Better than Paper-Piecing

Do you hate to tear the paper out in the paper-piecing project?

Well, Deborah Gansberger was not only frustrated with tearing out the paper, but also frustrated with not being able to see where she was putting the fabric. (We have all been there when working with placing the fabric in paper-piecing.) So, Deborah realized that she had the technology to developed a product to use as a substitute for the paper since Deborah and her husband owned a textile printing company. Here is the link to her products:http://www.ezpiecing.com/

Deborah had been the speaker of a guild that I attended when selling raffle tickets for the gorgeous quilt that my quilt guild was raffling off this past winter. She had a table with items for sale that evening, and I purchased the Double Wedding Ring Runner even before I heard her talk. I'm not an impulse shopper, but I knew that this Wedding Ring table runner would be a manageable project for me.

Last weekend, I read directions, cut fabrics, and pieced. I LOVE the foundation fabric that she has developed. It is so EASY to use! Her pattern directions are very well written and supported with clear photos.

This really is better than dealing with paper.

MIRAI

That is the name of my son's company:http://mirai.storenvy.com/products

He designs tee shirts! He does it all: sales, marketing, web design, photography, digital design, and the art work.  He worked with Threadbird, http://www.threadbird.com/,  to print his designs on tees that are made in America. All his work is Made in America...and he is trying to keep it that way.

The pretty model in photo is a friend of his. He shot the photos for his advertisement.

He asked me to make a beach cover-up by altering an X-large tee from his short sleeve line. Here are two photos that I took of the cover-up.

Letting GO

There are some projects that never materialize. Those projects never get completed for whatever reasons. My tie project is just that project.

I cleaned and took the ties apart. I started to cut my blocks that I planned to use for that pretty table runner that I envisioned.

 

As I was cutting up the blocks from the ties, a feeling of great depression over came me. The fabrics got even uglier....and the question of why am I working with such depressing fabrics came to mind. Instead of picturing a pretty table runner made from vintage ties, all I visualized was some elderly man wearing these ugly ties. At least he wasn't drooling.

IF there is such a thing as Spirits of Ties or Tie Gods, then they have spoken to me. Some used items can have new life breathed into them, and some folks are more patient at such projects. Today, I have accepted the fact that I'm not one for resuscitating vintage ties. So, I'm letting GO. A long overdue burial for these ties, the trash can....and a peace of mind for me.