Steam-A-Seam Lite? Love It Or Hate It? *Edited*

I went to my LQS to get some fusible webbing for the "My Tweets" quilt I started several years ago and came home with Steam-A-Seam Lite.  I rolled it out expecting paper to draw on and got wax paper instead.  Huh?  You can't draw on wax paper.  On the other side where the fusible webbing is, there are paper instructions.  You have to pull off this paper and draw on the fusible.  I should have taken it back right then but my son took off with the car.

Pulling off the paper side lifts your fusible webbing. You cannot use a pencil with this fusible.  You cannot use a regular pen with this fusible.  I had to use a  Sharpie pen.  What do you do if you are using white or light colored fabric?  Since you are going over webbing, my accuracy was off and if I drew into the space, I had to start over.  Trying to do small pieces would be a nightmare.

Once you've traced the pattern onto the fusible, you turn it over and put it on the fabric and press it.  I get the wax paper usage now.  However; I now have marker lines on my fabric when I cut off the paper.  It's a good thing I'm satin stitching or I'd be really upset.

The upside to this fusible webbing is that it works.  I pressed the pieces down onto my block and didn't have issues.  It is light and pliable and it made satin stitching so much easier.

Would I buy it again?  Probably not.  I don't want to trace using a marker and if it bleeds into the fabric,  it's ruined.

Anyone else used this product?  Any tips that would make me use it again?  I have 3 yards left and I have no desire to trace several hundred leaves with a marker and then hope it doesn't mess with light green fabric.

*Duh*.  Call the company and ask about how to use the product.  The lady was really sweet and explained that I had an older version that didn't sell well because of the tracing problem and they had come out with a new version.

I'll keep it for now since I hate tossing stuff and might find a use for it later.

Fabric Test Cut And Draw With The Cricut Explore

After going through my stash and working one project I wondered what a favorite BOM quilt designer has been up too.  She's started another BOM called "Be Happy" and I downloaded the first two blocks.    I wondered how easy it would be to draw on fusible webbing and how well the Explore cuts fabric.

I tried to import the image into Design Studio but couldn't get the picture to trace well.  It kept seeing the white behind the block and I finally gave up.  I have the Mac version of MTC and imported the screenshot.   I cleaned up the picture and used the layers setting to separate the pieces.  The problem with importing raster images is that the software sees 2 lines (the edges) instead of one single line.  I think MTC does have a setting to do single lines but I'm not sure where it is.

I made the drawn circles real circles and put the block back together.  I sent it over to Design Studio and it showed up almost true to size and in one piece.  I changed everything to the draw setting and drew out the pieces on fusible webbing.  Cool!  

I realized I hadn't tried cutting fabric and using 505 basting spray on the fabric, I placed the fabric on the mat and taped down the piece.  I used the fabric setting and it cut!  Now for machine appliqué, I don't think the fabric is stable enough to satin stitch.  You would need a fusible webbing for the back.

I don't know if the Explore fits a pencil as I'd hate for the pen to bleed through to the fabric when using an iron.  What I'd have to do is separate the pieces and add a shadow layer for the cut line.  How easy it would be to import into Design Studio, I don't know.

By the time I'd done the editing, imported it to Design Studio and started drawing/cutting I could have had most of the pieces traced onto paper and pressed onto the fabric.  I don't think doing it this way would save time.  However; if you needed a ton of little tiny flowers or leaves this would work.  I can even see putting different fabrics on the mat to get an entire flower done at one time.  

I haven't tried to cut with fusible webbing on the back of the fabric.   It's after midnight and I'm tired.

"Fiesta de Talavera" Now I Remember Why I Never Started

While cleaning out my quilt closet I found this pattern that I loved when I saw it.  I even bought some fabric for it but when I checked the instructions I realized I'd never come close to finishing.  Block one alone has 101 separate pieces to appliqué.  That's a LOT of work just to trace, fuse and sew down.  Maybe I should sell the pattern to someone more advanced and determined than I'll ever be.  Any takers?    

Another PIG/UFO Quilt

This one I'm not sure how to finish as well.  I don't even know how to press it without making a mess.  Each block is 1.5 inch square.  I wanted to make it larger using borders and then appliqué some small flowers in the border.

I'm not sure where I got the pattern from but she just added purple binding and hand quilted through the white blocks.  Maybe I should just go that route.  I just thought some tiny purple pansies and leaves would really set it off.  

 
I think I have an answer for the blue quilt for borders.  Just find a blue that works instead of a white border and go from there.  I just need to go looking for it.  I'm not skilled enough to use my machine and keep the design straight.

Embroidery Stitches On A Border?

I decided to go through my PIG and UFO projects and pulled out my embroidered quilt.  The plan was use my machine and embroider down white borders in a matching design.  It never happened and I ripped out the borders several years ago.  I love the quilt and was trying to figure out what to do with it when I remembered my Ruby has "Omnimotion" stitches and checked out my options.

I started to work on two different stitches and ran out of bobbin thread on the second.

Couple of stitches I was looking at:

Only concerns are keeping the design straight and starting/stopping when I run out of bobbin thread.  Not sure what I should do about borders.  Maybe just stuff it back into the closet for now.

Wobbly Wheels

I did a 7.7 mile ride the other day and noticed my front tire was wobbling back and forth.  Not a good thing when you are going 26 mph down a hill.  I love going fast down hills but my handling skills are the worst and I figure crashing at 26 mph would NOT be cool.  I don't need another 7 week concussion and then add road rash on top of it.  I got her home and she needs her tension spokes adjusted.  I don't have the tool to do it and she'll get taken in next week.

I wasn't sick this ride and my energy wasn't drained even as the day went by.  The thyroid medication has been amazing and this is the best I've felt in years.  I still ended up with a splitting headache in the middle of the night, but it was a great ride.  The day was gorgeous, wind was perfect and the ride smooth.  I'm really hoping I can do the Heatstroke 100 in August.  I won't make 100 miles but I'm shooting for the 30 mile trip.

Still wishing for a mountain bike but it's not going to happen.   The one thing I've learned is not to ride a bike you can't afford.  Bikes are overpriced anyway, but a 2000 dollar bike is so much better than an 800 dollar one.  I can't afford an 800 dollar one so I can't worry about that either.  I'd love a Specialized Rockhopper, Crave or the women's Jett.  Maybe once the kids are out of school I can start saving.  I need to stay off of CL as well.  

Graphic 45 "Home Sweet Home" Recipe Book

I finally finished this today!  I love this paper even though it's not "me".  It's bright, cheery and reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen.  I can smell the bread baking and my grandmother singing from this paper.

My grandmother could do anything.  She sang, played piano and organ, danced and made the best out of every situation.  She worked hard all her life but knew how to laugh and have fun.  She let me help make bread, can the vegetables, snap peas out on the porch, and help take care of my grandpa by bringing him sandwiches when he came in from the farm.  I helped her with the laundry outside like the lady on the front cover.  I was scared of the cows especially after my sister was bitten by one.  My grandfather was up early to milk the cows and gone all day so helping with lunch was a treat.  He was a mechanic and farmer and I love the smell of grease even to this day.

I don't know how she kept her house immaculately clean with everyone going in and out all day and always looked like she was ready to go some place nice.  Maybe because she didn't have all the distractions of today's life style.  She wasn't perfect.  She yelled at my brother for breaking her organ bench and the ugly lamp he broke with it and she was hopping mad. My grandpa said he was glad he did as he detested that lamp and wished he could have broken it first.  It was pretty ugly, but she loved it.

The book was done with Ginger's tutorial over at "My Sisters Scrapper" YouTube channel on her Christmas album.  The recipe cards are my own design off of Silhouette Design Studio software.  I searched for vintage looking cards but nothing came up that I loved.   Graphic 45 does have Ephemera cards with recipes in a package when I asked if they had recipe cards.

I used two paper pads do make this album and have some left over.

The cover:

Page 1:

   I put my mom's "No Bake Cookie" recipe in so I wouldn't lose it.  I accidentally tossed it and couldn't find the same one on the internet.  Most of them had peanut butter included and this doesn't.  When I asked where she got it, she said she'd had the recipe since high school.  It belongs in this book for sure then.

Page 2:

I added recipe cards in the first pocket and then on the large page.  I haven't figured out how to keep the card in and if I glued it down, you couldn't take it out.  I'll figure this one out.  Had I thought about it, I would have done the same thing with the front and back page.


Page 3:

Page 4:

Page 5:

Back of book:

Bike Bling

Wow.  I can't believe how much better I am feeling after taking thyroid medication!  Tomorrow is supposed to be perfect for cycling and I can't wait.  First thing tomorrow is getting her cleaned up and ready for outside riding and then do 5 miles.  I'll see how my energy goes since it fluctuates. 

I updated my Ridley with purple handlebar tape from Bontrager.  Talk about amazing.  Ridley put on crap tape and I should have done this months ago.  LOVE the purple.  I'll spend some time adjusting the stem tomorrow as well.

Sigh.  Specialized, your pedals totally rock coming from crappy ones but purple would set my heart on fire.  Turns out after a Google search a couple of companies make purple pedals but they were 120 dollars.  Not happening this year.

Bike set up.  Not even close to matching, but I ride rurally so who's gonna look?

Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" Journal

I bought Graphic 45's "Steampunk Spells" paper last week and knew my sister would LOVE it.  She wanted a journal instead of an album and I've been working on it.

Journal measures 6.5x9.75.  It started out with a Composition book that I took apart and realized after I punched holes with my Cinch that it wasn't going to work.  I used the 8x8 pad for the cover.  I cut out the lady, put the rose border around and used two cards and the stamps to cover the corners where the borders didn't meet.

I made two insert pages using some ideas from Anne (xannero1) on her YouTube channel.  The flap opens up.

Since she wanted a journal, I've been fussy cutting pieces of the paper and using a flourish stamp.  I have a LONG way to go with filling up paper. 

And for last:  I made this ATC card using an idea from Pinterest.  I don't have Graphic 45 tags so I just kept it simple.