Saturday, January 28, 2012

Not the sharpest tool in the shed......

it was so exciting to learn about these lovely pens that disappear when you spray with water, or those that wash out, and the one that would just iron out.... 

i use them lots because I am a bit careless in my tracing!!!

when i won this lovely Rosalie Quinlan book from The Quilters Angel I wanted to make something straight away.....

off to trace using my lovely purple pen....


off to iron on the fusible stabiliser....


yup... ironing makes the picture disappear.....

.....duhhhhhh......

a little bit of 
"you are a few sandwiches shot of a picnic" and 
"couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel" 
and various other choice phrases...


so I popped it in the freezer section of my fridge....

 it's not as clear as before but it will work
(in real it was actually better than the picture shows but I did go over some of the lines again)


sometimes it pays to have a few roos loose in the paddock... they might find fresh grass!

lesson learnt


maybe I should stick to the machine applique


41 comments:

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

Oh Fiona that is something I would do! I am loving the sneak peak of this project you are doing the machine applique on ... looking forward to seeing more :)

Talin's Corner said...

As usual, love your stitchery. And your machine applique is very pretty. Those fabrics and thread that you used are so pretty.

Karen said...

You are definitely not the first to do that and of course will not be the last. I have seen it happen in a couple of classes already, and like you, the freezer worked a treat.
I think it is because we are so used to tracing the pattern first, then adding the stabilser.
Your applique looks wonderful.

Sheila said...

Just the other day we were talking about thos pens and how the freezer would bring back the markings ,thank goodness it did . Your appliqué looks wonderful want to see more. Hugs Sheila

Margaret said...

It always helps to have a jar of marbles near by --- so that if you loose one you can pop another in your pocket.

Sharon said...

don't you wish you could roll time back when you do something like that...Besides i always reason that some of my most inventive moments come from doing something like that ....or...I sit down with a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit!!!!!

WoolenSails said...

Those designs are so cute and love your stitching, really beautiful threads too. I need to do more machine appliqué for fun quilts and art pieces.

Debbie

marina said...

I think you are clever for working out how to make the lines reappear. Necessity is the mother of invention!
Love your stitchery, it's gorgeous and the stitches look perfect and that applique looks wonderful. Can't wait to see the rest.

Janet said...

Tee hee. I've done that. Love you stitcheries!

Valspierssews said...

I am thinking I better not buy that particular pen :)
Lovely stitchery. The thread is very bright and cheerful.

In stitches and seams said...

good story and great recovery

Teresa said...

ha ha....great post. I didn't know they reappear after a trip to the freezer.. see you've redeemed yourself hehe xx

sunny said...

I've heard people curse the fact that the lines come back if the fabric is frozen, but there really is a useful purpose for it! Good for you. Happy stitching.

Jeanette said...

Sorry Fiona had to have a smile & a giggle. It would be something i'd do & have done. I have that book. You've inspired me to get it out & make something from it now. Hugs,

Larissa said...

Who knew, when the freezer was invented, that we'd be putting our stitcheries in there in order to see our guide-lines?! LOL! I think they'd split their sides laughing!!!
But seriously .... lol ... your stitcheries always look gorgeously perfect!! I wouldn't give them up .. just have a giggle every time you need to put them in the freezer!
Oh, and I love your machine applique! That fabric is gorgeous!!

Jennifer said...

Fiona, 'they' say the day is never wasted if you learn something......so I suppose that is today's lesson!

Melody said...

As soon as I started to read your post I could see what was coming. You made me smile, you are such a good writer. A good smile in the afternoon always makes me happy. Thank you.

Cardygirl said...

What a hoot! Love the applique!

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

I've been told that you can put the piece that you ironed in the freezer and the lines will return. I haven't tried it, but it's worth a try. Water removes them forever(at least that what the ladies at my favorite quilt shop told me). Lovely projects!

Maria said...

Hahahaha!!! I've done that. Thanks for the tip about the freezer.

Anonymous said...

lol,i have done that also Fiona,and i feel the same as Jeanette you have inspired me to go look for that book and make something out of it,love your sneak peak.xx

Cheryll said...

Well at least you know the pen works (disappears under heat) so that was a good test!!! That's what you were doing wasn' it? Testing? lol :)

Susan said...

I did know about the freezer tip - but I hadnt heard that water will make them go entirely - I love those pens - I am not a careful tracer either so something that I can remove after is esential. Thanks to Apple Avenue Quilts for the water tip.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Guess what....I have done that...LOL...lovely project and your machine applique looks fantastic

Teresa F. said...

I love your stitching. And it's never too late to learn a new thing isn't it? LOL!!!

Sue SA said...

Cute stitcheries and looking forward to seeing the machine applique project revealed. Hmmm, yes well we are all allowed one "blonde" incident a week...or thats my excuse anyway!

Laurie said...

Oh *%$** I would have said or even stronger ... becareful with the blue wash out one if you iron it ... it is permanant
Hugs Laurie

RandR Serenity said...

Ahh Fiona,
I have done the same thing. Maybe next time just press around you lines not on.

I tend to use a VERY fine .003 pigma pen. Trick is not to go over line more than once. I used to always go over a few times like you do with a pencil when tracing something. Not when stitching!

You have beautiful stitching by the way. Nice and fine!

Hugs
Raelene

Anorina @SameliasMum said...

Made me giggle. Those pens sound fab though. Never heard of one that disappears while ironing. Must research.

Sunnybec said...

With you on the pen....I would do the same, but I probably wouldn't have thought to put it in the freezer, thanks for the tip! I have had a few disasters with the water ones....the blue just spread over my stitchery...I now use the heat removal pens. Love that little bird!

Hugs

Leanne said...

I love those friction pens, the instructions on the packet made me laugh "do not use on cheques".

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

You are sooooooo funny!! I do stuff like that all the time! Totally cool though how popping it in the freezer makes the design come back!

rosie said...

Fi, I read your post quickly yesterday, and I am still laughing!! I have so done this!! But I love those pens..

Wee Little Birds said...

I too have ironed after using those pens. We had one of the top quilters at Queensland Quilts discuss them one day. She was concerned that if you used them on your quilts that where being sent oversea to quilt shows the marks my reappear if the cargo hold was to cold. don't know about you but I don't think I will have this problem. LOL
Still raining here.

Unknown said...

Great Thinkin 99 for putting it in the Freezer wouldn't have thought of that..lol
I'm Jealous of your Machine Stitching...looks Great.
cheers

busyascanbe said...

Great post and love your stitching

Googy Girl said...

i love your story...lol
i haven't used the purple pen yet , i use the blue one but have to always constantly tell my self don't iron it don't iron it, i did one day...blue set permanently , lucky it was a little project

Allie said...

That's exactly what I do, Fiona - just pop it in the freezer for an hour or a bit more. What a darling design!

Josie said...

Oh boy! Wish I had a £ for everytime I ironed away my pattern. Those frixon pens are great... for people with brains. 'A few roos loose in the paddock' cracked me up. Thanks for the great belly laugh! It's one to remember.
Gorgeous design by the way. And lovely applique.

Miss Hillbilly said...

lOL, Yay for the freezer!

Love Bears All Things said...

Your stitchin is so lovely....
Sorry about the pen.....I use a blue one and just put my stabilizer on lose.
Mama Bear

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