My Tips n Techniques

Thursday, October 26, 2017

The Kittens Quilt.....Piecing the Blocks


This is what the Thread Shed looks like today:



Just out the window is the red barn,

that is where the bottle calves live...





Number 25 the orphan calf on the right

The dairy calf is on the left

I have been bottle feeding these guys for 
5 months now.

I watch them while I sew, 
they are good company.




I am piecing The Kittens Quilt

Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman


I rarely work from a pattern these days...

so I am a bit rusty following directions....eeek!











This is the color story I am working from...

Bright and Cheerful











Kitten cut out and ready to piece...





Kitten block pieced





With so many tiny pieces,

I set up an ironing station close by...





Vintage Travel Iron

General Electric Sew and Press






























It is just like riding a bike...

the precision cutting and piecing skills 

are coming back to me.

20 Kitten Blocks Done.

10 more to go.


More To Come!



CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Wonder Clip Bowls...


These one way zip bags have been 

calling to me...


The zipper allows the bag to remain wide

open so you can easily grab your wonder clips!


Joan Hawley does an excellent job of

walking you through the zipper process...





They are perfect for storing Wonder Clips!

The one of the left looks like a pea pod.

The one on the right is 

square and flatter (my favorite).

They easily store away with your sewing supplies.


I have a pile of them made for gift giving

to my quilting sisters......FUN!




A walk through the yard today:


The Red Maple Tree in the front yard

is truly glorious in the autumn...


Click images to enlarge!




I press these leaves each year and use them for 

jello printing, stamping, sun printing, etc.











The hydrangea are also putting on a show:


They turn a dusty purple color in the fall...






The leaves are really showing off!












Autumn hydrangea love!





These beauties won't be around for much longer,

so I try to get out and enjoy them every day!




As Always, you are welcome to use my

photography in your personal art work...



CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Autumn in Western Oregon



Autumn has arrived here in

Western Oregon


Here is a bit of color from the back yard...


CLICK to Enlarge


Bees are Buzzing...





Dinner Plate Dahlia





Dinner Plate Dahlia





Dinner Plate Dahlia



Color from the Grape Arbor:

























































Chinese Lanterns...









As Always, you are welcome to use my

photography in your personal art work...



CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi


Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Silk Scarf Stenciling...


The Permission 2 Play members

are stenciling silk scarves




Silk Scarf class sample 
created by Nancy Bryant



Grab a seat.....class is in session:


Nancy Bryant is leading a class in

Stenciling on Silk Scarves





Jacquard Lumiere Metallic Textile Paints

Sea Sponges

Nature Stencils

Black Silk Scarves




After a demo...


the students jump right in and 
create their scarves






Metallic Paints on Black Silk...

what's not to LOVE!










Here comes the.....Show 'n Tell:













































































We do love to play with paints...


FUN was had by ALL!


Stenciling on Scarves
SUPPLIES:
  • Black silk scarf blank (purchase at www.dharmatrading.com)
  • Painter’s blue tape
  • Paper towels and wet wipes
  • Leaf Stencils
  • Natural sponges
  • Paint palette (plastic disposable plates or lids from cottage cheese containers are fine)
  • Textile paints such as Jacquard Lumiere metallics
  • Popsicle sticks or small plastic spoons to scoop out paint from jars
  • 1/8th inch thick foam pad or newspapers at least 1/8th inch thick for a padded surface
  • A piece of fabric to cover the foam pad to absorb excess paint
  • Disposable foil baking pans or plastic trays with water to soak stencils
  • Mr. Clean Ultimate Orange or similar product to clean stencils and sponges
  • Old toothbrushes or nail brush to clean stencils
  • Parchment paper to protect fabric while ironing to heat set paints
  • Plastic to protect table surface
  • Disposable gloves if you like to use them, wear “paint clothes” (in case you get paint on them)
    Words of Wisdom:
    Most novices begin with too much paint on their sponge. With a slightly damp sponge, load just a little bit of paint, then dab some of it off onto the paint palette.
    It’s easy to accidently get paint where you don’t want it – from paint on your finger, from wet stencil (including the stencil’s back side), from painting over the edge of the stencil or the neighboring cut out, and from touching wet paint.
    Always cover a wet painted area with a paper towel if you need to put a stencil down that will touch wet paint.
    Place fabric to be stenciled onto print pad and secure fabric with a few pieces of tape. Position stencil on fabric. Secure stencil in place with small pieces of painter’s tape. Cover with tape or paper any section of the stencil near the edge to avoid accidently painting beyond the edge of the stencil. Scoop out a small amount of paint onto the paint palette and cover the jar of textile paint. Dab the damp sponge with a little paint. Remove excess paint by dabbing the sponge in a clean section of the palette. It is better to have too little versus too much paint on the sponge. You can always go over an area if it needs more paint, but if there is too much paint on the fabric, well... Use an up and down tapping motion to apply the paint. You can thin the paint with a little water if the paint is thicker than you’d like. Lumiere textile paint can be rather thick in consistency.
    When you move the stencil to a new section of fabric and the stencil will touch an area of wet paint, cover the wet paint area with a paper towel being very careful not to shift the paper towel when you place the stencil on the fabric (it’s easy to smear the images of the freshly stenciled area
    As soon as you are finished with the stencil, place it to soak in a tray of water. If you want to use the stencil again, pat the stencil dry with a towel. If clogged, clean the stencil (see below) then pat the stencil dry with a towel. Clean the sponge as soon as you are finished with it as well.
    You may want to use both the front and flip sides of a stencil to create a mirrored image. Be sure both sides of the stencil are clean and dry before laying the flip side on the fabric.
When you change to another textile paint color, use a clean sponge to avoid altering the paint color. To shade a shape, apply one color along one edge with a clean sponge. Apply another color along the opposite edge using a clean sponge. Then you can blend the two colors toward the center of the shape.
It is best to keep each color of textile paint with its own paint palette and sponge. Students can trade these palette and sponge sets with other students as you work.
CLEAN UP:
Clean stencils and sponges with cool water in a shallow tray using a Magic Eraser. Be very careful when you clean the stencils as many of them have delicate parts. Mr. Clean Ultimate Orange (or similar orange-based cleaning product) added to the cool water in the tray works well to remove the paint. After thorough rinsing, pat the stencil dry with a paper towel or let air dry. Clean the sponges at the sink with running water.

TIPS:
Wait at least 24 hours for paint to cure, then heat set the paint with an iron set to medium setting for silk scarves. Use a sheet of parchment paper over the silk scarf while you press. Painted fabric can be washed or dry cleaned as needed.


Courtesy of Nancy Bryant


 Join us for our next class:

Permission 2 Play Class
Thursday, October 26 2017 @ 1:00
JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop
1243 Main Street
Philomath, OR 97370
541-929-3795

Fabric Boxes




Permission 2 Play is a FREE class offering for cancer diagnosed patients.
No experience is necessary to participate.
All supplies are provided for the students.
Classes are held the 4th Thursday of each month at JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop, Philomath, OR

If you are interested in joining this class contact:
LuAnn Kessi   kessi@pioneer.net

Our Best To You,
Instructors: Nancy Bryant, Kathi Borrego, 
Debbie van der Sommen, LuAnn Kessi

 Many Thanks for the support of:
JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop, OSU Folk Thrift Club of Corvallis, OR, Mary's River Quilt Guild, Donations made by private individuals, Good Samaritan Hospital, Samaritan Regional Cancer Center, Corvallis Clinic Oncology, Project H.E.R.
You make this class possible!