Quilting Made Easy
Have you ever been to a friend's home and admired their quilt and said I wish I could do that? Well now you can. You just need to know the basics and then you can get started.
First, a quilt has three layers of fabric that have been sewn together. If Odd Rods doesn't have three fabric layers, it would be just a blanket. The top layer, also called the quilt top, is the visually stunning side. It can be made up of hundreds of quilt squares fit together in indicant geometric patterns. There are 1948 Bowman baseball cards limitations to the colors and fabric designs you can use. The easiest way to get started is to purchase pre-cut quilt squares or jelly rolls from online fabric retailers. Purchasing pre-cut quilt squares not only saves you time but also gives you a chance to make a quilt from several different designer fabrics without purchasing multiple yards of each style.
The middle layer or the batting is the 1954 Red Heart Dog Food layer between the quilt top and the backing. The batting gives the quilt its thickness and strength, not to mention it's coziness. You can purchase batting by the yard or precut to fit different bed sizes. It's important to remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions for pre-treating and washing your batting.
The third layer is the side that lays face down on the bed and is called the quilt backing. Even though the backing is not always seen the fabric color should complement the quilt design and be made of a durable cotton fabric that will not tear or fray when machine washed.
Now that you have the 3 layers of your quilt, it is time to add a fabric border to frame your quilt. When choosing the fabric for the border, pick a color that compliments the colors and style of your quilt. Many online fabric retailers that offer pre-cut quilt squares also have complementary Jelly Rolls which are pre-cut fabric strips. These pre-cut fabric strips are perfect to use as your quilt fabric border.
Finally, and the most important step, is putting it all together. There are really only two methods for stitching a quilt: hand and machine. Obviously machine stitching will be faster 1970 71 Topps basketball cards by hand but when deciding which method to use you should consider how your quilt will be used. If your quilt is going to be used for everyday use and washed regularly than you should consider machine stitching. If your quilt is going to be an heir-loom than you should consider hand stitching.
Whatever fabric or method of stitching you choose is up to you. Just remember, it's your quilt so have fun with it.
For fabric and quilt squares please visit Imagine Fabric.
How to Mosaic a Pot
One of the most popular applications of mosaic tile Major Matt Mason with a flower pot or vase. These finished pieces make great gifts and look terrific no matter what football cards put on them. Creating a mosaic pot is a little different than doing a piece that will hang on a wall.
Prepping your surface is Superman important. If you are using a terra cotta pot then you have to seal it on the inside, outside, bottom, and top. This is very important since terra cotta is very 1954 Topps baseball cards absorbent. Use a mixture of 1 part Weldbond and 5 parts water. Brush this on every surface of the pot and allow to dry. This will create a layer between the water from a potted plant and your mosaic tiles. If you are using a glass vase then there is no prep needed. However, you may want to brush undiluted Weldbond onto the surface to give it some texture for your tiles to adhere.
Using the proper adhesive is important too. For any pot or vase, you can use Liquid Nails for Small Projects. This adhesive is very tacky so you don't have to deal with your tiles sliding down your pot while you work. It is also great for a piece that will sit outdoors as it is not water soluble. The only problem is that this particular Liquid Nails is a putty color. If you are putting transparent tiles on a glass vase then this product won't work. You will have to use silicone adhesive instead. This is fine for outdoors too but harder to work with because it tends to get stringy when using it.
The only tesserae that are not recommended would be ceramic tiles. These are very water absorbent. If you place your pot outside then the ceramic tiles will absorb moisture. When it freezes your tiles could pop and you will lose your glaze on the surface. Glass tiles are really the best option since they can be used indoors and outdoors.
So now that you have your surface prepped, the correct adhesive, and great tiles, you need to start breaking them and adhering these to the pot. You will need to use small pieces when going around the curves of the pot or vase. The larger pieces will not lay flat and you will have a dangerous work of art when you finish with jutting points that will cut anyone that touches it. Use wheeled cutters to break the tiles down to workable pieces of " or less. Don't use too much glue. A little goes a long way. You can lay your pot in your lap and work one section at a time. Let the first area set up for a few minutes before rotating to a new area.
Once you have gotten all of your pieces onto your pot, you will need to let it set overnight to dry. Now grout this as you would any other piece. It is sometimes easier to turn the pot upside down and grout from the bottom up. This is especially true with angled sides of a terra cotta pot. After the grout has cured for at least 48 hours, seal it well. Your beautiful pot is ready to set out on your patio for years and years.
Tammy Wise has been creating mosaic art for over 8 years. She has been published in major glass magazines and has done mosaic commission work for businesses. Tammy currently owns her own mosaic business in Owasso, Oklahoma. Tile Shack Mosaic Supplies ships superior products all over the world. Find plenty of supplies plus more information on mosaics at http://www.tileshack.com
