Time For A Collage

I had some down time after my marathon power washing out in the backyard today. It was hotter than hades today. I couldn't even cool off while using the power washer. That thing hurts!

So, I sat here and did a little collage. Hope you like it.

Printing Out Photos for My Quilt

If you have never printed photos on to fabric before, it is a really fun process. There are sooo many different ways you can accomplish this task. I use different methods depending on what I am using the photos for. I always try and consider how my project will "live". Is it something that someone will wear; will it be washed periodically; will it get a lot of wear and tear; will there be a lot of rubbing.

I have been working on my daughter's graduation quilt; which she will be taking with her to college. She will need something she can throw in the wash. She will more than likely still use gentle or hand wash cycle, but she can still wash it as I made it colorfast.

First I chose 100% cotton poplin fabric. It has a really smooth finish and very little texture. I cut it out to my desired size (8 1/2 by 11).

Then I used Bubble Jet Set 2000 to rinse the fabric. The directions are right on the bottle. How much simpler can you get! There is a pic below. Also, there is the Jet Rinse I use for after I finish printing.



After I rinsed the fabric in the Jet Set, I let it dry and ironed it to a nice crisp finish. I then ironed it onto freezer paper. This is the one I use below. I just love freezer paper. I use it for so many different craft and sewing projects. You iron the shiny side of the freezer paper onto the back of the fabric, and when you are done printing it out or cutting, you simply peel off the paper and it doesn't leave any residue.


I pick out, doctor, and play with my photos in any old program. I then print them out in best quality. But, I should caution against using any other type of paper as your source. Just leave the setting as regular paper. I have done this MANY times and for the over all life of your project, you will get a much better finish.

After the ink is dry I like to run a dry iron over the photos. I then give them a gentle rinse in the Bubble Jet Rinse. I heat dry them with a blow dryer and then press them. (Just because I'm always worried about the life of my project and the photos fading, I still give them another rinse in fabric softener and water.) Do not ring out your fabric or rub on top of the photos. Just dab or lay it flat.

I know there are so many ways out there to do this. I use the June Tailor fabric sheets as well. Even though it does not require it, I still use the above methods of rinsing with the Bubble Jet Rinse and then the fabric softener. I have tried skipping the rinsing, and was really sorry I did after the project was washed a few times.

My motto is, if I'm going to spend a lot of time making this; then I want to make sure it will stand up to the test of time and not fade right away so that whomever I give it to will end up throwing it away.

It's been a lot of work, but it still is a lot of fun and my photos are really sharp and full of color.

Graduation Quilt In Progress

Long overdue to write on my blog. (Once again!) I have been really busy working on my daughter's graduation quilt. She wanted something with a tree; but, she wanted it to be sort of abstract. This is what I have ended up with. Well, almost...I'm far from done.

Here is a really bad picture of the quilt in progress. I still have to put on the borders and then applique the photos on the outer borders as well. I have the photos printed out and will blog more about that process too.

I really love applique. You can just have so much fun with it and be as creative as you want. I made swirls on template plastic and cut out the shapes. Then I traced several different sizes I had cut out onto "light steam-a-seam 2". I then peeled off the backing and placed the steam-a-seam onto the wrong side of the fabric. I cut out all of the shapes and placed them where I wanted them on the quilt background. I pinned them in place until I had the leaves in the all of the places I thought worked out best for my design. I ironed them in place.

I embroidered inspirational words with Madeira Rayon verigated thread on to purple fabric and then repeated the steam-a-seam process making circles instead with the words in the center.

I still have to add more roots. Also, the outside border is the same deep purple as the plums with the words in the main part of the quilt. The outside border should be 4 1/2" sewn in and then I will applique photos onto the border. I am going to border each photo with a 1/4 bias strip. and quilt over each strip.

This slightly blurry pic below is a close up of one of the plums.

Happy sewing all. Now back to work for me!