Bernina.....Home from the Repair Shop

The Bernina is Back in Action !

Click Images To Enlarge:

I went into town yesterday and brought Bernie home from the repair shop.

I highly Recommend Rich's Sew & Vac.

I learn something from the technicians every time I go in there.

Your machine is only as good as you are.

This is what I learned:

I use adhesive spray to baste my quilt sandwiches together.

In the last 18 months I have had more than 40 quilts under the needle.

That is a lot of adhesive being pushed down into the bobbin housing.

I also neglected to bring Bernie in for her yearly physical.

So....you could say I brought all this on myself.

No......I don't plan on giving up adhesive sprays.......ever.

Here is the advice the technician shared with me:

Titanium Needles

The adhesive does not stick to them as readily as regular needles.

Therefore, the bobbin housing will remain cleaner.

Every 20 - 40 hours of Machine Quilting...

Take apart the bobbin housing, clean out all the debris and any adhesive, place a drop of oil, then put it back together.

Here is the best part:

Regular Needles cost $1 each

Titanium Needles cost $2 each

Titanium Needles last 5 - 8 times longer.

They are also stronger, and perform better during high speed free motion quilting.

Which means, they create a nicer stitch on the surface of your quilt.

Now that I have Bernie back in my clutches, I am going to set her up in the Thread Shed and let her stretch her legs today...

The Pink Coneflower images are from my trip to Yakima this month.

Please enjoy using them in your personal art work.

I am always happy to share beauty...

CLICK HERE to read the first part of this post

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view the Cattle

CLICK HERE to view Woven Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Sun Dyeing

May Your Bobbin Never Be Full of Adhesive,

LuAnn

Flour Paste Resist.....Part 3

Flour Paste Resist.....Results:

Click Image to Enlarge:

Fabric 1

Sun Dyed Fabric

The uncooked flour paste creates fine cracks

When applying the paint, be sure to check on the back of the fabric to make sure your paint is getting down into the cracks.

Salt was used when this fabric was painted and sun dyed.

The texture from the salt looks great with the cracked lines of paint on top.

Fabric 2

Rust Dyed Fabric

I painted with dark and light paints over the flour paste

All paint colors show up equally well

Yes, I am pleased with the results.

Yes, I plan to try this technique again.

We delivered Hay to a neighbor today...

After a taste test...

The horses gave the okay to unload it into the barn

Great Fabrics and Beautiful Weather....

It was a perfect day~

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to see Flour Paste Resist Part 1

CLICK HERE to see Flour Paste Resist Part 2

CLICK HERE to view Classes

CLICK HERE to view The Thread Shed

CLICK HERE to view Mixed Media

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Flour Paste Resist......Part 2

10 days ago I covered this fabric with flour paste

Click Images to Enlarge:

Today I am covering the dried flour paste with paint

Jacquard Textile Paint

To create all of the cracks in the dried flour I scrunched it, rolled it and even pulled it over the edge of the table until I achieved the effect I thought it needed.

It was great fun listening to the flour cracking and popping!

I covered the table with plastic, then placed wire baking racks down for the fabric to lay on.

I am hoping the racks will help the air flow under the fabric to help it dry quicker.

I applied some paint to the dried flour side of the fabric...

I wonder if it is going through to the back?

Checking the back side to see if the paint is seeping through the cracks in the flour.

Looks good to me...

Remember, this is my first attempt at this surface design technique, so at this point everything is an experiment.

All of the paint has been applied...

It's not overly impressive at this stage.

I flipped it over to see the back side of the fabric:

Fine, detailed cracks on the back side of the fabric.

This is fun......time for more:

Flour Paste Fabric 2

Rust Dye Fabric

I chose earth tone paints for the rusted fabric.

All of the paint has been applied to the flour side.

Then I turned it over to the back side to see what was happening:

I am thrilled with the results !

I have heard it said that there is nothing more boring

than watching paint dry...

I disagree !

This looks so cool.

The paint will dry for 3 days.......

This will help set the paint so it doesn't all wash out with the flour paste later.

Normally I heat set the textile paint, but I am unable to do that until after the flour paste has been washed out.

So for now a 3 day passive set is all I can do.

See you in a few days when this is washed and dried.

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to see Part 1 of this post

CLICK HERE to see Part 3 of this post

CLICK HERE to view my Tutorials

CLICK HERE to view Slideshows

CLICK HERE to view Tips & Techniques

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Horse Quilts in Yakima Washington...

I just returned from a trip to Yakima Washington to spend time with my sister.

We decided we would both like to get our Horse Quilts started...

Here is a slideshow of all of the fun we had:

A special thanks to Toni Whitney for creating this incredibly easy pattern. It was a joy to follow and made every step fun!

After we completed the horse heads, we went to my sister's local quilt shop and chose background and border fabrics......we are ready to complete the rest of the quilt soon.

CLICK HERE to see the Quilting

CLICK HERE to see the completed Quilt

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view My Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view My Traditional Quilts

CLICK HERE to view more Slideshows

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Flour Paste Resist...Part 1

With the Bernina in the repair shop...

I have time to try out a surface design technique

that is new to me

Flour Paste Resist

Click Images to Enlarge:

Off The Shelf Fabric Painting

By: Sue Beevers

I have been reading this book all summer.

It has me so inspired to try nearly every technique it it!

Sue is so thorough in her instruction and class supply list.

There is an excellent chapter on Starch Resist...

Today I am trying the Flour Paste Resist Technique:

Flour Paste

Mix 1 part flour to 1 part water

It will be like pancake batter

Cover your work surface with plastic

My big cake frosting spatula worked nicely to spread the flour batter across the surface of this sun dyed fabric.

Just a thin layer is necessary...

Don't glob it on like you are setting stones in a wall with mortar.

The Flour Paste will sit for a couple of days until it is dry...

The waiting is the hard part...

Then I will squish up the fabric and cause the dry flour to crack.

Then it is time to apply the textile paint or dye over the top...

I will share images as I proceed with this experiment.

CLICK HERE to view Part 2

CLICK HERE to view Part 3

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my other Experiments

CLICK HERE to view Home

CLICK HERE to view The Thread Shed

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn