By Annie B
For the person who is just getting into the art and craft of quilting, the first visit to a quilting store can tend to be a bit overwhelming. On the surface, a person might thing that quilting is a simple as finding a pattern, finding the right fabric, having a few quilting specific tools and supplies. While this is true, like most things that are taken seriously by a lot of people, once you start peeling back the layers of the onion, there is a lot to learn. Take fabric for example. Once you start your investigation you will begin to see lots of new and wacky terms. The conversation could go something like this; "Like this pattern? It is very easy, all you need is this quilt kit.
However, is you like a different color, you could also make it with these pretty fat quarters, charm squares, jelly rolls, layer cakes or turnovers." Hold on just a minute! Are we trying to quilt here, or have we accidentally landed in a New Orleans Bakery? "Pass the beignets please!". Here is a quick rundown of the terms that you will need to familiarize yourself with to help you navigate this strange new world of quilting fabric.
Quilting Fabric
The best fabric to use for quilting is 100% cotton. Most quilting fabric is 42" wide although you can find wider yardage that can be found to use for backing. Obviously, quilting fabric comes in and infinite number of colors and patterns. It is usually recommended that the fabric be washed prior to using to minimize shrinkage and/or fading. Keep in mind, though, that fading and shrinkage is not quite as much of a problem with higher quality fabric. If this is a concern you can always wash a small piece of the fabric prior to using.
Quilt Backing
Quilt backing is the fabric panel used as the back piece of a layered quilt. Backing can be made from a single piece of fabric or it can be pieced or assembled in another decorative way. Sometimes it is possible to find specific fabrics that are made in wider yardage that can be used specifically as backing. This may be a good approach for getting started with beginners quilting.
Quilt kits
Quilt kits contain all of the necessary fabric, in the yardage that you need, to complete the specific quilt patterns that you would like to make. Usually the backing fabric, batting, and thread are not included in the kits. For the busy quilter kits eliminate a lot time, effort and initial confusion that it takes to pick out fabrics that will work for a specific pattern. It also minimizes waste. Also, if you see a quilt kit that you like then you can be assured that yours will look the same.
Quilt blocks
Quilt blocks can be a single piece of fabric cut to your specification or pattern specifications or it can be a pieced block (several pieces already sewn together in a particular pattern). A single quilt block can be used for different purposes such as a quilted wall hanging, quilted potholder, quilted table topper, quilted candle mat or several blocks can be sewn together to make a larger quilt. For the beginning quilter or quilters on a budget, you may want to search the internet, or our quilt pattern section for a free quilt block pattern.
Quilting Fat quarters
This is a one fourth yard cut of fabric that usually measures 18" x 22" instead of the typical 9" x 42" quarter-yard cut. The advantage of a fat quarter is that it is a wider cut of fabric and more economical than the 9" wide quarter yard for certain quilting patterns. There are many quilt patterns designed specifically for fat quarters.
Quilting Charm squares
These are also sometimes referred to as charm packs, are 5" squares of fabric from a specific fabric line. These come with forty squares in a pack with at least 1 square of every fabric in the line. These may be used to make quick and easy small quilts by sewing coordinating squares together and bordering with coordinating fabric from that same fabric line or any other coordinating fabric of your choice. There are also new patterns out using charm squares to sew piece blocks.
Jelly Rolls
These are 2 ½ inch wide strips of every fabric from a specific fabric line rolled up jellyroll style. These are nice for sewing the strips together for strip quilts, eliminating the need for you to cut each strip. They can also be used for checkerboard patterns but sewing the long edges of a desired number of strips together lengthwise and cutting across the seams. These can then be arranged in the desired checkerboard pattern. Again, it is easy because there are a lot of patterns calling for 2" strips and this eliminates the cutting time.
Charming Jelly Cakes
These are a charm pack, jelly roll and a layer cake of every fabric in a fabric line. There are patterns written specifically for these.
Layer cakes
Quilting Layer cakes are 10" squares with at least one of every fabric from a fabric line. Usually used in the same way as charm squares but for use in making larger quilts. They can also be cut into half and quarter square diamonds to be used in piece blocks.
Quilting Turnover
These are 6" triangles each fabric in the line with 40 pieces in every pack. This eliminates the need for you to have to cut the charm squares into triangles
Honey Buns
Honey buns (used to be called cinnamon buns) are 1 ½ inch wide strips of each fabric in a fabric line. Used the same way as Jelly Rolls, they honey buns eliminate having to cut the strips.
Quilt Panels
Quilt panels are a panel of fabric with a pre-printed design. The whole panel may be quilted or sections of the panel may be cut out and used in a pieced quilt. These are time savers if you use the whole panel because they can be sandwiched and then hand or machine quilted.
Quilt Batting
Quilt batting is the middle part of the quilt that is sandwiched between quilt top and the back. The batting is what gives the quilt its depth and thickness. There is a large variety of quilt batting to choose from. The batting that you choose for your quilt is basically a personal choice. Specifically, you should think about what the quilt will be used for and also experiment until you develop a personal preference. High loft batting is very puffy. 100% cotton batting is a thinner bat and is used when you want the quilt to have an aged appearance as it shrinks when washed, giving the quilt a slightly wrinkled appearance. Pellon, which comes in several thicknesses, is a batting used for table quilts and wall hangings that you wish to have a flatter appearance.
Quilting Applique
This is the process of sewing one or more smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger background. Applique can be accomplished by hand or by machine. Busy quilters generally use an iron-on applique product. These iron onto the back of the fabric, are cut out into specific designs and are then ironed onto the quilt top. For seldom washed quilts this is all that is required, for quilts with heavier use a button hole or zigzag stitch holds the applique firmly in place.
Annie B
FREE SHIPPING on orders $35+ from Fabric.com
For more tips, hints and advice on quilting and quilting fabrics as well as a calendar of regional quilting shows go to http://www.highplainsquilting.com/.
http://www.highplainsquilting.com/ has been developed as a full service quilting web site that offers fabrics tools advise and a community forum where users can get together talk about upcoming quilt shows, give quilt store reviews and display their best work for others to see in the quilting gallery.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annie_B
Handmade Beaded Jewelry Makes Great Gifts For Any Occasion
By Amber Skye
How many times have you wasted hours on searching for that perfect gift, only to decide on something entirely overpriced after an excruciating five hours of finding nothing that felt right for the occasion?
How many dollars have you wasted paying way too much for an item that was worth only half of what you were paying, simply out of desperation?
How many times have you wished you had a skill to hand design a gift for giving, for any occasion?
Well perhaps beading is just what you need. With handmade beaded jewelry you can personally design the perfect gift for any occasion, be it a birthday, Christmas, baby shower, or even a wedding, specific to the receivers' tastes.
The prime advantage of handmade jewelry as a gift, is that it is cost effective. Conduct a test. Find a beaded necklace at one of your local retailers, say one made from turquoise, noting the materials used and of course, the price. Then visit your local hobby shop to price out the turquoise beads needed to make the same thing. Better yet, price them out online as you will get a much better price than locally. You will find that you will be able to create the same piece for a third of the cost. That alone is reason enough to consider hand making your own beaded jewelry to give as gifts.
Need more incentive? Then consider the personal touch that makes a handmade gift so much more special than one that is store bought. By giving the gift of something you laboriously made by hand shows the recipient that you cared enough to take the time to find just the right items needed for your gift; you took the time to find just the right colors that you knew where their favorites. And you poured love into designing the finished products. I for one can honestly say I have always been more touched by presents from the heart than presents from an assembly line.
And finally there is the appeal of your handmade gift becoming a treasured keepsake to be passed down over generations. I myself have a rosary that was given to my grandmother by my great grandmother on her wedding day. The rosary was handmade by my great grandmother from soybeans of all things, but it is beautiful and full of character and unspoken stories, and it means more to me than the strand I have of cultured pearls. That above all else should be incentive enough for making your own handmade beaded jewelry for gift giving.
So the next time you are faced with a blank wall of what to give your niece on her graduation day, or your sister at her bridal shower, or even your granddaughter for being accepted onto the softball team, remember how beautiful handmade beaded jewelry can be, and how easy and fun it is to make.
Handmade beaded jewelry is a gift of joy for both the giver and the receiver to be treasured for a lifetime.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amber_Skye
China and Pottery Collecting is Fun
By Peter Tagg
You probably have a diverse selection of pottery and china collected because you like it, which is as good of a reason as any. However, as one becomes more serious and discerning about what these figurines and trinkets are, the more one needs to understand how and with what they are made. The subject of ceramic production is huge and if you need in depth knowledge then you should consult your local library or consult the online booksellers.
Pottery and china are words bandied about without really being aware of what they mean; for the collector it is necessary to understand the basics so he can know what he has or is buying. All ceramics are based on some form of clay found locally or imported. Earthenware is the basic clay based product fired at 1000°C to 1150ºC and is usually porous e.g. simple pots like flower pots. Stoneware is the basic clay fired at 1150ºC to 1400ºC and tends to be non-porous e.g. Royal Doulton jugs and pots Porcelain is make from kaolin clay (white in colour) or similar and fired at 1300ºC. This tends to be hard and brittle. There are soft paste and hard paste variants on this as well. Other variants include bone, hence bone china and porcelain and should not be confused with modern materials which are much more sophisticated.
All the potters worldwide made variations on these basic processes and there are hundreds of additives which changed the characteristics of the clay, Wedgwood developed Jasperware in the 18th century which is a stoneware with properties of porcelain still in production today. There are any number of glazes used to seal the body or decorate it. It is a very complex subject because every potter was trying to outdo his competitor and still is. Suffice it to say there are variations in these production methods, whether it is the huge mass producers or the small studio potter. All are collectible.
Deciding on what to collect may at first appear daunting, but if you consider your interests it is easy to narrow the field down to a few or even one area.
The first thing to do is to decide old or new? Then which century 18th, 19th, 20th or even 21st. Prior to the 18th century takes us into medieval, roman and earlier. Many will be classified as antiquities and is a fascinating subject in its own right. You must consult specialist books on this subject. There are many fakes.
You may decide to collect "Blue and White", popular and expensive, Carlton Ware still available at a reasonable price, Art Deco pieces or Staffordshire Figures which can be expensive, fairings - originally given away at fairs, animals by many manufacturers which vary in price depending on quality, advertising pieces, commemorative ware, crested china, decorative plates of which there are thousands (you can collect by theme or manufacturer) and any number of studio pottery pieces. There are many studio potters, some famous, others not so, some of which are easy to collect today since they have not entered the realm of desirable antiques.
Consult any book on collectibles and you will find many names new to you. Whatever you collect make sure you are well read on the subject. Only collect perfect or expertly restored pieces because damaged pieces are worth a fraction of the price of a perfect piece. This way you can avoid the many pitfalls in the collecting market.
http://petertagg.ws
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Tagg
You probably have a diverse selection of pottery and china collected because you like it, which is as good of a reason as any. However, as one becomes more serious and discerning about what these figurines and trinkets are, the more one needs to understand how and with what they are made. The subject of ceramic production is huge and if you need in depth knowledge then you should consult your local library or consult the online booksellers.
Pottery and china are words bandied about without really being aware of what they mean; for the collector it is necessary to understand the basics so he can know what he has or is buying. All ceramics are based on some form of clay found locally or imported. Earthenware is the basic clay based product fired at 1000°C to 1150ºC and is usually porous e.g. simple pots like flower pots. Stoneware is the basic clay fired at 1150ºC to 1400ºC and tends to be non-porous e.g. Royal Doulton jugs and pots Porcelain is make from kaolin clay (white in colour) or similar and fired at 1300ºC. This tends to be hard and brittle. There are soft paste and hard paste variants on this as well. Other variants include bone, hence bone china and porcelain and should not be confused with modern materials which are much more sophisticated.
All the potters worldwide made variations on these basic processes and there are hundreds of additives which changed the characteristics of the clay, Wedgwood developed Jasperware in the 18th century which is a stoneware with properties of porcelain still in production today. There are any number of glazes used to seal the body or decorate it. It is a very complex subject because every potter was trying to outdo his competitor and still is. Suffice it to say there are variations in these production methods, whether it is the huge mass producers or the small studio potter. All are collectible.
Deciding on what to collect may at first appear daunting, but if you consider your interests it is easy to narrow the field down to a few or even one area.
The first thing to do is to decide old or new? Then which century 18th, 19th, 20th or even 21st. Prior to the 18th century takes us into medieval, roman and earlier. Many will be classified as antiquities and is a fascinating subject in its own right. You must consult specialist books on this subject. There are many fakes.
You may decide to collect "Blue and White", popular and expensive, Carlton Ware still available at a reasonable price, Art Deco pieces or Staffordshire Figures which can be expensive, fairings - originally given away at fairs, animals by many manufacturers which vary in price depending on quality, advertising pieces, commemorative ware, crested china, decorative plates of which there are thousands (you can collect by theme or manufacturer) and any number of studio pottery pieces. There are many studio potters, some famous, others not so, some of which are easy to collect today since they have not entered the realm of desirable antiques.
Consult any book on collectibles and you will find many names new to you. Whatever you collect make sure you are well read on the subject. Only collect perfect or expertly restored pieces because damaged pieces are worth a fraction of the price of a perfect piece. This way you can avoid the many pitfalls in the collecting market.
http://petertagg.ws
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Tagg
The Fun of Making Dollhouse Furniture
By Tim Lee
Remember the days when you were a kid and how you used to enjoy playing with dolls. Well things have not changed much nowadays and despite the fact that we have hi-fi games and other interesting toys, there is nothing that can replace the value of a doll, in the heart of kids, especially girls. Young girls spend so much time in their make-believe world, attending to their dolls, washing them, feeling them, telling lullabies to them and finally... at bedtime... putting them to sleep. A dollhouse is where they put their dear dolls to sleep.
Some of them feel sad when they notice that there is hardly any furniture in the doll house. There are many means to overcome this problem if you have the will. Check out the net and you will find many sites that specialize in doll dresses and other accessories including doll houses and also furniture for doll houses. Your best bet to get proper furniture for a dollhouse is through these establishments. Some of those dollhouse furniture are amazing in the fact that they are exact replicas of the real stuff, just scaled down in size.
This means that the inflatable pillows can be inflated and the folding chairs and tables can be folded. However, there are certain limits, so do not expect the iron to get warm. You'll never find any power outlet so tiny that it will accommodate the plug of the miniature toy iron. However, the dollhouse furniture does not end at that. The water in the kitchen and the bathroom do have flowing water supplied from a miniature water tank atop the dollhouse. You can also find cute beds of different sizes and shapes in the websites and stores that specialize in dollhouse furniture.
However, these goods come at a premium and you should be prepared to shell out a handsome sum of money for them. If you have the inclination, you can make dollhouse furniture by yourself if you have a creative bent of mind. There are many things lying about in your house that can be used to make dollhouse furniture. Remember the old shoe box? If you cut and paste it properly, you can use that to make a tiny bed for your doll. All it requires is some imagination from your side. You can also decorate the same using old dresses for the upholstery.
The main fun of making the dollhouse furniture by yourself is the personal touch that will be missing if you use furniture purchased from the store. You just require a bottle of glue, some cotton wool for the stuffing and cloth from old clothes and you are ready to prepare the bed. In the same way, you can also make small tables, tools and other furniture that you find in your own room. Some imaginative persons have even built 2 tired beds for their dollhouse. Be careful when you allow kids to work with sharp instruments like scissors. It would be better if you did the cuttings part and left them to do the pasting.
To learn more about dollhouse furniture, visit http://www.dollhousefurniture101.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Lee
Remember the days when you were a kid and how you used to enjoy playing with dolls. Well things have not changed much nowadays and despite the fact that we have hi-fi games and other interesting toys, there is nothing that can replace the value of a doll, in the heart of kids, especially girls. Young girls spend so much time in their make-believe world, attending to their dolls, washing them, feeling them, telling lullabies to them and finally... at bedtime... putting them to sleep. A dollhouse is where they put their dear dolls to sleep.
Some of them feel sad when they notice that there is hardly any furniture in the doll house. There are many means to overcome this problem if you have the will. Check out the net and you will find many sites that specialize in doll dresses and other accessories including doll houses and also furniture for doll houses. Your best bet to get proper furniture for a dollhouse is through these establishments. Some of those dollhouse furniture are amazing in the fact that they are exact replicas of the real stuff, just scaled down in size.
This means that the inflatable pillows can be inflated and the folding chairs and tables can be folded. However, there are certain limits, so do not expect the iron to get warm. You'll never find any power outlet so tiny that it will accommodate the plug of the miniature toy iron. However, the dollhouse furniture does not end at that. The water in the kitchen and the bathroom do have flowing water supplied from a miniature water tank atop the dollhouse. You can also find cute beds of different sizes and shapes in the websites and stores that specialize in dollhouse furniture.
However, these goods come at a premium and you should be prepared to shell out a handsome sum of money for them. If you have the inclination, you can make dollhouse furniture by yourself if you have a creative bent of mind. There are many things lying about in your house that can be used to make dollhouse furniture. Remember the old shoe box? If you cut and paste it properly, you can use that to make a tiny bed for your doll. All it requires is some imagination from your side. You can also decorate the same using old dresses for the upholstery.
The main fun of making the dollhouse furniture by yourself is the personal touch that will be missing if you use furniture purchased from the store. You just require a bottle of glue, some cotton wool for the stuffing and cloth from old clothes and you are ready to prepare the bed. In the same way, you can also make small tables, tools and other furniture that you find in your own room. Some imaginative persons have even built 2 tired beds for their dollhouse. Be careful when you allow kids to work with sharp instruments like scissors. It would be better if you did the cuttings part and left them to do the pasting.
To learn more about dollhouse furniture, visit http://www.dollhousefurniture101.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Lee
Hottest Miniature Train Toys of 2009
By Brian Garvin and Jeff W
Do you have a train-lover in your family? And is that person your child? If so, you may very well be planning a train-theme birthday party in the near future. When that happens, you'll find everything you could possibly want at Train Party.
Train Toys ranging from railroad caboose pencil sharpeners to train engines with movable gears can be found for very reasonable prices. And with nine different train themes to choose from, your party favors, plates, and decorations won't be limited to Thomas the Train.
Train Toys and Gifts
For almost five years, Train Party has been providing a valuable service to train lovers everywhere. That's because no other retailer offers the variety of merchandise they do - all in one place. Combine this with their quality customer service, and you can't go wrong.
Train Toys offered by Train Party include:
• School supplies (erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers)
• Wooden train sets
• Stacking trains
• Wind-up trains
• Die-cast miniature trains
• Train station (reproduction of a classic Russian tin toy)
Other favorites are Curious George train conductor stuffed animals, train bubble-blower and whistle necklaces, train-shaped savings banks, key chains, and toy harmonicas.
Train Piñatas
At least once in their life, every child should have a piñata at their birthday party. And if their theme happens to be trains, you'll need to find a train-shaped piñata. With the largest supply of train piñatas on the Internet, TrainParty.com is the obvious place to shop. Fifteen choices are offered, each with a different theme, including Thomas & Friends, Little Chug, and Whistle Stop.
Train Toys Are Not for Children Only
Kids aren't the only ones who enjoy trains. In fact, many adult train enthusiasts get more excited about trains than their children do! Examples of the collectible and other Train Toys for adults offered by TrainParty.com are:
• Pewter picture frames
• Locomotive rubber stamps
• Lionel train signs, lamps, and pinball games
• Crystal, porcelain, and brass train Christmas ornaments
• 100mm Lionel Wind-up Musical Santa with Train Waterglobe (plays "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
• Fabric Mache Lionel Santa handcar (Christmas decoration)
• Railroad conductor Halloween costumes (yes, for adults too - including hats and bandannas)
• Scrapbook supplies
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Games
Two items that are actually for children, but should also be considered collectibles by parents, are the Retro Wooden Train Rocker and the Railroad Wooden Rocking Chair. The Retro Wooden Train Rocker is a ride-on toy that your child will enjoy for years. Made of hard maple and birch plywood, and measuring 13¾" L 28" H 41"W, this toy is recommended for children over age 2.
The Railroad Wooden Rocking Chair is a unique chair that has bright colors, is decorated with miniature smoke-stacks, and even sounds like a train when the chair rocks! (The sound can be turned off, if desired.) A photo greeting card is included so the child can send a "Thank You" card with a picture of them sitting in their chair. This handcrafted wooden chair measures 29" H, with a seat height of 12½".
The next time you're planning a party, looking for Christmas ornaments, or seeking for gifts for your own train lover, make sure to visit Train Party.
Find out about the latest Toys And Vehicles from Brian Garvin and Jeff West. Also discover the coolest places to look at Train Toys Online for free. Freely distribute this article but please leave author bio and links intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Garvin
Do you have a train-lover in your family? And is that person your child? If so, you may very well be planning a train-theme birthday party in the near future. When that happens, you'll find everything you could possibly want at Train Party.
Train Toys ranging from railroad caboose pencil sharpeners to train engines with movable gears can be found for very reasonable prices. And with nine different train themes to choose from, your party favors, plates, and decorations won't be limited to Thomas the Train.
Train Toys and Gifts
For almost five years, Train Party has been providing a valuable service to train lovers everywhere. That's because no other retailer offers the variety of merchandise they do - all in one place. Combine this with their quality customer service, and you can't go wrong.
Train Toys offered by Train Party include:
• School supplies (erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers)
• Wooden train sets
• Stacking trains
• Wind-up trains
• Die-cast miniature trains
• Train station (reproduction of a classic Russian tin toy)
Other favorites are Curious George train conductor stuffed animals, train bubble-blower and whistle necklaces, train-shaped savings banks, key chains, and toy harmonicas.
Train Piñatas
At least once in their life, every child should have a piñata at their birthday party. And if their theme happens to be trains, you'll need to find a train-shaped piñata. With the largest supply of train piñatas on the Internet, TrainParty.com is the obvious place to shop. Fifteen choices are offered, each with a different theme, including Thomas & Friends, Little Chug, and Whistle Stop.
Train Toys Are Not for Children Only
Kids aren't the only ones who enjoy trains. In fact, many adult train enthusiasts get more excited about trains than their children do! Examples of the collectible and other Train Toys for adults offered by TrainParty.com are:
• Pewter picture frames
• Locomotive rubber stamps
• Lionel train signs, lamps, and pinball games
• Crystal, porcelain, and brass train Christmas ornaments
• 100mm Lionel Wind-up Musical Santa with Train Waterglobe (plays "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
• Fabric Mache Lionel Santa handcar (Christmas decoration)
• Railroad conductor Halloween costumes (yes, for adults too - including hats and bandannas)
• Scrapbook supplies
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Games
Two items that are actually for children, but should also be considered collectibles by parents, are the Retro Wooden Train Rocker and the Railroad Wooden Rocking Chair. The Retro Wooden Train Rocker is a ride-on toy that your child will enjoy for years. Made of hard maple and birch plywood, and measuring 13¾" L 28" H 41"W, this toy is recommended for children over age 2.
The Railroad Wooden Rocking Chair is a unique chair that has bright colors, is decorated with miniature smoke-stacks, and even sounds like a train when the chair rocks! (The sound can be turned off, if desired.) A photo greeting card is included so the child can send a "Thank You" card with a picture of them sitting in their chair. This handcrafted wooden chair measures 29" H, with a seat height of 12½".
The next time you're planning a party, looking for Christmas ornaments, or seeking for gifts for your own train lover, make sure to visit Train Party.
Find out about the latest Toys And Vehicles from Brian Garvin and Jeff West. Also discover the coolest places to look at Train Toys Online for free. Freely distribute this article but please leave author bio and links intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Garvin
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