one of the most talked about pieces in this booth was the quilt that hung on the back wall designed by scott hansen who i got to meet.  his unique approach to creating this quilt was so refreshing to many people who stopped by to see it – i loved it…

i also got to meet designer tula pink who i instantly adored. she is so amazing, colorful, and down to earth sweet (thanks tula for being so genuine to me).  i also did a video segment for qnntv.com with host jodie davis who was so nice as well, we had lots to chat about…

my friend richele christensen made this cool quilt for the booth which i loved.  the mix of all of the fabrics in this patchwork was so cool, and so eclectic – thanks for sharing in the fun richele…

i can’t wait until my eclectic elements fabric get in the hands of many of you, and i start seeing a whole new world of creative ideas and inspiration.  i never thought i would see my designs on fabric so this experience is truly beyond amazing.  here’s more project inspiration from the booth including this awesome vintage chair covered in one of my new fabrics, giant numbered pillows, layered totes and aprons, and more – wow!  enjoy…t!m

there have been lots of questions about how the fabrics will be sold, when they are available, and more importantly where.  the fabrics will be shipping in late summer/early fall and sold through select chain and independent retailers who choose to carry them (check with your local retailer).  eclectic elements will be available by the yard, in fabric bundles of fat quarters, fat eighths, design rolls, charm packs, and for the paper craft & mixed media artists fabric craft packs sized 6″x6″ and 12″x12″.  it’s so cool that there’s something for everyone.  we will be sharing our adventures at quilt market on facebook, twitter, and instagram so be sure to follow the fun – i can’t wait…t!m

also on friday 5/10 at exactly 2:01pm EST i was finally allowed to announce my new collaboration with coats to launch my new fabric line “eclectic elements”.  i can’t even begin to tell you how thankful i am to all of you for your kind comments, tweets, and facebook posts –  it really means the world to me.   the collection coordinates with my idea-ology papers which is a dream come true to see these designs as fabrics…

i’m excited to attend my very first quilt market this weekend in portland, oregon where “eclectic elements” will debut, and introduce everyone to this new fabric line which will begin shipping late summer/early fall.  to help share in the excitement check out the post my friend and creative coordinator paula cheney did today on her blog.  this is going to be another exciting adventure, and i’m excited to shake things up in my world of paper crafts and mixed media with the addition of fabric.  i look forward to sharing each and every moment of this creative journey with you….t!m

WESTMINSTER FIBERS INC TO INTRODUCE COATS BRAND OF FABRICS AT PORTLAND QUILT MARKET

Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements 100% Cotton Fabric to be Premier Collection

Charlotte, N.C. (May 10,2013) – Westminster Fibers Lifestyle Fabrics, a division of Coats plc. the world’s leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, introduces a new line of designer fabrics at the International Quilt Market in Portland in May 2013 under the Coats brand. 

Coats fabrics will feature industry leading designers with an established presence in areas beyond the fabric world who are bringing their own unique perspectives and artistic eye to textile crafting.  Crafters with busy lifestyles will find Coats fabrics appealing as they allow them to decorate their home or sew a quick and easy project without having to invest a great deal of time or compromising on quality. Even those who are not seasoned sewists will find the Coats fabrics inspiring and will appreciate their versatility and many applications in textile crafting and home decorating. Coats fabrics will be widely available in fabric and craft stores as well as through our distribution partner Notions Marketing. 

“For over 250 years, Coats has been a leading innovator in the crafting, sewing and quilting industries.  We are constantly seeking ways to add value to our products for our customers and the crafting consumer.  Combining this rich history of textile manufacturing with the expertise of fabrics and design within our Westminster team has allowed us to take the Coats brand to the world of fabrics,” says Christine Truillet, global marketing director, Crafts Division, Coats plc. 

Coats has enlisted renowned paper crafter Tim Holtz^® to design the company’s first collection of 100% quilting cotton and associated finished products for global distribution in sewing, quilting and crafting retail outlets.

The uplifting, vintage urban look of Holtz, known already to millions of paper crafters will inspire the artful imagination of every genre of crafter, sewist and quilter to cross the boundaries between fabric and craft.  Holtz’s new fabric line, Eclectic Elements, features images made from a nostalgic mix of media from the past including the industrial look of antique letter press; old luggage labels evoking the golden age of travel; sepia toned newsprint, handwritten journal entries and passport pages; clock faces and transit signs; aged woven wooden tape measures and more. The inspiration for ‘Eclectic Elements’ blends the nostalgia of timeless elements and the texture and creative versatility of fabric with the unique combination of salvaged findings and vintage palettes. 

In addition to bolted fabric, Eclectic Elements will also be available in cut fabrics designed specifically for retailers to cater to today’s quilter, paper crafter and sewist.  Fat Quarters, Design Rolls, 5” and 10” Charm Packs and Fat Eighths are perfect for the quilter’s patchy quilts and a multitude of bundle projects like totes, aprons and accessories.  

Paper craft retailers will find the Coats 6” Fabric Crafting Packs the perfect complement to the Tim Holtz^® unique die-cutting and embossing products.  To complete the paper crafter’s fabric offering, 12” Fabric Crafting Packs can be the basis for any scrapbooker’s page as well as accents for any other paper crafting project. 

“The seasoned quilter looking for new creative outlets is manipulating, stamping, cutting, and embellishing fabrics on her own, then quilting,” says Helen Gregory, VP Content of Interweave, a division F+W Media.  “Couple this quilter with the paper crafter who is creating everything from collages to art journals and working with a whole host of craft materials including paper, fabric, thread and more. The Coats brand of fabrics with Tim Holtz is designed to generate excitement among all of these inspired enthusiasts – whether a sewist, crafter or quilter.”   

“They say that every possibility begins with the courage to imagine, and seeing my designs come to life as fabric is beyond my imagination,” says Holtz.  “I too believe creativity is not in the finding of a thing, but the making of something out of it after it is found.” 

To view the new fabric from Coats, visit www.coatsandclark.com/timholtzfabrics.  For even more ideas and inspiration, visit www.timholtz.com. 

- alison: color and texture, now what could be better than that?  well when that combination includes distress and sizzix it’s certainly better in my world.  lots of great close up pics of this project on her blog too, see for yourself…

- may flaum: when it comes to sharing creativity, may is definitely one that truly embraces the importance of it all.  i really love this layout she created using a variety of idea-ology goods.  in the words of may “awesome!”…

- brenda brown: this is a great use of my picture wheel die, stamps, inks, papers, geez you name it!  i think it would make a great cover for a journal or photo album.  i am a fan of brenda’s work…

- christine: wow is really the first thing i said when i saw this fragment album.  the dimensional effect these tiles give the cover of this album is incredible.  the use of stamped images, papers, and embellishments really creates an assemblage of artistry…

- gillian: just you wait until you see this canvas created with tons of stamps and distress.  i always love seeing the variety of surfaces people create on.  bravo to you gillian…

- candy: another favorite of mine for blogworthy and i think it will be one of yours too.  candy has a way with layers and details and certainly loves to share her creativity with everyone else.  lots of great close of photos on this one too…

- miyake: okay i may not be able to read this blog post, but i know that creativity is universal.  not only do i love this colorful creation, but i was lucky enough to actually meet miyake in person all the way from korea at ranger u last month – small world huh?  she is as charming as she is talented…

- anne rostad: if you’re ever looking for some wonderful ideas, then this blog is the place to visit.  anne’s use of dies, papers, inks, and more for creating just about everything is simply amazing…

supplies: remnant rubs, distress stain/picked raspberry/broken china/wild honey/evergreen bough, distress ink/rusty hinge/walnut stain, archival ink/jet black, alcohol ink/lake mist, ink tool, heat tool, craft sheet, 1/8″ wonder tape, #8 manila tags, sanding grip, crinkle ribbon, enameled tags, film strip ribbon, word bands, mini fasteners, texture hammer, craft pick, scissors, stamps/classic favorites

step 1: begin with remnant rub sheet and manila tag

step 2: place one sheet over tag and rub in small, various areas of the sheet only – don’t overdo this step.

step 3: immediately rip off the remnant rub sheet to transfer parts of the images, and repeat as needed (the more random and faster you rip the better).

step 4: sand off excess rubs from the edges using a sanding grip.

step 5: apply various colors of distress stains to craft sheet my pressing down and gently squeezing the bottles of stain.

step 6: swipe tag through distress stains to apply colors to the tag.

step 7: this is the effect you should have – the rubs resist the inks! (don’t worry if you haven’t covered the entire tag with color at this point).  lightly mist inks with water to begin blending colors.

step 8: start drying the tag with a heat tool since the rubs are somewhat heat stable as well.

step 9: stop drying for a moment and spritz the inked tag with water to react the inks and create a mottled effect, then finish drying with heat tool.

step 10: blot excess stain from remnant rubs with a towel.

step 11: ink the edges of the tag with various colors of distress ink using an ink blending tool.

step 12:  stamp images with archival ink over the rubs.

step 13: for images you would like to appear in the background, wipe away the wet archival ink from the top of the rubs using a towel.

step 14: continue stamping with other various images using archival ink.

step 15: for images you would like to appear layered, dry them with a heat tool on top of the rubs.

*note: next we’re going to use the new enameled tags to create a custom embellishments.

step 16: apply lake mist alcohol ink to felt and ink over the enameled tag until desired look is achieved.

*note: see what a little layering with alcohol inks can do?

step 17: cut our words or elements from remnant rubs.

step 18: place on to enameled tag and rub with craft stick.

step 19: continue adding various words and elements until desired look is achieved.  (i love the look of filling a tag with rubs).

step 20: cut a piece of film strip ribbon.

step 21: add strips of 1/8″ wonder tape to the back edges of the ribbon as shown.

step 22: adhere film strip ribbon to the side of the tag and place enameled tag for placement and pierce hole with craft pick.

step 23: secure enameled tag using mini fastener.

step 24: secure word band to tag using long fasteners and tap with texture hammer to dent tops of brads.

step 25: color crinkle ribbon with various colors of distress stain to coordinate with the tag.  mist with water, crinkle, dry with heat tool, and tie on to tag.

the details: the contrasting effect of the rubs in combination with the stamped imagery is so cool.

the details: adding simple embellishments when using this technique accents the effect of the resisted rubs.

cool technique right?  i love the looks you get by using the rubs as specific imagery, or simply for random background effects which makes them a very useful creative tool.  i think once you try this technique for yourself, you’ll be amazed at the simplicity of creating this complex looking effect.  i can’t wait to see what creations you share this month using this new remnant rub resist technique – have fun…t!m

congrats to the winners from the april 12 tags of 2013.
if you see your name (and it links to your tag)
please email mario@timholtz.com to claim your prize…

1. Cora Hoekstra
2. Emma
3. Cheryl
4. Pascale B
5. Desiree de Monye
6. Anke Kramer
7. Theresa Miers
8. Diana
9. Sandra Mouwen
10. Tincan Crafter
11. butterfly
12. Redanne

*be sure to check your local stores for these supplies or you can
click the links below to purchase online…
(SSS=simon says stamp / IE=inspiration emporium)

GREAT NEWS! both of these online stores are offering a discount of 10% off your purchase – use the following codes with your order:
(SSS code: TIM12TMAY / IE code: timtime)

click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)
click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (SSS|IE)
click here (SSS|SSS)	click here (SSS|IE)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)
click here (SSS|IE)	click here (SSS|IE)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)
click here (SSS|IE)	Adirondack Alcohol Ink	Ink Applicator Tool	click here (IE|SSS)
click here (IE|SSS)	click here (SSS|IE)	click here (IE|SSS)	click here (IE|SSS)

i sincerely appreciate how committed ranger is to education as a company.  sharing all of the uses, ideas, and techniques our products can do is truly motivating every single time.   we had ranger u attendees from all over the world (10 different countries) that included store owners, designers, teachers, bloggers, and distributors who each contribute their unique industry involvement to the experience…

so again, thanks to everyone who made this ranger u 2013 such a fun, memorable and creative one…t!m

we shipped lots of supplies for workshops i’d be teaching so there was lots to do and unpack before the big day.  lucky for us we had help from terri (the owner of beautiful impressions) and her awesome staff including these cool guys: luke, gordon, and matthew who worked the entire event with us and we’re such great help  - thanks again everyone…

our friend heather came form nova scotia to help us out and visit with us during the weekend, it was so great to see her.  we also got to see some friends we’ve met in our teaching travels, and meet some new friends too who helped us out throughout our trip – we really appreciated it…

saturday morning we were ready for the day and the view from the class venue was really spectacular.   i taught 2 workshops that day and the students were awesome!  my sincere thank you once again to terri and her team, and of course to all of you who signed up for the classes and enjoyed the creative journey.  i am always both amazed and inspired by all of the creativity that can fill a room (and yes, there were lots of us – 200 students total for both workshops).  it all worked out great and we supplied each and every one of them with everything they needed for the classes – such fun…

when the classes wrapped up around 8:00pm saturday night, it was a cleaning and packing frenzy as we had to load up and get everything out of the venue that night.  with the help of many we did it in record time and the room was picture perfect.  you can see that mario was happy as can be that all of the supplies fit back in our tubs and ready to ship out – classic photo…

sunday morning we hit the road again to make our way to massachusetts to get unpacked and set up again to teach at an all day trade event the following morning.  along the way, we hit a couple of incredible antique stores where i managed to find a few treasures i couldn’t live without (unfortunately this sign wasn’t one of them, but i wanted it so bad)…

monday morning it was showtime again as i taught two 3 hour session workshops that were part of out “radically ranger” all day event for store owners.  it was a fun day of techniques and education for sure.  then, it was time to pack up the trailer as we hit the road again, this time for our 4 hour drive to new jersey.  we arrived about 11:00pm last night, got unpacked and checked into our hotel by ranger…

so today was a busy day at ranger with lots of things to still get ready for ranger u which is this weekend, but more on that tomorrow as i really need to call it a night since it’s already about 1:00am – whew!  thanks again for sharing in the adventures…t!m

- check out this wonderful project paula cheney did using the new assemblage clock.  these are so fun to create with and i can’t wait to see more creative ideas that this will inspire…

- when it comes to paper engineering, shelly hickox seems to take the challenge seriously.  check out this layered clock mini book using the new pocket watch movers & shapers die…

the first project is “journeys of the past” which is one i taught last year, but a favorite since it incorporates lots of distressing and is packed with idea-ology treasures…

the next project is “configurations of your imagination” which features my new configurations book, french industrial paper stash and is literally a dimensional wonderland…

so it’s going to be a total of 9 hours of teaching bliss for me and i look forward to meeting all of the students.  there are still spaces available if you’re interested so just contact the store directly here.  we’ll be sure to share some BTS (behind the scenes) photos of the event – can’t wait…t!m