More Ideas for Texture Magic

I just discovered the Blog for Miss Gina's Designs. Regina is also using the Texture Magic sheets for her creations. Have a look here and see what she is doing.

When I was at the Superior School of Threadology in February, I took a class with Annie Unrein. This was our first introduction to Texture Magic and we made a small tote bag. Annie has now published her pattern for this bag. Have a look here.

There are so many possibilities for this new product. I hope some of my blog readers will let me know what they are creating with it. Have a look on the What's New page on my website for more information.

Texture Magic Has Arrived!

My Texture Magic supply has just arrived and is available on the What's New page on my web site. What a great product for art quilters, "regular" quilters and, in fact, anyone who works with fabric. Just sew Texture Magic to the back of your fabric, apply steam, and the fabric magically shrinks approximately 30%, creating a beautiful textured effect.

Here is the piece of fabric I started with.

I sewed Texture Magic on the back, using a slightly curved line to match the design in the fabric. After the fabric was steamed, it looked like this. You can stitch any kind of design on the Texture Magic and each one will give a different finished result.

Complete instructions for using this product are included in the package.

The Shelf Life of Thread

The following article appeared in the last issue of the Superior Thread Company Newsletter and is used with permission from Bob Purcell from Superior Threads.

How long does thread last? Is it OK to use Mom's or Grandma's thread?

Thread, like many other products, has come a long way in recent years. The last 10 years has seen more change in thread quality than at any previous time. New technology has brought about better raw material, more consistent spinning, better dyeing, and improvements in each step of the processing. Companies which apply these technologies are able to produce a far superior product than companies which choose to ignore them or cut corners. Of course it costs more to make sure each step of the process is done at the highest level which is why there remains such a wide range of quality on the market. The answer to the shelf life questions is, "It depends."

If I had some of Mom's cotton thread on the shelf, would I use it? Maybe. What about some of Grandma's cotton thread? Probably not. However, 50 or 80 years from now, I would not hesitate to use Superior's King Tut thread, which is the absolute highest grade cotton in both raw material and processing. The shelf life of today's best thread is much longer than in previous years.

Here is a way to test if old thread has deteriorated: Conduct three or four break tests. Hold a 4 to 6 inch length of thread in your hands and gradually pull apart, adding more tension to the thread until it breaks. If the thread tends to pull apart, it is weak and probably not suitable to use. If it breaks with a clean snap, it is still OK.

Another African Adventure

Here are some pictures of the last design I am going to put in my new "African Adventure" pattern. The picture is removable, so you can change it whenever you like. I have done a series of these "Pop-Out Picture" quilts. You can see more information about them on the "Pop Out Picture Quilts" page on my web site.

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Now you can make just 1 quilt and change the picture when you want a new look!

African Adventures

Recently I have been making small wall hangings using the embroideries that I purchased from South Africa. Here are some pictures of 2 of them.

Yesterday I put this picture in the Daily Photograph section of my Blog. The picture was taken from the bus window during a recent trip to South Africa. The child was standing on the highway in the Soweto area of Johannesburg.

Now I have made a wall hanging using the same design that I used for the embroideries. This project has taken on a life of its own!

I have decided to make these designs into a new pattern that will be available soon on my website. (Suggestions for a title for this new pattern will be gratefully received!) I will be adding one more design that uses a photograph that will fit in a little pocket on the front so it can be changed whenever you wish. This will be similar to the "Pop-Out Picture Quilts" that are on my web site now. Watch for more information coming soon.

New Product: Texture Magic

Texture Magic is a great new product that has just been introduced by Superior Threads. It is a steam-activated fabric that shrinks 30% in all directions with the use of a steam iron. Now you can create your own textured fabric! I had a chance to use this product last month while I was at the Superior School of Threadology in Utah. The possibilities are endless! Have a look at Mother Superior's Blog to learn more about this product.

I will be selling Texture Magic on my web site and at my upcoming shows. Be sure to watch my web site and Blog for more information. The product comes in a 47" X 18" size, complete with detailed instructions. Texture Magic can be used with or without batting on any type of fabric - cotton, velvet, silk etc.

From this...

...to this with Texture Magic

The Dancing Elephant: An African Folk Tale

I have just finished another little quilt using the African embroideries that tell the folk tales of the Venda people. This story is called "The Dancing Elephant". You can read this story here. This embroidery was done by Heleni who has 9 children. The embroideries are the main source of income for this family.

Each embroidery comes with a printed copy of the folk tale and a card telling a little bit about the embroiderer. I made a pocket on the back of the quilt to hold these items.

Quilter's World Magazine: April 2009

I have just received the April issue of Quilter's World magazine and was delighted to find my "Words of Wisdom" project on page 50! This is a 3-fold fabric booklet that can hold photographs in little picture pockets. The "words of wisdom" are printed on inkjet printable fabric (I used EQ printables) and then added to the project.

This version is called "As My Mother Used to Say..." and contains such well-remembered phrases as "You'll thank me for this one day"

This version uses photos of flowers and the sayings are all about gardens and flowers.