My printing on ribbon worked!! This is how I did it (on a laser printer):
1. type wording in wordprocessing program. (chose font and letter size to suit width of ribbon)
2. print onto paper
3. take doublesided tape (I used Scotch brand)
4. tape down one side over printed wording
5. to other side of tape, affix ribbon
6. put through printer and reprint
7. iron printed ribbon to set ink
Don't try this yet -- keep reading.
Then I wanted to try printing on narrower tape. I followed steps 1-5, using the same tape as before. I made the mistake of putting the narrow ribbon on the same piece of tape I used before. Not that the tape wasn't sticky enough, the exposed tape stuck to the drum!! Fortunately, I was able to remove it without damage to the printer.
So if you are using ribbon narrower than the tape, either cut the tape to size or cover the exposed tape. And don't leave any bits of ribbon or paper unattached -- they will stick in the printer.
Then I went back to my Adar Aleph piece. It is finished, except for the binding. I will post photos soon.
Off to do more experimentation with a foil wrapper from the candy bar I had this afternoon...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Adar Aleph
Further to my resolution to make an 8 1/2" by 11" piece for each Jewish month, I am now faced with Adar Aleph, (Adar I) this being a Jewish leap year. Adar is the month of Purim and this year it falls in Adar Bet (Adar II). It shouldn't be too hard to find a Purim theme for that one.
Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard for Adar Aleph either. I am making a piece with the new moon, a nod to the lunar calendar, and fish, the sign of the zodiac. I have already made the moon, adhering transfer foil to Steam-a-Seam to a black ultrasuede moon (attachment yet to be determined). I am using a blue background fabric. The reverse side is darker so I'm using that for the sky. And then I'm using the light side as the water, covered with scrunched up organza to give the feeling of waves/depth. And two fish findings I brought from Israel. A bead here, a ribbon there -- et voila! Hopefully it shouldn't be that time consuming.
I started (continued) quilting my lap quilt. I am using the walking foot and following the curves of the blocks but it is slow going, turning the fabric each time and getting it through the neck. But I can do a few blocks at a time and set it aside as there is no rush.
I really have to get started on my postcards. And that said, I am now going to type my Hebrew phrases onto paper in preparation for reprinting them onto ribbon. Cross your fingers.
Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard for Adar Aleph either. I am making a piece with the new moon, a nod to the lunar calendar, and fish, the sign of the zodiac. I have already made the moon, adhering transfer foil to Steam-a-Seam to a black ultrasuede moon (attachment yet to be determined). I am using a blue background fabric. The reverse side is darker so I'm using that for the sky. And then I'm using the light side as the water, covered with scrunched up organza to give the feeling of waves/depth. And two fish findings I brought from Israel. A bead here, a ribbon there -- et voila! Hopefully it shouldn't be that time consuming.
I started (continued) quilting my lap quilt. I am using the walking foot and following the curves of the blocks but it is slow going, turning the fabric each time and getting it through the neck. But I can do a few blocks at a time and set it aside as there is no rush.
I really have to get started on my postcards. And that said, I am now going to type my Hebrew phrases onto paper in preparation for reprinting them onto ribbon. Cross your fingers.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
New work
This is where I am so far. The top photo is without the organza overlay.
The background fabric is green dupionni. The silver is a very thin ribbon, attached with Steam a Seam Light. I also have some ribbons and machine embroidery stitches. Nothing earth shattering.
Since the exercise calls for foil transfers, I need bonding powder in order to continue. I called around Toronto -- art supply shops, quilt shops, etc. No one I found carries Bo-Nash or Supermend.
I made arrangements to get some in a rather roundabout fashion. While surfing on the internet, I found a quilt and textile store in Munich which sells a, I hope, comparable product called "Texolit" (I think that's the spelling) as well as a foil I haven't seen yet -- it's a mixture of gold/silver/copper colours. I asked my daughter who lives in Munich to buy some and take it with her when she goes to Israel on February 5th. My brother-in-law is coming from Israel to Toronto on the 10th. So, assuming they meet up, I'll have my product by the 10th.
In the meantime, however, I sent out a post to the ArtQuilt list and one of the members, Larkin, very generously offered to share some Bo-Nash from her stash. And I just received another email from someone giving me the address of a quilt shop in Kingston which carries it.
I sure hope I fall in love with the foil transfer thing after everyone going to such lengths for me.
So I have to set aside this project and work on some others.
I lost my momentum and didn't do any stitching today. Tomorrow, I want to finish quilting a lap quilt.
Then I have to start on my Purim/Pesach/spring postcards. This entails an experiment with printing from the laser printer onto ribbon. I will let you know how (if) it works out.
Anyhow, that's all for now.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tu B'shvat, challenges, etc.
I wish I knew how to tell the photos to appear in the same order I uploaded them. The two darker wallhangings were inspired by my fabric art group's challenge. The challenge was to make a triangular bag as per instructions in Quilting Arts Gifts 2008.
I swear I started following the instructions... I made the rectangles & squares first, improvising along the way. Then I decided not to make it into a bag but rather make a wallhanging. I had so much fun making it that I made a "sister" piece, using the same colour palette but with curves. I prefer the wavy one.So, in honour of Tu B'shvat, here is my homage to trees. I'm not sure I'm finished yet -- I may try dry brush painting the sky (to cover the bleach marks...)
Now I am working on my next challenge which is also a bag as per instructions by Angie Hughes (from a magazine -- I only got the photocopies so I don't know which). It is supposed to use transfer foils.
I haven't yet, but the bag is shaping up. Since it is an exercise in transfer foils, I will make another bag using them once I buy the materials I am supposed to have in the colours I like.
Anyways, that's it for now.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Field Trips and Play Dates
Wonderful weekend.
Saturday, Menachem and I went on a field trip. Some of the IJQ women arranged to meet in Hamilton to take advantage of Fabricland's 50% off sale, stroll along Ottawa Street (fabric and sewing related stores), and visit the Quilt Art 20 exhibit in Burlington.
We were supposed to be 5 IJQers, but a bad back prevented Penina from joining us and Nancy got caught in snow squalls and decided to turn around and return home. So it was Marilyn from Hamilton, Karen from Buffalo, and Menachem and me. We met up at Fabricland and I must say that their fabric selection appeared to be better than that of either the Doncaster or Empress Walk stores. Although I wasn't really planning to buy fabric, there were several baby cheat panels and backings which were just so playful and colourful that we couldn't resist. I also took some of the fabric I had and needed to match up in order to finish projects. It was a perfect opportunity to stock up on batting, rotary discs, and steam a seam which I'll need for the postcard exchange.
From there, we walked along Ottawa Street, popping into fabric stores. I bought some organza ribbon hopefully to use on the postcards. And then we went into Uri's Textiles where I found a very textured fabric with a small multi-coloured subway brick pattern which I hope to use as inspiration for a future project. We also found a lovely fabric from which we hope to make a headboard. Perhaps, after close to 20 years in this house, our bedroom will be our next home project. We can choose the wall colours from the headboard. Uri, the owner, is a very nice Israeli man and after he and Menachem started playing Israeli geography, we got a nice discount.
It was bitterly cold and windy so our next stop was lunch at Limoncello. We had a nice meal and chat. From there, we went to the Burlington Art Centre for the Quilt Art 20 exhibit. Some of the works were truly amazing. There was also an exhibit of the Burlington Fibre Arts group members and a postcard exhibit. Beautiful postcards.
Today was my fibre arts group meeting at our house. We all showed our interpretations of the challenge from the last meeting. Interesting how each of them were so different. We talked about art shows, articles, books, etc. and ended with a demonstration of applying foil to fabric which gave me an idea or two to try. And then a project page for the next challenge. It was a pleasant afternoon and these meetings seem to energize and inspire. So let's hope positive things continue to come from them.
Saturday, Menachem and I went on a field trip. Some of the IJQ women arranged to meet in Hamilton to take advantage of Fabricland's 50% off sale, stroll along Ottawa Street (fabric and sewing related stores), and visit the Quilt Art 20 exhibit in Burlington.
We were supposed to be 5 IJQers, but a bad back prevented Penina from joining us and Nancy got caught in snow squalls and decided to turn around and return home. So it was Marilyn from Hamilton, Karen from Buffalo, and Menachem and me. We met up at Fabricland and I must say that their fabric selection appeared to be better than that of either the Doncaster or Empress Walk stores. Although I wasn't really planning to buy fabric, there were several baby cheat panels and backings which were just so playful and colourful that we couldn't resist. I also took some of the fabric I had and needed to match up in order to finish projects. It was a perfect opportunity to stock up on batting, rotary discs, and steam a seam which I'll need for the postcard exchange.
From there, we walked along Ottawa Street, popping into fabric stores. I bought some organza ribbon hopefully to use on the postcards. And then we went into Uri's Textiles where I found a very textured fabric with a small multi-coloured subway brick pattern which I hope to use as inspiration for a future project. We also found a lovely fabric from which we hope to make a headboard. Perhaps, after close to 20 years in this house, our bedroom will be our next home project. We can choose the wall colours from the headboard. Uri, the owner, is a very nice Israeli man and after he and Menachem started playing Israeli geography, we got a nice discount.
It was bitterly cold and windy so our next stop was lunch at Limoncello. We had a nice meal and chat. From there, we went to the Burlington Art Centre for the Quilt Art 20 exhibit. Some of the works were truly amazing. There was also an exhibit of the Burlington Fibre Arts group members and a postcard exhibit. Beautiful postcards.
Today was my fibre arts group meeting at our house. We all showed our interpretations of the challenge from the last meeting. Interesting how each of them were so different. We talked about art shows, articles, books, etc. and ended with a demonstration of applying foil to fabric which gave me an idea or two to try. And then a project page for the next challenge. It was a pleasant afternoon and these meetings seem to energize and inspire. So let's hope positive things continue to come from them.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Busy, busy, busy
This week has been and will continue to be busy with all things fabric related.
Monday, I finished my Shvat piece (photo to follow). In the end, I didn't embroider any biblical quote, not that I didn't try, but it just didn't look right. I had marked the fabric with the purple air dissolving pen and some markings remained. I tried to bleach pen them out. Now I have little yellow smudges on the white background sky. Oh well. I appliqued wisps of clouds to try various effects. Anyways, I bound the piece and will hold onto to, either to make into a larger piece later or just leave as is.
Tuesday evening was my York Heritage Guild meeting. The speaker, Judy Morningstar's, work was amazing and her talk very uplifting. She uses the tiniest of scraps of the same colour, piecing them together, to make a larger fabric. It's called "poverty piecing". This could fulfill one's need to piece and the waste not edict. She also talked about finishing quilts with facing instead of binding. Unfortunately, I did not think to ask about how it is done. Maybe I'll email her.
While at the meeting, I received a flyer for one of the quilt shops which is selling fat quarters for $1.25 for 10 ($1.00 for 25!). So Menachem picked me up after work and we went there. The choices were nothing to write home about. I barely managed to find 10 and some of those were multiples. But I did find a nice fabric to put backings and bindings on my fibre art pieces, so it wasn't a total loss.
Then in the evening, I had the Pomegranate Guild meeting. The speaker does needle lace, some of it based on photographs of family members. The cool thing was the way she displays it. She suspends the pieces from the ceiling and lights them so their shadows project on the wall. Don't know if I'll try needle lace any time soon, but I've filed away the information.
Saturday, weather permitting, I'm joining some other women from the IJQ list on a shopping and quilt show field trip in Hamilton-Burlington. Fabricland is having a 50% off sale and I want to assess the stuff I have and see what else I need in order to complete/start projects.
And then Sunday, the fibre arts group is meeting at my house. I want to try to finish the backing and bindings this evening.
So the creative juices are still flowing.
Monday, I finished my Shvat piece (photo to follow). In the end, I didn't embroider any biblical quote, not that I didn't try, but it just didn't look right. I had marked the fabric with the purple air dissolving pen and some markings remained. I tried to bleach pen them out. Now I have little yellow smudges on the white background sky. Oh well. I appliqued wisps of clouds to try various effects. Anyways, I bound the piece and will hold onto to, either to make into a larger piece later or just leave as is.
Tuesday evening was my York Heritage Guild meeting. The speaker, Judy Morningstar's, work was amazing and her talk very uplifting. She uses the tiniest of scraps of the same colour, piecing them together, to make a larger fabric. It's called "poverty piecing". This could fulfill one's need to piece and the waste not edict. She also talked about finishing quilts with facing instead of binding. Unfortunately, I did not think to ask about how it is done. Maybe I'll email her.
While at the meeting, I received a flyer for one of the quilt shops which is selling fat quarters for $1.25 for 10 ($1.00 for 25!). So Menachem picked me up after work and we went there. The choices were nothing to write home about. I barely managed to find 10 and some of those were multiples. But I did find a nice fabric to put backings and bindings on my fibre art pieces, so it wasn't a total loss.
Then in the evening, I had the Pomegranate Guild meeting. The speaker does needle lace, some of it based on photographs of family members. The cool thing was the way she displays it. She suspends the pieces from the ceiling and lights them so their shadows project on the wall. Don't know if I'll try needle lace any time soon, but I've filed away the information.
Saturday, weather permitting, I'm joining some other women from the IJQ list on a shopping and quilt show field trip in Hamilton-Burlington. Fabricland is having a 50% off sale and I want to assess the stuff I have and see what else I need in order to complete/start projects.
And then Sunday, the fibre arts group is meeting at my house. I want to try to finish the backing and bindings this evening.
So the creative juices are still flowing.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Shvat piece
So the Shvat piece is coming along. After I wonderundered the tree tops to the background fabric, I thread painted tree trunks and over the tree tops, branches. I then thread "scribbled" over the branches with variegated green thread. It looks quite nice. I am not happy with the wonderunder. It is gummy to sew through (residued left on needle) and the fabric sandwich becomes rather stiff for my liking.
At this point, I needed a Hebrew biblical/talmudic/liturgical quotation. I put the call out to the IJQ list and received several suggestions. I debated whether to go with "k'etz shatul al palgey mayim" (as a tree planted near a stream) or "ki ha'adam etz hasadeh" (for man is like a tree in the field). Although the latter can be linked to the moral and ethical, I found the former more uplifting.
So I put in a stream. I used fancy embroidery threads in the bobbin. (Add another technique). One thread turned out beautifully. From the other I learned that some threads in the bobbin jam the machine... After unjamming, I turned the piece right side up again and tacked down the jamming thread with a zigzag stitch. The steam turned out nicely.
Now all I have left to do is the quotation which I will probably hand embroider above the tree tops using white thread on the white background. And hopefully won't be in your face but will give the appearance of clouds.
And then, even though it started out as an 8 1/5" by 11", I'll probably border it and turn it into a wallhanging.
Yay me!
At this point, I needed a Hebrew biblical/talmudic/liturgical quotation. I put the call out to the IJQ list and received several suggestions. I debated whether to go with "k'etz shatul al palgey mayim" (as a tree planted near a stream) or "ki ha'adam etz hasadeh" (for man is like a tree in the field). Although the latter can be linked to the moral and ethical, I found the former more uplifting.
So I put in a stream. I used fancy embroidery threads in the bobbin. (Add another technique). One thread turned out beautifully. From the other I learned that some threads in the bobbin jam the machine... After unjamming, I turned the piece right side up again and tacked down the jamming thread with a zigzag stitch. The steam turned out nicely.
Now all I have left to do is the quotation which I will probably hand embroider above the tree tops using white thread on the white background. And hopefully won't be in your face but will give the appearance of clouds.
And then, even though it started out as an 8 1/5" by 11", I'll probably border it and turn it into a wallhanging.
Yay me!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Resolution #2 bites the dust
My faithful readers (reader?...) may recall that I made a resolution not to purchase new fabric in 2008 and to use up what I have. I fear, alas, that that resolution is about to bite the dust. After taking out all my fabric and trying to "group" it, I see that I have lots of lovely fabrics but very few that go together. So I may just have to purchase some. But I will take my fabric with me to the store to ensure I get a proper match. And I will have a plan in hand in advance so I don't overbuy.
So the first purchase will be the borders and backing for charity quilt #1 (another resolution to make one charity quilt a month). And with respect to charity quilt #2, I sat down yesterday with the leftovers from other projects and cut out 6" squares, and where I didn't have enough for a 6" square, I pieced a four patch, a nine patch, a crazy pattern, a striped pattern patch and a diagonal strip. I have 36 6" squares. Second purchase, borders and backing.
In keeping with my resolution to try to do a monthly Judaic piece, I started on an 8 1/2" by 11" for Shvat, specifically Tu B'Shvat. It is based on an illustration of trees I saw in a newspaper ad. So far I have wonderundered the treetops and and contemplating trying a little machine thread painting. In which case this piece will qualify both for my monthly Judaic resolution and my trying new techniques resolution.
Now back to the drawing board.
So the first purchase will be the borders and backing for charity quilt #1 (another resolution to make one charity quilt a month). And with respect to charity quilt #2, I sat down yesterday with the leftovers from other projects and cut out 6" squares, and where I didn't have enough for a 6" square, I pieced a four patch, a nine patch, a crazy pattern, a striped pattern patch and a diagonal strip. I have 36 6" squares. Second purchase, borders and backing.
In keeping with my resolution to try to do a monthly Judaic piece, I started on an 8 1/2" by 11" for Shvat, specifically Tu B'Shvat. It is based on an illustration of trees I saw in a newspaper ad. So far I have wonderundered the treetops and and contemplating trying a little machine thread painting. In which case this piece will qualify both for my monthly Judaic resolution and my trying new techniques resolution.
Now back to the drawing board.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Year's Resolutions
I didn't make very many because I tend not to keep them...
One that I did make was to make a charity quilt a month. I am using a pattern called "Streak of Sunshine" which I found at www.quiltville.com.
Yesterday, I returned to work and am trying to return to my routine of an hour in the studio before work and an hour after. In the morning, I got the eight strips joined and tubed. In the evening I got the tubed strips crosswise into strip and this morning, I got the new strips sewn into a square. Now I have to figure out what fabrics to use for borders without buying fabric. That's resolution #2-- fabric diet. I don't have serious stashes like some but I have enough to get me started. I have a lot of dark fabrics so I may need to purchase lights but only in 10" strips!! Or maybe I'll just swap with someone else.
I also have resolved to try to challenge myself by participating in challenges. There's currently one going called "Grounds for Change" with respect to coffee. I am starting to throw around ideas but I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet, or if I will participate in this one.
Anyways, I'm reading a really good book called "Love Walked In" and I want to finish it so I'll forgo any further posting for a bit.
One that I did make was to make a charity quilt a month. I am using a pattern called "Streak of Sunshine" which I found at www.quiltville.com.
Yesterday, I returned to work and am trying to return to my routine of an hour in the studio before work and an hour after. In the morning, I got the eight strips joined and tubed. In the evening I got the tubed strips crosswise into strip and this morning, I got the new strips sewn into a square. Now I have to figure out what fabrics to use for borders without buying fabric. That's resolution #2-- fabric diet. I don't have serious stashes like some but I have enough to get me started. I have a lot of dark fabrics so I may need to purchase lights but only in 10" strips!! Or maybe I'll just swap with someone else.
I also have resolved to try to challenge myself by participating in challenges. There's currently one going called "Grounds for Change" with respect to coffee. I am starting to throw around ideas but I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet, or if I will participate in this one.
Anyways, I'm reading a really good book called "Love Walked In" and I want to finish it so I'll forgo any further posting for a bit.
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