Label that Baby when done

There are lots of ways to label a quilt and I do it the easiest way possible. After the quilt top is created and photographed, I insert the photo onto a Powerpoint slide background. I add text defining the piece, and then print the full color image on print ready fabric sheets. I generally leave the image full size ( 8 1/2 x 11), print and press the plain white margin to the back before putting it on the finished quilt back. It's done fast and easy. My quilt for this label has a bit more work before being finished so it's currently seen on the kitchen table.
I always include the following on the label...
The Quilt Name
Measurements
Materials used on quilt top
Batting content, and backing type
Your artists statement about the piece
Makers Name
Address
Contact Info
You may add other things about who it is for, on what occasion, where presented.

The machine set up

I'm busily quilting quilting quilting much the same thing the last few days.... so rather than a play by play on the movement of my machine needle..... I thought I'd speak to my machine setup. First (poor me) I own a number of machines and keep a separate 'pressure foot/tools box for each.... not the one that came with the machine.... but a smaller semi clear plastic box that will fit on the machine shelf next to the machine ofcourse, and easily viewable thru the acrylic drop down that surrounds my machine. I also keep on the same shelf, my Fons and Porter cushion marked for machine needles as suggested by the ever practical Libby Lehman. Little used, still good but currently not needed machine needle types are stuck in the appropriately marked 'petal' of the cushion. The colored straight pin is placed in whichever 'petal' represents the needle I actually have in my machine (the all look alike without magnifying glasses.)
When I am doing small movement detailed work when the quilt is near done and getting hard to move on my domestic machine, I LOVE the Super Slider placed over the machine tabletop. It helps things 'move' around much better. You'll also note the red and white Take Hold fingertip grip normally used for sorting papers including money. This tip comes from Hollis Chatelain. This fingertip grip represents my quilting gloves. It does not affect/hurt the quilt top surface, and I really can 'get a grip' to move the top in free motion.

To the right of my machine are the essential tools placed on a small piece of gripping material. The arched white rubber weave piece is really the edge of a place mat but a piece of shelf liner would work as well. I cannot quilt without my Fiskar curved tip scissors for clipping, my la cross flat edge tweezers for pulling out seam ripped boo boos.Dang, I failed to photograph the seam ripper, but we all know what THEY look like... DRAT!

creating a water soluble quilting template

Got a few questions about an earlier piece on this topic. So, a bit more info to come here. I first found a design from which I wanted to create a template. I then layed a piece of tracing paper over the source design, and used a sharpie to trace the design outline. After that, I slightly enlarged the traced image on my copier as I wanted the finished quilted image to be scaled a bit larger. After that... I chose a 'lightweight' water soluble stabilizer. There are a number of brands... a couple shown here. A second tracing using a permanent marker ( ala sharpie) onto the stabilizer which was then pinned to the quilt, and quilted right thru the stabilizer.
After quilting was done, excess stabilizer was torn off the surface, remainder dissolved with water per product instructions.

Update on a Snippet of new ideas

Blogger reader Susan asked a couple questions about last weeks post on this subject so I'll post the answers here.
The questions were about what kind of pencils to use and where one finds textile medium. I'll first note, I'm not an expert on this subject but can give a partial answer and more importantly give credit to and refer interested readers to the author of a book on this subject. The book... Quilts of a Different Color authored by Irena Bluhm. . I'll note here what pencils I used for the sample floral posted last week These KOH-I-NOOR pencils can be found at Michaels plus other places I'm sure. I'm certain other types of pencils will work, but I like the broad angle of the pencil tip on these as they are woodless... and I like using the side of the pencil to softly shadow. Fabric or textile medium can be found pretty much anywhere acrylic paints are sold.... The one you see here was found in an art store, but you would also find textile medium in an art or craft section at someplace like Michaels. Hope that helps. I can't wait to play with this technique.

Adapting For Quilting Patterns

Remember last week when I was talking about my ongoing search for reference sources for unique quilt line patterns. I found this piece of scrapbook paper that I thought would nicely translate to the wallpaper-like background for my Spanish Dancer quilt.
This is a very slow process... but I think it's gonna work.

Ashamed of myself in Apple Valley

I had greattttttt fun today with 20 quilters in Apple Valley... but we were sooooo busy, I took not one picture. What a great group of students though. thank you ladies!!!!

Where HAVE I been?

I'll tell ya but forgot to photograph this one. Finally getting all supplies, student handouts made, fabric pre cut, etc etc for Houston International took seemingly days ( really!) On Friday, I mailed 4 giant cardboard boxes ( 170 lbs.) to Houston so they'd have plenty of time to arrive (even if lost and found.. let's hope not lost). Teachers ( at least this one) get sick tummies over shipping so much stuff and hopeing it will be there upon arrival... in the right room, right place, so I can get the right box to the right classroom, in the right time.... and on and on. I'll be tracking UPS daily all week.
I'm pooped!