The Toll Men

Quilting is already a fun hobby but did you know that their are thousands of other quilters out there just like you with an undying passion to quilt and learn about new techniques and patterns? What if I told you that you could get free quilting patterns online as well as connect with some incredible quilters? On this site I found you can do all of this and this is one powerful tool because it makes quilting a lot more fun than you were already having! Imagine sharing your ideas, concepts, quilt pictures and even patterns, with other enthusiastic quilter? I’m glad I joined!

Just about every hobby has its own corresponding social networking site such as forums, groups on the big five social networks and web 2.0 sites and even chat rooms. What would you say to a membership site dedicated strictly to quilters with all the bells and whistles of any social networking site? What if I told you this site had free quilting patterns, advanced communication tools like video chat, voice chat, and much more? You’d probably say where do I sign up right? I know that’s what I said when I saw this site in a Google search for my quilt patch, while looking for patterns by private users on the web. I found much more than I ever thought was possible!

Selecting the right type of threads for any embroidery work is important because the color and texture of the design, and eventually the look of the final product depend on the material and type of thread used. There’s a wide variety of embroidery thread to choose from, so take your time to decide what type or combination should be best for the design you have in mind. More importantly, thread selections should be based on Sewability, Seam Performance and Appearance, Availability and Cost.

Types:

1. Rayon: This type of thread has a great sheen, and so the best looking embroidery designs are stitched with it. Rayon threads can range from combinations of two or more colors twisted together thereby forming a single strand, to one solid color strand. They are widely available, mostly in standard 40 wt. and 30 wt. Even though Rayon is the most popular type, it’s not very sturdy because of its thinness.

2. Polyester: Polyester thread is more durable than Rayon but it is not as attractive. However, this type of embroidery thread hardly shrinks or fades, and if combined with Rayon, the effect they provide is nearly indistinguishable. It is also cheaper than Rayon thread.

3. Cotton: Cotton thread allows for a wide range of tension adjustments because of its texture. It has a nice sheen, is quite sturdy (though finer threads above 50 wt. are not), and typically used for machine embroidery.

4. Silk: Silk embroidery thread hardly breaks and has its own unique, and probably the best sheen. Threads come in various sizes but their availability is low so they are mostly used for luxury fabrics.

5. Metallic Thread: This type of thread has a core wrapped with a metal foil which may be coated with silver alloy, and color is added to this foil with a polyester film which may also be applied as an undercoating. Metallic thread is one of the most durable available on the market.

6. Mylar Thread: Plies of film are combined into a layer, cut into slices to create Mylar threads. They are durable but may break under high-speed sewing. One unique color feature is holographic hue, which picks up and reflects light or color from other surrounding objects. This really enhances the color and design of the embroidery.

7. Special-effect: Like the name suggests, this type of thread can be used to create different design effects, such as crewel-like effect. Some of the special effect threads change colors under sunlight, or may glow in the dark.

Quality Evaluation:

1. Tensile Strength: The tensile strength of an embroidery thread can be tested by sawing a suspended strand with another strand back and forth until the first strand breaks. The faster it breaks, the lower the strength and quality of that particular thread type.

2. Elongation: A good thread must have the right amount of stretch. Take a piece of the thread and stretch it till it breaks. The strand should neither break too quickly nor stretch for too long.

3. Sheen: The luster and quality of the sheen can be tested by studying the color and design of a finished embroidery product.

Embroidery HQ offers articles, tips and tricks about embroidery.

The first step in creating your ceramic bisque is to start with nature’s own clay. Like a great sculptor needs his wood, stone or ice, the ceramic bisque creator will need clay. Mix your clay with some water and what you are left with is called slip.

The next vital piece of your ceramic bisque puzzle is a plaster mould. The purpose of the mould is to leech away all the unnecessary water. Your slip goes into the mould and, as the water is removed the clay will cling to the walls of your mould. This water is then drained off and what you are left with is a shell, which is still very wet, very fragile.

Ceramic bisque cannot, of course, be wet. Your clay is left in the mould and allowed to dry. As it dries it hardens, once the moisture has been pulled out of the clay you will be free to release it from the mould.

It is always a wonderful experience when the mould is cracked revealing your future piece of ceramic bisque. To the untrained eye it may look like a hollow clay shell but in your visualization you are already seeing your wonderful completed piece of ceramic bisque.

Please keep in mind that by virtue of the fact that your ceramic bisque is coming out of a mould means that there will be seams. These seam lines will need to be removed along with any other imperfections your ceramic bisque may have.

The last station on your ceramic bisque creation train is firing. Your ceramic bisque piece will remain in the oven for up to 6 hours at temperatures in excess of 1800 F. This will remove all the remaining moisture and harden your ceramic bisque.

When removed from the kiln your ceramic bisque is a completed product. All that remains is to finish it in the paint finish that you have chosen. This in itself is an exciting finale to your “masterpiece”.

Sources:
www.streamers.com/gbk.htm

Anne Kaye is an experienced potter
This article courtesy of http://ceramic-ceramics.com You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

The Goat and the Rope

where there were devils I saw none.
nothing. the air is hot. milky substance.
I am and we are looking at this deep.
souls lost. we are looking at this terrain.
the moon is dead. over my head. like
a shadowy curtain. hanging. most of
the kings in westminister abbey are
here. all the rest of us are on the hill.
no ice-cream down here. we are the
discarded. the seduced. most of us slept
through our earthly lives. they’re still
sleeping through the whole thing. like
a fat cat rolling over for mama. pass out
the beer. slide one under the door. Use
the bible for wrapping paper. once you’re
dead, you’re dead. woooo. here comes
the torture. give me chloroform. quick.
I am dead. but something tells me I’ll still
feel it. there are no carcasses down here.
only the feathered weird. they move their
wings like crippled wasps. they sweat
like a bull snorts. they seem satisfied.
they’ve been in the dark way too long.

they walk noble. naked. like jungle
rats. civilized with stench. a black hawk
is over head. it’s turned about. looks
like an albino now. I wish I wish I had a
helicopter. here comes the torture. give
me chloroform. a shot of whisky will do.
crippled wasps get out of my way. slide
one under the door. please. first time I
ever said that. cat rolling over. where
there were devils I saw none. wish I had
a helicopter. I wonder if sex is part of
the dead program. I think I lost the goat
and the rope.

#816 8/27/2005

In Spanish
Translated by Nancy Penaloza

La soga y la Cabra

Donde all hubo diablos yo no vi ninguno.

Nada. El aire est caliente. Sustancia lechosa.
Yo estoy y estamos mirando esto profundo.

El alma perdida. Estamos mirando a este terreno.

La luna est muerta. Sobre mi cabeza. Como
Una cortina vaga. Colgando. La mayor parte

De los reyes en la abada de los ministros del oeste

Estn aqu. Todo el resto de nosotros est sobre la colina.

Ningn helado aqu abajo. Somos los desechados.

Los seducidos. La mayor parte de nosotros dormidos
A través de nuestras vidas terrenales. Ellos todava
Duermen a través de todo esto. Como un pez gordo

Dando vueltas por mam muerta.

La cerveza. Deslice una bajo la puerta. Use
La Biblia para el papel de envolver. Una vez que usted
Esté muerto, usted est muerto. Woooo. Aqu viene

La tortura. Déme el cloroformo. Rpido.
Estoy muerto. Pero algo me dice que todava
Lo sentiré. No hay ningn cuidado aqu abajo
Slo, el con plumas extrao. Ellos mueven sus
Alas como avispas tullidas. Ellos sudan
Como un resoplido de toro. Ellos parecen satisfechos.

Ellos han estado en el camino oscuro demasiado tiempo.

Ellos andan nobles. Desnudos. Como ratas
De la selva. Civilizados con hedor. Un halcn negro
Esta sobre la cabeza. Este esta dando vuelta. Parece a
Un albino ahora. Deseo, deseo que yo tuviera un
Helicptero. Aqu viene la tortura. Déme
El cloroformo. Un tiro de gisqui lo har.
Avispas tullidas fuera de mi camino. Deslcese
Una bajo la puerta. Por favor. La primera vez
Alguna vez dije esto. Gato dando vueltas. Donde

Haba diablos yo no vi ninguno. Deseo que yo tuviera
Un helicptero. Me pregunto si el sexo es parte del
Programa muerto. Pienso que perd la soga y la cabra.

*816 8/27/2005

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