Well, long time, no see! Being a CPA, I was swamped for the October 15 final due date for personal tax returns here in the US of A. We even had some which were filed late!!! Eeeyikes! This was followed by a complicated corporate real estate transaction... so no blogging, little sewing.
Still, now all's right with the world and I am resuming what I now consider "normal routine;" this includes blogging.
Now, be warned, I think these photos were taken while I was in a daze, as they are a bit fuzzy...
Oh my gosh.... not only fuzzy, but where o where was my iron?
I also want to share with you all my mostest favoritest paper clips... they are rectangular, with a heart of sorts in the middle. They are shorter than the normal "trombone" shaped clips, so they stay out of my way. They are also a bit wider, so they hold my fabric a bit more secure. One can get them at most office supply stores. Hope you can give them a try sometime!
You can check out other folks hexi postings at Karen's One Flower Wednesday page on her fab web site Journey of a Quilter Don't forget to click on her page One Flower Wednesday (different than sign in page) for fantabulous tutorials which ensure elegant and wonderful hexi flowers. Thanks Karen!
Hope you are all well. See you next week!
I can count on this friend... dependable, predictable, gentle, low-maintenance, effective... what? effective? yes:
One of my Hop To It blocks had been doused with ice which had fallen into my purse while in the kitchen at Church. I didn't realize until I got home. The darkest aqua color ran all over the white back ground. (When I photographed it, it just looked like a shadow, so didn't include in post.)
Kathleen, my applique guru advised Oxi Clean. Trusting her implicitly, I bought some. Generally, I use cold water to remove stains, but the directions advised warm to hot. I used warm, adding the recommended quantity of the powder, immersed the whole block in the solution and allowed it to sit for maybe 20 minutes. I rinsed thoroughly (took several times to get the slick feeling out of it.) I hung it to dry. Later, after a thorough inspection, I ironed the block (upside down on top of toweling.) Not even a shadow of the color-run remained. Now, Oxi Clean has the prized place of honor on my cleaning shelf... my new friend and companion. I also like that is does not use harmful bleach, but rather enzymes to do its magic: easier on the fabric and no color fade. I still need to do the research to see how environmentally friendly it is.
And I have learned a lesson. I know there is some debate as to whether one ought to wash fabrics prior to sewing with them. When I buy yardage or fat quarters, I always wash them first, but when I bought kits I have not. Well, I think that is going to change. Now, I think I will sort the fabrics in the kit and then gently soak them in the sink for a bit to see if they run before including them in my project.
A happy ending for me.
