Monthly Archives: June 2009

Weekly Giveaway – Gift Box Studio Lolli

June 25th, 2009 in Contests
By Tristan Gallagher

Why would you desire this week’s giveaway Gift Box Studio Lolli? In-house designer Kristy Zacharias sums it up perfectly in a blog entry just a few days ago. Read here about her pickle and how GBS saved the day!

Gift box Studio Lolli can be used for gifting or be a gift itself. This book is full of a fabulous collection of reversible gift boxes, cards and envelopes with a wide assortment of coordinating embellishments all using patterns designed by trend-setting fabric designer Demetria Hayward. All items easily pop out and are ready to mix-and-match for a unique and savvy gifting expression. The embellishments alone in various shapes and designs will get you all excited. Throw in some ribbon and viola, fabulous little gift parcels. The palette speaks the season, the paper quality feels great and the designs … so fresh.

For a chance to win a copy of Gift Box Studio Lolli, post a comment here or on facebook by Monday June 29, 2009, describing the most creative or uniquely presented gift you’ve given or received. We’ll randomly pick one winner to be announced on Monday. Good Luck!

*Comments will be closed at 9am PST on Monday, June 29, 2009

Alex’s New 4-in-1 Tool

June 24th, 2009 in Behind the Scenes
By Casey Dukes

A few months ago, Alex Anderson stopped by to make a video of her upcoming 4-in-1 Essential Sewing Tool. It’s not unusual for authors to stop by, but I wasn’t expecting to see Alex zipping through the halls with our resident camerawoman on her heels. That lady is full of energy!

Here’s the final video with a sneak peak at Alex’s new tool.

Button, Button, Who can choose just one?

June 24th, 2009 in Inspiration
By Amy Marson, Publisher

Part of a series of posts on my recent trip to New York for Book Expo.

As I mentioned earlier, we stayed in the garment district and found a great sample sale that we stumbled upon and had too check out, the clothes were hip and fun and way too pricey. So instead we headed to the button shop and found all sorts of treasures. It was so much fun. I think we were there about an hour and Susanne and I had a really hard time deciding what to get. So here are a few pics of the store and the choices and the final picture is of what I purchased. I plan to make either two bracelets or one really fab necklace, any thoughts?

Great New eBook Titles in the Download Store

June 23rd, 2009 in News & Events
By Todd Hensley

For anyone who loves hard-to-find quiltmaking books you will be pleased to learn that we’ve recently added several more titles to our Download Store.

Many classic titles are now available again for your viewing pleasure at great prices. In the past two weeks we’ve added titles from many of your favorite authors, including Velda Newman, Harriet Hargrave and Sharyn Craig, Freddy Moran, Hari Walner, Sally Collins and many more.

As with all of our downloads, once you complete the purchase through paypal, you will receive an email with your private download link. You click on the link and presto, your eBook (PDF) is downloaded to your computer. You can read it on your computer or print out the pages you want to have at your side.

We’ve already sold hundreds of copies of our eBooks. Check it out and please let us know which titles you would like to see as eBooks.

Cupcakes! Photo shoot @ C&T

June 23rd, 2009 in Behind the Scenes
By Lynn Koolish

Cupcakes and kids just belong together, so of course we had include some kids in our Cupcakes! book photo shoot. Photographing wiggly kids is a little more time-consuming than photographing inanimate quilts!

Everyone starts to get ready

Dad gets them seated

Oops...

...someone needs a hug

Let's try again

Ready!

Quilting Tips: Making the Quilt “Sandwich”

June 23rd, 2009 in Quilting Tips Series
By The Tech Editors

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Here’s another excerpt from our Quiltmaking Basics. The quilt “sandwich” consists of the backing, batting, and the pieced top. Layer these 3 together, baste then quilt them, and, voilá, a quilt is born! (See our excerpt on binding, coming in 2 weeks, to complete your quilt.)

Backing

Plan on making the backing a minimum of 8″ longer and wider than the quilt top. Piece, if necessary. Trim the selvages before you piece to the desired size.

To economize, piece the back from any leftover quilting fabrics or blocks in your collection.

Batting

The type of batting to use is a personal decision; consult your local quilt shop. Cut batting approximately 8˝ longer and wider than your quilt top. Note that your batting choice will effect how much quilting is necessary for the quilt. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to see how far apart the quilting lines can be.

Layering

Spread the backing wrong side up and tape the edges down with masking tape. (If you are working on carpet you can use T-pins to secure the backing to the carpet.) Center the batting on top, smoothing out any folds. Place the quilt top right side up on top of the batting and backing, making sure it is centered.

Basting

Basting keeps the quilt “sandwich” layers from shifting while you are quilting.

If you plan to machine quilt, pin baste the quilt layers together with safety pins placed 3″–4″ apart. Begin basting in the center and move toward the edges first in vertical, then horizontal, rows. Try not to pin directly on the intended quilting lines.

If you plan to hand quilt, baste the layers together with thread using a long needle and light-colored thread. Knot one end of the thread. Using stitches approximately the length of the needle, begin in the center and move out toward the edges in vertical and horizontal rows approximately 4″ apart. Add 2 diagonal rows of basting.

Quilting

Quilting, whether by hand or machine, enhances the pieced or appliquéd design of the quilt. You may choose to quilt in-the-ditch, echo the pieced or appliqué motifs, use patterns from quilting design books and stencils, or do your own free-motion quilting. Remember to check your batting manufacturer’s recommendations for how close the quilting lines must be.

Weekly Giveaway Winner

June 22nd, 2009 in Contests
By Tristan Gallagher

Congratulations to Victoria Miner who won Take-Along Totes! By the sound of Victoria’s comment she will be putting this book to good use. From all your comments there is a clear consensus that “projects on the go” are as essential as thread for a needle. Thanks to you all for your responses!

As a special thanks to our blog readers, for the next two weeks you can get 20% off your purchase of Take-Along Totes by Marilynn Bilyeu. Simply mention discount code WG10566 when you place your order with C&T via phone (800.284.1114) or at our web site (enter discount code where noted during checkout) on or before July 6, 2009.

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Gift Box Studio to the rescue!

June 22nd, 2009 in Inspiration, Staff Pick
By Kristy Zacharias

June and July are jam-packed months for my family. Between the 6 birthdays, Father’s Day, and the inevitable summer weddings and new babies, let’s just say my head is spinning.

Yesterday as we headed out the door to my parents’ to celebrate Father’s Day and my sister Becky’s birthday, I realized that I had forgotten to wrap her gift! I found her a sweet vintage stone rose pendant that is dangling from a long, delicate gold chain. The consignment shop that I purchased it from didn’t have any boxes, and I was NOT going to put it in a gift bag that was way too big for it (I’m kind of a gift wrap snob, I guess). No, I needed something equally as sweet as the gift so it would be that much more fun to receive. And then I had a moment….HELLOOOO KRISTY!

I quickly dug out one of my Gift Box Studio books (Lolli, to be specific), popped out the Cube Box, assembled it, wrapped the pendant in pretty blue lace, placed it in the box and was out the door in literally 4 minutes!

GBS_BeckyGift

I should mention that I was one of the designers that worked on developing the product, but that was a few years ago, and I was in a rush yesterday, so I feel like I was on an even playing field compared with someone who has never seen the product. Having said that, I have to say that I was impressed with how quickly the box came together and how easy it was to flip through the pages to find a cute, corresponding tag. I thought I was just biased before, but Gift Box Studio truly is a great product!

I love museum gift shops!

June 22nd, 2009 in Behind the Scenes
By Amy Marson, Publisher

Part of a series of posts on my recent trip to New York for Book Expo.

I had made it to 3 museum gift shops in two days, my shoulders hurt from carrying bags all over the city, but I found some fun stuff. Starting at the MOMA shop where you can find the most fun stuff, including lots of cool gift items like the hanging mobile that holds anything (I got that for Lisa to hang her artist trading cards) to the ridiculous snow globe rings that Susanne, Sandy and I all had to buy so we had a matching piece of memorabilia from our trip. There were also some inspiring books and really interesting kitchen utensils that looked more like art that kitchenware.

We also went to the AFAM gift shop to see all the cool stuff they were selling in support of Paula’s exhibit, much of it came from C&T including our Kaleidoscope tote bags that zipper closed, notecards that are designs of Paula’s quilts and show how they were pieced on the back of each card, Paula’s book that documents her journey in making the quilts in the exhibit, and the 3D globes that were hanging in the window made from fabric by Benartex. We also went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s gift shop near Rockefeller center and I fell in love with a handmade scarf with Peacocks, but at the not so bargain price of $695. I passed, but still think about it every day. So 3 gift shops in two days and now I have too much stuff to bring home and it won’t all fit in my suitcase.

Hosting an Etsy Lab

June 22nd, 2009 in News & Events
By Susanne Woods

Catch me on Etsy tomorrow where I will be hosting a Virtual Lab on Craft Publishing! Come join the audience and ask any questions you ever wanted to know (and actually think I will know the answer to) about Craft Publishing!

C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.