Christmas Teach-In Quilt

Great American Teach-In Quilt

Detail of DD's picture

My theme for this year's Great American Teach-In  was "What makes me Me".  I was very impressed with Spoonflower's new color profile as it captured the children's drawings just as they had drawn them.  With no shift and nice texture.  DD said it was like I took all the drawings and sewed them together.

I wrapped the quilt in a pretty pink bag and off it went to school today for the Teacher.  Next year I'm thinking perhaps I'd like do have the children make a small project, likely with fabric that they could take home.  The rush of making a quilt last minute, right before Christmas like this really doesn't suit how I'm making quilts these days.  

Our Tree With Packages

I mentioned my Christmas tree in my last post and you all were just the push I needed to have DD help me wrap up DH's presents, of course because I had everything out, so I just flowed from wrapping gifts for one person to another and another. 

Tiny is coming for Christmas.

Our School doesn't do a traditional Christmas program as I recall from years gone by, but she reads to a really great group called Tail Waggin' Tutors (they are an international program staffed with amazing owners, and fully trained therapy dogs), this was her second Christmas party with them and they did a wonderful job.  The below picture is DD singing and signing in Sign Language.

Sing and Sign

We are all ready for Christmas and just in time to, with the cold front sweeping the nation.  How are you on your Christmas Shopping and Wrapping?  Only 4 days left you know.

Swatch Day = My Custom Meerkat Fabric

I don't know how many of you have ordered custom fabric before.  I have and it's one of those things that seems to have it's good with the bad.  I'm not going to bother listing them but I did want to show you the delightful swatch that showed up on my doorstep on Monday.  I could not be happier with this print.  See below the original picture I used in my Meerkat post the other day?  Now look at the scan of my wonderfully new Meerkat Fabric on the left.  I scanned the fabric this time instead of taking a picture so the lighting in the room wouldn't adversely effect the colors.  If you wondered the lines in the picture that you see is actually the weave of the fabric itself, the scanner didn't quite know what to make of it.  For the fabric I went with something they were calling a light canvas linen, which should hold up nicely to all of my happy gazes.  I think it might become a pillow for the couch.  Aren't those designers always telling us to fill our home with things we love?

From this printing the things that stand out most to me are that I didn't doctor the print much, I just went with the original photograph (pictures posted to blogger have a lower resolution automatically than the original) and tweaked that for size.  I just love the way his markings printed out so wonderfully rich and right on.  The shrub and green plant life are rather out of place from a Meerkat's natural environment, but for a vacation picture, not to mention fabric for a vacation memento, it's marvelous.

Christmas Quilt-A-Long Year 2 June Lunch

Yesterday, I had worked myself up for so many days about what I would sew on our Christmas Quilt-a-long day that I went and put in some time on my Earth Turtles, as I couldn't stand it another day, I added two more to my collection.  That brings me up to four and as this will be a twin size quilt unlike it's own twin the full/queen Hawaiian Ocean Appliqué Quilt this one is already half way done!

So what was I to do today?  Work on the ocean wave border for Children of the Sea of course.  Not much to show there, as after at least an hour of ironing and a while of cutting curves; few minutes ago I found myself quite lost when I started to line up everything to sew and thought it best to take a time out for lunch.

DD has gotten into the swing of things and did a bit of artwork of her own on fabric.  Not bad for a first try, especially as I'm sure we've all tried to write on fabric for some reason at some point and know what a challenge it can be.  Just in case you're wondering I'm nearly certain the girl in purple is sticking her tongue out.  Hooray for the Christmas Spirit.

Happy Stitching!

DUST?!?!?!?

Wan'ta Know a Secret?  I've been busy.  You knew that right? But you didn't know I'm getting my own Sewing Studio!  Oh yes that's what I said.  A place of my very own.  Not a chair in the kitchen but a real - Oh my goodness ROOM!  With a door and everything!  LOL Makes me feel like a teenager.

Sunny is also in great spirits having finally found his very own cat house.  His sister Tiny looks on in distain at both him in his hut and me taking his picture because she thinks he's crazy, but that's not news. 

Now that you've heard the biggest news do you want the rest?  Surely you do.  That's what I love about of you.  Yesterday I received not one but two surprises in the mail!  Yes, the fabric we've been waiting for arrived.  Hoffman's Bali Batik Black Onyx G2177 213.

Onyx is one of Hoffman's latest answers to true black in a batik and let me start by saying they did a good job, and no one is asking me to say that.  Are you kidding?  I paid full price for this fabric.  Now I thought this was a gold foil swirl added on top of the black onyx.  But that's not the case.  Instead it's a beautiful blend of browns, yellows, and goldens that reads like a gold foil at any distance greater than 20".  It is certainly a look twice fabric.  

My second surprise is actually one I've worked long and hard for.  Meet Kailey.  Isn't she a sweetie?  She arrived in a Christmas dress so I knew I had to stitch out something nice and tropical after all it's 83 degrees in the shade today.  What better to start with than a take on my own outfit today and make a sarong with a matching top?  In case you're wondering I'm not wearing hot pink I'm wearing ocean blue, but I'm already a BFF of my DD.  At least until she's turns 10 or I ask her to turn the tv off, which ever comes first.

As I can't seem to stop myself from thinking about what is on the reverse this sarong is no exception.  The second side creates a purple towel wrap all set for your best game of pretend.

Before I sewed these, when I first sat down at my sewing machine I saw a horror, something I don't think I've ever seen in the entire three years I've been quilting, could it be that long?!?!?!?!?  There was dust on my sewing machine!  Eegads!  I even took a picture for you, can you see it?  Ewww, if I keep up this sort of neglect I will have to start putting the sewing machine (gasp) away between uses!  Is that something you do? I know, I know mixers and sewing machines; you're supposed to cover them.  But the sewing machine cover is hard plastic and so big and bulky, it always gets in my way when I'm trying to sew.  Hey in my new room I'll be able to banish the sewing machine cover to the other side of the room.

I have a dusty house, it's true and most of this seems to be cat hair, but that says something equally shocking, that perhaps my cats have spent more time by my sewing machine than I have!  How about this, we'll blame the dust on all the hand work I've been doing stitching applique for the Dresden Plate Quilt.  Right that's it.  Happy stitching and may the dust never settle on your machine!

When All of the Math Works Out

This is the latest installment of the back to the 2nd Blessings from Heaven Quilt.  I tell you this much is for sure, I'll be thrilled to have it finished and put what began as overflow from my first quilt behind me.  Today I sewed blocks - 74 blocks to be exact.  These are 6" blocks and are merely a four-patch pattern as you can see.  Both borders with pink in them are done, leaving only the middle pieced border, a mere 36 blocks left.

Have you ever wondered what 74 blocks would look like?  I'm not one to like making something over and over, but today it brought me peace to feel the fabric slip through my fingers.  Perhaps it gave me to much peace as I found myself picking out stitches on more than one block simply because I sewed them together colors matching instead of staggered.

No matter it's progress regardless. Yes, I have created two files to have custom printed with dd's baby picture on it. Two files because that way I can order both and use the one I like the best. I'm not certain if I'll be sticking with Spoonflower, or going with KarmaKraft on this one. There is something about the later, knowing the fabric will be printed squarely, and not shrink... It's worth the extra, if only I could find more positive reviews..

Textile Medium Update - Review Part 1

Not one to sacrifice a project to a product I know nothing about, I tried my Fabric Medium by Americana before subjecting DH's art work to it.  The results where not at all what I'd hoped.

After three days of drying a heat set and one hand washing.

I scanned the image so that you could really see the color change between the painted and the unpainted areas.  From this scan alone I would be thrilled with the results.  But what you don't see is that the side painted with Textile Medium feels like vinyl there is no better way to explain it.  Also look along the edge of the black on the left had side.  See how the fabric was changed simply by having the paint on it? 

Another troublesome issue that you can't see but I can is that the colors have all taken on a yellowish hue.  The medium appears white in the bottle, so I am uncertain if this problem is that the colored pencils ran a bit as the medium was applied or just what.

Original, attempts made to use different pressures and angles to see overall results.  All colors are Prismacolor.

The original post said to apply lightly which I found completely impossible with the Americana brand.  Firstly it pooled on the surface and then soaked in drenching all areas it touched.  I am hoping by diluting the Fabric Medium it will reduce all of my issues.  As each step takes a while, it will be around a week before you'll be able to see a follow up on my dilution samples.

Right after painting with Medium.

Color tinged mess left behind under the fabric, all attempts to apply thinly failed with this product.

As far as clean up, this product cleans up in hot water and a bit of soap and for my table a bit of elbow grease so at least that was okay.  I wouldn't leave it though as that first washing of the sample did not change the feel of the painted sample at all.

This was an update to my Textile Medium Gives New Life to Old WIP post click the link to read.  To see any images bigger simply click on them.  Some will even allow you to zoom on the resulting image after that simply by clicking it again when the magnifing glass appears with a plus sign.

Textile Medium Gives life to Old WIP

It all started two years ago when my husband took all of my white fabric and drew Disney characters on it.  More than once I ran out of white fabric because he would make off with it.  I'd intended to make a baby quilt using the drawings, but I set the project out of my mind when our color swatch sample started fading after repeated washings.

Two days ago I read Testing Shadows over at 365 days of free motion quilting, in that post she mentions Textile Medium being used to set colored pencil marks into fabric.  SERIOUSLY!?!?!   What is that and where can I get some?!?!  So then in comes an email from Lynn over at Nebraska Views who tells me about Sandra and the two posts she created:  A New Discovery and Colored Pencil Applique Tutorial in the later I learn all about Textile Medium and where to look for it.  AWESOME!  Aren't our fellow bloggers great!

This morning while running errands I was right next to Michael's.  I thought I've give them a shot after all worst case they don't have it and I buy it for $6 post shipping on ebay.  Sure enough they have it.  Granted it's not the brand Sandra talked about, but I think it will be just fine. 

Do you have a project that you put away like that?  It took me two years to find the $2.46 answer, but I did, and I'm certain the answer will come to you too.  Perhaps it's time to go through that old box and refresh your mind; perhaps you already know the answer. Pst! It's okay if the answer is to give it to a friend to finish.

The Quilts of The Great American Teach-In

Yesterday I finished up the second quilt for the second teacher in Jessica's class.  Both panels were printed by Spoonflower.  The first was my radial gradient attempt.  That didn't work out so well and the gradient was lost in a sea of dark navy and purple.  They agreed to reprint it with a solid background for me which while I was terribly disappointed I was grateful to them.  The first was such a mess I was certain I couldn't use it, but the waste not want no person in me decided I should try to salvage the first for the teacher's aid.  That way no matter what happened to the second panel in shipping at least I would have one quilt as I promised the children.

I appliqued a pieced block of the school right over the owl.  It took rather a lot of time to get it just right, including but not limited to the hand stitched playground you see above, so this has a children's novelty backing.

The second one arrived just before I could affix the binding on the first, sadly I was rather burned out at that point so all I could think was UGH more work!  The solid background was darker than I thought it would be.  I had been shooting for a light blueish teal and ended up with more of a primary blue.  I'm so glad I kept it light so the owl would be clear.  I hand quilted around the outlines of the owl which gives him a bit of a fuzzy look.

As I only had one yard of the flannel I'd hoped to use as backing I went ahead and did a diamond on the back.  While neither of the quilts from Spoonflower were what I was looking for the children's crayon art work came out beautifully and I love that it's completely washable.  If I find myself making another quilt of this type I will certainly refer Spoonflower.  Multi color gradients could print quite nicely but a range of a single color I would not recommend.  The owl's eyes are a brown black radial gradient and those turned out just fine.

I'm all done shopping and nearly finished wrapping, and the cold front has just made it's way here, so I'm ready to settle in with a cup of hot coco.  From our home to yours, we wish you a joyous and peaceful holiday.

Spoonflower Order Placed

Yesterday I sent off my first order for Spoonflower, a custom fabric manufacturer.  Perhaps some of you may remember I was making the quilt from the children's artwork, and I decided to have it custom printed on fabric?

Well let me start by saying the world of custom fabric is amazing in how freeing it is.  Sashing?  It can be random, tilted, multicolored, you dream it you can have it!  Once I got past the tracks of my own metal blocks to realize making your own fabric is like flying.  Okay, maybe walking instead of being stuck on a train.

The owl contained hereon is made up of all the children's names, I transformed the lines I drew of the owl to make them that way.  ALL copyrights for original artwork belong exclusively to the children, but that owl is mine.  Don't you just love him?  I kicked down the resolution as well as blacking out the children's names for privacy but you can still see the overall appearance.

Turn around time is about 10 days so I'll be posting later on how everything printed out.

The Great American Teach In

I've been busy planning and working on what I would do at my daughter's school for the Great American Teach In. The Teach In invites family members and adults in the community to come in and share with the class what they do and why school is so important, you're allowed 15-20 minutes depending on the school, and while I thought perhaps my own 15 minutes wouldn't be enough it turned out to be the exactly the right amount of time.

I was certain a quilt with the children's original artwork was the answer. When I was in first grade I wanted to be an artist. I was discouraged by one of my elders because "there's no money in it". But in reality art is everywhere. It's in nearly everything we see and touch. All carefully designed and planned by more different job types than I can think of let alone count. So that's what I wanted to teach to the children in my daughter's VPK class. Art is everywhere and many jobs require you to be creative. So you can grow up to be an artist!

What I found upon arriving at the school was a great class filled with smart amazing children all eager to talk to the adult sitting on the floor with them! It was a very rewarding experience to me, and I'm very glad I took the time to go.

How in the world did I plan to make a quilt from artwork? (See below for what I went through before I came up with this solution). Computers! I scanned all the children's images in to my computer, but instead of printing them out myself I am going to have a custom fabric company print it out on real cotton fabric. Then the final beautiful fabric will arrive to me just like a store bought cheater panel ready to sew on the sashing to quilt it up. Sounds expensive you think, but since I made the entire project fit on a single yard of fabric I only have to buy one yard which will cost me $20 AFTER SHIPPING!

As I was inserting the scanned images the world opened when it dawned on me that it's custom fabric. I don't have to make the sashing one color. I'm unlimited, I can make it however I'd like. So then I started working with swatches and effects for the background.

I researched all the other options that I could think of, printable fabric -expensive at 5 sheets for $10+/- as I needed 20 sheets at least (always take extras just in case), homemade printable fabric sheets - which seemed both labor intensive for finding the ingredients and then for making it, or simply allowing them to color directly onto the fabric. I did the math for fabric crayons $2 for a box of 8 is not bad one box for every two children, that's 9 boxes at $2 = $18 just in crayons... So then I thought well I just use regular crayons, but the wax paper didn't want to stick to the fabric as well as I thought it should, so I went for 40 gsm stabilizer with hairspray. That worked well but when I had my daughter test it out for me I found that anywhere she pressed hard with the crayon (to make the crayon show) the fabric lifted from the stabilizer and any further coloring in that area was very light, combined with the standard non-washable crayons, seemed like a quilt I didn't want to make.

Stay tuned for a review of my custom fabric in the upcoming weeks.

I am a firm believer that all artwork belongs directly to the artist. Be they 2 or 102, so all rights are reserved for the children whose artwork is pictured here in.