Oh where, oh where can they be?

Why is it that the safe place disappears just when you need it?

When I first saw 'The Quilt Show'- Episode 202 with Cindy Needham I knew I wanted to try this technique of quilting old linens. To start with I wanted to use linens that I just picked up at the thrift store or a yard sale. I had two tucked away in a safe place and do you think I can find them? Nope! I've been searching for a week now and still haven't found them. Where in the world did I put them?

I'll be keeping my eyes open at yard sales in the next little while so for now this challenge is on hold.

And speaking of things I had to go back for... I finally finished making my own stamp! (From 'The Quilt Show'- Episode 108) This was fun. I'm not sure I would do it again for fabric (you never know though!) but for paper I would! After designing it, doing the carving  and a sample pressing on paper I decided it needed a few revisions.

I tested it with block printing ink ( way thicker than I thought it would be) and rubber stamping ink. I really preferred the stamping ink.

I also stamped it on paper, muslin and then a dark blue batik. The muslin worked great and so did the paper.

 I wasn't pleased with the dark fabric. I am a 'little' particular and I found that my coverage was not the same from one pressing to the next. On the dark fabric this really shows.

 

I used the Speedball Speedy Carve block. It was easy to carve and I got smooth lines. It was a little more difficult to get small areas 'crisp' because this is a very flexible carving block. I'll try a different type of block next time so I can get more intricate designs.

What a wonderful creative exercise! I can't wait to get more blocks and maybe I'll upgrade to the 'bigger' carving set.

Happy Stitching!