British Olympic Team

The Olympics have always been seen as a recognition of well honed athletes at the top of their game, and the 2012 Olympics are no exception.

This year's Olympics feature the First To The Bar and the Most Drunk races, both new categories.  This post is to introduce some of Britain's top athletes entering those races.

A late entry into the Olympics is athlete Craig, who is shown above holding up the official Olympic symbol, which he lovingly made himself from some greasy onion rings.  Good to see that he is hard at work in full training.

Also in the running are two, slightly more experienced athletes (read older).  Athlete Mark slurred that he had been in training all his life for this moment, to which athlete Alan quipped that it had clearly been a very long training session!  

Doesn't it make you proud to be British!

Readers of the Coven blog, may have seen the post about my cousin (Unc's daughter) doing a wing walk.  Unc has never been one to stand in someone's shadow and so after his daughter did it, he insisted on going up too.

This is the after shot.  Sadly he had forgotten to wear his braces, so his trousers blew off.  Still, you have to give him full marks for effort.  I'm just glad it's not me who has to wash those pants!

Screen Printing For Cheapos!

I've been experimenting with some surface design stuff, hoping that I can find something new to integrate into my quilts.  I bought some Thermofax screens whilst in the UK, but I don't want to ruin them, until I have an understanding of the printing process.  I've wanted to do silkscreen printing for ages, so decided to give it a go.  There has only been one problem so far, and quite a fundamental one at that, I can't find any silkscreens on sale her in Bangkok!

After taking to You Tube (and of course losing countless hours in the process, don't you just LOVE it), I came up with a few ideas about how to build a screen, what I could use as mesh and importantly, what I could use as a resist on the mesh.

The first idea was to repurpose an old painting.  Not having any that I could do that with, I had to buy a new canvas and strip it off the frame.  I then took the frame and stapled the mesh to it, very tightly.  Old net curtains appears to be the popular method (though I did see old tights/pantyhose used as mesh), but as I didn't have any (of either), I had to use some expensive organza (sob!).

Then the edges were sealed with some duct tape.  The tape was also laid about an inch over the mesh, to form wells for the paint.

CHRISSY BRININSTOOL AND HER SEWING MACHINE

The Divine Ms B, otherwise known as Chrissy Brininstool, has sent her review.  I suspect this may be the oldest machine in this series.

Incidentally, I always wondered why we never saw Bill and now we know.  Poor Bill is kept in a sweatshop, beavering away and ruining his eyes.  Or maybe, given what she has created and made him wear in the past (see below), he just prefers to keep her off the sewing machine!

Here is a picture of my sewing machine and my pathetic sewing corner where I've produced many a HUGE quilt. And you thought I was a whiner! Anyone who does not whine about this little sewing space is a SAINT!!! So if you ever come to stay with me and I get the urge to sew in the middle of the night, you will be right behind me!!!!!
(Oh no, she sleeps naked and I bet she hasn't waxed her back recently, ugh!).

My machine was purchased in 1966, a brand new Singer, and is not plastic. It has never been out of my sight or hands. Yes, that is right, it has never been serviced or used by anyone else.

JANICE TEA AND HER SEWING MACHINES

A review of three sewing machines by Janice Tea.  I'm afraid to say anything rude about her, as she may make me sleep out in the woods, when I visit her in Utah - as in CAMP!

PFAFF CREATIVE 1467

Janice and her kids

I purchased this after graduate school, around 1989.  I originally had a Singer, very basic, but I sewed mine and the kids clothes on it.

How VERY Sound of Music of you Janice!  

IRA AND HER SEWING MACHINE

From Ira Joseph, the owner of Quilts 'n' Calicoes in Singapore.  She is also the founder/organiser of the annual quilt exhibition held at the Singapore Botanical Gardens.  Though she and her sewing machines remain camera shy, she did find 5 minutes to dash off some answers.


What sewing machines do you use?
Mainly Janomes, with 2 Berninas (non computerized) from long ago.  I don't like computerized models much, as I like to adjust my stitches to my liking exactly.

Kim & Her Sewing Machine

The first (I hope!) sewing machine review.

What machine do you use (make and model number)?

I sew on a Husqvarna Designer 11

How long have you owned it?

I have owned it for about 9 or 10 years I think.  I bought it in England and had it shipped to Japan, as it was cheaper than buying it there.

Is this your only sewing machine and if not, what other machines do you have?

I have two other machines, a Singer in France (I have no idea what model it is, just think cheapest in the lawnmower shop!) and an Elna here, as a backup machine, which I have owned for about 18 years I guess.

Stupendous Stitching

Like most quilters I know, I use only two or three of the stitches from the many that are available on my sewing machine.  The quilter Carol Ann Waugh however, uses every single stitch on her machine.  And I mean every stitch.  Carol has produced some interesting looking quilts, so I signed up for her class Stupendous Stitching on Craftsy and gave it a go.

Am I Related to Hitler?

We've all heard the stories about Elvis resurfacing in Prague or Michael Jackson being seen alive and well in Berlin, but Hitler in Harrow?

Unc sent me this photo of my grandmother, uncles and aunts and standing in the middle is...HITLER!  Well actually its Unc.  Or maybe not.

Could it be possible that Hitler is alive and kicking and spending his retirement as a picker?