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To remove pencil marks, according to the August issue of Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts, "Quilt Patch Queries" by Sue Nickels and Pat Holly, suggests the following:
"Make a solution that is one part water, three parts rubbing alcohol, and one or two drops of Palmolive or Joy dishwashing liquid. Do not use Dawn -- it may bleach out the fabric. Use a cotton swab to apply and gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Wipe dry with a cloth. Again, test this before applying to your whole quilt . . . We hope this helps and remember to TEST, TEST, TEST! We also want to let you know that many a priceless, beloved antique quilt still has pencil marks on it." 

A hot- weather melon that is more popular in the United States than most, if not all, other places.  Some varieties are better than others, and certainly the new seedless types are welcome.  And unlike many new fruit hybrids, they’re no less flavorful than their parents.  Perhaps that’s because watermelon doesn’t have

much flavor to begin with; it’s a simple, very wet taste, refreshing when the watermelon is cold and the weather is hot, and nice to eat when you are so stuffed that you can’t possible consider any thing else.  Uncookable, but not bad when made into Granita (it needs no added water).  The rinds are traditionally pickled.

Finally try watermelon combined with salty cheese, such as goat cheese or feta; it makes a nice salad.

June 2007
COLOR WHEEL

When you’re stuck choosing fabrics, a color wheel can help. Keep it handy learn how to use it properly, and you will be able to choose fabric colors with ease and confidence. Remember also when picking fabric to look at the bottom of the fabric because a lot of fabric has a color chart on the bottom with all the colors that are in the fabric. You always have a friendly quilt shop in your neighborhood to go for help.

Echo quilting consists of multiple concentric outlines stitched either inside or outside a patchwork piece, appliqué, or quilted motif. The quilting lines are spaced evenly, ¼” to ½” apart (closer if stitched on the side without seams allowance) and can be expanded to completely fill the foreground or background if desired. (Optional: Stitch in-the-ditch before echoing either outward or inward.)

Unlike conventional appliqué , reverse appliqué involves staking multiple layers of fabric on the background piece and then cutting away the center, one layer at a time, to create successively smaller cutout shapes on each descending layer.  The cut out edge of each layer, rather than the outer edge, is appliquéd to the layer directly beneath.

THE cutouts can be all the same shape (hearts or circle, etc.)  to create an echo effect or they can be varied, so long as the cutout on each layer is small that the one above it and

There is enough fabric around the cutout on the layer below for stitching to.  The shapes can be marked first on each layer or cut by eye, but each layer (except the bottom one) should be cut with seam allowance added to the inner edge.  This tourniquet is best reserved for individual blocks (such as pillows or wall hanging) that require no piecing or

quilting.

If you will be machine quilting, you might draw your quilting designs onto tissue paper, or use Easy-tear, a soft and pliable stabilizer, with a permanent marker.  Pin or baste the marked design in position on your quilt top. Quilt directly onto the marked design, and then gently tear away the stabilizer.