Monday, September 27, 2010

Texture Magic

Once again, this may be something that's not new to all you active quilters, but I hadn't seen it before: Superior's Texture Magic. I've mislaid the original link I got there from, but what it is is a lining-type fabric that shrinks 20-30% when you steam it, so that if it's sewn to a regular fabric before it's steamed, the regular fabric has to scrunch up when the Texture Magic shrinks. Does that make sense? If not, watch the videos on Superior's website and all will become clear. (Try video #3 to start with, because that's the one where you first see the finished effect.) It looks really cool. Apparently you can use it with or without batting and you get really nice results either way.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Quiltless 2010 (more or less)

Hi there, I'm alive, and this is my more-or-less annual entry! I might even manage more than that, you never know. I've been evincing some more-than-sporadic interest in quilting recently, although I haven't actually gotten the sewing machine out or anything, so far. (I have gone so far as to contemplate how I would go about doing that - our second bedroom is still an ungodly mess. We'll see.)

I did go to a quilt show with my aunt weekend before last - it was a new show put on by the Coastal Prairie Quilt Guild, and it was very nice, especially when you consider that they hadn't done one before. The show was in Stafford, on the southwest side of Houston, and I got the impression that their meetings are also in that area, although I don't see confirmation of that on the website offhand. Anyway, good job!

And then on a whim I re-subscribed to The Quilt Show, so see, I am all awash in quilt things lately. I have watched exactly half of one episode so far, which featured Camille Roskelley, who has a book coming out soon. (Simplify with Camille Roskelley: Quilts for the Modern Home (Stash Books)) I liked her quilts; they are fairly traditional, with sort of a modern twist to them. Apparently she also designs a line of fabric (with her mother) for Moda, which is Bonnie & Camille. You guys may know all about these people by now, but they were new to me, anyway - I am very behind on the trends. I am still planning on going to the Houston festival next month so I will have to try to catch up!