DONNA POSTER NEWSLETTER
FEB. ‘06
It’s February, and I’m sitting here writing to you with my usual assortment of February “blahs.” The bad news is I’m fighting my winter sinus problems. The good news is I just bought a daffodil. (my Doctor once told me there wasn’t much wrong with most of his patients this time of year that a daffodil wouldn’t cure!)
There’s also a lot of good news! I just bought a new sewing machine! For years now, I’ve been using top-of-the-line sewing machines that do everything but make breakfast for you! I’m just not a machine person and all that extra stuff is annoying and confusing to me. I only use machines because I need them to do what I want to do. So--I went out last week and bought a really good, computerized machine that does a nice assortment of lovely stitches, has a built-in dual feed, choice of needle-up or needle-down, sews beautifully---and that’s all!! I love it!!! We have “bonded” already!!!
GRAN’MA NEWS: Eliad is showing more and more signs of sheer brilliance!! (Aw, c’mon, I’m his gran’ma!) He now does: so big, high five, and gimme-some-skin,---all courtesy of his gran’pa) He only says two words, but understands everything----especially, “No.” His mom has a booth at the Philadelphia Gift Show next week and I’m going along to care for him during the day. All the booth owners have been following this adoption for over a year now and they all want to see this little guy!
FUNNY STORY: One of my friends told me about a sewing teacher she had, years ago, who wore “falsies.” (For you young’uns out there, falsies were a cotton-padded form to insert in your bra to create whatever size you’d like to be!) It was no secret they were falsies because----she used them as a pincushion!!! This lady said it was so unnerving to watch that they could barely concentrate on what she was teaching.
ANTIQUE SEWING TOOLS: One of my favorite antiques is a salesman’s sample case that includes a labeled sample of every step in the making of a needle---starting with a length of wire! There are eighteen steps!!! It’s given me a whole new appreciation of a simple needle.
NON USA/CANADIAN ORDERS: I noticed recently that a number of quilters outside the USA have signed up for this newsletter, so thought I would repeat the ordering procedure for non USA/Canadian orders.
For non USA/Canada orders please first go to the link--template plastic-- on the Home Page of ----donnaposter.com----Here you will find instructions for ordering. We also use a Global Express envelope through the post office. The cost is $9.00. Actually, we can get a number of patterns in the same envelope so if you have some quilting buddies or want to order other patterns the shipping cost is the same as for one pattern. Be sure to first use the link--“template plastic.”
HINTS: Have you tried those new “dye-catcher” products sold in the laundry section of the supermarket? They are disposable cloths about the size of a dryer sheet and are meant to absorb any excess dye in the water. I’ve had great success with using them on quilts and fabrics that have colors that might “run.” As another precaution, I test my fabrics before I wash them to see if they’re going to cause a problem. My favorite test is to wet a corner of the fabric and squeeze it between two white paper towels. If the towels remain white, I feel pretty good about the colorfastness of that fabric. If I see some color on the towels, I’ll hand-rinse it over and over until it doesn’t bleed anymore. And, yes, I still use one of those dye-catchers in the wash water! While we’re on the subject, can anyone shed some light on the effect of water variations? My experience had always been that bleeding was simply a way of life in the quilting process. Then we moved to a country home with a septic tank and I never had a problem with bleeding the entire time we were there.
STORAGE HINT: Most of us have far more supplies, fabrics, tools etc., than we have storage room. My sister is an avid crafter and came up with a wonderful idea. She bought a rack and hung it from the ceiling. She then used large “S” hooks to hang baskets from the rack. These baskets were handy and held her various supplies while adding a really nice touch to the room.
BORDERS: I love beautiful borders but I really detest making them come out even all the way around the project. Over the years I’ve seen some gorgeous quilts that took care of this problem. Just applique or piece those border designs in the corners and let the center protion of the border be background fabric! Or--let the center portion be an elongated version of the design (such as a trailing vine). Or--start the design in two opposite corners and take them almost to the other corner, then trail them off. I call them “cheater” borders because there’s no math involved and you can have a lot of fun with them.
A TIP FROM BARBARA: Barbara (ultimo@aol.com <mailto:(ultimo@aol.com>) emailed a suggestion regarding templates and cutting. Here is her email: “Hi. Loved your newsletter. Been teaching quilting for over 20 years. I have a hint for you. When doing blocks on point, I have my ladies go to their neighborhood window repair shop, ask them to cut a pattern from any scraps, or flawed plastic. Cut 2 squares of the needed size, we use 12 or 15 inch blocks. One square is kept whole, the other one is cut diagonally into 2 pieces. Keep one large triangle whole, and cut the second in half. The big ones go along the sides to make the on-point blocks square, and the small ones go to the corners. It works really easy . Good luck to you and your site.” Note from Donna--Be sure to add ¼ inch seam allowance on all sides of the template before cutting.
WHY MAKE A WALL HANGING?: There are many reasons but this one, reported on the website--World Wide Quilting Page-- from--smanering@yahoo.com--caught <mailto:from--smanering@yahoo.com--caught> my eye. “Recently my son pushed his knee thru the wall in his bedroom, leaving a large gaping hole in the drywall. I covered it with a wall hanging I had made. It was quick, and also keeps some drafts out, as well as the plaster dust. I think this would work well for other things, such as crayon marks, etc. I sent the son to college.”
LETTER FROM PYLLIS: When are you coming to or near Kansas? I live in Wichita, Ks and would like to take one of your classes, but what I see posted is too far to travel.
Phyllis,
I would love to come to Kansas. Unfortunately, I have recently decided it’s time to stop running all over the country, teaching! I’m really going to miss it, but I need more time with my family and in my studio. I will go to the national shows and guilds I have already committed, but from then on, I’ll teach locally and at major shows such as Houston and Nashville. I do wish there was a viable way to teach via the internet--I would love to do that.
Sorry to have missed you.
MY NEWEST FAVORITE TOOL: Oh dear--it won’t be long before I’m going to bring little Eliad into my sewing room. This will be a whole new way of life for me because I’m very sloppy with my pins and needles! (Have you ever noticed that a sewer can walk around, barefoot, all day long and never even realize she’s walking on pins and needles? But let any male so much as stick his head in the door and he’s got a needle in his foot and bleeding profusely!!)
I can see that my favorite tool will be that long, thin collapsible rod with a strong magnet on the end. It’s really great because it will get underneath places that little fingers (and husbands) could get to but you might never see.
Time to say goodby for this month. Thank you for joining me today--I feel better already just chatting with you! I think I’ll go cut out a quilt! Remember to look up my schedule on my home page under “Teaching Schedule” and maybe we can get together sometime. Meanwhile, have a great month with lots of fun stitching!
Your quilting buddy,
Donna