Microwave Bowl Cozy

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Penny Haren

These bowls are great gifts – and now have never been easier. The Gypsy Quilter™ has chosen 100% cotton batting that is microwave safe – and even cut it to shape. The darts are even cut out!

Just place pre-cut batting on the wrong side of a 10.5 inch square of cotton fabric. Using 100% cotton thread, fold and stitch darts 1/4 inch away from the batting cut edge. Trim out fabric excess. Repeat with the second square of cotton and pre-cut batting. Put right sides together and stitch around the outer edge. Leave an opening for turning. Turn and stitch the opening closed. That’s all there is to it! OR sew five 2 1/2″ strips together to equal 10 1/2″ and make two bowls from a strip set!

One package is enough to make four bowls.

Crazier Eights Playbook

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Penny Haren

This companion book for the Creative Grids® Crazier Eights Template Set #CGRMT7 features eight projects. This 16-page booklet includes instructions for cutting from scraps, 10” squares and fabric strips for effective use of your fabrics. Learn to use the five templates as a set, individually or in different combinations to create the projects in the book.

Or use the free pattern that comes with the template set!

Everything is in stock so order now!

Spot on Dots

Posted on February 22, 2020 by Penny Haren

This is such a brilliant idea! I can’t wait to use them on my Creative Grids Trim Tools! Cutting fabric accurately is the first step in creating quilts that lay flat, points that line up, and pieces that fit just right. The Gyspy Quilter Spot on Dots allows you to see exactly where you’ve lined up your fabric on your ruler by giving you magnified visibility at the point that matters most. For precision-perfect accuracy, Spot on Dots is the perfect tool for you!

The small dot is 1 inch in diameter. The large dot is 2 inches in diameter. At the center, magnification is 3x.

Place Spot on Dot adhesive side down onto your favorite ruler at the spot you want to magnify. The reusable adhesive ring will prevent the Spot on Dot from shifting while you make precise cuts. The Spot on Dot stays in place until you remove it. Store in its case after use. You can reactivate the grip on the Spot On Dot by simply washing with mild soap and water.

Waddles

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Penny Haren

Just the name makes me smile! He is the cutest little penguin to grace the South Pole! Waddles #CLPLDB004 From Cut Loose Press™ by Lisa DeBord.

He is the perfect companion for Noggins #CLPLDB003 from Cut Loose Press™ by Lisa DeBord.

Both are made with the Creative Grids® four-inch curvy and four-inch log cabin trim tools.

Creative Grids 4in Log Cabin Trim Tool Quilt Ruler

Creative Grids 4in Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool

Why not bundle some fabrics together that would work great in these quilts? These make a great class. Let them choose either pattern since they share all of the same blocks – but we know they will want to make both!

Teach them how to make a traditional log cabin and complete the blocks as homework. Then, you can move on to Courthouse Steps and Curvy log cabins. If you start now, these guys could be ready to hang by Christmas!

Sixty-degree Angles Just Got a WHOLE Lot Easier!

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Penny Haren

Designing quilts with sixty-degree angles just got a WHOLE lot easier with the introduction of Sheila Christensen’s Creative Grids® Half Sixty ruler.

Creative Grids Half Sixty Triangle Ruler

This tool is the perfect companion to the Creative Grids® 80-degree rulers. Since it is 12-1/2″, it works with both. Sew the straight side to create pieced 60-degree units; sew the angles side to create pieced rectangles. It is really that easy!

Just look at the possibilities! This Cut Loose Press™ pattern – Pinwheel Hexagons #CLPSCH001- is a great beginner class. Sixty-degree triangles are pieced from two half sixties and then squared up to create blocks with half sixties. How simple and easy is that!

But this is NOT a one-trick pony! Look at just some of the possibilities! Who would ever think that they were all created with the same tool!

And don’t you love her vibrant choice of colors? The sixty-degree triangle is our number one selling triangle of all time – and now it has a friend! Your customers will love it!

Christmas All Year Round

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Penny Haren

I just love this guy! Noggin #CLPLDB003 is a Cut Loose Press™ pattern made with two different Creative Grids® rulers. I already have mine cut out!

Most of the strips are cut to 1 1/4″ – half the width of a jelly roll so it is a great stash buster as well.

You need the four-inch Creative Grids® Log Cabin Trim Tool…

and the four-inch Creative Grids® Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool.

The pattern features three different versions of log cabins – log cabins, courthouse steps, and curvy log cabins. What a great series of classes.

New Creative Grids® Cutting Mats are in the House!

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Penny Haren

It took almost two years to get it right – and boy did we get it right! I have been working with a prototype for a few months now – and they are WONDERFUL! All sizes, rack, and assortment are in stock and starting to ship today.

The three larger sizes of the Creative Grids® Rotary Cutting Mats are double sided. One side features one-inch grids with eighth inch markings over the entire surface. All numbers are printed outside of the grid area so they are always visible. Popular 1-1/2 inch cuts are highlighted with white stars; 2-1/2 inch cuts with white squares.

The other side of the smallest 6 x 8 inch mat is blank – perfect for trimming blocks.

The other side of the three larger sizes are designed to use with the Creative Grids® Stripology series of rulers by Gudrun Erla. Line up the fabric and rulers on the spaced horizontal half inch grid lines. That is all you need – no other distracting markings and lines are needed!

Now all you have to do is choose your size: 12 x 18; 18 x 24, or 24 x 36 inches.

You may want more than one!

Coffee for Christmas

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Penny Haren

Coffee Break from Cut Loose Press™ by Karla Alexander is so much fun to make! I got out my Fiestaware and started throwing out fabrics that coordinated. It turns out, I couldn’t stop at a table runner. They are just way too much fun – and I am a little OCD…

So what is a gal to do? Make 35 more and turn them into mug rugs for gifts for coaches, teachers, principals….you get the picture. And, if you have a good relationship with your machine quilter, she may even add their names.

But, I live in Ohio – and they are #1 so…..

These individual cups measure approximately 8″ so I cut an 8″ square of fabric, folded it in half, and used it as a pocket on the back. I’ll put coffee gift cards in the pocket as a homage to Karla. After all, she lives in the Pacific Northwest and KNOWS good coffee!

You still have time to finish six or six dozen by Christmas so get started!

Rotary Blade Guards

Posted on November 1, 2019 by Penny Haren

These were a big hit at Market! These guards protect your fingers from the blade! They come in packs of four – and should be a must have for every rotary cutter in every shop and class!

They are specifically designed to work with the OLFA ergonomic cutter.

They are also available for the 60mm size:

What a great stocking stuffer! They will be available very soon!

Creative Grids® Cutting Mats

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Penny Haren

The hit of Houston! Creative Grids® now has cutting mats in four sizes: 6 x 8; 12 x 18; 18 x 24; and 24 x 36 inches.

Why am I soooo excited about these mats? Gudrun Erla and I were on the design team from the very beginning and got to create our dream mat. The Creative Grids® Rotary Cutting Mat is double-sided. One side features one-inch grids with eighth-inch markings over the entire surface. All numbers are printed outside of the grid area, so they are always visible. Popular 1-1/2 inch cuts are highlighted with white stars; 2-1/2 inch cuts with white squares. Eighth, quarter and third-yard cuts are marked with dashed lines for easy reference.

The other side is designed to use with the Creative Grids® Stripology series of rulers. Line up the fabric and rulers on the spaced horizontal half-inch grid lines. That is all you need – no other distracting markings and lines are needed.

AND, they are not available in chains! If you buy three of each mat, the display rack is free. Just order the assortment. The heavy-duty rack can be purchased separately as well.

Creative Grids Cutting Mat Assortment With Rack

The black and white markings on our rulers show up perfectly on the gray and teal colorations. For designers, it photographs wonderfully so is a great backdrop for demos, videos, and illustrations! Give them a try!

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