Glue for paper piecing

I recently did a search on what kind of glue is best for foundation paper piecing. I try to use glue sparingly but I always use it to attach my first piece of fabric and also any large pieces that might get folded over and sewn in wrong. I've been paper piecing for almost 25 years and I have always used Elmer's Washable School Glue stick. I thought that maybe a better product had come along in that time but I can absolutely say that I have NOT found one. One of the videos I watched suggested a repositionable glue stick and I thought "What a great idea!". It ended up not being a great idea at all! It was actually a very bad idea. Since this glue doesn't "dry", the back of my block was sticky and because I like to press both sides of my blocks I put my iron down on the glue without even thinking about it. Then I proceeded to press the front of my block and left gray smudges on it in a couple of places. As soon as I noticed that, I cleaned off my iron and used a pressing cloth on the rest of the blocks. I will find another use for the 3 glue sticks that came together in my order and stick to using Elmer's from now on. The thing I like best about Elmer's is that it dries and when it does I can usually get most, if not all, of the paper out of my finished block. Do you have a favorite tool or notion that you can't live without?

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks--Just Clowning Around



This is just one idea for a finished quilt using my block design



This is my block featured in and on the cover of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks by Today's Top Designers!





And this is a picture of what one of my winners will receive along with one copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 3. Is a page of my clown faces printed on Printed Treasures. You must be one of my followers to qualify for this prize and also leave a comment on today's post.



If you leave a comment on today's post you will be entered in a drawing to receive a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers Vol. 3. In addition, if you are one of my followers and leave a comment you will have a chance to win a copy of the magazine and also a page of my clown faces printed on Printed Treasures so you will be ready to start sewing when the issue arrives!

For anyone who might be interested in purchasing a page of my clown faces please send me an email for more info at: larkspurlanedesigns@yahoo.com

Here is a link to Quiltmaker's blog with all the information for all of the other designers participating in the blog tour. http://www.quiltmaker.com/100blocks.html There are some amazing blocks and amazing designers in this issue so be sure to check them all out!

The issue will be available by May 10th, so if you don't win one, you're not out of luck!

Angel Kits are Ready!

PRESS RELEASE

LOCAL QUILT ARTIST DESIGNS COMMEMORATIVE BLOCK TO BENEFIT
THE CLELAND FAMILY FUND

PITTSBURGH, PA, JANUARY 12, 2011: Last month, many were devastated by the fatal car accident which took the life of 7-year-old Lexa Cleland and left her mother, Nicole, facing numerous surgeries and months of recovery. Local quilt designer and friend of the Cleland family, Sue Cook, realized she has a unique way to help the family and inspire others to do the same.

Sue is known for the extraordinary pieced pictorial work she offers through her company, Larkspur Lane Designs, and for patterns featured in numerous quilting magazines. To help her friend and to honor the memory of Lexa, Ms. Cook has designed a pattern for a beautiful foundation-pieced block appropriately titled Lexa’s Angel. This piece displays an ethereal angel, which can be finished as a small wall quilt or pillow. Several angels could become the centerpiece of an exceptional quilt. A kit for the block, including the foundation paper and fabric similar to Sue’s original is available from Quilter’s Corner in Finleyville for a suggestion donation of $6.00. One hundred percent of the proceeds from each Angel kit sold will go directly to the Cleland Family Benefit Fund to aide the family during this difficult time. Each completed block will help preserve the memory of a special child.

Contact Quilter's Corner at 724-348-8010 to get your kit.

My Newest Angel

This is the latest version of my Angel pattern that I have sewn out. I have gotten such a wonderful response to the earlier version that I decided to work on the original design and have made some changes. Anyone that got the earlier version and would like to have the newest version can send me an email and I will send it out.

Anyone else that would like to make a donation to The Cleland Family Fund and receive my Angel pattern as a "Thank You" from me would be much appreciated.

Nicole Cleland is a friend of mine who was involved in a car accident earlier this month with a drunk driver. Her 7 year old daughter Lexa was killed in the accident and Nicole has more surgeries ahead of her and about 5 months of recovery. There is no telling when or if she will be able to return to work.

The Cleland Family Fund is set up at The First National Bank:
2550 Brownsville Rd.
South Park PA 15129
412-831-4800

Send me an email after you make your donation and I will email you the pattern for Lexa's Angel. larkspurlanedesigns@yahoo.com

Thank you!
Sue