QuiltersBuzz

Quilt Market Fun...The Show Begins... Amy Butler Giving Us Some "Love" and More!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:21:09 -0800

Houston. Quilt Market. Frolicing in Fabric. Need I say more?

Yup, Quilt Market starts tomorrow and I am very excited to re-connected with many in the quilt industry as I roam the aisles at the Houston convention center for the next few days. I join hundreds of quilt shop owners from around the world who are here to buy products to fill their shop at the International Quilt Market.

New fabrics, trims, patterns, and people...are all very inspiring for a quilter like me.

I ran into Amy Butler, (one of my biggest blog supporters and inspirational people), her hubby David and Amy's cute dad. She showcased her newest fabrics "Love" --both quilting weight and home dec weight-- and new patterns, pillows, bags and other goodies in a presentation given today. (See the free-downloadable "Sexy Hexy" quilt)

She and hundreds of other vendors "fluffed" and put the finishing touches on their booths today to ready for the opening of market tomorrow.

Here are a few photos...to more to come!

(Amy Butler's Dad and husband helping to set up the booth--I call them "quilters eye candy")

Quilting Cruise Plans Are In The Works..And Fresh Picked Fabrics Opens! Ok, So I Have Been A Little Busy....Glad To Be Back Writing!

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:09:36 -0800

Exciting news! I am in Atlanta, GA meeting with the "Sixth Man" travel team. We are working out the details of booking an entire cruise ship for a quilting adventure next summer.

The Sixth Man rents a boat (ok, it is really a ship) and fills it with "like-minded people"--like us--who are looking for a wonderful crafting adventure. (They have an Elvis cruise in the works--for those Elvis fans and impersonators!)

I will be hiring quilting talents and designers to lecture and teach and to entertain all on board.

Do you want to play? I will be posting more details as they come.

In case you have missed me and posts on Quilter's Buzz...I have been busy opening a quilt shop,"Fresh Picked Fabrics" in Yorba Linda, CA.

Then, soon after opening, decided to move to a bigger location (7500 sq feet! yikes) in the same complex! We move early July. Find us at 3810 Prospect Ave. #A in Yorba Linda, CA 92886 714-223-1701.

I missed going to quilt market (and missed all my friends!), but caught up by reading everyone else's blogs and facebook entries.

I plan on getting back on track and writing more on Quilter's Buzz!

Easy Applique Blocks...A New Book For Quilters...Comment TODAY And You May Get One Free!

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:26:26 -0800

“Now that I am a quilt shop owner, I am always on the search for great fabrics and fun projects. And when I saw that Kay MacKenzie was writing a book about appliqué…I was interested in her work.

Then when I saw the word “easy” in the title, I knew I was really interested. Don’t get me wrong, I love appliqué, I just needs it to be fast and easy.

And I think I found the place….for 50 easy designs in 5 different sizes! We plan to use this “Easy Applique Blocks” book in our “beginning appliqué” classes.

Kay has generously donated a book for the reader’s of Quilter’s Buzz.

COMMENT TO WIN!

Tell me what you think about the “A” word book and Kay will pick a random winner from the comments placed today, April 4 by midnight Pacific Time.

I Am Cruising For You! Working And Planning A Big-O Quilting Cruise Retreat. Comment and win!

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:41:26 -0800

Fun for all!

I have been working with a event planner/travel company, "the Sixthman" to plan a quilting/crafting cruise in the spring of 2010.

My dream has been to book the whole dang cruise ship with quilters!

Yup, the whole ship and all of it's events and activities dedicated to us crafty bunch! There will be guest lecturers with artists and designers, sewing and quilting classes, demos, all-night sewing spectaculars, ...and more.

And Andy, at the Sixthman, is going to help me do it. Andy works to "create unique experiences by bringing together like-minded people in exclusive, interactive and intimate environments".

Right now, he hosts events with Rock Stars.

He shares my vision and we are working to make it happen

A week ago, Andy invited me to go on a cruise "to see how his people" do it and to talk business. The crazy part is, I am leaving today with the hubby! (I haven't been that spontaneous since college--hard to do with 4 kids , I guess!)

I will be going on the "John Mayer" cruise (bummer, probably no Jennifer Aniston because of the break up andl all!). John will be playing (along with 15 other bands!) on this 5 day event.

I will be working on the details and date and doing cruise business talk on deck chairs---so we can book "our" event. I will keep you posted.

We will be porting in Cabo, I will try not to share a pig's head and chicken feet with you this time!

I am taking my camera, And hey I might get some good "quilter goes Paparazzi" photos!

COMMENT AND WIN!

Have you been on a quilting cruise? What is the best thing about it? Comment and win. The Prize? Since I am trying to book a GIANT cruise, the randomly picked comment, will win 20 yards of GIANT Ric Rac. Make a comment by April 4 at midnight Pacific time.

Being "Green" Making A Blue Jean Quilt! See This Free Pattern on eQuilters.com

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:07:19 -0800

Being Blue Jean “Green”!

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose And Reduce.

My sister sent me this link with the instructions for making a jean quilt from your jean scraps. She promises it is "easy and fast".

The pattern is a free pattern called “Doreen’s Circle quilt” and is on the equilters.com site. Look on the site for the free pattern.

There are several other posting of other who made quilts with this pattern. And about a thousand other FREE downloadable patterns…

I wonder what this circle quilt would look like using an Amy Butler canvas print and jeans…it got me thinking….

Photos thanks to equilters.com.

"Weekend Sewing" Book With 40 Projects Available Now From Designer Heather Ross

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:20:11 -0800

Haven’t sewn since seventh grade home ec? Need to jump start your “I Can Do It Myself” mode?

Heather Ross has written a book, “Weekend Sewing” full of 40 projects and ideas for inspired stitching!

Perhaps this book will inspire you to reclaim sewing and the need to create!

Heather Ross is a designer of fabrics--for both Free Spririt Fabrics and Kokka--,fashion projects, sewing pattern and stationery goods. You can check out her website at Heather Ross Designs.

She often is a guest teacher at Purl Patchwork in New York where she lives and recently held a book signing there.

I received a copy of the book for review. And the first thing I noticed was the full sized paper patterns tucked behind both sleeves of the book’s front and back…making it even easier to get started on one of the many “doable” projects in this book.

Projects include totes, aprons, pillowcases, pajamas, sundress, skirts, baby bloomers and more. Plus, a whole chapter on sewing basics and tips.

There are full colored photos and graphics/illustrations throughout the book. Each project in the book is meant to be completed in a weekend! This book would make a beautiful gift—for yourself!

The girls at Purl posted an interview with Heather at their blog The Purl Bee.

Here is what Heather had to say about the arrival of her first book:

“A few weeks ago a friend turned to me and said "I am so sorry your book is launching during such a rough economy." The only thing I could think to say in response was "Oh no, you've got this all wrong!"

I think this is the perfect time for Weekend Sewing! I have been so moved these past months by how much people seem to want to do for themselves and their families in an effort to be more self sufficient, and by how many of us have discovered the opportunity for creative expression that exists in doing so.”

Read the complete interview on the Purl Bee blog.

Available now. Suggested retail $27.50. On Amazon for $18.15. Also check out your local quilt shop.

In A Foreign Land...Fun, Food And Fabric...And A Pig's Head! Comment To Win FABRIC!

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:05:56 -0800

I dedicate this post and photos to my vegetarian daughter.

I recently traveled to the Mexican Riviera (thanks to my generous Mother-in-law!) and I learned a bit about Mexico and Mexican cooking--I even made homemade tortillas and salsa.

I did a bit of shopping in a flea market and meat market. Here are some photos of some interesting sights and SMELLS (if you can only imagine!) Besides the beef stomach, hoofs and pig heads…

FOREIGN FABRIC FOUND!

I also found a fabric store right in the middle of downtown Mazatlan. What caught my eye was the name of the fabric store, "Modatelas"—Can it be Moda's "sister store"? Nah, I don't think so! But they had lots of colorful fabrics, I found only three bolts of fabric that were 100% cotton in the whole store.

I bought some cute fabric that has some polyester in it for $16 Pecos a meter. I think it was about $1.75 per yard. Here is how my transaction took place.

They called a clerk to cut my fabric.
She cut it the put it on a shelf near the cash register and gave me a ticket.
I went to check out and gave the girl my ticket.
The girl gave my ticket to a man.
The man looked at my ticket and found my fabric (Mind, you I was the only customer checking out at the time AND the fabric was on a shelf RIGHT NEXT to the cash register!)
The man examined my ticket and the ticket that was on the fabric and determined it was a match.
The girl rang my sale up.
I gave her my American Express.
It did not work.
The man informed me I had “No Money!”
I used another credit card.
Apparently, I had money on that one.
Numbers were punched, papers were signed and I was sent to another part of the check out area.
I waited to receive my fabric (which is still on a shelf RIGHT NEXT to the place I checked out!)
The man came back, checked my receipt AND ticket again.
He got the fabric off the shelf. Checked the ticket on the fabric to make sure it was still a match!
And he finally gave me my fabric. Whew!

And I want to give it to you. FABRIC GIVEAWAY!

Make a comment by March 5 at midnight Pacific Time. You will be entered to win. I will pick a winner. I will mail you the Mazatlan fabric from Modetelas, PLUS some fabric from Moda, in Dallas, TX. I promise not to send you any pig’s heads!

Fresh Picked Fabrics Coming Your Way! A New Perspective As A Quilt Shop Owner...

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:53:16 -0800

Fresh Picked Fabrics

…for quilting, crafting and sewing

As I See it:

Hello friends, I am happy to announce that we came up with our name for the quilt/fabric shop. I loved most all of the name suggestions sent our way—they were truly inspiring and helped us work our way to the name we did pick: “Fresh Picked Fabrics”.

Our shop is located in Yorba Linda, CA (near Disneyland and the Richard Nixon Museum) and we are madly buying fabrics and notions to fill up our 2000 square feet of space—a pretty fun activity—until the bills come due!

A Change of Plans...

Originally, we (my partner Pamala and I) intended to buy an existing shop located near by—we were pretty far into the process of the sale when the purchase date kept getting pushed back—from September, to October, to November, to December. In the meantime, we had ordered up fabric (while at Quilt Market in October) planning on a Dec. 31 close date and a Jan. 1 opening. Then, we were devastated when the close date got pushed back to February. We got anxious and worried that perhaps the sale was not going to happen—and we had fabric coming in everyday! So we decided to do it on our own!

Coming up with a name for the shop has been the hardest part! Buying fabric, patterns and notions is the fun part.

Many Things To Learn...A New Perspective

I thought I would share a few things I learned along the way…

In writing Quilter’s Buzz, I get the chance to meet with fabric designers, heads of fabric companies, designers, pattern makers, magazine editors, and other movers and shakers in the industry. I see and play with new notions, gadgets, trims and frills.

I write about the things that I love.

However, my perspective has changed a bit when I am actually buying fabric as a “quilt shop owner”. I now see things through the different eyes…and the question I now have to ask is “Will this sell? I know that I love it, but will the consumer love it?

Do I buy the whole line of just a few select bolts? What sample will I make with the fabric line? And probably the worst part of buying fabric is that you have to make a decision fast. You have no time to “dream and think” about whether you will buy a fabric line or not. If you wait, the line –or part of the line--is sold out, or is on back order—with no guarantee that any of the line will be re-printed.

And the other question of how much to buy…I have to think about buying extra bolts of certain fabrics for borders, backing and making kits. Holiday fabrics present a bit of a dilemma too. Not only how much to buy, but what are you going to do when Halloween is over but you still have witches and goblins on the bolt!

I am sure I have many lessons to learn and will make plenty of mistakes along the way. But, I am excited the adventure.

Where To Find Fresh Picked Fabrics:

We are looking forward to hosting friendship groups and will have a full calendar of classes.

“Fresh Picked Fabrics” is open now with a BIG grand opening slated for March 27 through April 4. We are located in the same suite as Cranberry Quiltworks, my Gammill dealership; and Threaded Pear Studio, my pattern company:

Find us at: 3900 Prospect Ave. Unit G in Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Call or email me and I will get you on the mailing list.

Phone: 714-223-1701 Email: FreshPickedFabrics@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support and kindness.

Gina

PS I am working on a logo!

Help Me Name My New Quilt Store!...Listen To A Podcast And What The Heck Is Mercerized?

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:32:02 -0800

I am excited to be in the process of opening a new quilt shop (yeah!) in Yorba Linda, CA. I have been browsing through catalogs, meeting with sales reps and ordering up fabric (See my pink skulls fabric photo below!) and notions. (Fun!, but time consuming!)

NO NAME YET!

However, the shop is yet to be named—I am asking for you help! Do you have a suggestion…for a name?

My business partner, Pamala, and I agreed that we would like the word “fabric” in the name. Please email me your suggestions at quiltersbuzz@gmail.com by Sunday. If we pick your name, we will send you a whole bunch of great stuff!

Our shop is open now, but our official grand opening will be in late March. Lucky for me, the podcast quilting queen, Annie Smith, stopped by (on her cross country quilting adventure tour) for a podcast interview with me and a quick tour of the new shop. She posted the interview and photos of our shop on her Simply Arts site.

In browsing my supply catalogs, I keep running across the word mercerized and I have always wondered what the heck does being mercerized mean…and maybe you have too. I have seen it associated with fabric, thread and even ric rac.

And I am the jumbo Ric Rac queen…I have 30 colors of it available for sale now ($1.49/yd) at the new shop and on my www.CranberryQuiltworks.com website—(Thanks Mike!) It was just listed on the website today!

Anyway, back to the mercerization…

My new FaceBook friend and Aurifil thread guy, Alex Veronelli, sets me straight:

Says Alex:

Before dying any cotton, we need to proceed to its mercerization. What is mercerization: it is a treatment for thread mostly used to give cotton a lustrous appearance. . Mercerized cotton is a cotton thread that has been treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Who knew?

Oh yeah, we will be carrying Aurifil thread at the “un-named” shop--it is the best for piecing.

It is so fun when the UPS man comes with boxes of goodies.

Find us at:

“Yet To Be Named Quilt Shop”

3900 Prospect Ave. Unit G

Yorba Linda, CA 92886

714-223-1701

Ten Principles For Creating Stunning Quilts! A New Book Is Out, "Color Mastery", Download A Chapter, And Enter to Win A Copy

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:44:59 -0800

Picking the right colors and values of fabric to make a quilt is a skill that for most of us takes some time develop. (Perhaps, that is why buying “quilt kits” of pre-selected fabrics from your favorite quilt shop are so popular!)

I recently learned quite a bit about color when I got my hands on an advance copy of a new book. (I got one copy for me and another for you! Make a comment for your chance to win it!)

I had the chance to review a book on mastering color written by author and quilter, Maria Paegler, who is also a blogger at "Quilts and Creativity". I agreed to host her blogger’s book tour on Quilter’s Buzz and she agreed to donate an autographed copy of the book. Make a comment and be entered to win the book!

Here is Maria:

Gina, thanks for hosting me at QuiltersBuzz for the third stop on my two-week "Color Mastery Blog Tour". I'm excited to introduce my revolutionary new way of approaching color in quilting. I wrote my new book, Color Mastery: 10 Principles for Creating Stunning Quilts, after my local shop owner, Jeanne at Sew Memorable, asked me to develop a color class. I was thrilled! I looked for books I could use in class, and soon found many gorgeous books on color, but none were suitable for classroom use, because the projects were too time-consuming. The color classes would have become more about the quilt construction than on getting the color right, and that wouldn't work.

So, I developed my own class exercises and projects that got my students working with the colors in their own stash right away. And it worked. I saw women who had been thoroughly intimidated by color theory forget all about their fears and delight in making color wheels, creating color journals, developing color palettes, and experiment with color in an entirely new way.

I designed quilts that were sophisticated but quick and easy to make, so students could focus on getting the color relationships right and have a finished quilt top after only one class.

The projects in Color Mastery can be made in one day, and are color workouts that don't look like color exercise quilts: they are wall quilts, lap quilts, table runners, and doll quilts, in a range of styles from funky to feminine, to masculine.

ED note: Maria walks you through the use of the color wheel, creating color palettes and color journals and has projects illustrating the principles you learn.

Maria even has a color mastery tutorial posted on YouTube.

You can email Maria at maria@colormastery.com

Color Mastery is available at quilt shops, AtlasBooks (my secure distributor website), and Amazon. Retailing at about $27.

Make a comment and be entered to win a copy of Color Mastery. Make a comment by Feb 12 at midnight Pacific time.

Breast Cancer Awareness--"The Artfull" Bra Spectacular Brought To You By Quilters of South Carolina!

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:14:03 -0800

"Quilters of South Carolina" have created a one-of-a-kind show of BRAS for Breast Cancer Awareness, the Artfull Bra. The exhibit consists of forty-nine original works of art which are unique, entertaining, humorous and beautiful--all created to make the public aware of breast cancer...See more of the bras here.

The exhibit is on tour through October 2009. Shown here are a few of my favorites.

Contact Sandra Baker, president of the QSC at Sandra25@bellsouth.net for more information about the exhibit or if your group is interested in hosting the"Artfull Bra" collection.

Thanks to my quilter friend Pam Dransfeldt for the tip about this exhibit.

(Photos Thanks to the Quilters of South Carolina. Creators:Sports Bra by Angela Faukenberry, Monkey Business by Anita Bowen and my favorite, Nursing Bra by Anne Duncan)

"Sweet" Inspiration At "Craft Nectar", A Newly Launched Site For The Creative Soul

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:44:06 -0800

Here is a new, fun site to check out, “Craft Nectar”, created by designer and quilt maker, Weeks Ringle.

The newest post on the blog is about "slow meditation knitting" while knitting for purpose and making knitted leprosy bandages ... another posts shows the most incredible pink quilt that is as beautiful on the front as it is on the back! (Now, I am not sure WHICH IS the front and WHICH IS the back?)

This newly launched site looks like a wonderful place to go for creative inspiration and direction. Weeks is co-owner of FunQuilts, a quilt and fabric designer (for RJR fabrics), blogger, book author, pattern maker, mother and more!

I asked Weeks to tell us a bit more about it.

Here is Weeks:

“When people come to our lectures, they are generally expecting to hear us talk exclusively about quilts. They are often surprised to see images of beautifully designed furniture, sculpture, architecture, food, fashion and even the Dyson vacuum cleaner. We explain the universal elements of design and how they relate to design in quilts.

With that in mind we launched Craft Nectar. We spent a long time deciding on the name because we really wanted the blog to be a place where people could go when they’re hungry for inspiration.

Each post will include a Nibble Tray of three links that we think are fascinating examples of good design or are just plain inspiring for other reasons. Then there’s a post about something we’re working on and what inspired it.

Our hope is that these posts will encourage people to daydream about things that they want to make and things that will bring a bit of joy and creativity into their lives. Writing and doing the research for Craft Nectar is also an excuse to find sources that will inspire us.

Weeks Ringle
co-owner and designer
FunQuilts

Editor's note: Weeks and her husband Bill, are givers. They work with many charities and sponsor "Many Hands Blankies", see my post here and more about this program on their FunQuilts website.

On the "Road" To Another Quilting Adventure...Road to California Quilt Show and Exhibit Starts This Week

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:13:42 -0800

The Road to California Quilting event starts this week. This is a real treat for those of us that live in Southern California--and for those to travel in from allover--to attend this four-day quilting extravaganza.

Road to California is a giant quilt show (about 30,000) people attend classes, view the quilts, go to lectures and shop at the hundreds of vendors (See the list of vendors here!) who come from all over the country. The show is held at the Ontario Ca. Convention Center.

The show starts on Thursday, Jan 15 and runs through Sunday, Jan 18.

One of the exhibits features a collection of aprons and features author, EllynAnne Geisel.

Here is some info about this exhibit:

Aprons are a “tie” with our past. They trigger memories of times spent with your Mom watching her cook, or special moments spent in your Grandmother’s kitchen. EllynAnne Geisel, owner of Apron Memories and author of The Apron Book has captured the history and nostalgia of the apron. In this exhibit she will share vintage aprons from her private collection. EllynAnne will also make a personal appearance at the exhibit and her book will be available for sale. More information: www.ApronMemories.com

In additon, the show offers hundreds of classes, taught from experts from around the world. As of today, a few of the classes still have spots available. According to show owner, Carolyn Reese, there are a couple dozen classes with a few spots left. The registration desk will be open at noon on Wednesday to add any last minute registrants. If you have any questions, please call the Road to California staff at (909) 946-0020.

I will be there will my Threaded Pear Studio patterns (See the photo of "Charming Baby Log Cabin", I will have patterns and kits available), my Gammill quilting machines (come and play on our computerized Statler or the Premier long arm quilting machines) and quilt kits and fabric from my (yet to be named--but opening soon) quilt shop.

Stop by and say "Hi" and I will have a coupon for you to use at the my new quilt shop! Our booth is located near the snack shack in the 600 row!

Button, Button...Who's Got Buttons? See The New ButtonWare Book By Indygo Junction's Amy Barickman. Plus, Amy Guest Writes Today.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:09:57 -0800

I got a chance to talk with Amy Barickman, of Indygo Junction who has a new book out called “Button-ware” – the art of making creative adornments and embellishments.

I asked her to guest write about her book and her button collecting.

Here is Amy:

Button collecting is one of my favorite creative addictions. I find endless satisfaction in sorting through buttons and discovering the ones I can’t live without. My attraction to these vintage embellishments led me to pursue publishing Button Ware.

To make the reproduction of these designs more accessible, Indygo Junction partnered with JHB International to create many of the projects in this new book using their current collection of colorful and stylish buttons.

I hope that this book will provide crafters with a wonderful guide to using buttons to create unique and eye-catching jewelry and wearables.

JHB International began when Mrs. Jean Howard Barr, of Denver, Colorado, was preparing to leave on a European buying trip for her family business. A knitting store asked her to bring back a specific type of metal button for use on sweaters. From this modest request, the company has grown to become one of the world’s major suppliers of basic, novelty and fashion buttons.

At the Winter 2008 Craft and Hobby Association Show the Button Ware Kits won the Best of Class in the Fabric, Quilting and Needlecraft category. The kits include pins, pendants, chokers, necklaces and bracelets.

Together we have designed Button Ware Jewelry Kits that will provide crafters with a one-stop shopping approach for creating beautiful accessories. The kits include everything you need to make your very own piece from the direction sheet to the jump ring.

We introduced the product earlier this year to rave reviews. We found as all who have a passion for fabric also have a love for buttons.

Buttons, Baubles, Beads And More...Some Eye Candy For You

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:44:34 -0800

Buttons, Baubles, Beads, Bracelets, Broaches! Vintage and New! There were lots of them at both Quilt Market and Quilt Festival. I guess the vendors (Raven's Journey and Bead Goes On were just two of the vendors!) at these shows know that we quilters just don’t quilt!

And not only do we have a passion for fabric, but for buttons and beads as well. We are creators! And that above “B” list of items has a great appeal to many of us.

There were literally crate loads and truck loads displayed on dozens of tables at both of these shows held last month in Houston. I thought I would share a few photos of these amazing little colorful works of art.

At the show, I also got a chance to talk with Amy Barickman, of Indygo Junction who has a new book out called “ButtonWare” – the art of making creative adornments and embellishments.

Tomorrow, I will post her guest writing all about buttons!

Enjoy the color!