This week Joe and I took a drive close to where we live and we came across this field.
Take a deep breath. Can you smell the clean fresh air?
It was one of those things you have a hard time walking away from because it makes you feel good.
Joe had to put the macro lens on for this shot. As much as I like my little Sony Cypershot, which takes fantastic photos, it does not do well when you want to see this close.
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A while ago someone asked me if I would blog about using Pattern Ease and I got so wrapped up in other things that I forgot. I apologize to whoever asked me to do this. I am sorry it took so long. First, Pattern Ease is heat sensitive. In other words, do not press it with a hot iron. If you do, you are going to need to find some iron cleaner. I learned that lesson the hard way. ( I do sell Pattern Ease through my store on the site in case you are interested.)
I use Pattern Ease as a placement guild. I use this in 2 different ways. On block sized patterns that are about 14″ or smaller I find that I sometimes prefer to use Pattern Ease for the placement of my applique shapes instead of tracing the design on the background fabric. If the design is larger than 14″ I find I prefer tracing the design onto my background fabric. But even if I trace the pattern onto by background fabric I find some of the lines I drew might get covered. And then how do you know where to place the shapes? Take for example the block below, Magical Medallions-Block Three. This block is around 20″ square so my preference was to trace the design onto the white background fabric to determine the placement for each of my applique shapes.
But, since the light blue area you see in the center of the block is under some of the applique it covered the lines I drew on the background fabric for those pieces of applique. (The dark and medium blue pieces, yellow pieces, stems….you get the idea.)
To determine the placement for those pieces I trace that portion of my pattern directly onto the Pattern Ease. For tracing I prefer a pencil or blue washout marker. I have used a fine point Sharpie marker but found that the lines I drew bleed down through the Pattern Ease and onto the original pattern. If I need to use the pattern to make templates this could cause a problem.
To finish the process I position the Pattern Ease over the block. Position the Pattern Ease by lining up some of the lines with either pieces that are already sewn or the lines you drew on the background, or sometimes a combination of the two. You can then slide your applique piece under the Pattern Ease, used as a placement guide, to position the shape. Carefully remove the Pattern Ease and sew your applique piece in place.
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I just finished Dean Koontz’s book: What the Night Knows. I think Dean Koontz is a great story teller and he knows how to turn a phrase. I really like the way he writes. Sometimes the subject matter is what I would call different but it never stops me from reading or listening to his books. I also think when you listen to an audio book the reader is truly one of the most important aspects and Steven Weber does a really great job reading this book.
John Calvino is a homicide detective. At age 14 John Calvino killed Alton Turner Blackwood after Blackwood murdered four families including John’s family. Two decades later someone is murdering families again in the same manner as Blackwood. Detective Calvino thinks that his family (wife and three children) is in danger and……you’ll have to read it to find out more.
Joe and I went on a drive on Friday and while we were in the car we listened to Janet Evanovich’s newest book: Smokin’ Seventeen. If you are a Janet Evanovich fan you won’t be disappointed. In addition to really liking the Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, series , the reader is one of the best readers ever. Each of the books in this series made me laugh. I find myself laughing out loud at some of the things Grandma Mazor and Stephanie’s side-kick Lula say. Honestly, how does the writer come up with this stuff? In this book Stephanie is on the list of three different killers. She’s also in the middle of trying to decide between long time boyfriend, Trenton cop, Joe Morelli and another hottie, Ranger. By the description of the writer both Morelli and Ranger have hot, hot, hot bodies….smokin”. I can picture them clearly…… Ahhh……Back to reality…. Stephanie’s mother thinks it’s about time Stephanie settles down so she brings a 3rd guy into the picture. Lula thinks Stephanie should have a “bake-off” as she calls it and sleep with each of them and report back to Lula with all the details. If you just want a fun, relaxing read that will make you laugh out loud read “Smokin” Seventeen”.
Enjoy what is left of your summer. Talk to you next week.