Block of the Month or a Weekend

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Penny Haren

I love everything this gal does! Krista Moser has so much talent and personality – she is destined to be a rock star in our industry! Just look at what she has created with her new Creative Grids® 60 Degree Diamond Ruler!

This quilt combines the techniques that are featured in many of her patterns and removes the intimidation factor. Each diamond pattern is repeated twice and takes just a few hours.

Why not feature this at your next retreat? Share a technique, give them a few hours to sew….repeat! Better yet – invite Krista to teach at your shop or guild. Contact her at The Quilted Life. Her personality lights up a room. And, she loves to share her knowledge of quilting and longarming. What a combination! The pattern is due to arrive in September so order now!

Cats Cradle Magnified

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Penny Haren

You asked – we listened. Everyone loves the original Creative Grids® Cats Cradle Tool. You can make 1 1/2″ to 4″ and every half inch in between.

The XL size increases the options up to 8 inches – and once again, you never cut a triangle!

Deb Heatherly, the creator of this crowd-pleaser, is releasing a book of eight different designs later this month.

In the meantime, enjoy these Cut Loose Press patterns that she designed as well:

Illusionary Runner

Blue Skies and Sunshine

Big Cats Little Cats

Its Sew Easy

Raspberry Stars

Cornucopia

Lavender Fields is a full-size pattern by Christine Van Buskirk which includes multiple sizes.

With all of these possibilities, the question is which one to do first???

Carrie Nelson’s Pin Pals

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Penny Haren

This book is not due out until November, but I don’t care! I am a huge Carrie Nelson fan and immediately saw this book’s potential!

What a fun holiday display! As soon as the book arrives, have each member of your staff make a sample. With 40 to choose from, they are sure to find one they love! If you don’t have a big staff, ask your favorite customers to come in and help you make samples – you provide the fabric for two. They keep one and give you one to display.

Then have little bundles of fabric stacked under a tree so you can add your own personal touch. Don’t forget to have plenty of ground walnut shells on hand for stuffing.

The book, a bundle of fabric, and some walnut shells would be a great gift. But making the pincushions would be wonderful as well!

Why not start a pin cushion club? You can teach a different technique – or two – each month and actually go home with a finished project! Put on your thinking cap because the possibilities are endless! What about the classiest Corn Hole bags ever?????

Twisted Trays by the Twister Sisters

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Penny Haren

This tray is such a fun afternoon project! It really can be done in an afternoon because no quilting is required. Use 4 1/2″ squares or 5″ charms to piece the design in the center of this 9″ x 11 1/4″ tray.

Use a pre-cut package of Heat Moldable fusible for each tray.

Create the design with the Mini Twister tool:

What a great class! They could actually go home with a finished project. And what a great gift! Fill the tray with some favorite candies, cosmetics, magazines, books – you get the picture!

Meet Taj, Chevy, and Elvira from Angela Walters and Creative Grids®

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Penny Haren

Let’s keep this simple and let Angela tell you about her latest machine quilting templates in her own words: Inspired by the dome of the Taj Mahal, Taj is perfect for quilting curvy, pointed arcs on your quilts. This versatile tool can be used in all areas of your quilt, including borders, blocks, and backgrounds.

This tool does double duty! Quilt along the outside to create:

Pointed arches in borders
Overlapping arcs

Rotate to quilt complex looking motifs Work along the inside of the tool to create:

A leafy allover design – Leaves in a row for thinner borders
Rotate to quilt flower-like motifs for blocks By combining the inside and outside, or alternating directions, you can come up with endless quilting possibilities.

Visit our website to watch Angela quilt her magic! Click on the Product video button on each item detail page,

Meet Elvira, your new favorite curvy ruler!

She not only looks beautiful, she’s quite handy when quilting wavy lines or continuous curve lines. Elvira can quilt multiple arcs in multiple directions without rotating your quilt (or working from the back of your foot)!

Use her for:

Quilting continuous curve blocks (2” squares are her specialty!)
Adding a series of curves along a row of blocks
Quilting all sides of a square, no matter what foot you use!

Meet Chevy, a machine quilting ruler from Creative Grids®, and designed by Angela Walters. Chevy is a little pointy, a little curvy, and very versatile. With both a straight side and a curvy side, there are so many ways that this tool can help you improve your quilting!

Use the straight side for:

Stitching in the ditch and echoing
Turning the corner without rotating the ruler
Echo two sides of a block easily without marking the pivot point
Adding chevron designs all over a quilt, or as a border
Crosshatching is now a breeze!

Use the curvy side for:

Adding a subtle, curvy line
Stitching offset, rounded rectangles by changing direction
Creating a modern, all over wavy design
Fun quilt motifs for blocks
Segmenting borders

This gal is the complete package! She even convinced me that I could machine quilt – and I actually can with her tools. Why don’t you give it a try???

Spray Bottles Rise to the Occasion

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Penny Haren

Thanks to a Quilter’s Corner, I no longer have to buy spray bottles based on the nozzle! They have created a spray bottle that can be used for liquid starches – including my favorite, Best Press! This is engineered to provide a more even, continuous spray and coverage every time.

These bottles hold a minimum of 10 ounces and come in a 12 pack display with three different labels – which makes it a perfect gift!

These are selling fast – more will be arriving any day so order now!

Fusamat is about to enter the Building!

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Penny Haren

These applique pressing mats were the most exciting notion I saw at Market but I wasn’t sure we could get them since they are a New Zealand company. BUT, our buyers did their magic and they will be arriving later this month!

In their own words: Fusamat revolutionizes the applique process by allowing you to see through the mat during construction – making the applique process much easier…The tacky surface enables you to create your applique design in one easy composition…Its unique covering allows for a non-slip ironing surface and applique formation…In the past fusible would leak onto your iron and ironing surfaces causing a huge mess – new technology built into Fusamat stops the leakage of fusible altogether…Your Fusamat is easily cleaned, very strong, reversible and durable so it will take any beating you give it.

They come in four sizes from a portable 12 x 12; 12 x 18;18 x 30; and one that will cover your entire ironing board!

I’ve already got mine on order – and you should too!

Love is in the Air at Suzn Quilts

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Penny Haren

Our booth at Spring Market was right across from Suzn Quilts and so I got to look at these all day! All of these designs use her tiny Dresden Plate template.

She has such a knack for adding that awe factor to every design. And, since they are small, you can actually finish it in a day! These new releases should be arriving any day.