Virtual Retreat - Ongoing (started January 2018)

[Ladywingnut]

What a crummy winter this year! I happily live in southern az and the weather has been wonderful!! (sorry) However I got that horrible upper respiratory crud & it lingered for about 2 months...ewwww
I do feel for those in the south east, snow & cold is no fun, isn't that why we live in the south?

[quilting00]

Ladywingnut, I'm sorry that you have had that crud. I hope you are fully recovered. I've had it for a couple weeks and I sure hope that another six weeks of the coughing is NOT ahead of me!!!

Our guild's challenge this year is to construct a quilt with upcycled denim jeans. . .primarily blue denim jeans. No other fabrics are allowed in the top. We can use embellishments like beads, buttons or threads; or other non fabric embellishments. The binding and backing can be any fabric; there must be batting; it must be quilted and it must have a hanging sleeve. I was thinking about painting a design on the denim. Have any of you painted on fabric or better yet, denim? If so, did you need to use a primer? Also, if you have, please share any tips that worked for you or didn't work for you! Thanks in advance!

[quilting00]

Terry,
I have painted on denim in the past. Most important is to use ‘fabric paint”. Any acrylic will work but fabric paint has the right binder in it. Also, if you want to put any light color on, you have to base coat with a light under it to seal the fibers from absorbing the color you want to show. I remember , back in the day, when everybody’s jean jacket had ‘their’ logo hand painted on it. Harley Davidson Eagles being the most prevalent. Jacquard paints tended to be the best. With all of this being said, if you don’t plan to ever wash the thing, just wipe it off, you can use any acrylic paint. I found a couple of pieces of cotton that I painted with ‘cheap’ acrylic craft paint back in the 80’s. They are still Looking decent. Very important note : Prewash the cloth and do NOT use any fabric softener or dryer sheets as that tends to make the fibers lay down, and you want them to absorb the paint. We painted on t-shirts, the back of blazers, men’s suit jackets, up the legs of jeans, nothing was off limits to our paint and imagination. Yes, I was a child of the late 60’s era, lol

[quilting00]

Thanks, Luann. Your "tips" and experience helped! Let's see what happens!!!

[quilting00]

I finished that hexagon quilt that I was working on! You can read about it here. I'll attach a photo of the pebbles from the back. I am also working on the guild challenge quilt today. Yesterday, I refined the drawing and pieced the background. This afternoon, I should be ready to experiment with painting. I'll let you know how it goes; but, can't share photos until late spring!

[twiglet]

Looks great Terry I love the colours and design, well done finishing. The amount of information on the label is amazing.

[twiglet]

Question about using glue sticks to enable applique placement -does it have to be washed out afterwards or is it safe to just leave it in? It is for a wall hanging.

[idaho]

I've used lots over the years...in general...no problems with washing or not. Try not to use no
more than necessary to hold. And try to stay out of stitching path if you are hand- working as it
gets hard sometimes.

[Ladywingnut]

I have done several projects with glue sticks, as well as using just plain old white Elmer's school glue. I ALWAYS wash my fabric after I buy it, & I ALWAYS wash it before I quilt it. Years ago, I have ruined projects by washing a quilt has been completed, & the colors either ran or the fabrics have shrunk.

[quilting00]

Painting on the fabric worked. Thanks, Luann! Without giving too much away because I have to keep the project under wraps until after the challenge ends, I achieved a realistic skin tone. I painted a base of white acrylic and then layered a variety of metallic paints. . .pearl, champagne, red (yes, RED!), gold and a chocolate brown. I used a light hand and am happy with the results!

Those of use that remember the 60s and 70s, do you remember a particular phrase, slang or jargon that you might have said or thought? I was inspired by paper dolls, bell bottoms and lace to make a curvy figure. I'd like to embroider something on the top from that time and could use some input.

Also, I want to add blond doll hair to her head. I've looked at tutorials, looked at websites for products; but, haven't tacked anything like this so don't know what I should look for or what to expect.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!!!

[eileenkny]

My friends and I used to say "Groovy, man" a lot. Too much Laugh In I guess :P

[eileenkny]

I have to agree with Eileen, Groovy, was the word I used.
Terry, if you do a google search for hit songs for any of those years, read through them, with paper and pencil handy, you’ll be amazed at how many ‘words’ will come to you.
We had a challenge last year to use a song title for a small wall hanging. I wasn’t able to get it into production because I couldn’t decide between Time in a Bottle, and Bridge Over Troubled Waters. I should have just done the two of the, with the bottle floating in the waters,, lol. Sure, now I think of that.
Another day late and dime short situation for me,,,, LOL

[eileenkny]

Same here in England, I keep saying, we are on the right side of winter, but it doesn't help. Just need to have a little sun on my back please. Maria

[genevacarroll]

Terry I love your hexagon project. You are definitely a master bubbler!

The word I used in the 60's was cool. And I still do!

Been busy with my challenge project for our quilt show also. I used my new embroidery module on Esther (Oh how I love her!) and wrote "Mistakes are for Learning". It came out great. Now I am finishing up the body of the quilt and will start quilting it. It is fun and cheerful!

We went to So Cal last week to visit the grandchildren. It was such fun and we were tired! While I was there I realized that "Road to California" was on so I went last Friday. It was a wonderful show. Up here we don't get to see the "big" shows so this was quite a treat. I picked up a few things that I can't buy here locally. I had to be cautious, because we carry on our luggage so everything has to fit in my roll aboard.




That wonderful Cherrywood hand dyed fabric will be used with the Shibori fabric I dyed last fall. The ruler is fun. I practiced with it yesterday, and it makes some fun and easy curved blocks. And of course I had to stop at the Superior booth and make a deposit! I was pleased to find the neutral pack of thread. I use a lot of neutral thread for quilting.

I have a secret. I'll tell you if you PROMISE not to tell my husband. (No I'm not pregnant! :blink: haha). I am making him a quilt of valor. It will be presneted at our quilt show in March. He served 4 years in the VietNam war. It's been hard to work on because he never leaves the house when I'm home! I'm working on sewing down the binding now. I don't have a good picture of it now, but it is based on Tom Korn's quilts. There are 3 of his ribbons with dark blue between them. Then his maroon good conduct ribbon on the back surrounded by navy. I think he will like it. Like most VietNam era veterens he wasn't treated very well when he was in service and when he got out. I hope to let him know how much we love and honor him. I'll get a picture sometime when he's not home!

I finished my IMQE quilt. It tunred out nice. I'm waiting for the TQS blog post to tell me what the back needs and to take a picture. I can't wait to show you!

Well, here we are into another year. The days go slow and the years go fast. I'm glad we are friends and have this forum to keep in touch.

Take care! geneva

[she-quilts]

Geneva, you did very well if that is all you bought at Road2CA! How great you got to go to the show. Yes, the neutral thread pkg is the best deal at Superior, I think!

I'm ready to start my IMQE as I have the design part finished and the fabric purchased. The sewing should go better! Good for you for finishing. My goal is mid-Feb. Do you find it hard to get good info on what we are to do.... like the label and such? I'm really having fun emailing with my partner. We are a lot alike!

Jules~