C&T Publishing Blog

Our new slice quilt

March 13th, 2012 in Behind the Scenes, Inspiration
By Lynn Koolish

Quilt top before quilting

We’ve been so busy making our second slice quilt that we haven’t even had time to blog about it! It’s all put together and at the quilter’s—we’re so excited that long-arm quilter extraordinaire, Sue Fox, is once again doing the quilting.

This time, our slice quilt is based on Wheat Field with Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh. Each of the six slices was made by one of our very talented staff. From left to right: Sandy Peterson, Teresa Stroin, Mary Wruck, Lynn Koolish, Gailen Runge, and Liz Aneloski. Click the image to zoom in.

This quilt will be donated to the National Art Materials Trade Association Foundation as a raffle prize to raise money for art scholarships and grants. Click here to read more about our first slice quilt for NAMTA.

If you live in Northern California, you can see our adaptation of the Van Gogh masterpiece for yourself this weekend at the EBHQ quilt show, Voices in Cloth, on March 17 – 18 at the Craneway Pavillion in Richmond. You can buy raffle tickets at the show for your chance to win the quilt! Raffle tickets are also available for sale by logging into the Event Registration page here on the NAMTA Foundation website. The finished quilt will be on display at the NAMTA’s Art Materials World show in Orlando, Florida in May.

Now for a few close-ups of our individual slices…enjoy!

We’ve gone solar!

March 12th, 2012 in Behind the Scenes
By Todd Hensley

Our office rooftop

We are excited to announce that we have just had new solar panels installed for our office!

After extensive research, negotiations, and permits, our new solar system will soon be generating 29.9KW of power, which will provide at least 95% of the power consumption for our 12,500 sq. ft. building. In keeping with our commitment to the environment, we are proud to power our offices with clean energy from the sun.

Free project with mul•tex—”Homescape” art quilt

March 9th, 2012 in Free Projects, Quiltmaking
By Tristan Gallagher

"Homescape" by Lydia Carlsgaard

Lydia Carlsgaard, a member of our Creative Troupe, used the transparent quality of mul•tex™ to add layers and depth to her wonderful art quilt. The fusibility of mul•tex also simplified the quilting process by eliminating the need for a walking foot and pins.

Materials:

mul•tex - 11½” x 17¼” piece
Assorted print fabrics- enough for 5 houses (4½” squares), 5 rooftops (2½”x5″ triangles), 5 chimneys (1″ x 2″) plus additional scraps for the focal house block and mini-window patches
Background fabric for top panel of quilt (white shown here) 12″ x 18″
Background fabric for bottom layer of quilt (purple shown here) 20” x 21”, plus binding
Black backing fabric 20” x 21”
Batting pieces 22” x 22” and 13″ x 19″
Acrylic ink or paint – 3 colors (blues and greens shown)
Pencil and ruler

INSTRUCTIONS:

This art quilt is constructed by layering a collaged quilted panel on top of a plain background quilt. Continue Reading…

More William Morris Appliqué – plus a giveaway

March 6th, 2012 in Contests
By Lisa Fulmer

"Floral Fantasy" - Michele created this quilt with bright batiks, rather than the typical colors Morris preferred...inspired by his "Rose and Lily" bed curtain ( c.1900)

More William Morris Appliqué, a sequel to Michele Hill’s first book, William Morris in Appliqué, celebrates Morris’ belief that beautiful surroundings in the home promoted creativity and happiness. Michele does a beautiful job of capturing the essence of his love of the home with every design in this collection. Each project is dedicated to a room from his era…the parlor, the study, the drawing room, his and her bedrooms, the nursery, etc.

The first chapter of the book shares historic details and beautiful photos about Morris’ homes in England:

William Morris was principally responsible for the birth of what we now know as the Arts & Crafts movement. His express aim was to restore traditional crafts and methods to a society that was being denigrated by mechanical industry, destroying “…man’s natural purpose and sense of life.” His interior design principles promoted high standards, which he thought would have social benefits to both producer and consumer. He opposed the mass-produced knick-knacks that proliferated on every shelf of a suburban Victorian home and wanted to transform homes into more picturesque and convenient interiors, replacing clutter with space and light. He believed in comfort rather than elegance, and he sourced materials locally. His drive to revive the practice of the best art with objects of daily use, and to obtain detail as close as possible to nature, is still appreciated today.

There are 10 projects, complete instructions with all the basics, plus 55 appliqué designs on full-size pull-out pages. This book is so beautiful, and it has lots of period photos of Morris’ textiles and furnishings…it will stay on my coffee table for a long, long time! Click here to see a few more projects in our Flickr gallery.

10878cover Now for the giveaway…one lucky person will win a copy of More William Morris Appliqué.

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us which room of your home is your favorite and why.

For an additional entry, log in to your Amazon account and “like” this book, then come back here to leave a second comment saying you did so.

Deadline to enter is Sunday, 3/11/12. One comment will be drawn at random to win…the winner will be contacted via email and listed here as an update to this post. Good luck!

3/12/12 UPDATE: Nancy is our winner – Congratulations!

mul•tex just blooms with creative possibilities!

March 3rd, 2012 in Inspiration
By Tristan Gallagher

mul•tex™ is an amazing new art and craft surface coming in April! To give you a peek at the wonders of it, we’ll be posting project instructions for some gorgeous mul•tex pieces created by our staff and our Creative Troupe throughout this month.

mul-tex C&T author and editorial team member, Sue Astroth, has designed our first “show-off” with this perky mul•tex flower. Wouldn’t this make a great accent for a bag, hat, headband, lapel, giftwrap, or even a scrapbook page? Using her Sizzix diecuts (Tattered Florals & Leaves by Tim Holtz), she punched out the shapes, then applied color and highlights using Ranger Distress Inks. mul•tex loves color and shows it off beautifully! The various petals and leaves were then stacked and bound using a fancy brad. Nothing like a simple and satisfying project!

mul•tex is two surfaces in one—fibrous mulberry paper on one side, with a glossy laminate on the other side. It’s lightweight, translucent (yet tear-resistant), and perfect for painting, inking, printing, stamping, embossing, fusing, sewing, wrinkling…the creative possibilities are endless. You’re gonna love working with it! Pre-order online now, or look for it in your local art materials store later this spring.

Time for a fabric clock project—plus a giveaway for 12!

March 1st, 2012 in Contests, Free Projects
By Tristan Gallagher

Quilt-Block Clock by Lynn Koolish

“The time of this life is but a moment.”
– Pascal (17th century French philosopher)

It may be just an ordinary object we think little about, but we all refer to it throughout each and every day. Clock, timepiece, chronometer, chronograph, what ever you may call it, it’s always there on the wall, so shouldn’t it be an object you look forward to looking at? Whether it brings cheer, calm, humor, clarity, etc., it should fit your style. Make it a work of art by applying your own creative mojo.

March is National Craft Month…so we thought a fabric clock would be a great project to kick it off! To get you started, we have a free pattern, a blog hop of inspiration, and a chance to win a free clock part kit filled with supplies from our friends at Walnut Hollow, Beacon Adhesives, and Kreinik.

Lynn Koolish, author of Fast, Fun & Easy® Creative Fabric Clocks, created the Quilt Block Clock above. To download her free pattern, click here.

Here are some other inspiring fabric clocks we saw online…

from asquaredw.com

from weebabystuff.com

from fruitimage.com

from crafterholic.blogspot.com

from prudentbaby.com

Now for the giveaway…12 people will win a very special clock parts kit! Each kit includes the clock mechanism, an extra set of clock hands, Gem-Tac glue, and gold metallic thread for embellishing. To enter to win, leave a comment here on the blog telling us how much time you spend sewing, quilting, crafting, or artfully creating each week (approximately). Deadline to enter is Sunday, March 11. Good luck!

3/13/12 UPDATE: Jennifer, Darleen Ross, Kathy, CindyS, Nancy B from Many LA, Carla G, Jennifer, Lydia, Anne, Cindy, Deb, AND Kris ARE OUR WINNERS – CONGRATULATIONS!

Mastering the Art of Longarm Quilting—with a giveaway!

February 28th, 2012 in Contests
By Ruthmary Schauer

"Untamed Splendor" by Gina Perkes

I was somewhat intimidated when I saw Gina Perkes’ quilt, Grape Harvest, as the first example of what I might learn from her new book Mastering the Art of Longarm Quilting. I’d seen that quilt at some shows and didn’t think I’d ever get past the meandering, stippling, and freestyle stitching I’ve done on my longarm machine. But Gina’s tips, exercises, and creative guidance have encouraged me to try some new designs.

Gina Perkes

This book helps with everything from thread selection to tips on batting, plus information on a variety of ways to mark your quilting designs…or not. Her information on ruler use helped me to make a diagonal line, accurately – a major accomplishment with a longarm machine. And her understanding of tension issues, along with the clear photos, helped me adjust my machine, instead of being afraid to touch those delicate dials.

Gina shows how to design your own quilting motifs using a light box, which she even gives directions for making. And if you don’t want to draw your own, the book also has 40 beautiful quilting designs, which I’ll feel confident tackling now that I’ve done the warm-up exercises she explains. I loved the information on feathers, a quilting design I’ve been afraid to try. Gina even mentions playing music when she stitches, something I’ve found both relaxing and invigorating.

There is much more to absorb in this chock-full-of-information book, and I know it will be a much-used reference on my shelf next to my longarm. And by the way, the patterns and lots of the valuable information apply to both midarm and domestic machines, too.

10821cover Now for the giveaway…one lucky person will win a copy of Mastering the Art of Longarm Quilting!

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us if you’ve ever drawn your own quilting designs.

For an additional entry, log in to your Amazon account and “like” this book, then come back here to leave a second comment saying you did so.

Deadline to enter is Sunday, 3/4/12. One comment will be drawn at random to win…the winner will be contacted via email and posted here on the blog next week. Good luck!

How about a fabric giveaway?

February 23rd, 2012 in Contests
By Lisa Fulmer

Our friends at Andover Fabrics have provided two delicious fat quarter bundles from Kim Schaefer’s line of textured solids called Tic Tac…wouldn’t you like to win one of them?

These rich, tone-on-tone colors are featured in Kim’s book, Quilts from Textured Solids. In her words…

I have always been attracted to quilts made from solid fabrics…the lack of pattern in the fabrics allows the viewer to focus on the design of the quilt and the actual quilting. Quilts made from solids or textured solids have withstood the test of time. Often quilts made from these fabrics have a contemporary feeling regardless of when they were made. Solids can be exciting and make for some stunning quilts!

"Gator's Quilt"

Click here to see more projects from the book. To enter to win one of these fabric bundles, leave a comment on this post telling us which bundle you’d prefer if your name is drawn…the lights (top bundle in the photo above) or the darks. For an additional entry, log into your account on Amazon and “like” this book, then come back to the blog to leave a second comment saying you did so.

We’ll draw two winners at random and notify them via email (we’ll also update this post with their names). Deadline to enter is Sunday, 2/26/12 – good luck!

Furoshiki Fabric Wraps – and a giveaway!

February 21st, 2012 in Contests
By Cynthia Bix

Sometimes, old ways are best. Furoshiki, the traditional Japanese cloth wraps used to carry objects and to present gifts, are an ancient idea that’s new again. Not only are furoshiki beautiful to look at, but because furoshiki is also reusable, it’s about as “green” as you can get. No wrapping paper, no waste.

As the editor of this beautiful new book, Furoshiki Fabric Wraps by the Pixeladies, I got my first introduction to this fascinating art. Along with Diane Pedersen, our staff photographer, I had a great time meeting and working with authors Kris Sazaki and Deb Cashatt, aka the Pixeladies. These two, who are old friends as well as artistic colleagues, are full of spirit and fun. And they are experts at creating handmade furoshiki cloths and at wrapping, knotting, and tying them in dozens of artful ways. Click here to see a couple more projects from the book.

In our photo studio, we watched, amazed, as they transformed various squares of fabric into a basket to hold a green plant, a little “goldfish” to contain a deck of cards, a shoulder bag, and more. And after trying a few of these myself, I can report that it really is fun to learn! One of my favorites—because it’s simple to do, yet looks so impressive—is the Two-Bottle Wrap. What a great way to bring a couple of bottles of wine to a dinner party!

Deb and Kris

In this book, Kris and Deb generously share their knowledge and skills. You’ll learn how to create lovely furoshiki cloths using basic sewing skills (There are no-sew versions, too!) You’ll even find ideas—accompanied by a gallery of gorgeous photo examples—for creating lovely effects using surface design techniques such as painting and computer graphics. Super-simple, illustrated, step-by-step instructions show you how to wrap five basic shapes—bag, box, flat, bottle, and basket.

Best of all, if you are presenting a gift wrapped in a furoshiki, you can tuck in one of the perforated tear-out cards located in the back of the book; they bear instructions for knotting and tying the wrap, so the recipient can use the furoshiki again. Now that’s paying it forward!

Now for the giveaway…one lucky person will win a copy of Furoshiki Fabric Wraps!

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us about the most creative host/hostess gift you’ve ever given or received.

For an additional entry, log in to your Amazon account and “like” this book, then come back here to leave a second comment saying you did so.

Deadline to enter is Sunday, February 26, 2012. One comment will be drawn at random to win…the winner will be contacted via email and posted here on the blog next week. Good luck!

Congrats to Sunny, who won a copy of Thread Magic Garden from last week’s giveaway post.

Dabbling with Inktense Blocks on fabric

February 17th, 2012 in Inspiration
By Tristan Gallagher

Love these! We just released the Derwent Inktense Blocks this month and I couldn’t wait to give them a whirl on fabric and some other surfaces. As you can see in the picture, I gave these blocks a workout!

What’s really cool about these is the intensity of the color from such a small block. You can vary it of course, depending on your desire. At first they seem like any ordinary pastel crayon (only harder), but the magic happens when water is introduced.

Colorwash

This sample demonstrates how the ink block rubs on to mul•tex^® and what happens at the top of each color swipe after brushing water over it. The color pops and comes to life!

Blending

You can get endless effects from blending your colors directly on fabric. As you work with your wet brush, you’re able to vary the level of blending. The amount of water you use will also effect the outcome. The color becomes permanent when dry.

Drawing—wet on wet, dry on wet, and so on…

Here the fabric was given a light brown wash. While the fabric was still wet, the dry block is used to draw. If the fabric is really wet, you can get a bolder stroke with more bleed.

Dry block on wet surface

Continuing the drawing as the fabric begins to dry

Spattering

You can create little “inkwells” on the blocks themselves just by working a wet brush onto it, then flick or drip the ink from your brush on to your surface. Continue Reading…

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.