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RAMBLIN' RAG #22 - DATE: DECEMBER 2008
from Reets' Rags To Stitches

Sewing Supply Tips, Martha Stewart Glitter, New Santas,
Book and Music Picks, Gift Idea, Frenz Gallery Additions,
Aunt Bernie's Quilt, Recipe (kind of).


KNOCK KNOCK.....WHO'S THERE?.....

..... .....
IT'S SANTY !!

Can it be?
I don't mind thinking about Christmas after just returning from a wonderful Thanksgiving gathering at one of my daughters. Many people, much food, song, laughter and FUN! So yes, now I am ready to stoke up the stove and rev up the sewing machine and get stitching on some simple goodies. An excellent year for hand made gifts..wouldn't you agree?

Hoping to pass on some tips to you, I took a look back at the stitching year to see what held prominence in the sewing room. These are mostly in the form of supplies, some being used in nearly every 08 design.

  • FUSIBLE WEBBING...mainly Steam-A-Seam 2. I have been relying on this more and more for cutting out wool, and of course cotton, applique pieces. It makes cutting out very simple and prevents raveling...especially effective for those little pieces. All of our patterns go into detailed instruction for using webbing with wool, but basically, you use your iron very lightly...almost not at all.
  • MARTHA STEWART YELLOW GOLD GLITTER. Oh Lordy....I have been heavy handed with this. Used it on almost all of this year's Christmas designs, especially our newest, Little Santa Things. Just seems to give everything a wonderful vintage look. Went way beyond the new designs and smothered it on old metal angels, acorns gathered on a walk, wooden stars...and so on. Got so that everywhere I went people were politely brushing off the glitter from my face.
  • FABRICO FABRIC MARKER by Tsukineko. I use mostly their Sand color to slightly darken the skin tone wool or fabric for faces and bodies. It can be used to "mottle" small applique pieces also....set with iron. They have a large array of colors.
  • The THREAD GATHERER SHEEP'S SILK. The Japanese wool floss that i like so much for wool applique has been slow to produce new colors so I have grown to love the luscious colors and the smooth stitching personality of Sheep's Silk. We sell it at our shows but do not yet have it on our web site. You can, however, find it at the Thread Gatherer's site.
  • HAND DYED COTTON FLOSS. From both The Gentle Art and Weeks Dye Works. Seems to work very well with the wool even tho it is cotton! Great for the needle punch of course.
    Our new Show Schedule for 09 has been posted....See the SHOW link on the home page. Additional shows will be added later.
    How do you like our new Little Santa friends? The little tag uses our special sealing method and requires almost no stitching - a snap to make. You can make it into a bit larger card as well and send a bunch to friends. I'm afraid the Santas, especially the little vintage green fellow, might have to be of the year round type.
    For myself, the most used pattern for gift giving this year has been "Thanks". (#RR127) The little heart pocket is so simple, can be given as a gift for someone to fill with memories, wishes, prayers, quotes or aspirations.
    A BOOK - The 1776 Quilt: Heartache, Heritage, and Happiness
    by Pam Holland of South Australia
    I first read about this woman in the August 2007 Issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. After losing her 24-year-old daughter to cancer she turned to quilting as her vehicle for healing. She re-created an extraordinary story quilt made in 1776 by Sorbian soldiers on the battlefield, where they used scraps of cloth from their uniforms. The quilt took Pam 9,500 hours to complete and is a must see. The entire magazine article is fascinating. The book - incredible.

    A BOOK - Where Women Create - By Jo Packham. Excellent book. Inspiring work spaces of extraordinary women. Perhaps you have already seen the book but did you know that there is now a Somerset quarterly magazine with that same title? Stampington.com will give you ordering information. Looks good!

    MUSIC - Les Miserables. I know I know...the wretched the poor. Not exactly Christmas music. I have the original broadway version on cd and the songs are riveting. Amongst sadness you find humor and tenderness executed with such emotion. I am wearing it out.

    MUSIC - The Very Best of Edith Piaf - AND French Cafe. Both are mostly French lyrics. I do not speak French but they are two of my three favorite 2008 CDs???
    In my last newsletter I showed you a picture of my 93 year old Aunt Marion's quilt. Her sister, Aunt Bernie, did a wonderful Snowball quilt. Every year she creates a family photo calendar. I spied the quilt in one of the backgrounds and asked her to send me a picture. I have to say...my aunts are certainly putting me to shame in the quilt category. Click here to take a peak at Aunt Bernie and her wonderful Snowball quilt. So much work and so lovely!
    A little pattern goes a long way.
    Brenda Ferrario of California loved our ELEPHANTS applique pattern (#RR92) so much that she did up the same design in another medium. This is what she writes:
    "I knitted a purse using Cascade 220 Wool Yarn. I also knitted a large square. I then felted the purse and square by placing it in the washing machine, etc. After felting, I used ! your pattern to cut out the elephant and heart from my felted wool knitted square. I then whipped stitched it on my purse using Perle Cotton #8 thread."
    Wouldn't you love to carry this darling tote around. Thanks so much Brenda!
    . . . . .

    After the Folsom show last February i taught a class at the Tin Thimble in New Castle, CA. I love the way that Ruth Shields made up the pincushion. See Above. She relied on her own creative mind when it came to color - a totally different look from the pattern. I love it! This is from Chelsea's Pincushion pattern.
    By the way, we're doing another Tin Thimble class after the Folsom show
    Feb. 9, 2009. The wool applique project will be announced on the Tin Thimble website.
    A WAY too quick and easy recipe. I buy a box of Pamela's Biscotti Cookies, melt some good organic dark chocolate and spread them ALL OVER the cookie. I also do it with their Shortbread Cookies. Put on a rack, in the freezer for 5 minutes and then in the fridge..eat one from the freezer of course. Yum. Fast. Yum. Put a few in a clear bag and tie with a ribbon for sharing.
    Well I have gone on at length here...sorry. Personally I would take one look at this over scrolled chat and say
    "Who in the world has time to read all of this?!!"
    But if you did make it all the way down here, I want to wish you...
    and sincerely so....

    A Very

    HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

    And An Entire New Year

    Filled to the Brim with Joyous Stitching.

    And May All That Is Good

    Surround You and Yours.

    reets and family


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