Silk Screen Class, Oliso Iron & New Product

Wow!  We are always busy here.  This weekend was the first time in a while I did something for my self for the entire weekend. Catherine Goetz and I spent all day Saturday and Sunday with Gunnel Hag of Colour Vie fame in her workshop learning how to screen print!   Gunnel is an amazing artist and instructor. Her paints are environmentally friendly.
We learned all the basics of screen printing using basic newsprint to create stencils and art. Sunday we learned all about Photo Emulsion and various techniques to design art for your screen.  Gunnel shot a screen for each of us which we printed in the afternoon.   This is the screen I printed.  The art is a Diane Ericson Stencil.  I’m sure you can buy it directly from her.
We all take our cameras and intend to take pictures, but it just doesn’t happen because we get so wrapped up in our work.
B.T.W.  I left my lint roller at home and sure enough there was cat hair on the first piece of fabric I pulled out to print.

Mean while today it’s back to the real world.  The Oliso Irons arrived on Friday.  This is THE IRON you see on the Fons & Porter PBS programs.  New Lumiere paints, paintstik stencils, more texture magic and the new lighter weight Lutradur also arrived.  I will take a break from adding the Sulky threads to the site and add these today.
www.joannescreativenotions.com

Tomorrow I’ll write about my new 12 needle Babylock Embellisher.  I printed a few pieces this weekend that I’d like to embellish on top.  Now I have the proper machine.
Enjoy and Be Careful! Joanne

Fall Creativ Festival in Toronto

It’s hard to believe we are less than 60 days away from the Creativ Festival. October 22, 23 & 24 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre In Toronto. We had our first major planning meeting for this years’ event and I wanted to share a few of the details with you.

John and I are pleased to announce that we will be hosting Sulky Educator Diane Gloystein. Her passion for a broad range of sewing and surface embellishment techniques will fit quite well with the range of products we offer. We will have Sulky Threads and Stabilizers on our booth. I’m really excited about Dianne’s Applique Boutique Class. It’s being offered on Sunday morning from 9 to noon. I’ve included a close up of the project. It’s the perfect class for someone who is ready to explore some of the less traditional applique techniques and broaden their knowledge of how to best use the different Sulky Threads in your projects. If you would like to register in this class you can call the Festival @ 1.800.291.2030

We all know that proper Pressing is Essential to a successful outcome. Whether it’s using the iron to apply stabilizers, interfacings or press seam allowances. We will be offering the New complete line of Rowenta high quality pressing equipment. Rowenta Pressing experts will be there to show you how to enhance the joy of sewing with perfect results every time. They are so Fantastic we’ve given them a dedicated booth right across from us.

More in a day or so.
Don’t forget to go back to the home page and check the details on our Thread clearance for the long weekend. www.joannescreativenotions.com

Be Safe
Joanne

SewFest West 2010 Website!

http://www.joannescreativenotions.com/sewfestwest/

It’s done! you can see the vendors, register online for classes get directions, read the free show floor presentations and see who is doing a make and take on their booth!

Don’t forget to read my make & take comment.  I hope you see the humour.  John says, why didn’t you write that you would simply be “Holding Court, all Visitors Welcome”

I’m contemplating playing with PaintStiks® and foil on the booth. my latest obsession.

Where have I been?  Well I’ve been looking after my own health and when up to it, I’ve produced the class guide for print which will arrive Monday.  John and I will start working on the bulk mailing for Canada post.  I’ve also been doing the web site above.

I have tonnes of new product her to add to our site.  I have all of Laura Wasilowski’s patterns, Grainline gear patterns, Starbuilder rubbing plates from Laura Murray, Patsy Thompsons free Motion dvd’s and her patterns.  Maybe now I can get them on our site.

Take Care,
Joanne

Polder Ironing Board and Petite Press

I’m always amazed at how fast time flys by.  I should have had the binding on this quilt and given it away about 1 month ago.  Well Mum will get it for Christmas.  To make sure I stay on track with this I’ve moved my double sided Polder Ironing board right beside my sewing machine.  Even though there is a place to store the full sized iron I’m using the new Petite Press ’cause it’s just so cute. It looks like it’s sitting on the ironing board but it isn’t . The built in stand actually works on this iron. It clears the ironing board by almost 2 inches.
Back to the ironing board.  We have 2 in with girdded tops right now.  It’s hit and miss as to whether they ship the girded ones or the plain ones. They are available on our site.
www.joannescreativenotions.com

Be Safe
J

Texture Magic

I finally made time last night to play with Texture Magic.  I cut a 12 x 12 inch square of Texture Magic and stitched it onto a larger piece of fabric in a 1’’ grid.  It really does shrink with steam. You do use a lot of steam, so fill  your water container up before you start.  You have to be sure you hold the Iron above the surface.  It’s cool.  What am I going to do with this piece?
I’m going to use it in a challenge.  The fabric I chose co-ordinates with the fabric in my mystery challenge package.  I didn’t choose this fabric intentionally.  It just happened.  Is that Serendipity?
I’m going to use some of this as a textured appliqué.  I will stitch around in the shape I intend to cut and then cut just outside that stitching line.  It will all unravel if I don’t do that first.
Texture Magic is available on our website
www.joannescreativenotions.com
Plans progress for SewFest West 2010. I think this will be a wonderful weekend.  There will be classes and free demos, more than just shopping. We’d love your input.  Feel free to email me @ info@joannescreativenotions.com
Have you seen something really neat at a show that you wish others would consider?
What about a quilting or fashion sewing instructor?
Many of our plans have been finalized, but we will gladly consider all your ideas and incorporate them if at all possible.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Oh!  Christmas is fast approaching.  Remember to allow time for delivery.
Be Safe
J

Surprise Gift & Discipline

I must admit I really didn’t expect it last week when John brought home this book.  Goddess of the Last Minute by Robbi Joy Eklow.   We don’t offer it, I’m sure you can get it online.  What a wonderful read.  I really had to discipline my self not to read it in one go.  I will read it again.
Robbi writes an article by the same title for Quilting Arts Magazine.  As she states, this is not a guide of how to complete projects, organize or offer other self help advice.  The Goddess of the Last Minute, simply chronicles the lifestyle of an Art Quilter, writer, traveling instructor, mother, wife (Do You recognize any of these…?) Funny, easy read and well worth adding to your stocking stuffer list or just go buy it now.

Sticking with the Discipline topic,  I’ve finally added, I hope, most of what I blogged about last week to the site.  I actually tried out the Snowflake Cedar Canyon Stencil on the weekend with the Grip-n-Grip. The Fusible Velcro® is there now too.
The easiest way to see what’s new it to click on the What’s New link on the right hand side of our web page.www.joannescreativenotions.com
Be Safe
J

Simplicity Product Update and MORE New Products

There are 2 each of the bias tape makers and rotary cutters left. They are available online now.  PLUS, the GrabARoo’s arrived!  These were hot at market.  These new gloves are actually marked in normal glove sizes.  8, 9 and 10.  They are machine washable.
Also here, the fusible Velcro for the new handbag patterns.  Black Beige and White in 3/4’’ strips.
Back to Cedar Canyon and Paintstik Stencils.  I’ve actually held them in my hand.  What a wonderful quality.  The same as the stencil included with the Coneflower pattern.  There are 3 new colours of full size paint stick here too. http://www.joannescreativenotions.com/store/

If I keep blogging I’ll never get this scanned and uploaded.
SewFest 2010.  Watch for more announcements next week.  We are just overwhelmed by the prospective vendor response.
More Info? http://sewfestwest2010.blogspot.com/
Have a great day
J

Sewing Machine Cookie Cutters

This is just too cute!  I had to start with this.

We sold out of these at the Fall CSNF.  I forgot I’d ordered more.  The cookie cutter is 5” across.  It’s a big cookie.  It’s one of those things were people will eat it even though they “shouldn’t”.  The cookie cutter sets arrived too.  Both are online at

www.joannescreativenotions.com.

Also I’ll blog about the  Cedar Canyon products but they aren’t on the web site yet.

 

I can’t wait to do the Coneflower.  It will go well with the starter kit.  You can use the paints that are in that, but they aren’t the exact ones used in the pattern.  I will have to work on that.

This pattern is more expensive because it includes the Mylar stencils. The finished wall piece is 27 x 38.  The patterns are really good.  The instructions are colour, will laid out, easy to follow and answer most of your questions as you go along.

#CCT505 $16.95.  Online later today.

Same this for the starter pack  it includes a 6 pack of Iridescent Fashion colours, the book PaintStiks on fabric and the Floral Fantasy rubbing plates.

Texture Magic Is back in stock too.

Lots of things to do with stencils.  Bet you thought I forgot.

Have a good day

J

 

New Product Arriving!

I’m so EXCITED!  Finally the rotary cutting machines and bias tape machines will arrive.  The Coneflower patterns for the Paintstiks®, the stencils we’ve all been watching and asking for and new starter kits will be here too.  I’m busy finishing some SewFest West documents so that I can get right down to adding these to the website tomorrow.   I guess between the SewFest news and Mum’s birthday our plans got a bit mixed up.  If you have any of these items on hold, we will be contacting you shortly to complete the transaction. If you are thinking about it, now is the time to get your email in.  The units have all been allotted by date of email arrival

http://www.joannescreativenotions.com/

SewFest West is proving to be quite popular already.  Word of mouth or type in this case is fantastic. Many Vendors have expressed interest.  We are pretty sure we can put together an interesting event.
Watch this blog and the SewFest Blog for updates

http://sewfestwest2010.blogspot.com/

Safe Travels

J

SewFest West-2010 Announcement

Yes, you’ve read that right!  SewFest is back!
When?  April 30th & May 1st 2010
Where?  Bingemans Conference Facilities in Kitchener
Who? Sponsored by Oakville Sewers Forum http://oakvillesewersforum.com/
SewFancy http://sewfancy.com/
Distinctive Sewing http://www.distinctivesewing.com/
Joanne’s Creative Notions http://www.joannescreativenotions.com/store/
More Info? http://sewfestwest2010.blogspot.com/

What?  SewFest West 2010 is a new Sewing and Needlework Event taking place April 30 and May 1, 2010 at Bingemans in Kitchener, Ontario.
We’ve Moved West in order to take advantage of the larger event facility. We are able to offer many, many more vendors. The highway access is great!
Parking is FREE!  The building is CLEAN!
Background
Conceived by Alma Laidlaw of Sew Fancy, Catherine Goetz of Distinctive Sewing Supplies and myself (Joanne Thomson of Joanne’s Creative Notions) with the intention of filling the upcoming Creative/Inspirational Void this Spring 2010
How do I get more information?
Details are being finalized, i.e. vendors, classes and instructors, your best bet is to keep track of the Blog Catherine has set up.  Isn’t she fantastic! http://sewfestwest2010.blogspot.com/
I’ll try to post here as well as on our site http://www.joannescreativenotions.com/store/ as details are finalized.
Alma will be doing the same on the SewFancy site.
So you see when we get together for coffee it isn’t always fun and games.
I’ll keep you posted.
Today, we’re off to celebrate Mum’s 92nd birthday.  You read that right.  I, at a youthful 49 was a “late lamb”.  I will also be spending time with our youngest family members, their parents and grandparents. (Notice the change of priority.)
Colouring outside the lines, babble and smiles.  Could you plan a more perfect day?  I hope your day is happy.
Safe Travels
J