Finished September BOMs!!

Wow, Carole, those blocks are really pretty, I love the colors. Most of the time I can't see anyone's quilts in Webshots on my webtv, but yours I was able to view. I wonder why I can't access most people's webshot albums , but once in a while I can see something. Well, I'm glad I could see yours, they're right up my alley.

Great haul at a senior citizen's flea market today, around 10 yards of very pretty stuff for $3, including a flash for DH"s camera.

Denise

QI

Depends how well off you are >ggg< Seriously, yes it is a bit expensive, but it is so fine that you get a long, long, long length on a spool. To buy a few colours, as you say, to go with the colours of this quilt (and lovely they are) should break the bank totally. The thread I use is YLI 100 (so, very fine - the higher the number the finer the thread). It is *really* worth the money. . In message , Carole-Retired and Loving It writes

Glad you like them! I know that with Webshots, the person needs to make the album public, not private, to make it easy for everyone to see. I'm glad you were able to see mine.

Wow, you did REALLY well at that flea market!

Okay, my ears were burning and I was right, I was getting volunteered for something ;) This is long so get a cuppa of something.

This is how I handle those horrid inner curves. I use a sharp pair of scissors and carefully nip down to a thread or two away from the seam. Then I use a fray check (but there's another one which is supposed to be better but I haven't used it and can't remember the name)(heck I've only had two sips of guiness) And I fray check that cut and leave it to dry before stitching. (it doesn't take long). I generally use the freezer paper underneath and start on the straightest bit and remove the paper before I get to the end. (or you can finish and remove the paper by slitting the back). You can turn the seam allowance to the back by either basting it with thread or you can use fabric glue (in which case you would have to cut away the back of the applique, soak the exposed paper then remove and leave applique to dry before pressing). Or you can 'paint' a little starch around the seam allowance and press it round to the back. (I like this method for large pieces as it saves a lot of time) Having said that if doing roundish applique I like to needle turn over the FP as I go rather than basting it to the back first. So say for the basic applique of a heart which is a good practice shape as it has an outer point and an inner point and curves to deal with. I would baste the straight bits either side of the outer point. Fray check that inner point and just tack the FP to the applique a quarter inch in around the curves and inner point. (this is how you'd do Hawainn (apologies for spelling) applique)

Anyway, I'm hoping or should I say I'm going to try, to design a block for next weeks applique. Ha Ha. Don't hold your breath. But I've photographed

3 flowers that are still in bloom in my garden for October. Now I've got to try draw... hee hee(have you seen my drawing) a pattern from them trying to make them simpler than they look. (the flowers not me) I think there'll have to be a lot of artistic license going on. The flowers incase your curious (and we all know what happened to the cat) are sedum, October lily (Nerine I think) and a flower which has schizo in the name.. hmmmmm indeed. So now you know. and now I've got to try and deliver..... (and all this while my living room is in a pickle due to redecorating and new flooring being put in. I must post some pics)

I do have a tube of FrayBlock and I used it on the inner corners of the Aug. flower appliqués because I knew I could cover them with the center circles. Does the FrayBlock not show on lighter fabrics after it dries? I was afraid to use it on the oak leaves. I guess I should experiment a little.

I didn't like using freezer paper for some reason. I don't like handling the extra stiffness and it just feels wrong in my hands. I also don't like the stiffness that comes from glue sticks and starch. When I try to iron things to freezer paper, I tend to burn my fingers. (Yes, I do have long pokey things that I could use instead of my fingers but I don't always remember! :)) I think I'm too fussy!!!

I'm look>Okay, my ears were burning and I was right, I was getting volunteered for >something ;)

I paid $5.00USD for a 200 meter spool of YLI #100 silk thread at a LQS several years ago. But I have only one spool, a neutral tan color (color #235) and I have used it for all my hand appliqué, regardless of color. It blends very well and is not noticeable unless you look really, really close. There are photos of my hand appliqué projects on the 2005, 2006, and 2007 pages of my website: . You can see I've used lots of different colored fabrics, all appliquéd with one color of silk thread.

Julia in MN

If you try the silk thread, it likes to slip out of the needle. I make a small knot at the base of the needle so that it stays in the needle. The thread is so fine that it doesn't cause any problems while stitching.

Julia > Your appliqués look great! I guess I should at least try one spool of

Thanks for that tip! I have enough trouble with the needle coming unthreaded when I use regular thread!!

I have trouble with the needle eye cutting the thread - Clover gold tipped needles. Driving me mad - I think it must be the make as I've never had this happen so often before. Have to try another make but unfortunately clover seem to be the main ones stocked for applique and quilting.

Perhaps I'll find something at Chilford on Friday - anyone else going then?

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

CaroleD wrote:

See if you can find some John James needles Sally. If you can't, let me know as I'm pretty sure I can get them - we are, after all, very close to Redditch 'the needle capital' >g< . In message , Sally Swindells writes

Thanks Pat, I may be able to get some at Chilford - I see Creative Grids will be there and they have them in their catalogue.

Can you tell I'm looking forward to Chilford!

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Patti wrote:

Good luck and have a great time. . In message , Sally Swindells writes