Choosing the Right Materials When Beginning Quilting
To begin with, I want to say something as trite as it is important and that is, “Use the very best materials that you can afford for any and all handwork.” Extravagance is never smart, but good quilt materials are not expensive. It’s the sleazy ones, unreliable dyes and starched cloth that prove expensive in the end.
Wash goods is gauged by the number of threads per square inch, “68-72″ is a fair grade of percale, “80 square” is excellent, the weight we usually use and some of the very fine imported ginghams run to “120 square.”
A firm weave is imperative where one is cutting small triangles and diamonds where part of each block must be bias. Imagine trying to fit bias sides of rayon crepe or voile onto squares and you can see how totally unfitted such scraps are for quilt making. Coarse linens, crash weight cretonne and pongee unless deeply seamed ravel out too easily to be suitable. Romper cloth and any others that border onto ticking texture are too close weave and heavy to quilt well. Cheap ginghams will shrink enough to pucker in a quilt top. So to the firm weave must be added soft texture. “Beauty shine” is a permanent luster satin of finest quality, which we recommend for excellent results. The finest materials certainly do make the loveliest quilts.
The dye problem is mastered with a reasonable amount of care as “vat dyes” are usual in even very inexpensive goods. “Commercially fast” the dealer will say, which means with any reasonable care they will not run. Very few manufacturers will absolutely guarantee color, and where they do replace, they have told us it was often a case of sub-standard black thread which had spotted with washing. Quilts are naturally difficult things to launder. A wisp of silk undies may be in, out, and dry in next to no time, but a quilt with cotton filler, top and lining all stitched plumply together goes in for no such speedy procedure. When it gets wet it stays that way long enough to try colors to their limits. We have had quilt colors, yellows and reds “bleed” into the white and in subsequent tubbings clear again to white. For the “priceless” quilts we suggest the French dry-cleaning establishments.
There is a long list of woven cloths advertised from 1715 on, “Demities,” “Fustians,” “Muslings,” “Cambricks,” different sorts of “Duck,” “Lawn,” “Searsucker,” “Pealong” the ancestor of longcloth and Nankeen who begat “Blue Denim”! All of these and many more found their way into patchwork but the dearest and most suitable of all was calico. An author, who treats this history in full, writes that “the mainstay of the patch worker was from 1700 to 1775 callicoe, from 1775 to 1825 calicoe, and from 1825 to 1875 calico!”
The great majority of quilts are usually made of wash cotton materials, although silks are sometimes used in such patterns as Log Cabin, Grandmother’s Fan, or the Friendship Ring, where one’s friends are called upon to help furnish beautiful bits to make the patterns as variegated as possible. Woolens, even good parts of worn garments are excellent for the heavy type of coverlet, and such designs as Steps to the Altar, or Grandmother’s Cross are suitable. Woolens are so apt to be dull, “practical” colors, that it is imperative to have some certain unit of red, bright green, orange or such in each block.
While cotton broadcloth, percales, or fine gingham, the calico prints and such, are used with muslin for wash quilts, many women maintain that soft satin really makes the most gorgeous quilt of all. When the time comes to quilt you will know why we stress soft materials and why lustrous satin which catches light on every little silk-like puff between quilting designs is so beloved.
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Ideas On What To Use And How To Arrange Your Bouquet
There is a really good book out called ‘Grow your own cut flowers’ by Sarah Raven published by BBC Worldwide which could prove helpful. (Amazon are brilliant at getting books from overseas) She suggests flowers such as sweet peas, scabious and snapdragons, dahlias and zinnias but you will need to concentrate on annuals and make sure no biennials creep in as they will not flower in time.
The lovely sweetpea colours, with the lilac-blue of the scabious and the lipstick pink of the zinnias would look fantastic, you could even pop a few florist bought freesias and roses in just for good measure. But if can get hold of this book, it will be of help I’m sure.
You may consider making a tied wedding bouquet, where the flowers are all kept on their natural stems and not wired. These are very popular at the moment and the beauty of these are they can be transported in a small pot of water and just taken out before the ceremony (make sure you take something to wipe the stems with)If you do decide to wire the stems, then make sure you spray them well with water and then cover them in a tent of cellophane and keep somewhere cool.
You will have to condition the flowers you cut from your garden very well. The night before, when it has cooled down and then stand in cold water overnight before using. There are many different methods of conditioning flowers depending on whether they are soft stemmed, woody, hollow etc. so you may be advised to get a book from the library, as the success of your bouquet will be down to the conditioning of the flowers and foliages used. Try out certain flowers the week before to see how long they last once cut and conditioned. It’s best to know this before the big day.
Most florists work from a design book that is generally provided by the relay organisation they belong to e.g Interflora, Teleflower etc. This ensures that the customer knows exactly what she/he has ordered and by rights the florist should work from that design book/manual and send out an exact replica. Relay organisations regularily test their members by sending them false orders and checking them for design, flower quality and value.
There are so many different styles nowadays and they are usually divided into; gift flowers (Bouquets, Hand tied bouquets, baskets, posies, planted baskets, Pot-et-fleur) function/wedding flowers; (pedestals, altar displays, garlands, pew ends, table centres, long low displays, candle displays) Then the bridal flowers; (Bride’s bouquet, Bridesmaid’s Posies, Baskets, garlands, hoops, corsages, buttonholes) Flowers for new born babies; (Cradles, ceramic containers usually in the shapes of prams and trains etc, filled with flowers) Then, sadly funeral flowers; (Sprays, sheaves, massed heart, cushion, pillow, crosses, open wreath, based wreath.)
I have probably omitted some but as you can see there are a very wide range of items that a florist should be able to produce for his/her client.Have you tried searching for Interflora on the web, they are bound to have plenty of pictures and ideas to help bulk out your project. Maybe a single white rose bud (thorns removed) with a small blue or pink ribbon tied right up under the rose head.
This always looks special. You could do the same with a gerbera or a carnation. Keep them in water and hand out just as the party finishes. Or a little pot of pansies with tissue paper wrapped around the pot. These will last a lot longer and can be planted in the garden afterwards.
Fresh tulips are wonderful in a wedding bouquet. If you have them assembled as a hand tied,you can place the stems in water until you need to use them (make sure you dry the ends well)and they should be alright for a few hours out of water. Then you could have a small vase ready, maybe on the cake table, that you can place the tulips for the rest of the day. This will only really work with a posy style hand tied and if the flowers are quite tightly packed and firmly tied, they should behave themselves.
I know that in Holland (where alot of our flowers come from in the U.K.) they do seem to have extended the season for lilac, especially the white variety so maybe a florist where you are could make some enquiries. I have been searching for alternatives for you and can suggest the following; White and lilac mop headed hydrangeas (will give you a lovely cluster)
Delphiniums come in some lovely shades of lilac and blue and also white and used in little sprays could look a little like lilac. I have in a vase at home some wonderful artificial stems of lilac which have been admired by so many people. Maybe combined with some fresh foliage and maybe another flower variety, this could be an alternative… so have a look round and ask about for silk lilac, but make sure it’s really good. How far you insert the stems will depend on the size of the bouquet holders you choose to use. You should leave the stems as long as possible without making them poke through the other side. One inch is the very shortest.
I would highly recommend that you try to get your hands on some FloraLock. This is an adhesive that comes with a nozzle that you spray directly onto the floral foam and around the stems after the arrangements are finished. But be sure you’re in love with the arrangement before you glue! You cannot make any changes to the arrangement once FloraLock has dried. Also, you don’t need much of it. Use it sparingly until you get the hang of it, or you’ll have it dripping down the handle of the bouquet holder. I don’t know if FloraLock is available at any craft stores - a florist may need to order it for you.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.SendFlowers4.info/ . SendFlowers4.info is a great place to shop for flowers, gift baskets, and plants when you are looking for a special gift. Start here to search by “Special Occasion”: http://www.SendFlowers4.info/category/occasions.html
Card Making Ideas - Rubber Stamps
If you are new to card making and looking for card making ideas, rubber stamps are a perfect addition to your craft box. Rubber stamps can be used in a variety of ways so they are well worth investing in.
When you begin crafting or card making it is important that you do not rush out and buy everything you see, you will save a huge amount of money if you purchase a few items, some stamps and embossing powders until you discover some card making ideas or find what your special interest is whether it be animal stamps or flowers or what ever interests you.
Never by cheap stamps for your card making ideas, although some stamps are quite expensive they will produce a much better print and have a crisper look if they have been properly made.
Rubber stamps range in price, usually the larger or more detailed the more expensive it will be, I always consider how many times I can use a stamp for my card making ideas before I purchase one. Some of the larger stamps can also be repeatedly stamped and used for decoupage, which will create a completely different type of card.
If you do decide to use a rubber stamp for decoupage never cut into the embossed lines as this may cause the embossing powder to flake off and look unattractive.
I find the stamps that are mounted on a clear block are great for beginners as you can see exactly where you are stamping leaving less room for error.
The biggest tip I can give when using rubber stamps that you will emboss is to lightly brush the area of card you are going to stamp on with talc this will stop the embossing powder sticking to other parts of the card as well as the ink.
Always lay you stamp flat and take the inkpad to it rather than pushing the stamp into the inkpad, this will ensure the entire design on the stamp is evenly covered in the ink.
Remember once you have used the stamp it is important to clean the stamp and remove the entire ink residue. Depending on the type of in you have used for your card making ideas it may not be necessary to use expensive ink removers, I find an acid free baby wipe works just as well as some of the chemical solutions you can buy from craft shops.
Always store your inkpads level and upside down this will prevent uneven ink distribution and keep the ink on the top of the pad ready for its next use.
Rubber-stamping can be used for all your card making ideas and also for scrap booking, however it is important that you use ink that is acid free and fade resistant to keep your project looking bright and effective.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping and many other tricks and techniques.
How To Use Vellum For Your Card Making Ideas
One of my favourite types of craft paper to use for my card making ideas is vellum paper, there is so much you can do with it to create stunning effects and designs.
Vellum was initially a translucent type of paper made from calfskin that had been soaked and then dried at a normal temperature under some sort of tension.
Vellum is a parchment paper that got its name from the French word velin which stands for calfskin, it is smooth and durable and can be used in so many ways for card making ideas.
Vellum paper can come in a variety of colours or prints and can vary in weight and thickness.
Using vellum for your card making ideas is a fun way to embellish and add definition to your cards, it does not always have to be a sheet of plain color as vellum can come in many prints including flowers, swirls and even pictures.
You can use vellum to mat and layer and even to cover the whole front of a card however because it is slightly see though you will need to be careful when attaching it to your card making ideas as many adhesives will show through.
There are some vellum adhesives available however these can sometimes be expensive and I find that even thought they are supposed to be invisible you can still see the tape, maybe its just because I know its there and I am looking for it.
If possible try to attach vellum to your card making ideas by means other than adhesives, I use brads where possible so that the vellum is secured and no glue is needed.
You can also print on vellum which is a really effective way of having a message on your cards or a poem. Because vellum is so smooth you will need to be very careful when printing on vellum as it may smudge. I would wait at least a few hours before attaching the printed vellum to one of you card making ideas.
You can also try to dry the ink with a heat gun but use the lowest setting and be very careful as this can burn the vellum.
Vellum can also be used to punch out ghost like shapes, I find punching out flower shapes and building them up on the front of a card gives it a stunning look.
If using vellum quotes you can simply cut the wording out however I find if you rip around the vellum words it looks a lot nicer.
Whether you are using quotes, printed patterned or plain vellum you will find that there is so much you can do with it you will love it.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping and many other tricks and techniques.
Card Making & Scrap Booking - Best Ways To Use Brads
When I first began card making and scrap booking I though I knew quite a lot however over time I have picked up and learnt so many new tips and tricks and I am sure there is plenty more out there to discover.
One of my favourite accessories for card making is brads, they come in all shapes and sizes and a huge variety of colors.
There are so many things you can do with brads, when I first started card making I purchased some silver and gold brads just to see what I could come up with. I mainly used them to make a template for a word stand out, usually happy birthday. Id cut a piece of card into a rectangle then use peel offs for the words, id find some gold or silver mirror card and mount the words on the mirror card using 3d foam pads.
I would then use a pokey tool to make a hole in the word template all the way through my card, id then put the brads through the holes (one at each end) turn the card over and bend the backs of the brads to hold them in place.
Although this made the card look fantastic it meant that when the card was opened you could see the backs of the brads, so I would either make an insert to hide the backs of the brads or I would cover the back of the card front with another piece of card to hide them.
I did this for almost a year until I realised if I put the brad through the first piece of card where my letters or wording was before I mounted it onto the mirror card the brads would already be in place, I could then use double sided tape to attach the mounted wording to the card. This meant I did not go through the actual card itself so there was no need to cover the inside of the card as the back of the brads could not be seen.
It may seem obvious but it was a long time before I twigged that this is a better way to attach brads to cards.
Brads come in so many different colours however its always the way when your making a card that you never have the colour you want. I had a go at embossing one of my brads and it worked. Follow the same steps as you would for embossing a stamped image, cover the brad in ink the sprinkle your embossing powder over the ink and heat as normal.
Try not to over heat the brad as this can cause it to become fragile and the backs may snap. Using this method means that you make your brad any color you like.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping and many other tricks and techniques.
Finding The Best Craft Glue For Your Card Making Ideas
Whether you are working on a card making idea or a scrap book page one of the main things you simply can not do with out is proper craft glue.
Depending on what you are trying to attach will determine the type of craft glue you need.
There is nothing worse that creating a stunning card or scrapbook and the embellishments fall off after a few days, which is why it is important to use the right craft glue to suit what you are doing.
Craft glue can come in various forms. Liquid, glue sticks, tape, dots, and glittered, envelope glue and so on. It is important to use the right craft glue to avoid ruining your projects.
The craft glue I mainly use is double sided tape, this is because it is very strong and will hold almost anything together, If I was to cover the front of a card in a different paper I would always use double sided tape, the only disadvantage of using double sided tape is that once you have stuck the item down you will not be able to remove it without damaging it, therefore you will have to get it right first time.
Sticky dots are another popular choice of craft glue, these are more versatile because it is possible to stick something down and if you are not happy you can carefully remove it and re position it. Sticky dots are however a little bit messy, they seem to get everywhere, you should receive a special rubber with a pack of sticky dots, which you can gently remove any stray one with.
Using a craft glue stick may work for some card making ideas however I find that if using thin paper it can cause the paper to crumple and have a puckered look which does not really give it a professional finish also most craft glue sticks will only stick paper to paper, if you wanted to stick a more fancy embellishment then it may not hold.
Spray mount is a wonderful craft glue that is perfect for card making ideas and scrap books, one of the advantages of using spray mount is you can reposition your work but once it is dry it is permanent the only disadvantage is that it is harder to control where and how much you spray.
There are so many different craft glues for different projects you will soon find you will need a draw to hold them all in but craft glue and having the correct type could mean the difference between your card making ideas looking fantastic or not so good.
You can even get a glue that will stop fabric from fraying, it is so annoying when you cut a lovely piece of ribbon and attach it to your project only for it to be all frayed and unattractive the next day. This glue bonds the fabric preventing this from happening.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping, embossing, scrap booking and many other tricks and techniques.
Iris Folding - Great For Card Making Ideas
Iris folding is just one of the many paper techniques crafters use time and time again to create visually stunning effects on cards and scrap book pages.
Once of the great things about iris folding is that you can use any sort of paper which means you can use up all your scraps or even old wrapping paper that you may have thought to throw away.
Because iris folding has such a lovely look to it it may seem that it is really difficult to do when in fact it is really easy, a bit like paint by numbers.
Using iris folding to frame a photo on a scrap book or for one of your card making ideas will give it depth and texture and look fantastic.
Iris folding is becoming more and more popular as it is extremely relaxing and the end result is fantastic, it is something you can sit and do whilst watching the telly but be warned it can become addictive.
You can buy all sorts of iris folding patterns over the internet and in craft shops then you can simply cut your paper into strips folding them lengthways and stick them to the card following the template you have chosen to use.
Iris folding is a great way to make any of your card making ideas stand out and it is very inexpensive, the only items you will need to be able to do iris folding is a cutting mat, scissors, craft knife, different colored paper, card, glue, tape and removable tape.
You place your iris folding template onto your piece of card and draw the initial shape and cut it out. You then choose the papers you want to use and cut them about 1 x 3 inches long.
Fold your strips of paper in half and place the template underneath the original piece of card with the hold cut out so you can see the design.
Begin sticking the paper following the design on the template and secure with tape, always make sure the folded side of the paper strips are facing towards the centre of the card.
Continue to follow the template design until you are left with a small hole in the centre, this is known as the iris. Turn the card over and place one last piece of paper or card to cover the hole, I find holographic paper works really well.
Once you have finished you will notice that the back of the card will look rather messy so you will need to cover this with a piece of card.
Before you know it you have created a wonderful looking card with very little effort. Once you start you will be hooked.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping and many other tricks and techniques.
Card Making And Scrap Booking - Create Your Own Backing Paper
One of the main things a card maker or keen scrapbook maker can never have enough of is paper.
If you are anything like me you will have a huge pile of papers but when it comes to making a card or designing a scrapbook page you simply can not part with some of your wonderful and beautiful papers.
There are so many stunning designs of paper available for card makers and scrap bookers some are so stunning it seems a shame to cut them up and create cards from them, although the cards will be beautiful if you are like me you just do not want to part with any of your paper.
I have often found that when I want to create a card I will search through my pile of papers for background paper and cant find any thing simple enough to use, most of the pretty papers are too mach for a small card especially if you are going to add a large embellishment or maybe even a decoupage piece.
One of the solutions I came up with was to create my own backing paper. I tried out many ideas, some worked some did not the best way I found to create simple background papers is to use my ink pads.
Firstly I decided what topper, embellishment or decoupage piece you want to use so that you can determine the colors you will need so that the picture and the paper correspond and work well together.
Simply stamp your ink pad all over the paper or card front, do not worry about making it even it actually looks better if it is not perfect. If you are lucky enough to have a large supply of ink pads you could always use more than one color but make sure it matches what ever you are going to place on top of it.
It is important to wait until the ink has dried so that you do not smudge it. One dry you can then add your embellishment to the paper or card.
Making your own backing paper will save you money and you can choose the color to match your design perfectly.
You can use this technique on both paper and card but try not to be too heavy handed with your ink pads as this can leave a thick layer of ink. I find when doing this, less is more.
You can also lightly spray your paper or card with a small amount of water, this will make the ink go a lot further, again do not over wet paper or card as this can cause it to crinkle and no longer be flat making it a lot harder to work with.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for rubber stamping and many other tricks and techniques.
How To Start Creating Your Own Cross Stitch Designs (Part I)
Have you ever searched for ages and not found that particular pattern you’ve been dreaming about doing? Instead of getting frustrated and giving up, why not try creating your own cross stitch designs? There are a number of ways you can create your own patterns so that you can get the perfect design any time.
Where to Find Ideas
Ideas for your cross-stitch project can come from anywhere. You may have a favorite photo or a concept in your head. You may just be looking for something that includes a certain design element from your decor. Sometimes those ideas are pretty detailed and there is no way a store-bought pattern will duplicate the effect you want. Yet, where your idea comes from will help determine the method you use to create your own cross-stitch pattern.
Pencil and Paper Method
Do you have a drawing that you think would be perfect for a design? Are you a little artistic? Then it may be easiest to use the old-fashioned pencil and paper method for designing your own cross stitch pattern.
You will need some basic supplies to use this method. You will need graph paper or blank cross stitch paper, which is harder to find. If you use graph paper, make sure it has at least eight squares per inch. If you prefer, you can design your own graph paper through the Microsoft Excel software program or find printable graph paper on the Internet.
Besides graph paper you will also need a good pencil and excellent eraser. Your eraser should be able to erase without smearing the pencil lines. You may also want to use colored pencils to shade your chart so you can see the different colors you will need.
Also, a floss color chart is helpful to match the right color to the right places on your chart. These are available on the websites of the leading thread manufacturers.
When you have your supplies, then you can start drawing your design on the graph paper. Be conscious of the size of your drawing. If you stitch a picture drawn on 16 count fabric that was drawn on an eight squares per inch graph paper, you will find that the final design is only half the size of your drawing.
After you have your drawing on the graph paper, then you need to square off the edges. You need to go along the curved elements of your drawing to create those three-quarter and quarter fractional stitches along the curves so that it is easier for you to stitch. You will also need to create your backstitch lines so that they are on the sides of the squares for easy stitching. This process can be time consuming and will require you to erase a lot, which is why you need a good eraser. After you square off your picture you will then need to shade it.
This helps the design to have a three-dimensional look. A little art know-how is good here. In shading, you first determine a light source. For instance, if you are drawing a flower the light source may be coming from the top left of your picture. This creates shadows as you move down toward the bottom right. Things that are closer to the top left will be lighter, and they will create shadows on the other items. Also, items in the background will be darker.
When you have the shading done, you can then take your colored pencils and color in your design. If you do not want to use colored pencils, then you can use symbols to demonstrate the different colors you will use in your project. However, when you first begin creating your own cross-stitch designs with the pencil and paper method, colored pencils may be easier to use.
Good luck with your cross stitch creations and we hope you enjoy many happy hours polishing your design skills.
John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of http://www.patternspatch.com an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. Sign up for
Cross Stitch Tips & News at ppp_totw@aweber.com.
Scrapbook Tips And Techniques
If you have never made a scrapbook before and are going to start on your first one you are about to enter the wonderful world of scrap booking and I promise you you will be hooked as soon as you start.
Creating a scrap book is a way of displaying pictures and memories with stunning paper designs and added little extras.
There is no right or wrong way to make a scrapbook page as this is down to your individual taste however when I created my first scrapbook page I did run into a few problems, so this article will hopefully give you a few tips and ideas should you come across the same issues as I did.
The most important thing to remember is to always use acid free products and papers when creating your scrapbook. Using products that are not acid free could potentially cause your photos to color and your papers to deteriorate faster than you would have liked.
One of the problems I came across time and time again was finding the right color brad to attach photos and embellishments to my scrapbook page do I embossed the brad to match the paper. Simply dip your brad in pigmented ink then sprinkle the embossing powder color that matches your project or use clear embossing powder if you have used a colored ink then heat emboss as normal. Try not to over heat as this can cause the brad to become fragile and snap.
Try not to make your pages too perfect sometimes throwing things together on instinct can have a much better effect.
If you are using rubber stamps for your scrapbook pages try to keep them as clean as possible, baby wipes are great to clean the actual stamp but take care not to make the wooden mount too wet, one way round keeping the wood dry is to carefully peel the stamp from its wooden mount then varnish the wood with a clear varnish and remount the stamp, doing this will not only make the stamp waterproof but will mean you can easily wipe away any ink.
If you want to cut a circle there is no need to spend huge amounts of money on expensive templates and cutting guides I found keeping lids off old bottles and the actual bottles themselves can make fantastic templates and if you save them from different products soon you will have all different size circles.
Sometimes I found that once I had created a page that I thought was finished id look at it and feel there was something missing, id try adding something to the page but felt that it then looked over done so my solution was to mounted the whole page and it finished it off a treat, you can try using as many different colors until you find the one that works.
Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in card making ideas http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap booking and many other tricks and techniques.
