New Toys!

Oops! Did I say that?  I should  have said new notions.  Well they aren’t all that new,  Just I’ve finally got the time to play with them.  The Olfa Circle Cutter.  This one cuts circles up to about 6″ , the Quick Change Rotary cutter.  I’ll have to cut some fabric before I determine how easy changing the blade really is, and finally a small 5 x 7 rotary mat.  This will be perfect for tiny sub cuts, trimming at the machine and you guessed it, working with the Marti Michell Templates.  Any how they will be on the site, once I’ve given them my stamp of approval.

More new product arriving next week.

Happy Mother’s Day to All

Quilting for Others

2 beautiful quilts are part of a group of quilts done by a few of my friends over the winter for  the regional Hospice.  Imagine if we all had the time to do just 1 quilt a year how many people would benefit.

Well done Ladies!

New Additions

I’ve added a new category today,  Quilts for a Cause.    As I explain in the post,  these pieces we stitched by some friends over the  winter.  Check out the page for details. I will add ideas for quilts that are appropriate.

I’ve also added the Brampton Quilt Guilds blog.   We have amazingly talented members and wonderful guest speakers. Enjoy!

Marti Michell’s Kaleido-Ruler

I really never thought that any sort of illusionary work would ever emerge from my work room.  I always thought it was for the “designers” and “artists”.

The first 3-D piece inter city  was a real eye opener.  I’d never used Marti Michell templates before.  Any template/technique ruler I had used was usually for curves.  The last one I remember is the Melon Block from Elisa’s Backporch which is still available on our site. www.joannescreativenotions.com

The Kaleido-Rulers from Marti Michell are really easy to use.   I always test a product by    seeing what I can do just using the instructions that  come with the item.  Sometimes, as I did this time, I don’t follow them exactly either.  The Instructions with this ruler describe how to make a 6″ block.  I didn’t have enough fabric. I wanted to make a 4″ block.   The point is the instructions are clear.

The real key is the 67 1/2 degree angle at the lower edge of the triangle.  The other little mathematical quirk I noticed was the width of the strip to make the setting triangle.  This of coarse didn’t really matter because the ruler has all the math done.

Both the Small 2” - 8” Kaleido-Ruler #MM8641 and the Large 6” to 16” Ruler #MM8642 are available on our site. www.joannescreativenotions.com

The next product to test is the New Hexagon Ruler.  As usual I don’t have an easy sample in mind.
Check back for the results.

May Update

I seem to  be adding a lot in different categories today.  I’ve found the spell checker now.  I just have to remember to use it before I hit the post button.  I do need to find a way to add tables to the posts so the pages will look better.

The pile of New Notions is getting higher on my desk.  You will see the ones that pass my trial in the catalogue this fall and sooner online.  We are expecting even more next week.I have a few favourites that I will be adding comments about as soon as I get the photographic studio set up.

The 3 intercity blocks shown in the April post has grown to 1/2 of a quilt.  I’ve done lighter shades on top and am hoping to finish the darker shades for the bottom.  I think I will use this as a Machine Quilting in Sections Sample.  Because I decided to make it into a quilt after I started piecing together sections I will have to use a ‘Low Carb” method. I will write more about this when I get there.

I made a small Kaleidoscope Sample for the show with Marti Michell’s small Kaleido-Ruler (#MM8641).  Check out my review in the current project section.

Dimensional Patchwork/Hearts a Flutter

These beautiful patterns by Annette Ornelas have been in my opinion overlooked.  They do look really difficult but in reality they are quite simple to stitch.  This is why I have proposed this class for Toronto Fall CreativFestival.  I’ve also  been asked to teach this for our local guild in January 2009.

Hearts A Flutter is the Fall class.  We are just doing 1 place mat in the class.  I am hoping to have this kitted also.  The top mat is finished.  The edges are curved when the binding is added.  One of the tricks we will learn in class.  The Real trick is the way the curving is achieved on each piece.  I like to do this when I am quilting but there are options.  I haven’t decided which one I feel like doing yet on the lower piece.

Log Cabin Twist

We had an exciting afternoon here last Saturday.  4 ladies volunteered to be my test for the log cabin with a Twist table runner class.

We had lots of laughs and we all learned.
Here is one of the almost finished pieces.   Actually I think she has another plan for these blocks which I will post when it’s done.

I’ve decided to go for only 2 colours for this class.  The original piece is variations of the  same 2 colours in Bali Prints, but the extra cutting and shifting to get the scrappy look added to much time.  We will probably be adding a kit option for the fall show.

I’ve added the 2 colour variation below.  Hopefully I can get some tabels happening here so the pages won’t look so disjointed.  Just another learning curve I’ve signed myself up for.

The next post later today will be the Dimensional Patchwork also proposed for the Toronto Fall CreativFestival. I am hoping both these will be full day classes so everyone will have beautiful pieces to take home

Spring CreativFestival

Thank you to all who visited us at the Spring CreativeFestival in Mississauga last weekend.

We’ve started work on the Fall 2008 Catalogue which should be available eary this fall. I’m busy tidying up a few more samples to get them ready for posting here on the blog. This includes the Wave Log Cabin that I will be teaching this Fall at the Festival.

I’m working on 2 variations of this technique as well as a very small Storm at Sea.

Once again Thanks to all

April Update

Hello All,  Well it looks like Spring may finally arrive here in Southern Ontario.  We’ve had a busy month here settling.  I am hoping to add video clips later this spring.

I’ve been working on Samples for the CreativFestival Spring demo’s as well as my Fall Festival Classes.The Fall classes will be a Wavy Log Cabin Table runner and a Dimensional Curved Pieced Table Mat.These classes are both fun and participants will easily get most of the project finished in class without feeling rushed.

I spent 2 fantastic days with Marti Michell in March.  I finally had time to work with her templates and see the REAL advantages.  Precision cutting and piecing. I had already planned to use her Newest Log Cabin ruler in My Log Cabin Fall class.

While here, Marti introduced a Cool New Product.  Strippers. This is a set of 3 templates that allow you to precision cut 7 different shapes. They are designed for the 2 1/2” strips  that are so popular today, but I just cut 2 1/2” strips from fat quarters using my largest Log Cabin Ruler.  All are available on our website www.joannescreativenotions.com.  Any items that I discuss here  will be shown in the Features section of the site to make it easier for you to find.

Ther’re aren’t any real instructions with these templates,  but I’ve managed to start this project from the information provided in the packaging.

Like most of us I would rather sew than unpack,  especially when inspiration strikes.  My “Design Wall”  is some batting  held in with push pins.  This will work perfectly until I decide where I want it to be.

I will add more about the Log Cabin and Dimensional Patchwork later this week

J