Marker Quilt Squares

Quilting / By

A nice selection of permanent colored marking pens are a great media to express your creativity on your next quilt, pillow, or tote project.

mushroom quilt patternSupplies:

100% cotton fabric
Assorted color selection of permanent marking pens
Fine point black permanent marking pen
1″ wide masking tape
clip board
printed pattern – Mushroom Wood Spirits

Do a test square on the fabric you will be using before you begin painting your quilt square.  Some brands of colored permanent marking pens can make other brands bleed.

1.  Begin by choosing a pale color fabric.  You can use a solid, tone on tone, and even a pale  colored print.  Cut your fabric to the size of your quilt pattern instructions plus 2″ on the wide and 2″ on the length.

2. Tape your printed pattern to the center of your clip board.  Center the fabric square over the pattern, fold the excess fabric to the back of the clip board and using masking tape secure the sides. You will see the printed pattern lines through the fabric.

3.  Permanent markers not only come in a nice, wide range of colors they are also available is several sizes of pen tip widths.  For my mushroom tote and quilt square owl I used medium sized tip points for the main coloring and a fine point black marker for my outlining and detailing.

mushroom_04Since the marking pen colors are translucent some of the color of the fabric will effect the final color of each area of your painting.  If you are working on a pale green fabric with a bright yellow marker the area will become a bright yellow-green color.  You can use a scrap of your fabric as a test square for each color that you want to use.

4.  Begin each area with your palest color, then add layers of gradually darker colors to create realistic shading and gradual changes in color.  You can work several layers of marker color over one area, allowing each area to dry for a few moments to intensify the final color tone.

5.  Complete all of the color work then let your fabric dry thoroughly.  Now use the black fine point marking pen to add your details, outlines, and to sign your artwork.

6.  Set your colored art using a dry, cotton setting on your iron.  That’s all you need to do to turn any pattern into an original painted quilt square.

When you get your’s done I would love to see it!!!!!

My sample is worked on a finished block size of 8″ x 11″ with 2 1/2″ orange boarders.  The Sides of the tote were cut at 3 1/2″.

mushroom patterns by Lora S Irishowl_02

These two samples are ready to become quick, fun throw pillows.
Retro Owls

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Free Online Line Art Craft Patterns

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The Fourth of July marks the founding of our great country, the United States of America. As part of this celebration we have a free online download line art pattern package for your next arts, craft, or hobby project.

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LSIrish Eagle Patterns

Click the link above for your free download pattern pack.

Hope you enjoy these three classic American Eagle Patterns.  In fact we hope that you enjoy them enough to let your friends and family know where they can download their pack through twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

 This freebie is available only here at LSIrish.com, as our Thank You for being a follower of our blog.  As always our freebies are true freebies – no sign-ins, no emails, no shopping carts to go through, no hassles from the management – just click and save fun!

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Sharpening Your Wood Carving Tools

Leave a Comment / Woodcarving / By

Sharp carving knives, gouges, and chisels are a must for any wood carving project, whether it is a 3-dimensional little cowboy, relief landscape, or a whittled animal.

If your bench knife seems to drag through the cutting stroke or if it leaves behind fine, thin scratch marks in the cut it is time to get out your sharpening stones, leather strop, and rouging compound.  Dull knives and rough cutting edges can be dangerous as they cause you to apply excess pressure to make the stroke.

I start every carving session by first checking the sharpness of my tool edges.  You can do this several ways.  First, make a few cuts on a basswood practice stick.  Your tool should push through the cut smoothly, if it seems to drag or hang-up on the wood it needs sharpening.  You can also look at the cutting edge of the blade under a bright light.  If your tool is dull the cutting edge will appear as a white line or you may see white spots where there are dings or dents.

I also check my sharpening stones on a regular bases as they can become bellied or bowed in the center from use.

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Let’s look at the simple steps to sharpening your wood carving knives, gouges, and chisels.

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Whittle Tiki Chess Set Carving

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Tikit Chess Set, Beginner’s Wood Carving Project

In depth, step-by-step, how to wood carve your own unique Chess Set.

Download your free wood carving pattern package on the project page!

Tiki Chess Set by Lora IrishThis one is perfect for the brand new beginning carver to walk through the simple cutting steps. For you seasoned whittlers the Tiki theme is great for innovation, experimentation, and creating your own unique chess pieces. Each piece has taken me about one evening’s session to create.

So get your tool kit out. You will need a bench knife, 3/8″ round gouge, 1/8″ round gouge, and your favorite v-gouge. Bring your carving glove, thumb guard, a compass and pencil, a little sandpaper, a set of rifflers, and, of course, your strop and rouging compound.

Tiki Chess Set by Lora IrishThe set is worked on 1 1/4″ square by 3″ basswood and 1 1/4″ square by 4″ basswood blocks. The patterns can easily be re-sized to fit other square dimensions and these Tiki’s would make great cane toppers or walking stick tops.

 

 

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