red fabric.
 After following the directions from the magazine article and having sandwiched the layers together I started free motion sewing around each heart with red Aurifil 28w thread. Then I cut around the heart shape leaving approximately 1 inch of border. Afterwards,I finished the edges with a close zigzag/satin stitch. I then sewed a colorful string on the top and I made a hole in the bottom for little messages.
I hope you will try this technique and start adding texture to your work with an easy way to do trapunto.
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

ChalkBoard Buddies a *FUN* handmade present

 
Chalkboard Buddies

The younger generations are accustomed to read, play and interact with all new electronic devices but they also get excited when they receive a hand-written card from a loved one. That's why I came up with the idea to make these "chalkboard buddies", which are soft and cuddly,  and where you have a "chalkboard" surface to write your own message. Best of all, the recipient can erase and rewrite another message to send it back or use it as a reminder board!

Materials needed:

. white cotton fabric, high quality, smooth surface (the tighter the weave the easier to write with chalk sticks)

.  felt squares, any color.

. 1/4 yard of stretch polyester velvet (any color)

. chalk  and disappearing ink for marking

. black chalkboard paint

. foam brush

. sewing machine

. pieces of yarn for the hair and a big eyed needle to sew the yarn on the head

 . dark piece of construction paper for the eyes

. black and red permanent markers

. scraps of fabric for the scarves

. buttons, big and small, paper flowers

. scissors and rotary cut

. a small box of children chalk sticks

. doll stuffing

. pink paint                                                   pattern:

 
Directions:

1. Cut a 7 inch long piece of your white cotton fabric and draw a horizontal line with your chalk or disappearing ink at 4 inches height.  Now you will have the long strip divided in two, a wide part of 4 inches and a narrow one of 3 inches. Paint the 4 inches wide part with the black chalkboard paint.

2. Let it dry completely, for at least three hours, and paint it over again. Wait 24 hours.

3. Mark the doll pattern, being careful to trace the head on the white part and the body on the black part. Cut them apart.

4. With the rotary cutter, use the stretch velvet to cut two strips of 2 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches.Put the felt square on your table and cover one of the shorter ends with the strip of velvet facing up. Then sew 1/4 inch from the bottom  border. Repeat on the opposite end. Cut the felt square in half. You end up with two pieces of felt 5 1/2 inches by 9 inches with a piece of stretch velvet sewn to one of the longer sides.

5. Put the half felt square on the table with the stretch velvet facing down. Put on top two of the doll shapes, side by side, facing up, matching the black part of the doll on top of the velvet. Pin and sew around with a 1/4 inch seam, starting at the dot and finishing in the other dot. Use scissors to cut around the doll shapes. Fill the dolls with stuffing while being careful not to overstuff them at the straight end. This will make sewing easier. Pin the bottom and then sew the straight edge with a 1/4 inch seam.

6. To make the face, cut small circles from dark construction paper and paste it in place with a little liquid matte medium. With black permanent marker draw the eye lashes and nose and with the red marker the mouth. With pink paint color the cheeks.

7. Make the hair out of colored yarn and sew it in place with a big-eyed needle and the same colored yarn.

8. Now it is time to decorate your doll. Use all those decorations you have been collecting and saving. In this case I cut a piece of a scrap of fabric and put it around the neck. Then I sewed a paper flower with a small button on top of the scarf.

9. Divide a felt square into 9 equal pieces. Roll up one piece and insert it in the doll's back pocket to add a chalk stick. Write a message and send a "Chalkboard Buddy" to a loved one.

Tip:

.if you have a "walking foot" use it to sew the stretch velvet.

.when you trace the pattern of the doll use chalk instead of a water soluble marker.

*Prayer Flag* - October- Breast Cancer Awareness Month

*A Flower for You*
a paper and fabric prayer flag
  
October is -Breast Cancer Awareness Month-  I have friends that are fighting this terrible disease so I decided to make them prayer flags with paper and fabric.
 
Some I made big and some I made small for easier fitting in a card and mailing.
After I put together pieces of paper cloth and fabric I decided to cut some letters out to form words of encouragement and for them to be part of the design. To accomplish this I took out my *Slice* machine and put it to work.

First I ironed on fusible web to the underside of a designer paper. Then I peeled the paper off and with its glue side down, I chose the letter size (in this case I chose 1 inch size) and started to cut.

After I've formed the word, I covered it with parchment paper and ironed it in place.
With the help of a sewing machine I then sewed all around to secure all the pieces in place. Afterwards, I then decided to embellish it.
I used 12w Aurifil thread for some details and...
...beading and paper flowers for other details.

I bought a supported stencil to paint on the backing fabric or on the envelop. All the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research.
You can read more about *The Prayer Flag Project* in this blog

Let's make prayer flags and support our loved ones.

DIY Tablemats

I've decided to create *new* tablemats. I want them bright and cheerful to let my guests feel welcome at my table. Since I'm in a new city, more certainly I will invite *new* friends; so why not write messages to break the ice and start a conversation?

With the help of my thermofax machine and a computer program, I designed three screens: one with lettering and the other two with wild flowers. I started printing the lettering for the background with pale colors...
and noticed that I could hardly read them, especially after a glass of wine! Mmm that has to be corrected so...
 
I decided to use darker colors. I had to be very careful in making them dark enough so I could read the words but make them light enough so they would not compete with the intensity of the color of the flowers.
Once finished with the printing, I ironed each panel to fusible fleece (Pellon 987F) and backing fabric.

Now it was time for *the toppings* (that's what I called the decorative stitching layer). You know how much I like texture, especially texture with thick threads, it is my favorite part but because these tablemats should lay flat, really flat, I chose thin 50w White Aurifil thread
and started sewing around the flowers. Once I was done, I decided to finish the edges with a zigzag stitch. I loaded my Janome machine with 40w thread, chose -stitch 10-, installed the -foot C- and sew around.

TIP: It's a good idea to round the corners to improve handling of the tablemats during sewing. That way you end up with smoother corners.
I am happy with the results and ready to invite *new friends* to my table and celebrate!