Fusible Web Revisited

Remember this?  (Refresh your memory here.)

Well, a couple of people asked me to reveal the name of this product.  So, in the interest of saving others some of the troubles I've had, I'll tell all.  It was my previous favorite Wonder-Under by Pellon.

Now, I first encountered problems with this a couple of years ago.  I did some searches on the internet and came across a bulletin board - hosted by Pellon, I think - where there was a lot of discussion about the release failing on Wonder-Under.   A company representative explained what they thought was going on and said they hoped to have it fixed soon. 

Since then I think I have tried every fusible product on the market!  Not all created equal - I'm sure you all know that!  I've been really happy with HTCW TransWeb, but lately I've not been able to get it locally.  Bummer.  I want something light, that doesn't gum up my sewing machine needle too much, and has a paper backing for small applique pieces. 

I love Pellon's other products.  The craft weight interfacing is great!  But apparently they haven't solved the release paper issue.  Or - there is an awful lot of old product still going out the door!

By the way, Suze left me a comment saying I can remove the paper backing before applying heat and the web will work just fine.  I finally had a chance to try it and it was great!  Now, why didn't I think of that?  Thanks so much, Suze.  Yes, I have almost a yard left of the stuff!  I'm too tight to just throw it out and now I feel all "green" to know I won't have to!

With that resolved, I can get back to making journals!

MORE Journals!

I mentioned earlier that I am taking another on-line class.  I swear - this is starting to look like an addiction!  Don't I have enough on my plate?  Apparently the answer is No, because I am enjoying myself immensely!

I am taking "More Journal Making for Fiber Artists" from Sue Bleiweiss.  This is the end of week 2 and I finally finished my second journal.  Which means I am up to date and on schedule!  Cause for celebration, huh?

Here is the first journal:

The design is a tri-fold, which I don't believe I've ever seen before.  The signatures (groups of pages all sewn in as a single unit) are attached using a simple binding, although I had to make it difficult by choosing to use ribbon instead of thread!  Seems I just can't follow instructions exactly as written!  So, what else is new?

 

Here you can see the trifold design.    You can also see the ribbon in the center of this signature.   I glued the wider ribbon, along with two pieces of the binding ribbon, onto the back of the journal so it is a permanent part of the book.  One just grabs the ends and ties a bow to hold the book closed.  I like the multicolored stripe fabric and how it works with the three colors of the ribbons.

Here is the inside of one of the three areas.  I used a sunflower fabric that I have had for awhile.  Of course I did not notice that it was upside down until after I had finished binding all three sections of the book!  Sheesh!  I may decide to re-bind this one some day - or not!  Using ribbon to bind is not exactly easy!

SO!  On to week two.  I like the way this one turned out better.  I just wish the pictures were clearer.  Got to study up some more on this camera business.

Anyhoo.  Here is Journal Number 2.  This one is smaller - 5" x 6" - and would fit inside my tote bag quite easily.    The covers are gift wrap that I covered with pink tissue paper and ModPodge.  I like the idea of hot pink money! 

The binding on this book is called coptic binding.  It looks complicated, but once you've gone through the process a few times it is fairly simple.  The trickiest part is getting the tension just right.  Too loose and everything flops about and refuses to  line up; too tight and the book won't open flat!  I think mine may be just a little tight, but it does open at least!

I had a bit more fun with the pages/signatures on this one, too.  I had a sample page of money-themed postcards and I glued them onto the signature covers.  I also played around in my word processor and printed up some lined pages with various money type clipart:  stacks of bills, coins, and piggy banks.  Oh yes - piggies!  Sadly, I got some of them upside down, too.  I'm seeing a trend here. 

 

 

 

 

Well.  This has been a long one.  Friday we will get Lesson 3.  Can't wait to see what Sue has in store for us this time!

Order from Chaos?

Here is my September Take It Further piece:

Sharon gave us the topic LISTS for this month.  She had several things to say about lists, but I particularly liked this statement:

"There is a something in a list that makes us feel secure. They almost substitute for a plan as the present a direction to work in and we feel we know where we are going with something."

As I thought about how I use lists - and believe me, I USE lists!! - one line of thinking led me to ask Why?  I mean, some types of lists are pretty obvious and universally utilized.  Grocery lists, Christmas card lists, that sort of thing.  But someone like me . . . well, let's just say I go way beyond those!  So, Sharon's remark about security sounds like it is getting close.

So I sat down to capture my thoughts.  I started writing down the kinds of lists I find in my files, in my day planner, on my table tops, etc.  I wrote . . . a List List!

I won't bore you with the rest of the thinking process.  Sarge claims there isn't one anyway, but we ignore those kind of remarks!  What I decided is that my lists are an attempt to bring Order to the Chaos of my life. 

 

I started by stitching down some torn fabric pieces to a background and free motion stitched using several different threads.  Here is what the back looks like.  Now THERE is a picture of Chaos!

Then I scanned my list and printed it onto fabric and stitched it to Chaos as if it were emerging from the whirlwind.  I had a great time with my new Bernina Stitch Regulator!  Uh, kinda went nuts, you know?

Well, there it is.  Not too late, either!  Of course, I am still working on the August TIF and now I need to start on October's.  Work, work, work.  It's just never done! ;-)

A Lesson in Patience

. . . or, An Exercise in Frustration! I'm pretty short on patience, so I guess it is really the second option.

Today I have been working on a journal. I am taking an on-line class (yes, another one! Gotta have some way to keep out of trouble!) from Sue Bleiweiss. This is a follow-up for the class I took earlier this year. Anyhoo – the topic is fusible web. I love this stuff! Er, usually, that is. But we'll get to that. For various reasons, I usually like to use the kind that has a paper backing. I have not been able to get my favorite brand lately, so today I used something else.

Now, the way this is supposed to work is that you press the fusible to your fabric with a hot iron. Then peel away the paper backing and press it to another piece of fabric, interfacing, whatever. The paper backing should come away looking something like this:

Today, I got this:

And a hard job it was, too!

I should have known better. A few years back this company had troubles with their adhesive formula and I stopped buying that particular item. I still buy their other products and their whole line is easily available. So I figured that surely they have solved the problem by now. Ha! That'll teach me!

Buster Brown

. . . is what I am calling my newly finished lap quilt. It is a Crazy Nine-Patch pattern from the "Stash Busters" book. It is also one of the reasons I have been a no-show in the blog world lately. Finishing up a quilt is a long process - and I was determined to get this thing done, by golly!

The backing is pieced from leftover fabric used in the top. Then straight line quilting following the 9-patch pieces on the quilt top with a simple wave like quilting on the border. An interesting experience, but not one I'm anxious to repeat right away!

So, almost all of my other projects have been on hold while I worked on this thing! I did have a postcard swap and a small doll swap, which I will have to get pictures taken, edited, and loaded for a post soon. I have also made some small progress on my Take It Further pieces. So, no need to worry that I might not have enough to do. HaHaHaHaHa! I might work through all my projects and stash some day - if I live to be 150!

That's enough hilarity for one day. Hopefully my schedule will return to something like normal now and the projects will be more manageable. We

have a new, faster computer now, so posting should be a breeze. No more excuses!

[I haven't loaded Live Writer on the new PC yet so am back to using Blogger's default editor. The image handling is lousy! Are you reading this, Blogger?]

Double Double, Toil and Trouble

My doll club met this weekend and our project was to make these little witches.  They are not quite completed at this point, but enough to see that they have individual characters.  In fact, one of them is hiding on the far right because she "doesn't have makeup on yet." 

 

A couple of close-ups.  They do like they could stir up some trouble, don't they?

I'll show you something that is very special about these witches.

They are made from plastic water bottles!  A piece of the neck was cut out and we glued paperclay faces to a piece of cardboard which fits in the cut out area.  The hands are also paperclay and have wire going across the back of the shoulders.  Slip a fabric tube or three on, add a cape and hat - and there you are!  We had brooms and pumpkins and other embellishments to add.  Guess we will be ready for Halloween early!

I'll show a close-up of my witchie poo when she has all her embellishments.  Still working on my lap quilt, but it is just about ready for a binding, so stay tuned for more pictures coming up.

Another Review

Yup, it's that time again.  My how time flies!  I've been pretty  busy in the workshop this week so hope to have some fun things to show you shortly.  So, the sooner we get this review over, the sooner I can get back to work!

Remember, these are according to the revised goals.  Here is how the last six-weeks have been, goal-wise:

Goal 1: Use my "stash" and develop my creativity. 

Well I'm not trying to downsize my stash (a good thing!) but I have been thinking more in terms of using what I have this period.  And I have been trying lots of new techniques.  My Meow quilt was one of the major projects.  All but the backing was from stash and I certainly learned a lot about piecing and quilting.  Got another quilt off the pinning table yesterday, so stay tuned for that.  I am also having a blast learning to use my new sewing machine and the BSR!!  This has been an easy goal!

Goal 2: Take It Further challenge.

Just because I haven't posted a finished piece does not mean I'm not working on it!  I'm just a little behind!  OK, more than a little.  But August is all hand embroidery and that does take longer, ya know?  Especially as I don't seem to be very good at sitting down to just hold a needle!  When I sit in the evening, it's either at the computer or in front of the TV.  The old eyes aren't good enough to stitch and see television at the same time any more.  Bummer!  But enough about me!  September is ready to start stitching and it should go faster.  Can't wait to start 'cause it will be freehand machining.  Woohoo!

Goal 3:  Make Dolls.

Right!  Has this one ever been a problem?  I'm working on a swap and a challenge right now, so can't show any pictures just yet.  Club is next weekend and then I should have something doll-ish to show.  I did get the news that my Hoffman doll has won an award and she will travel this year.  Last year's doll came home this week and she will tell us all about her adventures after she's had a chance to rest!

Goal 4: Classes and groups.

Classes - let's see.  I have finished the Studio Journals class and  am still working in the journal . . . er - intermittently.  I'm not quite at the daily entry level (actually, not even close!), but it's been very useful for working out design ideas.  I have September's TIF all laid out and sketched and ready to start stitching - oh, any day now!  Sue Bleiweiss is starting another Journal Making class this month and I will have to sign up for that.  The last class was great!!

As for Groups!  That Stitchin' Fingers group is keeping me busy.  A couple of swaps, a challenge, and loads of ideas and discussion.  I can't wait to log in every day to see what's new!  I'm really enjoying doll club, too.  At least at this time.  You see, I was just shanghaied  convinced to be President for the next two years.  I think I'm up for it, but have to admit to a small case of j-j-j-jitters with my first official meeting coming up!

Goal 5: Review.

Phew!  That's over with and I'm ready to get on with the next six weeks.  This period's review was a couple of days late, but I'm counting this as still in the week of . . . .  Next review will be week  of October 21.