Judith,
Thanks for the pictures. I had read the email that comes but pictures don't show unless I'm on the site. So, I was quite bewildered, UNTIL, I came here and could see those pictures. I never thought about string piecing when doing paper piecing, it could sure save a lot of time. It would also be so handy for when you are doing a considerable number of the exact same piece. Like the 'amazing spiral' table topper that has been on the "someday" project list. This will likely be a technique to add to one of my virtual retreat days!
Thank you so much.
Luann

Playing catchup this morning!

Geneva, congratulations! Very interesting design and finishing details. I enjoyed studying it.

Luann, I like your dyed pieces. While not the brightest they are interesting. I really have to make time to fold and squirt dye!

Tribblemom, your work shows there are so many interesting ways to add color to fabric. I had not thought about using Saran wrap bunched up. I did do that technique to create a background for a border while painting a room.

Such wonderful ideas and inspiration. Ya'll just make me smile!

Lois, your crock idea sounds good. I have some small pottery vases that I should be able to use. The stands really need a warning label. I used a plate to finish my applique project and have not started another one - yet.

Judith, your detailed pictures give a nice visual of the process of creating the arcs. I did not know about the ruler. I can see how a person could use it to create their own paper pattern. However, as has been mentioned before, the first really major step is the fabric selection. Excellent advice was given to solve that issue.

Oh Jdeluka! I have a love/hate relationship with my mini iron. I burned a nasty hole in my large cutting mat. I was so involved fussing with my appliqué pieces I failed to notice the iron had fallen off it's stand. I came very close to a real fire! Who knew that applique was dangerous? Sending healing thoughts and happier sewing days ahead.

You just can't they keep biting you.

iron doesn't look too great either, it needs its own crock. Have you a spare one Lois.

Jdeluka hope you heal quick.

Jdeluka wrote:
I have never trusted those wire stands that come with the mini iron, so I believe I am aware just how easily an accident like that could happen. I ditched the wire stand and found and old crock, very heavy, very difficult to knock over. It must be 4-5" in diameter and about 6" tall. Its where I store my mini iron and where I put it while in use. I have never had the crock over heat, but perhaps I should sit it on a silicone pad just in case the bottom gets too hot. I am not home right now and can't take a picture of the setup but I will when I return. How do the rest of you stay safe from those dangerous little implements.

Thank you Kathy. I think you are right that sewing the curved arcs will probably be the most challenging part, especially with all that bulk. Locking down the ends first would make it easier. It will be awhile before I get to that part, but I will let you know how it goes.

Jdeluka, Ouch! How painful. I don't trust the little wire stand that comes with the mini-iron. I think it is way too flimsy. Lots of people park their hot mini-iron in a sturdy mug.

Judith

JudithA wrote:

Yikes - take care of yourself!
Barb

Who says quilting isn't a dangerous hobby!

I took a short break from my wedding star quilt this weekend. We are visiting family for a birthday party next week and I wanted to have some hand work to occupy my time in the car. I decided to prepare some pieces for an applique quilt I've been wanting to tackle and decided to use the freezer paper template method rather than attempting needle turn just yet. While using my mini iron to prepare the pieces I managed to knock the iron stand over...onto my hand...after the iron had been sitting on the wire portion of the stand for about 10 minutes getting nice and hot I now have a beautiful third degree burn on my middle finger...Thanks to a lot of cold water and some quick first aid I managed to prevent the burn from spreading further than where the metal touched skin, but DANG! There is now a cloud of foul words hanging in the atmosphere above my sewing room that may take some time to disperse.

I'll recover, no permanent damage done (except a scar to add to my collection) but I had to share my bone-headed move with others that would understand. I'll need to clean the foul mood out of my sewing room with some positive quilting vibes this week - think I can convince the husband to let me return to unsupervised quilting

Thanks for the detailed photos on piecing the arcs. That continuous sewing on the one strip is a great idea! I think the hardest part is sewing all the curved pieces together. I would probably want to lock the ends of the arc pieces so seams wouldn't spread when doing the curves. Let us know how that step works.
Kathy

I took a few pictures of the paper-pieced Judy Niemeyer quilt I am working on. I thought the method of constructing the wedding ring arcs was ingenious. You use 2.5 inch strips, which you presort in a particular order. The paper foundation tells you which fabric strip to sew. You line up the side of the 2.5 inch strips on the dotted line under the paper foundation. You sew down the adjacent solid line.

You sew the next paper foundation right below the first paper foundation, continuing down the 2.5 inch strips, until you have sewn all 8 paper foundations to the strip.

This picture shows folding the paper foundations on the solid sew line with a card, and then triming away the excess with an Add-A-Quarter ruler. The trimmed stack is in the back.


This picture shows the foundation strips after a few strips have been sewn and trimmed. The next strip has just been sewn down, waiting to be pressed and rotary cut apart.


This picture shows the sewn arcs and a template ruler. Creative Grids produced a ruler set of templates for the Bali Wedding Star quilt. Shown is the template for the arcs. It has holes drilled in it to mark 1/4" seam allowances. You could make a double wedding ring quilt with just the ruler set.

Just want to say, I think this virtual retreat thing is just great for summer. It's such a busy time and it helps remind me to get a few minutes in doing what feeds my spirit and reminds me who I am. Anyway just made some toy baskets for my grandson. They have two beloved dogs in the family and I found fabric with the spitting image of those dogs. Just had to make something. I took pictures of the fabric one day last week when I had a few minutes to cut the pieces for the baskets and I think I posted them. Well they are done and as cute as can be if I must say so myself. My computer has not picked up the picts from my phone so I may have to post the picts a little later. It just does it when its good and ready so I'll be back later.

The last of the wall units is up, and I have been working on what goes where, and what will just be going permanently. I have also worked out how to display some of my smaller pieces to cover the contents too I have also been doing some more on the piecing for the Nepalese quilt I am working on, thoroughly enjoying it and pulling yardage from the stash to use. Since I was given the yardage, I have decide not to be precious about it and just use it up, it is far better to be in a quilt that can be used, than on the shelf not being used.

Took the old motor to the knackers/scrap yard today, bit of a sad moment, it was a really good vehicle for us for the 5 years we had it despite putting about 70,000 miles on the clock.