PRINTING ON FABRIC

I have been asked to give a tutorial on how I print on fabric to be used in our crazy quilts.

It used to be much more difficult than it is now. We used to have to treat the fabric to retain the ink; and cut exactly to 8 by 11 to fit the printer, and iron it onto freezer wrap paper.  All that still works, and I have a quilt I did 21 years ago, that the pictures still look great.

This is a quilt I did for my parents 50th anniversary back in 1999. Since both have passed away now, I have the quilt again.

It's much more fun and easier today, so let's get started.

You can use this process with any photo from your computer. I use PowerPoint to place my pictures on one page. I try to fill the page with images, because you cannot put a page back into your printer if you have already cut some of the page off. You might still be able to use word, I just like PowerPoint best.

There are many pre-made printable sheets to purchase. JoAnne's and others carry them. Or go to Amazon.com and look for what you want.

I have used both of these products below...

Make sure you place fabric sheet in the computer with fabric down, depending on your printers. Depending on your project, you can use white or cream colored, silk or cotton.

So this block is an example of how I typed the heading!

Here's another example. I took a photo of  a small painting of my mother's and printed it on fabric. And then did the crazy quilting and embellishing around it.

Thanks for your interest and for following me. My next post will be how the last 12 blocks of my "His Story in the Stars" will be finishing up and attaching to the rest of the quilt.

Happy Stitching!!! Stay well!!!

Challenges of 2020!!!

This blog will catch you up on my life...obviously, I haven't written since November. We did get settled in and then enjoyed unpacking all of our Christmas decorations.

Then with the beginning of January, hubby decided to make us an appointment for a complete physical, as it had been a couple years since we had our last one.  We see the same primary doctor.

The doctor found a "suspicious" lump on my left breast, and sent me for a sonogram, knowing I don't do mammograms. Well, that didn't confirm anything, so then I had a MRI, and then had to have a 3-D mammogram, with still no confirmation. Finally, the radiologist did a sonogram-assisted biopsy, when came back on that following Monday as cancer. Notice, that all imaging could not confirm the cancer.

I then had an appointment with the surgeon that following Friday, and scheduled for surgery the next Friday, the 14th of February. We found out later, that that was her day off, but we chose it because OR was open, and she wouldn't be able to get me in till end of month.

For someone who hadn't been in the hospital since age 16, I got through the operation with no hiccups!!! The cancer was in my left breast only, but I had a double mastectomy, with only one node removed that had cancer. 10 others removed, with no cancer. It was Estrogen/Progesterone positive, but HER2 negative. Scans came back 3 weeks later with no signs of cancer and no metastasis. 

Also, the oncologist suggested a Mamma Print test done on tissue to see what my recurrence risk is. Well, it came back, very low risk of recurrence, not even a candidate for Chemo...which I had already refused! Now, while we wondered how many go through chemo without knowing their risk factor, the bill came back from Medicare, refused and past on to my secondary insurance...the bill was $8,000! So far, no notice from secondary.

So, I feel VERY blessed to have come out of this scare with the rest of my health intact.  I am not on any medications. I am now working with a Naturopath that my primary doc recommended and we are building my immunity and reducing inflammation...both critical in healing and preventing the cancer from coming back.  Just because the test show no cancer, I am doing all I can as if I still have it. What treats, also prevents.

So, it is now the beginning of June, I am all healed and getting life back. I am walking everyday, jumping on my rebounder everyday, and doing supplements and diet for health.

Sandy was a phenomenal caregiver for the three months that I needed him.  But it's time to get back to our lives.  He has started tackling the yard and painting the outside of the house.

And it's time for me to get back to sewing!!! So yesterday he helped me figure out a problem I had with my centerpiece.

We had to take off a slight amount on right side, but left side a little bit more. Finally it even out, and I finished the centerpiece.

My 2020 Challenge is now at 1633 unique embellishments, and more...and only 6 months to finish!!!

The process now is to attach the first row of blocks of constellations.

Each of the blocks has a corresponding Bible quote pointing at it from the centerpiece. In between the quotes, are the charms representing the constellation, along with the Decans!

The next level with be to add the outside row of constellations/Decans

The outside row are larger blocks, all are completed and counted, with the exception of the fabrics pinned for their backs. This way, I know those fabrics haven't been used anywhere else. As you can see, there are now four new corners to create, which my ideas are already laid out in a power point.  You will have to stay tuned to see what those surprises will be! They will be fun!

For those who might wish to look into some of the research materials, here is a copy of the books and tapes that will be on the back of the quilt.

And here's how the back will look with the first row of blocks when attached.

Here's the title and research up close:

This next one is the right side up closer....the blocks all have an identification of ancient star names, what they mean, and corresponding idea in the Bible.

 

Now the left side:

The outer row of constellations/Decans will also have the ancient star names and what they mean. 

For any who don't know about the 2020 Challenge, go to Sharon Boggon's site for the Guidelines!

https://pintangle.com/2020-crazy-quilt-guidelines/

So stay tune to watch the wrap up of this project over the next six months.

Thanks for following me, and stay healthy...

Happy Stitching!

BJ