Well, I'm sure glad unpacking is
a lot easier than packing! My studio once again looks like itself again with everything in its rightful place. Boy, is my design board
full!! Not only do I have the in progress fall piece, but joining it from
Arrowmont is my latest Abstract just waiting to be sewn down. I guess there's no rest for the quilter!
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| My new friend Cathy |
Did I tell you my
latest discovery?? Spray Starch. Now I hear you all out there saying to me -
OMG Nina - didn't you know about spray starch? Well no not really. You see, my discovery came from an early morning chat over breakfast. I was having a lot of trouble with my abstract pieces stretching all out since they are crazy piece. They wouldn't hold their form so I could get them pinned up properly. My new friend Linda, looked at me like I was crazy and said.
"Give them a good press". So since she's a very smart lady, I did just that. And since my other new smart friend Cathy had left her spray starch on the ironing board, I tried some of that. Gosh - what a difference that made!! Wow! perfect - the piece now had more body and would stay all in place.
Who knew?? probably everybody
except me!!!
I still have a bit of editing on this abstract piece and then it will can be sewn down and quilted. My circles piece I spray basted with June Taylor spray basting from Joann's and it worked great. (yeah I was surprised too - I really didn't think it would would) . So I'm anxious to give it a try on a larger piece. Its sure would be nice not having to deal with all those pins!
See more design boards at
Judy's Patchwork times!
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Love the colors in your new piece. I recently tried spray starch for piecing triangles, you are right, what a difference!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your abstract piece, both the colors and shapes. If I had walls (empty walls), that is the kind of "art" piece I would make.
ReplyDeleteMe too, me too...I have been quilting for 40 years and just recently have started with the spray starch and the Mary Ellens Best Press. I have both in my new studio hanging on the wall near the iron. I am a slow learner I guess.
ReplyDeleteI think we all live and learn new things each day and quilters love to share their methods and techniques so there's always something new or different to try. Many thanks to all quilters who share!!
ReplyDeleteYeah for starch! I don't use it always but when I need it, it is wonderful. Try different types. I use one that is in a non-aerasol bottle. Works great and the bottle when emptied makes a great spray bottle for water. Of course, at some point I'll probably have to recycle a bottle or two.... I like the design on the wall. It's great to see a bit of bright yellow in the pieces. Nice pop!
ReplyDeleteI really like the colors and the way your piece is coming together. Yep, I use spray sizing when I need a little body and control. I make my own because Mary Ellen's Best Press is a bit pricey. We are never too old to learn new tricks.
ReplyDeleteYour work is coming along nicely, and I like your color choices!
ReplyDeleteLOL Yes starch is a wonderful thing. The nice thing is you don't need the expensive stuff either. Just plain old cheapo spray starch works just fine. I do what Sharon Schamber does to avoid the flaking (what prevents a lot of people from using it) - I spray, then flip over and press from the back. If I get flaking I spritz lightly with water (but try not to douse it because I don't want to cause shrinking). Looking forward to the progress on all of your projects!
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