Angelina fibers...

are a lot of fun and I thought that I'd share with you some of their possibilities. A few of you have mentioned problems you have had with them. I'll just show you what I have found works for me.

I buy the Angelina in these little zip-lock bags for about $4. They don't look very big, but they really go a long way. I have seen the multi-packs of all different colors and think that would be fun, too. This color is called white/blaze. The first name seems to refer to the general color and the second name, the irridescent quality. There's a white/violet, white/blue. You get the idea. The Angelina is... well, a fiber. Fluffy stuff that sparkles. The fibers are bonded together using an iron. As far as I know, Angelina only sticks to itself- I think this is a pretty common misunderstanding about it. You can't just iron it onto fabric. And oh, it will stick to your iron. Use a low setting: silk/3 on my iron. When I overheat the fibers... well, it isn't hideous, but it loses the fire that I like in it and turns kinda purply.

I work with it this way: First, I spread a sheet of parchment paper out on the ironing board. Teflon ironing sheets work nice, too, but I like the inexpensive paper. I fluff out some Angelina fibers onto the paper. I like a thinner layer, best. It remains somewhat transparent that way. Layering different colors is very pretty, too. At this point, I could simply layer another piece of parchment over it and hit it with the iron or... I like to snuggle little bits of metallic thread in it or even little nubbins of fabric. (I meticulously save every bit of metallic thread clippings- and those of you that know me, know "meticulous" isn't something I often do. But that metallic thread costs a bundle and I want to get my money's worth!) I just sprinkle the thread or nubbins over the fiber, top with some more fiber and then the paper and iron it all together to make a sheet of Angelina. And it does make a solid-type sheet that I cut with my rotary cutter and use on my postcards. If you keep layering the Angelina, it will become very rigid and stiff. That can be cool, too. Sometimes I just like the sparkle of the fibers by themselves- so I just lay them on a pretty fabric and sew over them in a criss-cross fashion to get them to stay put. No ironing on the fast2fuse, I'm afraid, but worth the effect, I think. The quilter's lame looks very nice under the Angelina, I think. Lots of sparkle- and that stuff is heat-sensitive, too, so they go well in the that regard. I also applique the Angelina onto postcards- it makes nice moons and flames and such. Or just something pretty and transparent. Theoretically, Angelina is cold water washable... It seems awfully delicate to me and so I don't think I'll try it in a quilt, or anything, but it is a nice little embellishment that has lots of bling and possibilities!

Squeeealllll.....

Lookee what I've got!!!! Hope I didn't hurt your ears with all that shouting with joy! Aren't they just lovely? 264 tiny little triangles in each block!!! All hand-pieced! And 24" across! These pictures don't do them justice, but we have had such gloomy days with rain, rain, rain. But you know? I can't bring myself to be gloomy along with it as I have these gorgeous blocks to dream about. And how did they come to me? Well, this will make you laugh....

You guys know I have been obsessing about postcards, lately, right? I don't know why, but I just find them a whole lot of fun and when you send them to folks- well, they seem happy to get them. Yes, I know I owe a few of them out to you, but I really have been busy with that garden- which I am glad to say is done, done, done!! Woo-hoo!! I need to throw a "putting away the canner" party! But back to the post cards... I had made a post card out of scraps from an antique quilt- I hope that's not blasphemous, but honestly, you could put your head through some of those holes! And I saved what I could of it. Well, this particular postcard was all cream-colored and had some antique lace on it. DH grandma was a prolific crocheter of lace and a hoarder of all that is hand-made. I'll have to show you my antique lace stash someday. I keep getting side-tracked don't I? Been that kind of morning. Laundry does that to me. So, I sent the postcard to Tanya at the quilt shop- about a year ago. She posts them on the wall above her door at the quiltshop. Well, a few months ago, my post card had fallen down and it was sitting on the counter waiting to get restuck to the wall... and a client, Holly, notices it. We got to talking about my addiction(let's call it what it is) for all things old and pitiful. and then yesterday... I was out getting Tanya and I some lunch... and Holly is in the shop when I return. Tanya hollers out that I missed my chance. I start to whine about how I was getting her food and I was only gone 5 minutes... And there on the table are these lovely blocks... And now they're mine!!!!!! I am so thrilled with them. I think I have some old vintage fabric- appropriately stained- that I can set them in. I am just so excited, I had to share my good fortune with you- all from a post card. I knew I was obsessed for a good reason.

A Complete Recovery...

Eva woke up, Friday, feeling just fine and dandy!! So we headed to Pendleton for the Spring Valley Quilt Show and Heritage Festival. Oh, we had such a lovely, lovely day!!! We had chicken salad with cashews (I had to post a picture of that, just for you, Sarah!) It was sooooo good! And then we walked and walked and walked. We toured the museum with the quilts. Each of the girls picked out their favorites. This is a very small show- no vendors or anything like that. But I really enjoy seeing what the local folks make. The "black" (it was really dark green- hard to get good lighting in a log cabin!) quilt had some very stunning quilting in it. And Beka loved the bright colors in that pinwheel quilt. I thought it was a clever use of HST. The girls took their voting very seriously and got their top 5 in the ballot box. We Visited both quilt shops. Got a few FQ for postcards. Hopeless, I know. Afterwards, they played in the park and we were home in time for naps- had to sleep off their sugar rush! 8$, in an old-fashioned candy store, buys a completely inappropriate amount of candy! But they did share with their brothers. They bought a couple packages of "pop-rocks." Remeber those? Abe thought them an amazing mystery.

House seems mighty quiet...

Yes, the children got to stay a few more days and now they are on their way home... and it's very quiet around here. There are a couple little ones missing from the picture- you know how difficult it is to coral kids for a picture? Ever try to count baby chicks? Well, believe me, it isn't a simple task. Paul had a cold and was still in bed and Andrew is only 1yr and not to be trusted in the morning dew. We had such a grand time. I baked 15 loaves of bread while they were here. The grilled cheese and venison sandwiches were their favorite- after all confessed they didn't like venison. Well, they had never had any of Bill's and it is more tasty than most. I got all 7 of the youngest ones down for a nap each day- in the same room- and they just snoozed their little hearts out. Naps are vital in big households- everybody needs a little down time. Andrew and DH Bill are now best buds. I'm not sure who will mope the most, now that they're separated. And I know you won't believe me, but you could hardly notice there was 8 more kids in the house. Except at meal times, but even that wasn't much more than my growing boys tend to eat. Hope their Mama doesn't think we ruined 'em too much. 'Cause we sure would like to have them back, sometime.

I did sneak into the quilting room and make a little something tonight. Just to remind myself I could. Then the girls(Eva and Bek) and I watched a movie. We had plans to go to the quilt show in Pendleton, tomorrow, but I noticed Eva has the sniffles. Think she is getting my cold. Pendleton is our special place. It is a quaint little town with 2 quilt shops. Ruth's Legacy, my favorite, is bright and airy with more contemporary fabrics. Needles is very nice and full of cozy colors. The quilt show is called "Quilts in the Park" and the weather has been so beautiful... Well, Eva is disappointed to say the least. After being in bed for 20 minutes, she hollers out to me that her nose has stopped running and she thinks her cold is gone. I didn't have the heart to tell her that it is hard for your nose to run when you are laying flat on your back. We had planned chicken salad croissants and creamed spinach soup at The Cabbage Rose and then a run to the old-fashioned candy store... I just can't go without her. So- maybe we'll stay home and can tomatoes. Now that just doesn't seem like a fair trade, does it?

The last golden days of summer...

The crickets are singing their hearts out and you can tell from the sounds and smells that autumn is just around the corner. DH Bill says that there is never enough summer to get all the work in that needs to be done. I usually run out of steam before I run out of summer. Some people say, "Dontcha wish there were 5 more hours in the day?" I say, "Are you kidding? I barely survive the 24 I've already got!" But summer is at an end and I find that I am so looking forward to the cool nights and clear autumn days. I love the smell of the apples ripe in the trees and bonfires burning. It all turns my mind to quilting, of course. Need something to snuggle under during our long draughty winters.

I made each of my boys a quilt- years ago, of denim. My Mom helped me cut all of these blocks from old, worn blue jeans. We left in some pockets and zippers. I did the sewing and in a couple days we had one queen-size quilt and one twin-size quilt. Ok, that gives you a hint as to how long ago it was- when we had only the three boys. Years flowed and bumped by and now... well, something had to be done. I ripped apart the old quilts and made alternate blocks of red and taupe twill and came up with 5 quilts. I should say, "quilt tops" because they have yet to be quilted. Bad mommy, I know, I know. Well, now I have 1 more gorgeous little boy who needs a quilt, too. Even if it is only a top! I recently received a box from a friend full of old hand-me-downs- loads of jeans that won't fit anyone here- so I have the stash to make another- I think I have enough of the red and taupe scraps to make it all work. Their bedroom is red, white, and blue. Yes, all 6 boys share a room. I can feel you all gettin' all pitiful for those boys, but really, they have a pretty sweet deal. It's a 30'x18' room and so they each have their own bed, their own window, their own desk- and a bathroom they don't "have" to share with the rest of the house. Well, of course no one wants to share a bathroom with 6 boys, but that is beside the point. And they have tons of room to spare even after all those beds and desks. People say it's like a barracks. Only more homey, I hope.

So here's my fall goal- I'm laying it all out there for the world to see. I want to get all 6 tops quilted and bound in time for Xmas. I'm just going to meander on them so I can zig around rivets and such. I really think I can do it. My one question would be... what do you think should go on the back? I was thinking a thin batting- have to have something to soften the seams of the denim.... and maybe just a wide muslin.... maybe. They already weigh a ton- if they slide off the bed, the little boys will need help from their big brothers to pull it back on! Bill put a lock on my quilting room door so I can work on Xmas projects without anyone spoiling their surprise- at least that's what he said it was for... come to think of it, there was a certain gleam in his eyes...

Just another day on the farm...

I just had to share this picture. Sorry the lighting is poor- we were backlit by that window. Just to keep you from straining your eyes and trying to count youngins, there are 17 children. And each just as dear and sweet and funny as they can be. 9 of them belong to my dear friend, Mary, and they are here for the weekend and maybe for the following week if I can convince their Mama to make do without them and to let them stay. I think she'll agree. After I took their picture, the second on the right-Annalee, laughs and said, "That was great! I have never seen my Mom stand on the counter!" I dare say she hasn't, but there was no other way to get a picture of all those smiling faces.

The house is quiet, now, as everyone but Paul and I are off to church. We have the worst colds- sore throats and sinus drainage, and I am certain that we could lease our heads out as a dependable source of hyro-electric power. So I have sat here quite long enough. It's off to bed for a nap before lunch.