Gone To Earth

Blogging Friends Forever!

I don't know what to say.... I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I'm feeling all kind of warm and pleased inside. I've been given a 'Blogging Friends award', from Marie of Dreaming of Wild Roses Can you see it in my side bar..... (puffs out chest in pleasure and maybe the teenisest little bit of pride.)

I've not been blogging for that long as you may already know and this is my very first award .... it's made me smile. Thank you Marie. I love the idea of online friends. It's surprising how much online friends get to mean to you and how concerned you can become when they haven't 'blogged' for a while. Are they O.K? Is something wrong .... ? Should you email.... just as you would for friends you meet in your other, everyday life.

What I have to do now is pass it on (they all work that way don't they?). The rules are fairly simple. You need to share this award with four dedicated followers of your blog and with one nominee who lives in a different part of the world.

Therefore, without further ado, I would like to share this award with Dottycookie, whose 'geeky' tendancies regularly make me smile. I love the idea of a Hadron Collider built from toilet roll inner tubes - brilliant!

I'd like to share it with Indigo Blue where there's always some lovely things being made and 'stuff' going on.

To Ragged Roses who spreads a little vintage calm and prettiness in the world and whose 'blogging' friendship I enjoy. And to Sew love to sew, who 'loves' to sew quilts and bags and whose 'chats' I enjoy.

My nominee from another part of the world is Tamara from 1/4 of an inch. Her blog is a new discovery for me (I've probably been lurking there for longer than she realises!) and I admire her quilting and 'crafty' works. Best wishes to you all, and long may we remain 'blogging friends'.

A quilt or is it?

Once upon a time when life was simpler and it was possible to just occasionally to attend workshops. I made this;

It's a quilt...... no honestly.... it is. How do I justify saying that? Well, it's like this......

Patchwork or piecing and the construction of a quilt has a long history. It has developed in many different places in the world resulting in a rich diversity of styles and approaches. Originally, it probably developed as a method of producing an inexpensive textile using precious fabric remnants at a time when fabric wasn't easy to obtain. Many astonishingly beautiful examples can be found in museums and stately homes around the world.

A traditional definition of a quilt is that it must consist of three layers; a top layer which can be a whole cloth or a pieced cloth. A middle layer which may be wadding, which comes in a huge variety of types, different thicknesses, made from different materials; wool, silk, polyester and cotton. Then there is a backing fabric which again can be a whole cloth or a pieced or patched cloth.

Wadding, however may be replaced by other fabrics, in India for example, this middle layer may traditionally be composed of old sari's stitched together. You may encounter quilters muslin or calico being used.

That's all very well but how does that make my 'picture' a quilt?

Well, quilting and patchwork is a very vibrant area. It is both a craft and an art form. This basic definition of a quilt is subject to a huge variety of interpretations. How the contemporary quilter chooses to interpret those three layers required to make a quilt is entirely personal. (Remind you of the little discussion about interlining?)

My quilt picture was made at a workshop run by Ineke Berlyn. You can see some of her work here on her website. Link and in her book.

Ineke's book - a book full of ideas!

To construct these art quilts she combines layers of sheer, organza, net, tulle and muslin along with sympathetic stitching to create pieces of extraordinarily rich, translucent window art.

This fabric window art, when hung where light can shine through it creates dancing light as though through a stained glass window. Different light throughtout the day and throughout the seasons makes these 'sheer art quilts' pieces that constantly change.

An example of Ineke's work - a View of the Malvern.

This little one of mine is a worked example set out for the workshop. It has a layer of polyester organza as the backing layer with pieces of sheers in different colours, layered to create even more colour effects. Painted lutrador was used for the trees and some of the more defined leaves (yes, they are leaves! ) and some pieces of dyed calico to create some areas of solid colour, which helps to give the piece depth.

A tempting heap of sheers, tulle and hand dyed calico and time to play - what more could you ask for?

The shapes you cut out for your 'picture' are then 'bondawebbed' in position onto the backing fabric. It's suprising how long that can take. It's a lot of deciding, is that tree at all like a tree? Enough flowers....... you did guess this was supposed to be bluebell wood didn't you?

I think that's part of the fascination that patchwork and quilting holds for me. There is so much variation and just when you think that there can't be any more that folk can achieve with pieces of cloth you come across someone elses work and the fascination deepens. There is always something new, something wonderful just waiting..........

This is a piece depicting Bethlehem, worked in sheers, with stitching in gold and silver threads. Christmas is coming....... give you any ideas?

So, although you can't snuggle up in it with your cocoa, do you see now why it's a quilt?

A lot of B ' s

One is for butterflies enjoying the sun;

Another is for blackberries of which we ate some...

Not that many are ripe yet!

A third is for baking..

Sorry about the dark and slightly blurry photo ! I can't do another we've eaten it - eaten it all!

I love blackberry picking...eating....baking...eating some more..... I love this time of the year when the birds start to return to the garden and the leaves are just begining to take on all those rich, deep colours. Beautiful.

Some of our 5 lbs of blackberry treasure haul were frozen so that we had some to bake with over Christmas. Our way of remembering how lovely autumn can be, when winter can be so dark, damp and grey.

Hope you enjoyed this weekend of sunshine.

Interlinings and Amy Butler sewing patterns.

How you interline your bag is often a case of personal taste and judgement. As you gain experience and develop personal preferences then obviously you make up your own mind. Nothing substitutes for the 'personal'. That's the beauty of 'handmade'. A beautifully 'crafted' bag or beautifully 'crafted' anything is the result of that happy combination of experience and heartfelt creativity.

You do use it don't you? It can turn the lightest of fabrics into the firmest of boxy little clutches with just a little know-how. This post isn't intended as a how-to, however, it is intended as an "For Information" type of post.

Obviously, when Crafters such as you and I use patterns, pattern designers want the 'Material Requirements' on their pattern sleeves to be helpful, to ensure that we get the best results and most rewarding experience from making one of their designs. So. following the demise of Timtex, Amy Butler has reviewed her sewing patterns and has recomended the use of pellon products; Peltex and fusible Peltex.

Her recommendations vary with the particular sewing patern so if you've bought or are thinking about buying these patterns; Kimberly Bag, Sophia Carry-all, Betty Shopper , Weekender Travel Bag, Chelsea Bags, Madison Bags, or In Town Bags , then take a look at this.

'Pattern Updates'

So, now you know. Remember though that the decision about which interlining to use is yours. Remember too that combining interlinings such as a fusible fleece with medium or heavy sew-in can give some very nice results. I quite often do this, because I like the tactile, squashiness that the fleece imparts to a bag but I also like the structure which the sew-in gives.

What's your favourite way of interlining your bags?

Buttons are not just for ' stashing ' .....

I'm trying to get to grips with free motion quilting. You know, feed dogs down, attach the darning foot etc etc and off you jolly well go.... meandering, drawing, painting with thread across fabric. No particular rules - just freedom! Yay!

Don't believe them! it's not that easy, you have to practice, or in my case practice, practice and then practice some more. It's trying to get nice even stitching whilst manoevering your fabric... and remembering to meander, that's the challenge. My poor little brain hurts.

My real difficulty was remembering to breathe. That sounds silly doesn't it but I tensed my muscles up so much that every now and then I'd suddenly get a desperate urge to just BREATHE, which of course interrupted the flow of fabric, thread and machine (Sigh!). That's my problem of course, I need to relax a little. After three practice pieces my poor muscles felt as if I'd been to the gym!

Relax that's the key. I'm fresh out of lavender scented candles but that probably wouldn't have worked anyway because you have to breathe to inhale the soothing aroma...... Music then. so a few precious sewing minutes later I had music to provide a calming, soothing, backdrop to my intensive, physically grueling, learning journey. So, to the sound of Crowded House I tried a few more pieces with a double needle just for a bit of added spice and tried some more.

...must.....breathe....

Free-motion stitching with a double needle creates a kind of ribbon effect, very pretty in skilled hands. The wadding sort of 'puffs' up in between giving a subtle impression of cording. I used a green thread in one side of the needle and a variegated quilting thread in the other.

Anyway, with the two 'best' pieces I created this pouch or make-up bag. It's got a curved zipped top. I've been seeing quite a lot of pouches with nicely rounded tops lately. They're quite sweet and feminine looking aren't they? It's probably a bit bigger than most, at 22cm (9 inches) across the top and stands 15 cm (6 inches) tall. It's about 5 cm deep (2 inches). A nice useful size.

Then I sewed on a few buttons, 'cos buttons are for using aren't they? They're not just for squirrelling away in your secret button stash. Alright, I used quite a lof of buttons - I got a bit carried away.

Which side do you prefer?

I 'buttoned' both sides and because the fabric wasn't worked as one piece the sewing is slightly different between them so I used buttons of differing sizes, styles and colour just to add to the really 'handcrafted' look. (Obviously, this was all completely intentional. No, really!) I like the overall effect though. Quite light hearted and fun!

Are you trying to learn something new? and what do you use your buttons for?

I'm off to buy more buttons and then I need to get some more relaxed (deep breath), practicing done, with a single needle this time. Oh! and did I mention that I need to buy more buttons..... it's not an obsession or anything ...... not really......

Timtex ...

To answer the questions I've had about Timtex, from this talented lady of Indygo Blue and others I've had via e-mails I thought I'd post this. It may help but then again........

Timtex has the texture of a squashy type of crispbread that's been exposed to moisture for too long and when you sew it, it squeaks like not quite cooked green beans. (Yuk - I hate that sensation! It rubs on your teeth and ..... yuckky!). The wonder of Timtex has always been it's versatility. It lends itself to being steamed into shape hence it's loved by folk who make fabric bowls, hats ( Think baseball type hats) and by folk who make bags. Particularly loved by folk who make bags. I think the characteristic that always made it so lovely is that it's firm but not hard. It takes stitching and quite dense embroidery beautifully without cracking or snapping. Lovely stuff. I shouldn't rant and ramble on....... but I do have some bad news and some a little better. Firstly, in case you haven't heard, is that they are no longer making Timtex. Why? Who knows? It's bad news for a lot of people who craft because of course you get to know the materials you work with and understand how they perform best etc and know that your lovingly crafted items are going to perform as they should.

The sad demise of Timtex

It's an issue for a great many pattern designers too. Particularly those who believe strongly and with a passion in the products they produce, like Amy Butler. Her bag patterns recommend using Timtex and here in the UK it has been more difficult for us to source. But it has been here, lurking away in craft type stores. Supplies of Timtex around the world are dwindling .... (sorry! does that sound like an announcement of impending doom and disaster?), but just to cheer you up, there are a few metres left in my own shop. Link

On really a GOOD note, Amy Butler is in the process of writing an article about interfacings or interlinings (whichever term you prefer), as she has been 'searching' for a suitable substitute or substitutes for Timtex to recommend on her patterns. Brilliant for those of us who love making her bags! (Has anyone ever told you how lovely she and the folk that work with her are?) An e-mail this week promised it shortly, so when I hear any more I'll post a link or at least share what I find out.

Today..

There I was adding some Christmassy fabric bundles (mixes of reds and greens - which I thought might be useful for those sometime soon Christmas projects) to the shop and suddenly the application which does the up-loading of the photographs disappeared.

Where'd it go..... No warning - no message just stomped off and sulked somewhere. Had it taken itself off to the trash? No! Was it hiding amongst the applications somewhere tired and fed up? Or had it been abducted to that place where socks go to? Anyway, operations came to a halt and I made these instead.

These are the place mats or table mats if you prefer, from the 'In Stitches' book by Amy Butler. They're big! A significant 20 inches by 15 inches. But are they big enough to protect my table cloth from the ravages of tomato sauce and other things that get spilt, dripped and spread around the table. (How old are they?). Time will tell!

They weren't a difficult make. I just followed the instructions but instead of Timtex I used heavy sew-in interlining. I decided Timtex would be too firm, with a potential to curl up if the mats weren't stored flat. I haven't got a drawer to devote to their storage so I used the heavy sew-in, so that I can fold them to put them away.

The fabrics I used are Amy's designs too. In case you're curious the central green panel is Wallflower in green and the side panels are in Star Paisley in Lime. The combination makes a splash of 'bright and cheerful' for manic family meal times. (At least ours are manic. Stories and giggles from the day. Frustration with homework and deadlines. Aaah! What goes on? Aren't meal times supposed to be calm?)

I had to sew in a hurry though...... logic took a leave of absence and I had to sew very quickly to make sure ...

Look! .... just made it!

Anyway, it'll be fine dining at our house tonight. I'd invite you over but I only made four! Though there's probably room for at least two to a mat, if we squash up a bit.....

An aside...

My daughter loves this book.

It's full of absolutely everything that a young girl could wish to know - how to host a party. Vital facts about pets and first aid, how to treat a snake bite!. Not normally too much a problem hereabouts, but best to be prepared I suppose. There's (book) reading recommendations, recipes, guidance on how to read the tea-leaves (She can't stand tea! and she'd probably faint if she saw tealeaves.)

It explains how to play 'Cat's cradle'. (Do you remember playing that! ) There are absolutely loads of brilliant sewing, making and general 'creating' activities, "Muuuum, it even tells you how to sew on a button!" (Oh well that's o.k then! You'll always have a shirt to wear.")

Her favourite section at the moment is the one on make-up! It is a source of some fascination. In a desperate attempt to prevent young girls looking like they've run away to join the circus the authors explain in absolute, no nonsense terms about skin care and how to apply cosmetics. The most chucklesome part is this. It's an explanation about eyebrows. It begins"........PLEASE,PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS - unless......" It's referring to plucking eyebrows very thin. But this is the bit that makes me smile..... ".....done wrong and it will look as if you've had an accident with a very small lawnmower (diagram......).

So, don't say I didn't warn you of the perils that await should you decide on experimenting.... and if you see an 'elephant' in the tea-leaves, you'd best drop me a comment ...... and I'll see what I can do.

A few sewing things to share

The children are back at school and the house is so, so empty. They're getting used to new timetables, meeting new people, trying new things and finding their way to new places and I'm having to get used to watching the clock again.

Yesterday was all bustle and excitement, seeing friends they haven't seen since the end of last term, new shoes, new uniforms, new routines. Today was different. My daughter was full of tears, she's moved to a larger (much larger) secondary school and it's all a bit daunting, "What if I get lost?", "What if I'm late because I can't find my classroom?". I remember having those same fears. Has every parent through time stood there and said to their child exactly the same as their parent said to them? "Don't worry about it. All the children in your form are just as confused as you about where places are. The teachers don't expect you to know where everywhere is." Hopefully she'll feel better when I see her later.

The kitchen is traumatised. They rushed in yesterday after school and raided the cupboards and the fruit bowl (! Don't panic. That really doesn't happen often. My children really don't think that 5-a day (fruit and veg) applies to them.). A plague of locusts would have been proud of them.

So, all these new beginnings mean that I won't be seeing all the Mum's in the playground or anyone during the day, unless I do something about it. So, besides meeting up for coffee with folk I thought I might go along to a quilting group in the next town.

Coffee? or ...

...a little milkshake?

The group quite often exhibits in the local church so I've seen the kind of things they do together. Quilts, obviously but more contemporary styles as well as the traditional. They make all kinds of wall hangings, bags, fabric boxes. I think it's worth going along once or twice at least, to see if I like it.

In amongst all this turmoil though there's been a little sewing, and not just endless, countless name tags! (I did refuse to sew tags into the socks! I'm such a rebel!)

Another simply styled tote this time in Amy Butler's Graniflora fabric . I like the way this one turned out.

The flower arches it's way up the bag. Gorgeous colours, maroon, burgundy reds and pinks with a creamy background.

It has a magnetic snap closure and a divided pocket inside.

It's 12 inches wide, 1 1/2 inches deep, 14 inches tall and has a 28 inches fabric handle (finished length). I've used some 'o' rings to attach the handles to the bag and the magnetic snap is the same nickel colour. I like the bag hardware to match.

This little chap is a boxy style pouch. He's definately an experiment. I've not made pouches this way before. I usually box the corners in bags by aligning the side seams with the bottom seam and sewing across. Probably the same way that most people do it. This is different. With this you sew across the bottom of the bag and then pleat and fold the sides. What you end up with is this kind of effect. It's sort of folded and tucked in. Origami with bags!

I'm convinced that there's scope for a little embellishment on those ends I just haven't quite worked out what that might be yet! I love the tabs across the zip ends. Ribbon would be a nice touch too! It gives it a nice finish, just like little ears!

Nice tidy bottom! The fabric is called Chutes and Ladders

If anyone wants more of an explanation, I'm willing to write (and illustrate it ) in a little more detail. Just drop me a comment. What do you think though?

It's destined to hold some of the bits and pieces, threads, sewing scissors that kind of thing for me to take to the quilting group. Well, I have to look the part don't I?

The applique was another experiment. I keep reading about quite complex pieces of applique where you use fusible interfacing as a way of turning the seam allowance of your 'shape' under, the end result being a fusible applique motif which looks as if its been 'needle turned'. Start with something a little more simple I say! Hence the heart motif!

I placed some lightweight fusible interfacing onto the fabric with its right side facing the non-fusible side of the interfacing. Does that make sense? Then I pinned a paper template to both of them and machine sewed around the outside of the paper template. I removed the template and made an incision into the interlining and poked turned the fabric through the 'hole'. I then had a fusible patch, with the fabric rightside out and the fusible side of the interlining facing out. I had to clip the edges of the heart to get everything to lie nicely but it worked. It fused beautifully to the bag but you do get an edge around the motif which is not 'stuck' down because that's where the fabric is. So, you'd definately need to sew or do something creative with the edges. I machined sewed around the outside of the patch using a kind of blanket stitch effect. Not too difficult considering I rarely use 'fancy' stitches. I'm more a 'running' stitch kind of girl. I found it quite a fiddly process though - can't say I'd rush to applique this way again.

Now, if only I'd placed the heart motifs (There's one on both sides.) a little higher up the bag. Next time I'll have a better idea about how this design works......... how is it that I only ever seem to understand by doing! It's so frustrating.... Am I alone in that?

Ummm! I think I might call it Henry!