Quilting

Quilting Featured Article

How to Care For Your Quilts

A quilt is not just another blanket or comforter, used to warm your toes on a chilly night. It is stitched with utmost care, putting in a lot of time, effort and a lot of love. Often quilts have memories attached to it, like a quilt given as a gift at someone’s birth or someone’s death. These heirlooms have to be taken care of in the best way, so that you can cherish these memories forever.

Storage and Transport

Once the quilt is complete, it is often stored carefully or gifted to another person. Transportation should always be in cardboard tubes, taking care that the actual cardboard doesn’t come into contact with the quilting fabric. This can be achieved by wrapping the quilt in muslin and then transferring it into the cardboard tube. This is also the best way to store it

For people who deal in quilts or who own several each tube should be labeled, with the quilter’s name and the date of completion. Professional quilters keep a file of the quilt’s details including a photograph of each quilt. Textiles are unable to breathe in plastic wraps. Therefore, un-dyed, unbleached muslin is the best wrapping material, as it prevents mildew stains. Make sure the fabric is clean before storage, as insects like to feed on food stains and spray starch.

Quilts should be aired every three to six months. At this time, it is a good idea to fold the quilt in a different way, before storing it again. Wrinkles can be minimized by rolling muslin or tissue between the folds.

Washing and Drying

Cleaning the quilt is another important aspect of preserving it. The best way to clean a quilt is by placing a screen on the quilt and then using a hand vacuum to remove the surface dust. Dry cleaning should be completely avoided because the chemicals are too harsh for the fabric.

In situations where wet cleaning becomes a must, remember to test for color fastness before hand. This is done by rubbing a white cloth over the different colored fabrics, to check for any bleeding of colors.

Quilting stores have a special detergent called Orvus which is especially gentle on quilts. Do not attempt to load the quilt into a washing machine which isn’t large enough to let the quilt circulate freely; in such cases hand washing is the better alternative. The quilt should be soaked for ten minutes, then agitated, then allowed to soak. This should be done until no soap residue remains. The dryer puts a strain on the stitching of the quilt, and therefore, though more tiresome, air drying or drying under a fan is a preferred solution to machine drying. Once it dries, it can be fluffed in a dryer, using no heat.

Baby quilts or lap quilts, which need to be washed regularly, should be stitched keeping that fact in mind. Fabric used should be machine washable and preferably fabric should be pre-washed before piecing to avoid shrinking in the future.

To increase the life of a quilt, it is essential to take all precautions to keep it away from dirt, heat, insects and direct light. Completing a quilt is a one time accomplishment, caring for it is a life time endeavor.

Filed under Hand Quilting, Patchwork Quilting, Pattern Quilting, Quilting, Quilting Fabric, Quilting Kit, Quilting Machine, Quilting Material, Quilting Notions, Quilting Stencil, Quilting Template, Quilting Thread by

February 22, 2012

Seashell Necklaces For Women Can Be Found In Many Different Designs

Whether you need a casual, everyday look or a more formal piece, seashell necklaces make a fine accessory to your designer look. Seashell necklaces are made from a range of materials,eg coral, individual sample shells and mum of pearl. Casual fashions of seashell necklaces may include pieces of little shell of the same colour strung tightly together. A favorite design of casual seashell necklaces include individually mounted specimen shells, such as a clamshell, sharks eye or conch, strung on a strong piece of thin rope, wire or leather. Seashell necklaces may be combined with a various sorts of shells, beads or even semi-precious stones like turquoise for an intricate designer look. More formal looks may include gold or silver seashell necklaces with specimen pendants. Formal seashell necklaces may include inset gemstones such as diamonds or other valuable stones or tiny pearls.

Seashell necklaces for men are another preferred trend catching on in coastal areas and beach communities. Even if you are not a surfer or fulltime beachcomber “men can achieve a coastal look by wearing seashell necklaces with a male aptitude. Such seashell necklace can be strung on dark brown or natural leather and contain a sample shell like bigger conch or shark’s teeth. Other seashell necklaces for men include small segments of white seashell closely strung together. Men can also wear seashell pendants made from metals such as pewter or silver. Sand dollar pendants strung on leather necklaces with 1 or 2 carefully placed dark black or brown beads to imaginatively offset

Seashell necklaces for youngsters are a fun way to give kids a summer look all year round. Surfer electrified fashions include coral or designs that include pieces of seashells swapping with tiny shell beads or wood beads. Seashell necklaces for children need to be especially functional and straightforward to take on and off. Pay special attention to straightforward to open and close clasps or select designs that slip easily over the youngster’s head. Youngsters can be hard on private effects, and seashell necklaces are no exception. Ensure the construction of the necklace is strong and that the string or rope will not simply break or crack into pieces. Seashell necklaces made from Puka Shells make popular choker style necklaces for kids and adults alike, and come in stunning white. Girls may enjoy wristbands or ankle bangles made to match their seashell necklace in similar color and style. Having a kid’s party to hold a celebration for a birthday? Seashell necklaces make for a creative and handy giveaway “especially if you are going with an island or beach theme. Straightforward to assemble seashell necklace kits make for a great party activity and the kid’s can wear their creations home from the party.

Seashell necklaces that you can do yourself are a fun and straightforward craft or hobby. These seashell necklaces designed and manufactured by you, make for wonderful gifts or party favors for your mates or family. The better news is that seashell necklaces can be intricate and complex or as simple as you would like. It’s a good idea to obtain some basic jewelry making tools before you embark on your design. Needle nose pliers, suitable rope, fishing line or string for stringing seashells or beads, clasps, separators or spacers and clasps are a great start. Some craft mega-stores even sell pre-made jewelry making kits with clasps and material to string your beads or seashells, to make it additional simple. Next think about your design and your materials. Are you wanting precisely seashells or do you want to mix in some beads into your seashell necklace? Individual examples like shark’s teeth or sample seashells might be combined into a seashell necklace by mounting the example item with a coordinating pendant mount or pendant setting. Standard fishing line leads to a great foundation for stringing beads or shells. Leather or wire necklaces are another choice for easy to make designs. More complex pieces can include a general color palette with varied shells, beads or semi-precious stones for additonal visible interest and texture. Try making a matching piece to go with your seashell necklaces like earrings, wristbands or maybe ankle wristbands.

Seashell necklaces are fun to wear for everyone and easy to make. Let your inspiration be your guide and enjoy mixing natural elements like seashell, wood, leather, rope, shark’s teeth, sea glass and other coastal inspirations in your design of your vey own seashell necklaces. Don't forget that these creations make for thoughtful gifts for family and friends of all ages, and are one of the most popular seashell crafts among kids and grown-ups alike. These seashell necklaces also make lasting party gifts to be enjoyed by your guests long after your party has ended. Get started today on. Looking for or designing your own special seashell necklace today.

Angela Ferrault is a wife and mom, who through varied volunteering experiences in her church and children’s college, developed a fondness for unique crafting opportunities, frequently translating these newly found abilities into charitable fundraising events.

For rather more beneficial information on seashell crafts, including more information on seashell necklaces, and more, you may visit us anytime at our site

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February 20, 2012

Start Candle Making Business

Starting a candle making business can be an exciting and profitable venture if you plan it right, but if you just jump into it without planning, chances are your business will suffer.

Initially you need to consider:

  • your ability to make attractive candles
  • your ability to run a business and from a home environment
  • where you will find your buyers
  • cost of manufacturing which with candle making is comparatively cheap
  • understanding how innovative you are to come up with new ideas
  • how you will market the business

When hobbiests decide to turn their hobby into a business, they often do it for the wrong reasons, or do not do enough research to make sure their business will be able to get off the ground.  If you are looking to start a candle business because you think it will be an easy way to make quick money, this is simply not the case.  As with any new business, it can take a little while before you start to make a considerable profit margin, and so you need to be financially and emotionally prepared for a slow start. 

 

 Candle Making Business Marketing and Research

 

If your candle business is to be successful, the first thing you need to do is some basic research.  You need to know if there is going to be a demand for your product in your area, who is likely to buy your product, and consequently who your advertising should be aimed at. Or will you look further afield for customers by selling online.

 

No business will be successful if people do not know it exists, and a home candle business is no different.  Marketing your product is one of most necessary steps you need to begin doing as you make the leap to turn your hobby into a business.  People need to know about your product if they are to buy it, and so you need to begin looking for places you can advertise your business.  Who in your area do you think would be interested in purchasing your product?  Do you have a network of friends that could help with selling your products? 

 

In the world today one of the most efficient methods of marketing a home based business is to make a website or at least a facebook page to show off your product.  You can refer people you know to this site and hope that they share it with their friends.  It can be time consuming to get a good website up and running, but using a simple blog site will give you some returns. Then when you are more successful you can do a bigger and better site. The investment you make will be worth it in the end when your candle business is booming. 

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