Be Creative When Using Fabric Trims To Enhance the Look

Garments and apparels can be transformed to look fashionable when you use fabric trims creatively and provide a new dimension. Apart from creating stylish and elegant dresses, you can also use these trims to enhance the décor of your home. The advantage of using fabric trims is that a simple dress can be transformed to an exciting outfit that looks great when it is worn. There are several types of trims that can be selected as there is a wide choice available that can be used to come up with beautiful creations.

You should select the lace or trim that complement the material and fabric colour. You could ask your friend to help you with the design by selecting the best trim that will enhance the dress to give it a new look. The best way to look for the perfect fabric trim is to scour the internet as it is possible to find a variety of shapes, colours and designs. Different materials are available in linen, wool and silk which can be used to advantage.

Anyone working in a garment industry will be familiar with these trims and the difference they make when added to fabric. They can be used on swimwear, nursing scrubs, dancewear, pillows, tablecloths and slipcovers, car seats, rug hooking, boat covers, draperies and upholstery. They add unmatched value when used with different fabrics and you should try to use them wisely to enhance the look of these finished products.

You may transform an old dress by sewing trims or enhance the value of the dress by pasting fabric on them to create a stunning look. There is no limit to being creative when using these laces and fabric trims. You can save money if you are on a tight budget by purchasing a plain dress and transforming it to a smart outfit with the addition of fabric trims or laces.

A wide selection of fabric trims are available in styles which include ribbons, laces, braids and cord trims. Many of them come with sequins, rhinestones and beads which enhance the look when accessories are included. A popular item is ribbon trims that are embroidered, printed or available in jacquard. Golden and grey threads are available for creating stunning designs. Mix and match these trims and laces to come up with beautiful and stunning creations.

You can also use other textile accessories apart from braids and laces to enhance the look of the outfits and make them look more expensive. A fabric may look attractive when you add a brush fringe and these are available in various colors and widths. The other alternative is a bullion fringes which can be used on many types of textiles.

Fabric cording is another accessory that can be used for textiles, and it comes in various shades and colors. Many attractive cords are available with gold and silver twisted varieties. Spend time browsing through the wide selection if you want great results and ensure that you enhance the look of your home using these decorative items or your outfits to achieve that smart look.

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Singer Treadle Sewing Machines: Singer 66 Review

Many people are collecting vintage sewing machines dating back to the 1800s. In the past Singer was the most famous brand in the world and even today the company's name is synonymous with the sewing machine. When the company introduced home sewing machines to the public, Singer 66 became an instant hit. This machine is operated by a large rubber belt extending from the balance wheel to the large foot pedal at the bottom. Singer treadle machines never faded away completely.

Singer 66 was the best sewing machine that the world had seen in 1908. Those who have used this machine describe it as a beautiful and elegant piece of furniture as well as a highly functional one. This heavy duty machine is a simple and easy to use, featuring a drop-in bobbin, adjustable presser foot pressure, and adjustable stitch length and width. When in proper condition, Singer 66 can sew delicate fabrics to denim. It will also handle any of your household sewing with ease.

Singer treadle sewing machines are still used by many quilters and sewers. If you get a Singer 66 machine, chances are everything will be easy to find in terms of accessories and replacement parts. Components are available both aftermarket and from collectors. Even if the machine doesn't look like new, it can sew beautifully when cleaned, tuned, and oiled. The reason why Singer 66 is so easy to run is because of the way it is designed. This model is basically a full sized version of Singer 99.

This non-electric, treadle operated vintage sewing machine is ideal for beginners. It is easy to maintain and has sturdy metal construction. The machines sold in the United Kingdom featured a different design known as the lotus design. The basic gold Singer trademark decals replaced this design between 1910 and 1920. Sewers refer to the original decals distributed in the United States as "red eye" because of the two red ovals, like eyes, on the arm.

Working on the Singer 66 is a unique experience. The stitches are beautiful and sturdy. The machine doesn't have a built-in lamp, but there is plenty of space to add one to the workspace. Most sewers agree that no other machine will ever be able to math the intricate beauty of the stitches created on these machines. Singer 66 is built to last, stays put, and will sew gorgeous stitches for generations on a large variety of fabrics.

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Sewing Safety Tips: Staying Safe in the Sewing Room

Sewing is a fun and relaxing way to express your creativity. It's also an activity that involves a lot of sharp, pointy objects that can be dangerous if not handled with care.

Here are some tips that will help you avoid the most common sewing dangers.

Keep Sharp Objects Away from Your Mouth

You've probably seen the image in countless movies and TV shows. A busy fashion designer is working feverishly in her studio, eyes bright with creative fire. She has pencils sticking out of her hair, measuring tape hanging from her neck, and a half dozen straight pins sticking out of her mouth.

This is something you should never do. Yes, your mouth can seem like a convenient "holding area" when your hands are busy. But imagine tripping with those pins or needles in your mouth. It isn't a pretty picture, is it?

Pins and needles go in pin cushions. For the sake of convenience, buy a pin cushion that you can wear on your wrist.

Scissor Safety

The best fabric scissors and sewing shears are razor sharp. But the sharper something is, the more dangerous it can be. So here are some scissor safety tips.

It's much too easy to get into the habit of dropping scissors into your lap when you're not through with them. But, do this often enough, and it's just a matter of time before you stab yourself in the thigh. Instead, when you're not using your scissors, drop them into a container with the blades down. This way you don't have to worry about getting distracted and grabbing the scissors at the wrong end.

If you absolutely have to set your scissors down on a flat surface, make sure the blades are closed, and the scissors aren't in a position where they could easily get knocked onto the floor. And, when you go to pick up the scissors, pay attention to what you're doing.

Finally, handing scissors to someone else blades first can lead to mishaps, especially if one of you isn't really paying attention. Instead, hand the scissors over handle first.

Your Mood Makes a Difference

Many people use sewing as a stress reliever. If they are upset, angry, or sad, they might turn to their sewing machine to make themselves feel better.

The problem with this is that if you are preoccupied and upset, you might not pay the strictest attention to what you're doing. And, in the sewing room, any kind of distraction can lead to a mishap. But that's not the only "danger." Being upset, preoccupied or sleepy while trying to sew can lead to crooked cuts, messy stitches, and a finished project that either needs to be tossed out or redone.

This doesn't mean you absolutely can't work on a sewing project if you're upset, preoccupied or tired. However, stick with doing things that don't require much focus, at least until you feel more attentive and awake.

Young Children and Sewing Supplies

If you're like many, you probably have the kids in the sewing room with you while you work, so you can keep an eye on them. If a young child is going to be crawling or toddling around your sewing room, make sure there's nothing potentially dangerous within their reach. You should also check the floor for pins, needles, buttons, and so on. You'll be amazed what kinds can end up on the floor without you even noticing.

If you don't have a dedicated sewing room, don't leave sewing supplies lying around the house, even for a minute. Keep your sewing kit in a place where the kids can't get to it. And, even then, it's a good idea to use a sewing box young children would have a hard time getting into.

A Few More Sewing Tips

While the above tips are some of the biggies, there are a few more sewing safety tips you should keep in mind.

A seam ripper definitely comes in handy. It helps to make the job of removing seams go much faster. However, handle seam rippers with care. Never rip a seam towards your body. Always rip in the opposite direction. And make sure your hands don't get in the way. If you drop a pin or needle, pick it up immediately. How many times have you dropped a pin and told yourself you'd pick it up later? How many times have you forgotten all about dropping that pin, especially if it rolled under something? No, it's better to get into the habit of picking up anything you drop, especially if it's sharp or pointy, right away. Don't store things like pins, needles, scissors, seam rippers or rotary cutters loose. When you're in a hurry, it can be tempting to just toss these items into a drawer or sewing box. But, when you reach in to grab something, you could end up getting stabbed, nicked or cut. It's best to place these items securely in some kind of holder or container. Keeping a Diary - Tips for Productive Journaling for Children   Not Another Arts and Crafts Show?   Bring In Some Vibrant Style to Your Home With Fun Throw Pillow Ideas   10 Best Knitting Tips   

A History of Polymer Clay - From the Thirties to the Present Day

Polymer clay is a material that is used by many arts and crafts hobbyists. They generally use it to create their own pieces of handmade jewellery. As a material, this particular form of clay was first introduced to the public in the 1930s. However, it has only really become readily available to people over the past forty years or so. Since it has not been as widely used as many other forms of art clay and other jewellery making materials, the opportunities to do something unique when using it are much higher. Still, many professional and novice jewellery makers enjoy having the freedom to experiment with it; you'll often find it incorporated into their work - i.e. pendants and earrings for example.

Although, as previously mentioned, it hasn't been widely used for all that long - especially when compared to other popular jewellery making materials - polymer clay has been around since the 1930s and was first created in Germany. It was created by a doll maker who was experiencing difficulties in finding supplies to make her dolls. In a bid to find an effective material to produce her dolls, the woman used plastic-based clay - known as Fifi Mosaik. Easy to decorate, this clay was used by the woman to create the heads of the dolls.

Later, during the 1960s, the plastic clay mold formula was sold to a manufacturer known as Eberhard Faber. He took the formula of what had then become known as Fimo polymer clay and adjusted it. In the modern era Fimo polymer clay is widely sold in many different toy stores, as well as arts and craft stores, all over Europe; this has led many to mistakenly believe that it's a product design for children. However, it is more aimed at adults looking to undertake a craft project.

In the United States polymer clay was first introduced to customers and craft lovers in the 1970s. The Shaups, a family who had ties to Germany, received a pack of this clay as a Christmas gift. They then, understandably, began to produce their own pieces of jewellery, which friends and neighbours soon began to take note of. Having seen many good reactions, the family decided to start importing Fimo polymer clay into the US in 1975. Many other American firms began to follow suit and the product became a solid seller in the country. At the same time it was also becoming extremely popular in the UK.

Even though the Fimo brand of polymer clay was not brought over to the US until the 1970s, many were experimenting with this unique form of clay as early as the 1950s. An illustrator by the name of Gordon Swenarton used the clay that he had gotten from his father to make wonderful creations, whilst the American company Zenith created their own form of polymer clay by accident. They created a thermal transfer compound that didn't work; polyform clay was produced as a result.

Since it was first invented in the 1930s polymer clay has gone on to provide many people with a huge amount of joy.

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Liberty Seated Dollar: A Rare Collection

An ordinary coin is worth more than $150 provided that it is in good condition. The value of these coins increases each year. For a coin collector, the rare series of Liberty seated dollar coins is the most special he could find. The coins date back as far as 1850 on which the Lady Liberty is seen seated on a rock as opposed to how she is seen today, in a standing position. Finding these coins would not only mean thrill and excitement but you can be sure each is worth more than those ordinary coins at an auction. It has to be in a good condition though to be able to get more value from it. This special series are no longer circulating and so far only a few of the series are known to be existing today.

A collector knows exactly what to look for to verify the authenticity of the coins. There are people who would try to play some tricks but this is not possible. There are mintmarks as well which would increase the value of each coin. Example of these mint marks are the "cc" markings and the initial of the state where it was produced. The design came from Gobrecht and the coins were produced in small quantities between the periods of 1836-1873. What made them more special is that the coins were produced and circulated during the time when there were no silver coins circulating in the country. The design was never again found in the succeeding silver coins. The reverse side design though with the flying eagle was used later for small cents.

In collecting or buying coins especially rare ones like the Liberty seated dollar, the feel and the appearance must be checked as well as the grade. The important things to note in order to make sure of the authenticity of the coin are the weight, appearance, edges and the mints. The weight is very important to determine whether the coin presented to you is real or not. The wear of the coin will not affect the weight. A collector knows the how much his coins weigh. If a coin presented is over or under the expected value then you are holding a fake one. Be sure to know your coins well. Having the rare coins is having history in your own hands. It is a treasure that is a must kept forever.

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Finding the Right Craft That Suits You!

Many of us are enjoying crafts for many reasons. However finding the right craft can sometimes be challenging. What is enjoyable to one person may seem boring to another. Today there are so many crafts to choose from, how do you choose?

For the most part if you find you admire anything made from wood, you may find it exciting to "create" something from wood. For myself I enjoy making jewelry, and scrap-booking.

If you are good in art then perhaps that is where your talent is. I know many people have tried new things to find out they have a gift that they never knew they had!

Children enjoy crafts as much, if not more than adults. Children become so proud when they get to make their own creation. It is a great way to bring a family closer. Little ones even get excited about shopping, imagine when you include them in a craft and they can even help pick out the materials you need! It truly is fun for the whole family.

For some of us crafting can bring us out of a rut. I personally know a lady who had the "blues" she started to make jewelry and her husband could not believe the change in her. It was not long after she had her own business going!

I admire the elderly, it was my job for 21 years. No one knows crafts better than our seniors. For most that was all they had back in their "generation". I had a Grandmother who was a wonderful seamstress, she made all her children's clothes. For most of them it was to save money, as for other's it was pure enjoyment!

I know that many of our seniors who are still able to do crafts, still enjoy it. I could not believe this one lady I took care of had the beginning's of "dementia" (memory loss) she actually had taught me how to crochet. It just goes to prove some things we never forget. It would be great for family members if they see their loved ones in a nursing home or senior facility to bring a craft for them to do, it really helps pass the time for them. Let us not forget they were hard working people at one time and for them sometimes a craft can help them to feel that they are still productive. You may even become their favourite "person".

If you have never tried crafts, give it a shot, you may even amaze your self. Crafts can bring enjoyment, even help to create new memories.

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