Telecast Thursday - Exploring Kraft Tex

It's Telecast Thursday and this week I'm exploring some new fabric, er paper, er fabric paper. Yes, I'm looking at Kraft-Tex. This combination of fabric and paper is really more like leather or canvas to me. It is made by C & T Publishing and is available in white, natural, stone or chocolate. I grabbed some white to check it out.

If you haven't yet heard about this product, you'll want to watch the video below or on my Youtube channel to see what it's all about.

I can already think of several ways I can use Kraft-Tex, rather than creating book covers or iPad covers. I think it would be great in a mixed media project where I can colour and distress it. I'm thinking 3D flowers, geometric shapes appliquéd to a fabric background...there are lots of ways to use this innovative product.

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Have you tried Kraft-Tex? Leave a comment below to let me know about your experiences with it.

Creatively,

Antique China, Linens and Sewing Machines at Heritage Park

Twice a year Heritage Park holds an antique and collectibles sale. I only learned about this sale in October (where I purchased a lovely Singer 128 sewing machine), but wanted to be sure make it to its spring counterpart in April. 

It's fun to go to an event in the park during the off-season as you're allowed to drive down into the park and there's no fee to get in! The antique sale is held in one of the large Chautaqua tents and you can park right behind the tent so that makes it easy to carry out your treasures (you really didn't think I'd go to a sale and not walk away with something, did you?).

Some of the items in the sale are from donations that Heritage Park has received and some are from their collections. 

The items are all sorted and spread out on table cloth covered tables. I love how the china is all set out which allows you to see it very well. In addition to several sets of china, there were dining room sets, record albums, luggage, vintage linens (yum!) and tools. Something for everyone!

While I love china, I really don't have the space or use for more sets, so I contented myself with snapping photos of some of the more appealing sets. 

There are always a few old sewing machines at the sale and this year there was a treadle in a beautiful carved cabinet as well as a very old Singer hand crank model. I don't need another treadle in the house, although it was a gorgeous cabinet, and the hand crank Singer was too rusted to be appealing to me - and priced more than I would've paid for a machine in this condition.

I did like these antique china bowls - such beautiful colours on them - but at $139.00 for the set, that was too rich for me.

While I could identify most of the items there, this one puzzled me. It's a candle wick trimmer - and I really should've bought it, but the "as is" on the label made me hesitate.

There were lots of vintage linens though and these were reasonably priced. I did pick up several of these that were in very good shape. 

Interestingly enough they had received donations of yarn and were selling these at $1.00 a skein or bag. I picked up some linen/cotton blend yarn that looked like it would work for couching. At $1.00 for two large balls of yarn, I couldn't pass it up.

It was a fun way to spend a Friday afternoon and I'll be looking forward to the next show in the fall.

Creatively,

First Gluten Free Recipe - A Success Story

I love baking, but seem to find little time for it lately. Luckily I had an excuse to bake - a visit from a quilty friend! This particular friend has a gluten sensitivity so I was challenged to come up with a gluten free recipe (hey, that rhymes!). Since I like quick breads, I decided to make banana bread.

I found the recipe for The Best Ever Super Moist Gluten Free Banana Bread (boy, that's a mouthful) at www.gimmedelicious.com. It was definitely moist! It was also quick dense and heavy and made a very large loaf. The recipe called for chocolate chips, but as I'm foregoing chocolate for a few more weeks, I omitted these. 

This is the first time I've made a gluten free recipe and I found the texture different than what I was used to - not bad, just different. It also took much longer to cook than the recipe suggested. The banana bread was very tasty and my friend gave it a thumbs up.

If you're a whiz at gluten free baking, share your favourite recipe with me in the comments below. I'd love to have more recipes in my repertoire for upcoming visits. 

Oh, and we did find time to do some talk about quilting and my new Handi Quilter Infinity 26. More about what I've been creating on it in an upcoming post.

Creatively,

Alex in the Long Arm Studio

Now that I have a new long arm machine I also have more accessories that need to be stored in my quilt studio, or should I say long arm studio, situated in the quilt studio annex - commonly called the basement.

Surprisingly I haven't gone hog wild and bought every long arm accessory on the market. I did get a ruler base and one ruler: Handi Quilter's VersaTool. I bought extra bobbins and needles and the channel locks too. To save my fingers I bought some Leader Grips and love working with these - so much quicker and pain free! I think I have enough tools for now, but I do need to store them somewhere convenient so I can access them when long arming. Where could I find a storage unit for them? Ikea, of course!

Photo courtesy of handiquilter.com

I already have one Alex in which I store my threads, now I could get the wider, lower one to fit under my Handi Quilter Infinity. A quick jaunt to Ikea - really, I didn't look at anything else and went straight to the aisle to get it - and home I came with a new long arm accessory storage unit.

Photo courtesy of ikea.com

Thanks to hubby, it was quickly assembled and now I have all I need to long arm, including my pantographs, easily accessible under my Infinity.

Gotta love Ikea for their practical pieces and great price point.

Have you Ikea'd your studio yet? Leave a comment below letting me know what Ikea pieces you have in your studio.

Creatively,

Telecast Thursday - Bohin Double Needle Threader Review

Do you have problems threading small eyed needles?

I like to use size 10 sharps when hand stitching on my binding and struggle to get the thread through the small eye on this size needle.

I've been using the Clover Double Needle Threader and it works okay, but I find that the metal part that you use to thread the needle becomes distorted over time and eventually breaks, so I have to buy a new one.

I also need to have my reading glasses on to use this product - so I can get the thread into the metal part - but I've found a wonderful alternative that I'm loving: the Bohin Double Needle Threader.

This product threads my needles easily and best of all I don't need my reading glasses to use it!

Watch the video below or on my Youtube channel to see how easy it is to use the Bohin Double Needle Threader.

If you're having trouble threading your small eyed needles, give the Bohin Double Needle Threader a try - you'll find it a snap!

Creatively,

P.S. I'm an Amazon affiliate and will receive a small compensation if you purchase an item using the links in this blogpost. This helps me continue to provide you with videos and tutorials. Thanks!