When all else fails….

talk about Goldie!

dog laying on her back
Goldie on her back

Goldie has adapted very well to being the one and only. She Loves it. This is not an unusual position for her. She does this out of the blue and just stays like that… Linzi didn’t do this. Bandit didn’t do this (ever). The only dog I have had that did was Axel… all the time. He would also play with toys on his back, trying to either hold or position a toy in his mouth with is forelegs. Goldie does this too. 

She has become a delight… now that she is healthy and seems to be learning faster. In addition, she has become the WATCH dog…. raising the alarm… when she thinks there is trouble!!! Boy can she get loud and deep.

Its great that she is doing well after a year of health issues and antibiotics. We tried to put her back on a commercial dog food, but that was a NO GO, so she is still on prescription food, although I may ask the vet if we might be able to change to one that is not the last resort formula.

We’ll be back again soon with a project. Of course technology has reared its ugly head in several areas AGAIN!

More Later- Beth

Titanium Sewing Machine Needles

The Titanium Sewing Machine Needle is the best needle you can use in your sewing machine. It doesn’t matter what machine you use, if your needle is old and dull your stitches will suffer.

Why a Titanium Needle?

A regular needle, chrome or nickel plating over steel, is rated to last 5-8 sewing hours. A Titanium needle may last 20 to 40 sewing hours. Of course the type and thickness of fabrics will vary the amount of sewing hours.

a package of Organ Brand Needles
A package of Organ Needles

What makes the Titanium Sewing Machine Needle So Great?

A Titanium Needle has a very very thin coating of Titanium Nitride applied during manufacturing that makes a gold color. By nature Titanium is heat resistant and almost non-stick. The applied Titanium helps the needle point hold its shape and dimensions for a much longer time.

A photo of the gold Titanium Needle
Gold Color of the Titanium Needle (Embroidery 80/12 shown)

Which Needle should I use?

The Titanium Top Stitch needle is a great daily sewing machine needle for piecing and general sewing. It is also capable of Free-Motion Thread Work and Free-Motion Quilting. The Top Stitch needle has a slightly deeper groove for the thread to ride in while moving through the fabric. They eye is also larger reducing the friction when the thread passes through the eye of the needle. Did you know the thread may pass through the needles eye more than 33 times before becoming a stitch? It all depends of course on the stitch length.

A Titanium Embroidery Needle is another great needle especially if you like to use some of the thicker or more finicky threads. The Titanium Embroidery needle has a large groove and a much larger and rounder eye than the Titanium Top Stitch needle to help reduce the friction on the thread even more. 

How do I choose the Needle size?

When a  choosing a Titanium Sewing Machine Needle match the needle to the thread, not the needle to the fabric. The needle size tells you how big the shaft is, the bigger the number the bigger the needle. A fine thread 60 weight you would use a smaller needle like a 75/11 ; a thicker thread like a 40 weight a larger needle such as a 90/14.

needle in a sewing machine
The gold Titanium Needle. makes threading a little easier with a larger eye

I Have a Notion carries the Titanium Top Stitch Needles in the 80/12, 90/14 and 100/16 sizes as well as the Titanium Embroidery Needles in the 80/12 and 90/14 sizes.

I Have A Notion is reviving the “Needle Exchange” Program!!!

How does the “Needle Exchange Program” work?

Do you want to try a Titanium Needle?  Send the current needle in your  sewing machine to I Have a Notion, (the mailing address is on the Policy Page, left hand column). Pin the needle to a short note which includes what you know or remember about the needle (type and size). Also please share a bit about you and a little about your sewing style, the projects, thread and fabrics you usually sew with; and include self addressed stamped envelope to I Have a Notion.

What is your favorite needle and tell us why you like it…

Until Later-Beth

Normal is Good

Life here has been getting back to normal. So catching up… was the plan of the week for everyone but Goldie. She just plays with toys, first one and then another…. If I pick them up… and put them in the box she spends a little while taking them all out. If she is impatient she up ends the whole box! This is Goldies idea of normal! 

Goldie normal.
Goldie sleeping in her upstairs crate. She sleeps upside down a fair bit.

What else is going on? In September I was a vendor at the local Quilt Show. It was so much fun, that I decided to also have a booth at another local Quilting Event. It is called the “One Stop Shop Hop of the Bluegrass” over the weekend of October 19 & 20 in Shepherdsville Kentucky. Pretty local … about a half hour up the road!!! If your are local-ish its a good day out and you get to visit with about 20 stores under one roof. There is a Fat Quarter Pot, (exchange a Fat Quarter for a ticket) and Booth Visit Bingo Game.

So I am spending a good deal of time preparing for a booth, again. There is so much to that… from having inventory to displays and the logistics of getting it all from point A to point B! Fortunately it is all aspects of creativity, so while I am not in the Creative Space much;

sample Chicken Dance blocks
New Chicks… 

I have been working on the Chickens (I have been asked if there is a pattern for my Chicken Dance quilt so I have had to check measurements and requirements) so I am making a smaller quilt. I have also been working on a new sample for an upcoming sharing/teaching (Threadpainting) opportunity later this month locally.  I shared this technique in July as well with some ladies in Indiana!

Thread painted flowers and vase
Flower Vase.  All those bright flowers make me smile!

These are some of the flowers for the Threadpainting…. I try not to make too many the same/similar.

Threadpainting flower assortment
Threadpainting flowers

Well this post got a bit waylaid as I was writing it. But most of it is still relevant! That is the not so eventful life I lead! 

Whats been keeping you busy?

More Later! Beth