Repost - Video - How to Install a Slide Clasp on a Purse

My apologies to those who've seen this post before. However, Blogger messed with the original and the video (the whole point of the post) was deleted. So I am reposting the article. 

I know when I was trying to work it out, it was a bit tricky installing (?) the slide clasp on the purse. I went looking and there was no YouTube video? The horror. So I  made one. It's my first go, so be kind. I hope it helps.

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Churn Dash on My Mind!!

This post is Churn Dash themed!! My Guild is running a Civil War Repro's Churn Dash block swap this year. Make 10 blocks and get 10 different ones back each month for 10 months!! The little suckers are 4.5" finished. I had hoped to have them done before this but the first batch weren't up to scratch. So all elements were made oversized and cut down. I am happier with this bunch.

I read Bonnie Hunters blog everyday. Always worth a visit. Recently I saw her method for pressing her chain pieced segments. She leaves them together and cuts them apart AFTER pressing. It was one of those ah ha moments!!

I love this technique. Made pressing much faster and simpler. Especially easy with the HST as there are two lines of sewing which I think adds extra stability.

Here are the elements getting trimmed or cut out.

Continuing with the Churn Dash theme. I was checking out the latest videos from the Missouri Star Quilt Company and noticed one called Disappearing Pinwheel - Churn Dash. Two of my favourite blocks in one! So I watched it and am hooked! I'm normally not a fan of these 'disappearing' variations but this one really works, a shortcut technique rather than variation (although there are plenty of them too!).

And check out Vicki's Fabric Creations for a great visual guide to the different blocks you can make using this one block/technique.

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Spiked Dresden Video Tutorial

A couple of people have asked about how the insert works. So I've done a very quick video up. I hope this will be helpful.

Please keep in mind that this production involved my iPhone, a garbage bin and a can of cannilleni beans!

Please go here for the original Spiked Dresden Plate tutorial.

Spiked Dresden Plate Tutorial from Laren on Vimeo.

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Christmas Lights

It's probably a bit late, but I don't really have anything else to post, so I present the Christmas lights on my house!

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Gloucester Shakespeare Festival, 2007

Got an early start, picked up a couple of people at 8am and headed off to Gloucester for the Shakespeare Festival. We were the second to arrive at about 9.45am so we made pretty good time. Helped to set up the tents, put up banners, put embroidery out for display.

It was a nice day, still too warm to be wearing wool. I think I need to start being less authentic at these events. I don't think anyone really cares if I'm being authentic, they are only there for the fighting.

There was a pretty good turnout, but very few food places and no Turkish people!! The golzemes are my main reason for going! We found out later in the day that the Tocal Field Day was on, so that's where everyone had gone.

We left at about 3.30pm, I dropped Lara and Tim off, and treated myself to a Butter Chicken from Beaumont St. Was dog tired, hit the sack at 9.30pm.

Here is a video of some fighting, I've been trying to get this to work in YouTube for hours, but couldn't. So here it is in GoogleVideo. It looks better with the screen slightly smaller, ah well:

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