It’s finally here! The newest edition of Start Quilting with Alex Anderson.
The book has everything first-time quilters need to succeed. We got Alex to give us a behind the scenes look at the new 3rd edition. Watch the video to see why this book is a must have for all quilters.
A creative life is filled with challenges and rewards, puzzles and curiosities. This ongoing series of poems attempts to express the “Aha”s and “What if”s, the deep ponderings and casual observations of an inquiring mind trying to make sense of reality. May it serve, for you, as a bit of “Everyday Inspiration” along your own creative path.
Everything!
That’s the sign
Of an
Artist.
Like most artists my sister in law Donna is continually working on her art journey. As many of you know this is not always a smooth line. This path will sway and pulse up and down sometimes pushing extreme highs and challenging lows. In the last two weeks Donna has shared part of her creative journey in conjunction with experiencing one of our latest Quilt Journals “Royal Bubbles”. Read here for Entry 1 (in her garden) and Entry 2 (at the DC Textile Museum). Today she shares the challenge of being blocked. Ouch!
“I am blocked, stuck, down but not out. I learned from my “Artists Way” class to work through it by journaling. My spiffy little watercolor “royal bubbles” fit the bill nicely. I did a few little watercolor tableaus and recovered my emotional equilibrium. Phew! A close one!”
Good thing she keeps her journal handy. The way she is going I might need to send
along another Journal. Perhaps “Crystal Steps” will fit the bill in supplying her with hungry white and graphed pages to create upon. I might just have to deliver it myself! Sigh… I do miss her. 3000 miles is just too far.
Halloween is approaching and it occurred to me I could actually make Halloween costumes early! What a concept huh? No crazy runarounds trying to find parts, fabric, and details or especially late nights of sewing, gluing and painting until 2am.
With so many inspiring books at my fingertips (an advantage to working here at C&T Publishing) I quickly found the perfect guide to get the job done. Super-Simple Creative Costumes by Sue Astroth is full of costumes for all occasions (not just Halloween). The “super hero” will be perfect for my son Jack and a slightly altered version for my daughter (always keeping up with bro). Sooooo here comes the Super Sibling Heroes!
So there you have it, a calm and restful Halloween to come with costumes made well ahead of time.
Read on for the Super Hero Costume project… Continue Reading…
Pressing seams as you go along is so important in your sewing projects. Usually when making garments, the seams are pressed open to reduce bulk. However, when making quilts, usually the seams are pressed to one side. This step helps to prevent bearding, where batting may show through the seams. There are exceptions to this convention, you need to decide what is right for you.
Pressing requires an up and down motion with your iron. By using this technique, your quilt pieces and blocks won’t stretch and distort. Follow these steps:
1. Set the seam by placing the iron on the seam just sewn, on the wrong side of the fabric. Press.
2. Flip the top piece up and gently press the seam from the right side of the fabric. The seam will be pressed toward the fabric piece that was on top when you set the seam.
Plan ahead so that the seams are pressed as shown in the project directions, or toward the darker fabric, or in the direction that works best for the quilt.
Happy Quilting,
The Tech Editors
Part of the Quilting Tips from the Tech Editors tutorial series
This month C&T is releasing Paradise Stitched–Sashiko & Applique Quilts by Sylvia Pippen.
Sylvia lives in Hilo, Hawaii and when we she first sent in the quilts to be photographed for the book, rumor spread fast that we all needed to stop by the photo studio to check them out. We took turns oohing and aahing at the stunning tropical quilts and now we get to share them with you. Sylvia Pippen is new to the C&T community, so we asked her to introduce herself to our blog readers. Continue Reading…
The Fiskateers know how wonderful the treats are whenever Fiskars hosts an event. But if you’re not a Fiskateer, never fear—a goodie bag is HERE!
Stamps, scissors, transfers, ribbons, flowers, stickers, chippies, brads and eyelet setters!!
All this crafty goodness can be yours…enter to win our weekly blog candy drawing by leaving a comment that tells us what you love about our friends at Fiskars. The deadline to enter is 9:00am PST on Monday 9/21/09.
Many thanks to Fiskars! Be sure to check out their latest online episodes of FiskarsTV.
Listen up all you creative blog readers, commenters, and want-to-be winners. Time to announce the two lucky recipients of the Stampington & Company Prize Packs. Step right up…Tammy and Laura Casey#1943! Hope you enjoy your copies of 2010 Somerset Studio Calendar, the premiere issue of Art Quilting Studio, and the premier issue of GreenCraft.
Thank you for all your enthusiastic comments. I think everyone agrees that Stampington & Company means inspiration to the max!
…nor gloomy morning will keep quilters and crafters away from a great bargain!
Diana Rabelo from Bolt's End Fabrics in Castro Valley, CA and Sue Northrop from Main Street Quilts in Martinez, CA
All of us in Northern California awoke very early Saturday morning to a tremendous show of thunder and lightening. Those of us at C&T who were getting ready to work our 7th Annual Summer Sizzler Warehouse Sale wondered if this unexpected storm would, well, UNsizzle us. For the last 6 years, this day has been really, really hot…and I’m not just talking about the prices! But we have the best customers in the world—they were not afraid of a little cold and wet!
Usually our tents shield the people from sunburn, but this year they shielded the books from water damage!
C&T's own Magnificent Mile!
In the blog posting by Karen called Fiberart Musings, she talks about her recent class with our author Rayna Gillman. Karen learned how to create gelatin prints. She was a bit apprehensive at first, but it sounds like she delved right into the messy fun!
Here, Rayna is painting a mold Karen created (photo courtesy of Karen on Fiberart Musings).
Rayna is applying paint to the gelatin mold to make designs on cloth (photo courtesy of Karen on Fiberart Musings).
This shows Rayna pulling the print off of the gelatin, a very innovative technique (photo courtesy of Karen on Fiberart Musings).
To say the least, Karen’s class with Rayna sounded fun and creative. Karen admits,
Rayna is the messiest teacher I’ve ever taken a class with…and it is really very fun to just throw the fabric around, glop paint all over and make a big mess (I’m still wearing my gloves though!)
This stamping with gelatin technique can be found in Rayna’s book, Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth, along with many other innovative techniques.
