Monthly Archives: November 2009

Simply irresistible!

November 22nd, 2009 in News & Events
By Lisa Fulmer

What I love most about our Fast, Fun & Easy series of books is that because the techniques and projects are so literally F, F & E (aka “foofy” in our planning meetings)…you can easily put your own spin on things. My friend Lorraine made this fabric bowl in her own signature style using the instructions in Fast, Fun & Easy Irresist-a-Bowls.

And guess what? This book will be on sale next week for HALF-PRICE!

100_2715 Be sure to check the On Sale & Close Outs section of our website every week for new web-only specials.

Everyday Inspiration

November 21st, 2009 in Inspiration
By Diane Pedersen

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.

When you dance,
Dance for yourself.

If the world
Is watching
It will
See
YOU!

Drip Irrigation in the C&T Garden

November 20th, 2009 in Behind the Scenes
By Zinnia Heinzmann

Drip_Irrigation

According to the EPA, over half of the water used by American families to irrigate their yards is wasted. This is especially clear in sunny California, where folks water their lawns with garden hoses at noon. There’s certainly nothing green about that!

Not so at C&T! Our little front garden is maintained by our very own Green Thumbs, and is on a timed watering system. Most of our garden plants require little water now that they’re established, so a quick early morning shower is all they need.

Want to green your own garden? Most patio or container garden drip systems cost about $20, and setup takes just a few hours. Your local hardware or garden store will likely sell the necessary materials.

Getting started is super easy! Screw in a multi-outlet drip head to your water line, connect lines of tubing to your drip outlet, and lace them inconspicuously through your pots and beds. Attach sprayers or bubblers, or simply perforate your tubing for the most economical drip system. If you already have a sprinkler system on a timer, you won’t have to worry about a thirsty garden again. It’ll keep the green in your garden and in your wallet, too!

Have any other great water-saving tips? Let us know!

Meet the Spring 2010 Catalog

November 19th, 2009 in News & Events
By Danielle Dews

I’m happy to announce that the Spring 2010 C&T Publishing Catalog has hit the streets! This link will take you to a page on our website where you’ll be able to download it, free of course.

The pink rhino quilt on the catalog front cover is from Serendipity Quilts by Susan Carlson (on page 29 of the catalog) and the quilt at the top is from City Quilts by Cherri House (on page 26 of the catalog).

As Senior Marketing Coordinator I’m a player on the catalog project team, and it’s our job to get two beautiful catalogs conceptualized, developed, designed, produced, printed, and distributed every year.

The catalog always appears a daunting, huge mountain of a project initially. And it is. But when it’s done, it’s done and not long after that I, along with thousands of other people, get something I can hold in my hand that proves that something came of all the work. And that something is different every time and always seems like it’s just a bit better than the last one.

There are so many elements of this particular catalog that I am excited about: The pink rhino on the cover, the awesome line up of new spring 2010 releases, and the new way we are laying out the pages in the back section, just to name a few!

If you find a product or page in this catalog exciting, I’d love to know what it is. Let us hear what you have to say in the comments!

We are One of the Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For!

November 18th, 2009 in News & Events
By Megan Scott

All of us at C&T Publishing know that this is a great place to come to work every day. We love the work environment, our co-workers, and of course the fabulous products we produce. But who knew we would be voted one of the Best Book Publishing companies to work for?

That’s right, C&T has been named the third Best Book Publishing Company to Work For in 2009! The annual list of “Best Book Companies” is created by Book Business magazine. Book Business asked all of us employees to fill out an anonymous survey with dozens of questions about working at C&T.

According to Book Business, the survey was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in the book publishing industry. The 2009 “Best Book Publishing Companies to Work For” list is made up of 10 companies. The complete list – along with profiles of each company’s benefits package and corporate policies – is published in Book Business‘ November issue and will be accessible on their web site BookBusinessMag.com. Continue Reading…

Bohemian Bouquet Quilt Pattern Giveaway

November 17th, 2009 in Contests
By Megan Scott

I like to refer to C&T Author Susan Brubaker Knapp as the “pattern queen,” as she creates dozens of patterns to sell on her website and her new release with C&T is a pattern pack called Appliqué Petal Party.

In celebration of her new release, Susan has offered to give away one of her beautiful quilt patterns to a lucky C&T blog reader. The pattern is called Bohemian Bouquet. Susan describes it as:

flora and fauna frolicking across the surface of this 48″ square (without borders) appliqué quilt. Rich jewel-tone appliqué pops off the black background. I used needleturn appliqué, but this pattern can also be done using fusible web. The pattern is full-sized, and includes detailed general directions, tips, and finishing instructions.

Would you like to win it? All you have to do is review Susan’s patterns. From purses and bags to quilts and wall hangings, we want to know what floats your boat. Leave us a comment telling us your favorite design from bluemoonriver.com and you will automatically be entered to win.

Comments will be closed at 9am PST on Monday, November 23, 2009. Good luck!

Winners of the iPhone App Giveaway!

November 16th, 2009 in Contests
By Tristan Gallagher

Winner, winner, winners! The 3 winners of one of the latest and greatest C&T Products are Diane L, Laura and Jackie W!!! These lucky, hip, and technologically savvy blog readers will sport the Quick & Easy Block Tool App on their iPhone or iPod Touch. We can’t wait to hear what they think in the reviews.

Thank you everyone for your comments here and on Facebook.

Quilting Tips: Printing Images on Fabric

November 16th, 2009 in Quilting Tips Series
By Sandy Peterson

Now that digital cameras are so easy to purchase and use, and the computer software has become so user-friendly, the ability to print your digital images on fabrics is just too good to pass up. Welcome to the 21^st century!

Your own photos are the best source of images to print on fabric.

Crop to the good part of your photo. (No kittens were harmed.)

When printing on fabric, make a test print on paper first so you don’t waste ink or fabric sheets. Use a black and white version to help with placement or size of the finished print. When you are happy with that, then make a color print on paper. Use the Draft or Fast option to save on ink and get a feel for what the finished print will look like. When everything feels like it is working, then make your final print on fabric sheets.

This tip comes from the book Innovative Fabric Imagery for Quilts by Cyndy Lyle Rymer and Lynn Koolish.

Happy Printing,

The Tech Editors

This article is part of the Quilting Tips from the Tech Editors tutorial series. Recent tutorials include:

Everyday Inspiration

November 15th, 2009 in Inspiration
By Diane Pedersen

Wake up!
That’s what
This
Is all about…
Get it
Goin’!

Christmas Cuteness on sale!!

November 15th, 2009 in Staff Pick
By Lisa Fulmer

Now’s the time to make some adorable holiday projects to decorate your home and give as gifts. And now is the time to get the how-to help on the cheap!

This book has plenty of easy fabric projects that you and your family will have tons of fun making – and this week it’s priced at half-off—only $8.78. The set of matching plastic templates for the gingerbread house and sleigh is also on sale—only $5.oo.

Order yours now – these special prices are only available by ordering online at ctpub.com.
Don’t forget the fast2fuse!!

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.