Gadget Time - Sticky Situations

This blog is called "Bits from the Scrap Basket" because I envision it as a place to compile block patterns, useful tips, great tools, shop reviews, quilt humor, tricks of the trade, etc. All those little "bits 'n pieces" that might interest others but might be handy to have stored in one easy place.



Take this next tidbit. I stopped in at Bits 'n Pieces in Wayne, MI today - lovely shop with a friendly staff and a very loyal clientele. I had came back to buy a Sewline fabric glue pen. Last time I was there they had recommended this (dries clear) water soluble pen for a project I am working on (re: the egg with the missing pieces from several posts ago!)

This group of ladies were all excited for another reason. A customer had shared with them the secret of perfect points. Instead of using pins, which can shift, she uses this glue to hold her fabric in place for perfect points. Well, how cool is that! May need to work on that Lone Star quilt I've always wanted.

This reminds me of an interesting tidbit read in one of my magazines. When piecing a bag or tote, ever have one of those tiny areas where you have to pin AND maneuver your sewing machine? Use that 1/4" fusible tape (like Steam-a-Seam or Stitch Witchery) to hold your pieces together and then sew. Cool, eh?

If your interested in other things you can use adhesives in quilting, check out Teresa of Fabric Therapy and her 3-part tutorial on Glue Stick Appliqué: http://fabrictherapy.blogspot.com/2011/04/glue-stick-applique-tutorial-part-one.html

Thanks for "sticking with me"! (My SIL Robyn, the Pun Queen, would be so proud of that one)
ELISA


P.s. This is my first post using my iPhone and my new iPad app Blogsy - pretty cool!

Ain't Technology Swell?

I'm amazed at how much technology has empowered quilters over the last few years.  Although I couldn't attend the Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts exhibit in New York, I downloaded the iPad app and enjoyed "walking" through the 650 quilts on display.  Although I couldn't attend this year's International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati, a friend emailed pictures.  Although I can't attend the many wonderful Bonnie Hunter workshops,  I can "play along" on her blog.  Instead of carrying swatches of fabric store-to-store, I have digital images in my Fabric Stash app.  Or, when I have a few free moments, I can watch some amazing video tutorials from the Missouri Star Quilt Co.

The geek in me revels in the quilting pleasures found in my Inbox and my Google Reader each day.  Dozens of quilt blogs bringing the newest products and techniques right to my iPad.  These are my latest little joys:

*Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with or compensated by any of the sites mentioned on this blog

i Printable Fusible Web  - It's SO cool and I tried it out this weekend!  Right now I'm making monthly wallhangings from Art To Heart's Count on It book (see "Bunny X-ing" on a previous post).  To save time from transferring shapes onto fusible web (and hoping the end result aren't too squiggly), you can buy Printable Applique Templates from Art To Heart's site.  So, what to do with them?  Download the templates and print them right onto these June Taylor Printable Fusible Web sheets!  Or, if you already have patterns, scan them into your computer and print them out.  SO much time saved! 

i Elmer's 'Disappearing Purple' School Glue Sticks and Roxanne's Glue Baste-It : I've been reading this great blog called Fabric Therapy.  I really enjoy seeing the things Teresa does and the humor in which she does it.  I was particularly fascinated with her All Around Town quilt - great whimsey with her gnome, flamingoes and "hillbilly" clothesline. In the last few days she's posted a multi-part tutorial called Glue Stick Applique where she demonstrates using Elmer's Disappearing Purple School glue and Roxanne's Baste-It.  She makes applique look SO easy that, I fear, I no longer have an excuse in avoiding it.

i Color Printer and PFD Fabric: Geta is a very prolific Romanian quilter - her energy just amazes me!  She did a recent blog post describing how she made the most amazing flower quilt using prepared-for-dying (PFD) fabric and her color printer.  Check it out!

i Fabri-Solvy & Transfer-eze Printable Water-Soluble Transfer Sheets: My final discovery for the week is Fabri-Solvy & Transfer-eze featured on Bird Brain Design's Blog.  Bird Brain Design offers many free (and gorgeous) embroidery designs - most of them displayed on tea towels.  The joy of these water-soluble products allows you to print the design onto the paper and then "transfer" them to towels & darker fabrics (normally products not suitable for transferring using a light box).  I have some on order - I'll post a review soon.

I hope some of these products and techniques inspire you too!

Happy Spring!

Elisa