Shopping list

This could be a shopping list or a search in find in your home:

Snow:
Be careful what you wish for.  We currently have 9 1/2 inches of snow.
More to come this week end.


Shopping list:

1. Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes colors of your choice

1. Think about jewel tones, brights, earthy or opposite colors
2. Do you have a project in mind that you are going to use the fabrics for?
3. Just experiment and have fun!

1. Soda Ash Fixer
1. Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals), Na₂CO₃, is a sodium salt of carbonic acid (soluble in water).
2. Where to purchase? 
1. http://www.lesliespool.com/Home/Pool-Chemicals/Pool-Adjusters/14738.html
2. Local craft store
3. online at fabric dye companies
2.   Professional Textile Detergent
1. Dharma Professional Textile Detergent Highly recommended! As a prewash - As an afterwash - A non-toxic alternative to Synthrapol
2. http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/dharma-professional-textile-detergent.html?lnav=chemicals.html
3. Dust Mask-protect your self 
4. Office clips - the large black metal clips or small spring clips
5. Plastic cups
6. Sponges and cleanup towels.  We will be using garage towels not our bath towels
7. Wear old clothes and shoes not your favorite
8. Synthrapol - this is a detergent to clean all of the fabrics and t-shirts that are not "prepared for dyeing" 
9. Condiment bottles to squirt dyes in snow - may be found at the Dollar Store
10. Large Funnel
11. Large bucket 5 gallon works best
12. Protective rubber gloves
13. A dish tub, buckets, solid plastic tubs
1. Dollar Stores are a great by for the clear shoe tubs
2. We used the plastic storage tubs that are solid that were replaced with clear when organizing our home
14. Grid for drainage
1. Cookie cooling racks (or something similar)
2. Goodwill or Salvation Army is a good place to look for these
3. old window screens needs to be fiberglass not metal
4. pet screening
15.   Snow, Ice: cubed or crushed (we used about 10 lbs)
16. Items to dye: Kona Cotton 45” (prewash),  PFD fabric ready to go
1. http://www.dharmatrading.com/techniques/pfd-and-rfd.html
2. http://www.quiltingdaily.com/glossary/pfd-fabric.aspx
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_dyeing_terms
17.   Random textures
1. old keys
2. rubber bands
3. clothespins- wooded
4. onion bag, potato bag, or orange bag
5. pennies
6. wooded blocks
7. sponges in different shapes

All items used with dyeing should not be used for food.  Keep these items together marked for dyeing. 

Can't wait for Saturday to get here.  We have plenty of snow and the supplies to dye with. 

Denise

Silhouette has a new upgrade for the Cameo Cutter

Don't miss the new features for your Cameo.  Here's what Silhouette has new for you when downloading the update and connect to your Cameo.

Silhouette Connect™ allows you to design a project in either Adobe Illustrator® or CorelDRAW® and send it to your Silhouette. You're able to add registration marks for print & cut projects and adjust the cut settings for different material types. You're also able to cut by individual layer or line color, so you can easily alternate between different blade/pen settings.

Just click the link below and download the latest version of software. 

http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/silhouette-connect

I just finished making a wallpaper border for my sewing room.  A little paint and border brings a fresh look to my studio.

Happy Cutting,
Denise

Snow is on it's way

Happy New Year!

Beginning this new year with all of the snow that is on my way its time to snow dye.  My friend Phyllis and I are going to snow dye on Saturday.  We are getting our supplies together.    Watch for the supply list on Friday.  Maybe you can join us where you live is an snow dye day.  On Saturday we will post  pictures and maybe even some videos of the fun in the snow.  

Below are a few inspirational links to help you get started. 
Fabric:

http://www.dharmatrading.com/home/learn-how-to-ice-dye.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd7sM-e9ItM

http://www.bloombakecreate.com/2011/02/snow-dyeing-technique-1/

http://www.dippydyes.com/SnowDyeArticle.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/how_10031739_make-snow-dye-home.html

http://www.prochemical.com/directions/MX%20PDF/Snow%20Dyeing.pdf

http://blog.lisacall.com/2013/04/snow-dyeing-fabric/

T-Shirts:

http://luannkessi.blogspot.com/2012/01/snow-dyeingpart-1.htmlhttp://fiberstudio.blogspot.com/2011/02/snow-dyeing.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk5hNk0onQY

http://pcoxdesign.blogspot.com/2010/12/snow-dyeing-part-1.html

2013

2013 has been a year filled with friends, family and new inspirations to create. My hope is that 2014 will be fill with the same and more.  May you have the best New Year and keep creating.

Happy Sewing,
Denise

Updating your Art & Stitch software

 A few emails have been coming in about how to update the Art & Stitch software.  So your tip this week is about how to update.  You can view your software information under the help menu and about. Below is a screen capture of what your pop up window should look like.




Here is a link to the trial download page on the Art & Stitch site. 
http://www.artnstitch.com/trial.htm
Build number of Art and Stitch version 2 is 2572.
Existing owners of Art and Stitch: use the trial to update your base version of Art and Stitch: just install this trial over the currently installed activated version and it will automatically find your activation.

Have fun with your Art & Stitch Software,
Denise

True Type Fonts

In my sewing and quilting world it seems like I am always using a computer.  Its a good thing that I like my computer.  We have a very special relationship and understanding.  Because of this I'm always trying new things.  True Type Fonts are one of my favorite things to try with my computer and sewing world.

So now that you are wondering how can a true type font be used in our sewing studios, let me show you a few ideas of how to use truetype fonts.

Fabric cut using truetype fonts

Embroidery or quilting designs can be easily digitized with truetype fonts.

Quilt labels take on a new look with a font that tells a story.
Applique text with so many choices you won't have an easy job of selecting which one to use
During a class that I was teaching the students were making a "Welcome to our Home" wallhanging and we created this using truetype fonts.  The 1st font on the list is a very elegant font that works perfect for you to cut with the Cameo by Silhouette.

Vinyl cut letters from a truetype font

Special saying in my sewing studio with vinyl letters

Inspirational words on my ironing station

ILS Script http://www.freepremiumfonts.com/top/top50.aspx

Calligraphy http://www.1001freefonts.com/ - I really like the calligraphy fonts
Elegant http://www.downloadfreefonts.com/ - The Chopin Script is very beautiful
Just plain fun http://www.fonts2u.com/category.html?id=37 - The art font is one that I can not live without.
Hibiscus flowers http://www.pickafont.com/fonts/Hawaiian%20Quilt3.html Quilt 1, 2 & 3
Snowflakes http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=804 Be sure to download the snowflake font
Butterfly Truetype Font: http://www.typadelic.com/butterflies.html

Artist Script http://fontzone.net/font-theme/script/?pg=2
Cartoon Animals http://www.fontriver.com/font/lm_animal_toons/ 
Ice and Snow http://www.fontpalace.com/font-category/Ice-Snow+Fonts Flowers http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/fonts/family/Kalocsai-Flowers/

Happy cut, sew and quilting, 
Denise

Happy Thanksgiving!

Its fun to be creative on Thanksgiving too!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, 

Denise