A Little Tap Dance!

 Are you looking for a new outlet for your creative genius?  Here's a way to combine your fabric designs with motifs and designs from any kind of print source that you can print or copy.  You can actually create your own custom fabrics!

This product is called Transfer Artist Paper (TAP) and is an update on the old fusible transfers that I used about 10 years ago.  This new product gives a much better result, not the stiff and glossy look of the photos that I put on fabric back in the day.

Barb made this great tote bag with the TAP and a printed design onto a solid linen-like fabric.  She even personalized it with her own name printed into the design!  The bag pattern is the Alice Book Bag by Betz White.

To help you understand some of the many ways that you could make use of TAP, here is a short video demonstration:

Summer Classes 2013

Personalize a free slideshow design

My Reading List

 One of my favorite things to do before a vacation or trip is selecting one or more new magazines to pack along in my bags.  Maybe for the airport waiting room, or on the deck of the cabin, or on a bench beside a lake.  I can leaf through those glossy pages and envision the possibilities for my return home.  Or even if I'm not going anywhere, a new magazine is like a special little treat.  We have such a good range of magazines for you to choose from, some of them are below:

There are plenty more to choose from, so stop in and take a look!  Which one is going on a trip with you?

For my next vacation, it might be time for Modern Quilts 

and Stitch.

Pam

Thinking Outside of the Box

Yesterday I finished quilting a project for Genell and I wanted to share it with you as an example of how to think outside of the box.  This is Pie In The Sky, a pattern of my own design, which I published last summer when I made it using the 2012 Quilt MN fabrics.

Here is Genell's version---batiks---beautiful!

And my own quilt---

And another version I have been working on with my leftover selvedge edges---

I love to see the way we can all look at a design and visualize it a little differently.  That's why we have so many fabrics, right!?  And why we usually need a few more perfect prints to add to that stash, so one day we can see a new pattern and know that the perfect spot for that fabric has been found!

When I made my pattern and quilt, I used the Kaleidekite Ruler from Aardvark Quilts

Now I have noticed a new spiderweb ruler from Creative Grids that I need to take a look at to find out if it could also be a good ruler for this pattern.  When I have a spare moment I will get right on that!

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!

Pam

Harriet's Sampler

Last Monday night we had our 3rd session for the Harriet's Sampler class.  This is truly a labor of love! And a study in precision piecing, with as many tips and tricks as I can think of to get neat blocks with all those little pieces and points intact!  The blocks range from 2" up to 12".

Below is a sampling of the blocks that have been created so far:

Carol, if you are reading, I am sorry I didn't get a picture of your blocks, but there is a next time!

This is a picture of the pattern cover, so you can see what it looks like with all of the blocks assembled:

And here is a picture of my blocks when they were nearly all done:

Stay tuned for the big reveal in a few months when we have more done!  This class is offered over 8 months, so there is instruction and sewing time each month on selected blocks.  The blocks are assembled into sections and then joined with borders to finish up.  There is still time to join us, if you don't mind a little catch-up work!

Pam

Bernina Software Bonanza

We have a very special event this month, and there is still time for you to sign up!  Bernina is bringing 2 national experts to us for great learning opportunities in a 2 day hands-on workshop.

These classes are designed for both beginner and intermediate users of the BERNINA Embroidery Software V6 - DesignerPlus level.
 

They will be held April 26 & 27, 2013, from 9-5 both days.  We will be using the University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center on the St. Paul Campus.

$175(includes lunch and parking) 

Here's what you can expect:

Spend two days exploring BERNINA Embroidery Software V6 including DesignerPlus. 

Work with Lettering, Monograms, Editing, Art Canvas Basics, Quilter and appliqué techniques. 

Be inspired by a demonstration of the new DesignWorks software.

Spend time with others who share a common interest in software and embroidery.

Receive a CD containing the workshop exercises.

We are co-sponsoring with Make It Sew.  There are still a few openings at this time.  Call us at 651-429-6500 for answers to questions and to register.  Hope to see you there!

A Night of Basket Lattice

 We have been working on piecing together some rows for our Basket Lattice class, and here are 2 of the results.  What great use of color!  We also have had quite a discussion about pressing--to press or not to press, that is the question.  I tend to press only as much as is needed during the block assembly, preferably not much.  Then when the block is done I give it a good press.  I feel that I get better matching of seams and points when I do it this way because the fabric seems to have more "give".  Most quilters do much more pressing of each step along the way, and if that works for you then all is good in the world.  But maybe you might want to take a walk on the wild side with me and see what happens!