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Archive for August, 2009

We have walked through the steps of creating the May basket, now it is time to craft your flowers. We have added handles, basket, etc, to your quilt, which at this time you should have created six blocks to make your basket.

How to create flowers:
We are quilting flowers. On the left side of your fabric, you will have invented pink squares. You can trace your pattern to start your project. Trace at least one flower (Choice), use your outside solid lines, and repeat your steps to create the foliage, or leaves. Use the variety of green patterns and use the yellow narrow pieces to create the center of your flower.

You can design roses if you like. Use a variety of greens, red, pink, white, etc, if you intend to create roses and petals. Along the lines, you have marked, cut the fabric strips sewn onto your fabric, the shaped patterns that form your design, cutting only near the lines. Use freezer paper and turn it over so that you reveal the side that does not have a shine. You want to create a starting line for the six centers of your flowers, and the flowers also. Once you mark the 12 parts, mark the leaves (12), marking them inside the dash lines. Now you are ready to cut your shapes.

You will need an iron and board. Use your hot press, or iron to press the flowers on your paper, pressing in the middle of your flowers on the left side and in the middle. You want the glossy paper turned in the direction of your fabric flower at this point. Do the same with the center of the flowers and foliage.

Next, collect your yellow filament/thread and tone it with the center of your flower. If the colors do not match, try another shade of yellow. Run lines of stitches into your cloth, which encloses the ring of the freezer paper. You want to congregate your material around this ring, so pull your filament up at the end. Now, tie your thread, press the ring, and use your starch bottle, spraying the region. Do the same for the center of your flowers.

Next, use your variety of green filaments that match your leaves and collect the allowances at the seam. (1/4 inch) Collect around the foliage and streamlines of stitches along your fabric, about the enclosed region of your ring that is designed on the freezer paper. You want to collect your textile about the ring. Pull your filament/thread up at the finish and tie it, pressing the ring. Again, spray with starch.

When you congregate your allowances at the flower seams, snip the inner points of the flower corolla/petals where the flower collectively forms a ring. You will need to collect your thread that matches the color of your petals, such as pink. Just as you collected the edges of your leaves, do the same for your corollas. Once you finish running stitch lines in your fabric, which you have enclosed freezer paper about the ring, you will need to gather your material about the ring. Next, pull your strands of thread up at the finish. Next, bind your filament and then press the ring. Press, and spray the region with fabric starch. Now seam your allowances, i.e. snip the central points of the leaves, flower center, etc where the flower collectively forms a ring. Press and starch to complete your crafting task:

Now you are ready to assemble the top of your quilt. After you assemble, you can move to finish your craft.

Indonesia`s unique culture and furniture capabilities today are rooted in the country`s history as an outpost of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Arab, and Dutch explorers, colonists and traders and their lasting religious influences coming from Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Several Javanese villages perpetuate their legacy of hundreds of years of wood craftsmanship. Surabaya is known for garden furniture, Jepara is famous for hand-crafted designs, and 60,000 specialized workers in Cirebon, West Java, and craft furniture only of rattan. For the last two decades Jepara furniture industries have been driven heavily by foreign buyers. Foreign buyers came to Jepara bringing with them new values, designs, concepts which are transforming Jepara community and its production. In Jepara most of the furniture industry uses teak wood as raw material. For various reasons, Jepara became a place for mass production of low quality teak products, which are sold oversea at a low price.

Beside that, Indonesia has also produced different lines of furniture production. Office furniture, garden furniture and also a high-end furniture have been widely grown all over Indonesia. There are a handful of highly successful manufacturers who have created massive success, mostly in North America by blending warm design and smart sourcing with advanced technology and progressive management techniques. In-house woodworking teachers also join forces with external management consultants in each company to provide new workers the necessary practical knowledge of wood working. At the same time, a permanent Capacity Development Team of problem solvers visits foreign factories recommended by consultants in order to identify potential improvements.

In 2005 Indonesia has been exporting furniture to around 220 countries. With the top ten importers are United States, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Australia. This significant rise is contributed by large furniture industries. Indonesia exports in 2005 were amounted US$1.83 billion. The biggest contributor to this commodity comes from the wooden furniture, with the total value of export US$1.01 billion in 2005. It means 55.06% of the whole exports from furniture is contributed by wooden furniture.