Virtual Retreat Aug thru Dec 2015 Info on first post

[Nancy R.]

Oh my goodness, y'all.....major goof yesterday.

I decided on a simple ghost shape for the center square of the stars on my Halloween table runner. Drew a template on brown paper, still haven't bought freezer paper, so thought "Hey! I could probably trace this on Heat-n-Bond Lite, just touch it with the iron to hold it there temporarily, quilt around it, then peel off...."

(can you tell I don't use that stuff much??? And what happened next...????)

Oye.

Well, it worked to hold the templates in place, but as you all have guessed, peeling it off removed the paper, but not the sticky gunk. Ack!!!!

I scraped and peeled and scraped and peeled and gave up, and finally did yet another internet search for ideas and finally found a solution --- iron plain brown paper onto the sticky residue, then peel back while hot. yes! the sticky residue sticks to the paper and peels off of the fabric quite nicely, leaving no marks or gunk behind. Thank goodness!!!

Have gone and written FREEZER PAPER on my shopping list, and my friend coming for Houston has said she'll put some in her suitcase if I don't buy it before then. You may all laugh, but please don't inundate me with packs of freezer paper! LOL!! I promise I've learned my lesson.....

[Nancy R.]

Heather,
I home schooled my boys. The most important thing I could have ever taught them was how to 'Find' the information needed. You are definitely progressing along. Without learning experiences like this would we really grow intellectually? I doubt it, we learn more from the things that don't work than from everything falling into place. I thought you would need to put a layer of chiffon? over your project just to hold the sticky stuff. I'm glad you shared, I never thought about brown paper heated and removed while hot,, I'm still learning too. Thanks.
Luann

[Nancy R.]

Heather,
I home schooled my boys. The most important thing I could have ever taught them was how to 'Find' the information needed. You are definitely progressing along. Without learning experiences like this would we really grow intellectually? I doubt it, we learn more from the things that don't work than from everything falling into place. I thought you would need to put a layer of chiffon? over your project just to hold the sticky stuff. I'm glad you shared, I never thought about brown paper heated and removed while hot,, I'm still learning too. Thanks.
Luann

Luann, I didn't know you home schooled your boys! I also home school mine. Daunting, but fun and worth it.

Happy my mistake could help someone else! Yes, I was thinking "what sheer fabric can I put on top of this to make it seem on purpose...???" Luckily I had chosen a ghost shape, so a sheer would have actually made sense, had I needed to resort to that.

I definitely learn, a LOT, from my mistakes....or, well, I have A LOT of "opportunities for growth and learning." LOL! Only rarely do I make the same mistake again later.....and I do have a fine sense of humor/"ah, well, that was fun!" about it all, which helps. I find that to be another important lesson -- okay, you messed up, now figure out how to fix it and move on. No point in moping about. i think this is why each quilt I make is my "best quilt so far" -- because I've taken all I've leaned with each one prior and improved my skills in some way.

Hoping you all get a nice chuckle, and yes, learn from my mistakes this time

[Geneva C.]

Oh Heather,
Thank you for the chuckle. I hope you don't mind that I did chuckle. I taught my kids "What are mistakes for?" And they would reply "Learning!" Wish I had home schooled my kids.....

So one of the reasons I chuckled was because I remember in the late 70's my great Aunt Blanche (who was VERY prim and proper) finally decided to wear....pants.! :woohoo: But of course she had to press them. Someone told her to use a brown grocery bag to press her polyester pants, which she did. Unfortunately she pressed her pants with the grocery store logo against her pants. Viola! She was then a walking advertisement for the grocery store! It still makes me laugh after all these years. So glad your ghost turned out perfect!

Have a good weekend everyone!
geneva

[Geneva C.]

My day at retreat:
Quilted up 4 pieces for a modified mondo bag. Put a backing on the frame of my longarm, two very thin layers a batting, and laid the four pieces on top. I put a different design in each of those 8x26" pieces. Then I grabbed some squares of hand dyes I had and put a block pattern in each of those. I will have 8 squares, 8 1/2" each. They'll make large mug rugs or small pot holders! I've already assembled the four bag pieces into the basic shape. I'm thinking about covering all interior seams with binding and using the same for around the edge. But it would be faster to just make a liner, and then I could add pockets too.
This all started with someone wanting to see my ' book ' of quilting designs! Yikes, there's over 1,000 available on the Pro Stitcher and it doesn't have a printed out list of them. I probably couldn't lift the book if there was one. So, anyway I told her I'd show her a few samples and we'd go from there. Hope she can make a decision based upon what I have to offer. I meet her next Wednesday at my 'club house stitchers' group.


Inside and out



Off to supper, I'll be back at retreat tomorrow,,,,
Luann
PS I haven't caught up with everyone's news, but congrats on the babies!

[Geneva C.]

Forgive me for posting this here but I am a bit stressed and don't have the patience to search for how to get to the prayer list.

Just returned home after leaving Loren in the hospital with pneumonia in the lower lobe on his left side. Please pray for him. He wouldn't eat or drink so he was very weak and kept trying to get up (without help). After getting him off the floor for the second time, I called an ambulance. Can't you just see the picture of me picking up a 232 lb man. It definitely would have gone viral if anyone were there to film me putting a sheet under his arms, while standing on top of the bed, to pull him back in it.

Only one bruise to my knee from the experience.

Thank you friends, I am going to try to get some sleep--who knows what tomorrow will bring.

[wendy w.]

I hope it will bring Loren on the mend now he's in hospital and getting treatment. Here's hoping he's soon well and you get some rest. I'll be thinking of you both xx

[wendy w.]

Oh my Ritzy - Glad you called an ambulance and Loren is being taken care of. Hopefully he'll be in good shape in a couple of days. I agree with Wendy nice for you to get some sleep too. Take care. Barb

[wendy w.]

Yikes Heather - what a mess! I've only used heat and bond a couple of times but left it in place, glad I didn't try to remove.

Here's another use for plain brown paper - iron paper onto candle wax drips on table clothes or carpet and peel off the wax.

Barb

[Geneva C.]

Ritzy, hugs for you my friend.

Sleep well.
Geneva

[Dawn S.]

Ritzy.....sent you a personal email. Hugs, my friend! Be sure to update us!

Heather.....also sent you a personal email with my phone number! I'm all packed and so exited to be flying out tomorrow. But, I'm still a little worried about everyone (including my roommates who are driving) that are traveling during the terrible weather that you are having. I know Ricky's flight through Dallas was cancelled. Poor Dallas! What a mess!

Luann....I love the lining fabric of your bag. I forget the maker right now, but it has been one of my favorites! The bag is going to be great!

Dawn

[Dawn S.]

Luann....I love the lining fabric of your bag. I forget the maker right now, but it has been one of my favorites! The bag is going to be great!

Dawn

Dawn, I could kick my backside! I was going to put binding over each seam as I made them, so it would be totally reversible, but I got caught up with getting it together and now I have a beautifully quilted bag that has exposed seams. I can make a lining, but I really had wanted the "lichen'? blues for reversing. Dadnabit! Gotta watch that auto correct when I'm quoting the locals around here,,, I have put it on hold until I decide what I'll do. I used double batting and kept my quilting density to a level of giving it some stability. Oh well, I guess
This is an opportunity for a creative alternative (Heather, do you like my fancy way of saying that I'll come up with a plan B?)
I think I have a sinus infection, low grade, but my teeth hurt way up high next to my cheekbones. So, maybe I'm just delirious,, my DH would ask, And this is different from every other day how? My humor is still alive, even if it's warped,,,
No retreat time today, hope to be back at the machines come Monday.
Luann

[Dawn S.]

Luann, I think that you could still put binding on the seams of your bag. It would probably be a bit easier if you just unpick a couple of inches where the seams meet at the base, but other than that I don't see any real difficulity_{besides turning the corners}.
By the way thanks for showing what a mondo bag is, I have been reading about them for a while now and wondering about it. I actually came across the pattern years ago and have a very large version that was intended for taking towels to the seaside, but it came out huuge, so it is more usually used for putting Izzy's clean laundry that need ironing in :whistle:

[Dawn S.]

Rosemary,
I think you're right. If I just pick out a few areas of stitching, put the binding on both sides at the same time, then when I do the next seam it'll all get covered with the next piece of binding. I just hate 'unstitching' any amount, but I really did want a reversible tote.
This one is made with each of the sides starting out at 8 1/2" by 26 1/2". The next size down is 6 1/2" by 18 1/2". And I bet you could do a Mini version at 4 1/2" by about 12 1/2". I used the printed interfacing on my first one, but just cut the quilted pieces to the size that's listed for linings.
I have another purse project that an acquaintance requested. She bought the pattern, then dropped by for tea!! I've tried to let her know that just the cost of materials would be almost $65.00 US and as I said to her, and that's nothing for my time,,, she assured me she wanted it done, and I agreed to have it finished by Christmas. I'm not going to follow the patterns directions completely, as I have the longarm and I'll utilize it for some of the work. I'm going to make it how I would want it, so if she decides she's not fond of it, I can keep it for a gift for my sister. She'll only be out the cost of her pattern at most.
Off to church and then skimming thru the Craftsy classes I grabbed for October.
Luann

[Dawn S.]

Luann...Love your bag!!
Lotti..I want to go there! Looks very peaceful!

Surgery is set for tomorrow, so been very busy getting a quilt top done before hand. It's a simple attic window, and I'm hoping to get it finished today...not sure how to quilt it yet, but happy with the progress so far. Will try to post picture later.

Dorothy