Fusibles

Working in a series can be quite liberating. While working on one piece using a simple motif, numerous alternatives were presenting themselves on how the motif, in this case fish, could be used.  Rather than choosing just one  layout and colourway and stopping there, I started drafting, cutting, fusing (yes, I fuse sometimes!) and layering and came up with a number of interesting pieces.   

Fusing was a exploration in itself.  I have often referred to anything fused as lick-and-stick, or cut-and-paste. These products speed up the process of construction, if you know which product to use.

All of these products are available at Picket Fence Fabrics. 

Start with  a good teflon sheet when using your iron with these products. As an inexpensive alternative, use parchment paper found in the baking section of your grocery store.

1.  The powder bonding agent by BoNash can be used to hold down small pieces until you sew them in place.  A little of this product goes a long way. Great for landscapes, snippets technique.

2. Misty Fuse in black or white, is excellent for fine silk or sheers.  Unusual textures can be accomplished with this product.

3. Wonder Under is great for general fusing of appliqué pieces. It is inexpensive compared to other products. 

4. Steam-a-Seam is thicker and gummed up my needle but probably works better on pieces that you will be buttonhole stitching by hand or machine along the edges, not stitching in definition  with threadon the piece itself.

5. Peltex, a great two-sided fusible product is used for postcards,  boxes, book covers and anything you want some stiffness.  Use this instead of batting.

6. A water-based glue stick (kids use these in school) is inexpensive and provides a temporary hold for appliqué pieces.

7.  Glue Pens are used to hold down finer details.

8.  Glue Baste provides a temporary bond where pins would be awkward such as Celtic  appliqué,  stems, letters.

9.  Spray baste products are great for adhering a quilt backing, batting, top together but the airborne particles can pose a health issue for some.

Log Cabin Crazy

Yesterday I had the pleasure of leading a Log Cabin Workshop for the Heritage Quilters Guild of Napanee. The 25 participants worked on a variety of log cabin block designs. Here are the results of some of their blocks.

The log cabin quilt block is one of my favourites and I usually have one or two log cabin quilts in progress. I try to include a variation so

that no two quilts look alike. I designed this blue/green/yellow combination for our guild to make as part of Community Quilts. With the right colour placement these blocks appear 3-D.

More pics to come.

Winter Workshops Start this week

I am excited to be teaching another group of new quilters in the eight-week beginner workshop starting this Wednesday evening. What a kick it is to see their enthusiasm for quilting grow as they master techniques! Although the evening workshop is full, we will an afternoon session if there is enough interest.

Jane will be hosting our first rug hookers Hook-In on Friday. Bring a work-in-progress and a lunch and spend the day with fellow rug hooking enthusiasts. Jane will also be teaching Beginner rug-hooking on Saturday. If you are interested in learning this traditional craft there is still space. We have made it easy for you by kitting your first project. All you need is a hoop and a hook(which we stock).

A reminder that next week's classes are also filling. Faith will be teaching embroidery stitches on a wool Eyeglass case. No need to buy lots of supplies--we have kitted this project too! A needle, thimble and scissors are all the tools required.

Jackie's group of Sylvia's Bridal Sampler enthusiasts is growing--the morning session has one spot left but there is still space in the afternoon session. This workshop is a great way to use up your stash--the blocks are only 6" finished!

Another sampler class being offered is the Biblical BlockSampler from Rosemary Makhan's book More Biblical Blocks. This is a great next steps workshop for anyone who has successfully completed the beginner workshop or mastered basic techniques.

We have added two workshops in March. Shamrocks and Shillelaghs will be held on March 1. Come to class with your green scraps cut and we will spend the day turning them into a small quilt to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Drop in to see workshop samples and sign up.

New fabrics are arriving every week. The latest is this line

just in time for Valentine's Day.