Gadget Time - Melts Like Butter!

One of my hesitations in taking up applique was the cost of multiple spools of thread.  All these applique pieces, ranging dozens of colors and shades, and the advice is "match the thread to the applique?"  Who can afford that?



DMC 50-wt. Machine Embroidery Thread



My dear friend, Lauri, told me about this fabulous DMC 50-wt Machine Embroidery thread for hand applique!  Hmm... it works!  I bought a few neutral colors, and, so far, all of them blend fabulously in my appliques.  In fact, the thread seems to melt into the fabric.

And this, my friends, is why I listen to my friends!

Off to applique my cupcakes!

Happy Stitching!
Elisa

 



Blogger Issues - Fixed!

Phew!  What a pain in the heinie!  My page gadgets were all over the place.  In case this happens again, I'm saving the solution here:

On occasion, one column (often the sidebar) will shift when the content contained within a side-menu or a post extends a column beyond its designated width. This behavior varies across browsers so the issue will not always occur when a visitor views your page. To resolve the problem we recommend reviewing the content in both columns to identify items that may be causing column expansion. In most cases, long links and wide images are the cause of the problem.

Now back to our normally-scheduled lives!

Elisa

What the BLoG?!?

 Is anyone else having blogspot problems? What happened to my beautiful web page and all its widgets?

<sigh>

It has truly been a Friday the 13th.

Careful Quilting and Cats

Nothing hurts your heart like hearing your baby in distress.

Several years ago I was in a quilt class where the lady at the next table was in distress. Her kitty had eaten a threaded needle. The needle punctured its belly and the thread wrapped itself around its internal organs. After many months and much money, her cat survived.

I try to be as careful as possible, but I've been a little lax lately. Ginger got ahold of a needle (she's okay). This post is as much as a reminder for me as it is a warning for you.

Do not leave threaded needles around.

Do not store straight pins on shirt sleeves, chair arms or pajama tops.

Keep kitty away from moving sewing machine needles (she's enthralled with the up-and-down motion)

Thread Heaven and glues are potentially poisonous or tummy distressing

Rotary cutters

Avoid heavy irons precariously perched on wobbly ironing boards

Bobbins may be fun to bat but small enough to swallow.

What else? How else do we keep our babies safe? 

And can we answer the age-old question..... What is it about cats and quilters?

Cheers, Elisa

Dancing - Not Singing!

I don't delude myself - I can't sing.  But, I do live by the motto:

Dance like there's no tomorrow!

Again, I don't delude myself. I can't truly dance.  But I don't care.  Not even when my neighber sees me through the front window shaking my thang while vacuuming do I care!

This is my second applique block ever!  It's from my Some Kind of Wonderful group.  The quilt is My Favorite Things by Anni Simms.  I've changed it from "Singing in the Rain" to "Dancing in the Rain".  I love a good puddle.

Like the blue jeans, I needleturned the main part, but that handle was a bear.  I really like spray-starch applique for those tricky curves.  Now, I'm just 3 blocks behind for December!

Happy Stitching!
Elisa

Not So Blue About My Jeans!

Ok, I'm probably over excited over this. I'm sure all those that appliqué are rolling your eyes.

But I did it! Finished my first block in the Some Kind of Wonderful stitch-along!

Here's the full block which measure 7.5"x12.5"

I used traditional needleturn for the main appliqué and spray-starch for the pockets and waist.

Thanks for listening!

Elisa

My New Favorite Tool

Who'da-thunkit?

I'm a gadget girl. Gotta have! Gotta have! When I decided I had to finally focus on appliqué, I didn't have to go far for tools. I was able to shop in my own quilt room (some goodies still in packages - LOL).

After months of practice, I finally completed my first block (do I sound pleased with myself? Will share on a sunny day). And, with all my practice blocks and fancy gadgets, what was the most useful tool in my arsenal? A toothpick.

Wooden. Inexpensive and light.

Dull point. Nudges fabric back into place without poking holes.

Wet. Snags the loose threads for concealment.

Round. Rolls seam allowance under like a curling iron.

In celebration of my victorious first block, I may go out and buy another box of them!

Cheers!

Elisa