"Fall" in Love with Crafts Again

Its officially "Fall" and even the Texas heat is allowing cooler temperatures to greet us in the morning. That's a good sign for us because it is the start of our busiest time of the year and cooler weather will certainly help. 

As the seasons change, so do our quilting projects ... or at least the theme. I took a peek at Michelle's personal craft blog a few days ago and saw that she was already knee deep in Autumn-themed quilting. From Halloween to Thanksgiving and even a little Christmas fun.

This quick and easy pumpkin is one of a few Fall-inspired patterns that Bear Thread Designs carries. Veronica likes to crochet in the winter as well as quilt - she says it helps keep her warm. In fact the whole team gets a little "craftier" as the holidays approach. What are some of your favorite fall crafts? Are there activities that you prefer to do when the weather gets cooler?

It seems like we are not to only ones getting into the holiday spirit. My friend Popcorn and his team at Quilting Treasures are welcoming the season with a collage of color. I really like the Elf on the Shelf Collection, though Michelle informs me that she and is already dreaming of projects for the Harvest Fare Collection.  

Veronica is working on a two new quilts using Quilting Treasures fabrics and is hoping to have them completed by International Quilt Festival, if not sooner. I'm not allowed to look at them because I can't keep secrets, but come back and visit soon and maybe I'll have a sneak peek.  

Well, I'm off to find some adventure. Maybe I'll run off to the Creative Room and pick out some fabric while no one is looking so someone can make me a new quilt. 

Sew Many Samples!!

Whew! What a long week it has been already - and its only Wednesday! Veronica is already on the road headed to the Round Bobbin Quilting, Sewing and Fiber Arts Expo in St. Charles, MO this weekend. 

The past few days have been really busy for Veronica and Michelle as they feverishly worked on putting more samples together for upcoming shows and expos. Here is a look at some of the projects they did this week.

I really like the bear, but then again, I might be a little biased! They had quite the stack to start with. Many of these projects were done at shows as we demonstrated fusible applique using the Applique Pressing Sheet. So eventually, we have to stop and start putting them on the background fabric, which is a little hard to do in a hotel room! 

This week, I stayed at the office to help Michelle. We are redoing the entire website! I am so excited! We have some great things coming in the future and we decided it was time to update the website. We'll let you know when the new look is up and running.

I guess I should go help with that now. They love my creative genius!

Happy Hump Day!!

Cruise with Me! 2014 Sew Fun Cruise Classes Announced

NOW BOOKING Round Bobbin Sew Fun CruiseEastern Caribbean March 30-April 6, 2014 Ports of Call: Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Basseterre, St. Kitts • San Juan, Puerto Rico Departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 30, 2014 for seven nightson Celebrity's Silhouette There are a variety of classes offered on this cruise will include garment sewing as well as quilt, applique and embroidery techniques. Leave your sewing machine at home! Sewing machines used on the ship are sponsored by Janome America. Price includes class fees, however, kit fees are extra when applicable. Prices start at $1195 per person. To book your cruise contact Bonnie at CruiseOne 800-784-4480. ** Note: Price listed includes taxes and fees. These prices cannot be combined with any other promotion. Included in your price: Class fees, (except kit fees,) Shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, most meals, some beverages and most on board entertainment.  Not Included: Kit fees for classes which will be paid to instructor at class time, Air transportation, transfers, items of a personal nature such as shore and land excursions, specialty restaurant fees, some beverages, photographs, gratuities/service fees, medical services, etc.  Veronica will be teaching 6 classes on the cruise. They include: Gilligan's Island - limit 20 Monday, 1 pm – 5 pm, Room Sky A Let's make an island wall hanging complete with huts and palm trees. We will embellish our island and you can add little fish using Angelina and Crystalina fibers. Kit fee: $20 One Hour Shirt - limit 20 Monday, 8 pm - 10 pm, Room Sky A Using one piece of fabric, we will sew, cut and sew some more. You will walk away with a cute shirt made from black rayon. Kit fee $20 Puttin on the Glitz – Tote Bag - limit 20 - hands-on workshop Friday, 8 am - noon, Room Sky B In this class we'll make a tote bag and embellish it with different stitches from our machines. Using glitz threads you'll ad that extra zing to your bag. This class was full on the last cruise. If time permits, we may be able to add more bling. Kit Fee: $25 Mystery Go Baby - limit 20 – hands-on workshop Friday, 1 pm – 5 pm, Room Sky A We will use the Go Baby by Accuquilt to make a mystery project. Come and join us as the mystery unfolds. Kit Fee: $20 Posy Pincushion – 1 ½ hour hands-on workshop Saturday, 1 pm - 3 pm, Room Sky A Cute little posy pincushion made from a pattern that can also be used to make a small posy wall hanging or quilt. We'll use felt to construct our pincushion. Kit fee: $20.00 Red Hot Mama – Mystery Project – 2 hour workshop Friday, 8 pm – 10 pm, Room Sky B. Join Veronica for a special mystery class. You will be sewing something special that you can use during the cruise and beyond. Kit fee $20             Participants of the 2013 Sew Fun Cruise, gather for a final photo.

Hanging Out in Madison, WI

Jaggie here. I see Michelle has been posting again. Oh, well, it was nice to have a few days off and she was really excited about all the quilt tops she got done over the weekend. We just got back from the "hanging out" at Quilt Expo in Madison, WI. and as Michelle said, it was a lot of fun. We met some great new people and had the chance to catch up with some friends, like Barbara from Crawford Designs. 

It was much cooler there than it has been here in Texas, going from 100 degree temps to 60 degree temps can really fluff your fur. It was a nice change.

I helped Michelle with demos over the 3-day show. Tracing, cutting and fusing ...well o.k. Michelle did most of the work. Anne, one of Veronica's friend, does most of the tracing of sample patterns for us and we realize how much more we can get done now. 

I also spent some time hanging out on the batiks rack. {Are you surprised!?!} I didn't nap this time, but I really enjoy looking at all the bright colors. This quilt, My Favorite Earrings, by HissyFitz Designs, is one of Michelle's favorites and we got to help lots of quilters pic out fabric to make their own. (If you like it, you can send us an email to order it. Its a quick and easy project!)

It was a great show. There was lots to see ... beautiful quilts on display, almost 200 vendors and continuous raffle prizes and classes. If you're in the area next year, you should definitely attend! So many people stopped by our booth! We were so busy, I was put to work, although I'd rather sit-n-chat.

Next we are off to the ...

Round Bobbin Expo in St. Charles, MO
September 20-21, 2012
at the St. Charles Convention Center

If you are in the area, stop by and visit us. Admission is $8 for adults and under 16 is free. Fore more information, visit the Round Bobbin website.

Until next time, keep quilting!

A Garden of Color in Madison, WI

Michelle here! I was able to get the computer away from Jaggie while he is sleeping and recovering from our whirlwind trip to Wisconsin. 

We had a great, but VERY busy weekend at the Quilt Expo in Madison, WI, where an estimated 17,000 are quilters and crafts (and some husbands) in attendance and I can tell you, it was fun both as a vendor AND as a attendee (Mom let me go shop a little each day when things slowed down.)

On the work front, I was lucky and mom had me working the demo table all weekend, so I got to fuse art quilts all weekend, specifically floral ones, my favorite.

The first one I made was for me! It was called Country Charm, by Happy Stash Quilts, though mine was a little less country and a little more rock-n-roll. Instead of the country colors on a light colored background,I decided to do mine in jewel-tones with a black background. Mom really like the color combinations so I guess I chose well. Usually I am really hesitant and ask her a lot about color choices or give her a palette and she helps choose the fabrics. So, I'm a little proud I guess. I totally get how nerveracking it is for newer quilters or those new to fusible to choose colors, and why so many ask for fabric kits. Why mess with a good thing ... But I did and it turned out great.

After finishing mine, mom asked me to make the one for her sample. We make a lot of sample so that we have them on display and she can change them out according to the area that we are going. She also teaches a variety of classes and brings anywhere from 60-100 quilts, so she is always making more. She added a new class recently where she shows different changes to a pattern that can make it unique.

So I let her use some of the ones I make as a teaching tool, because really, I haven't even got my son's school pictures from last year up, so I'm a little behind on hanging my wall-hangings as well. 

Ok, so I did Mom's Country Charm as well, at least the tops. We have to put them on background fabric when we get home and have more work space. I still need to decide what I want to do for borders on mine ... Hmm ...

Here is a photo of both, side-by-side. Mine is on the right, Mom's in on the left.

Since I finished two quilt tops on Day 1 with Jaggie's help. On Day 2 I started working on McKenna Ryan's Bella Garden, a sample for Mom. It is a nine-block pattern when put together creates a large "collage art quilt" as I like to call them. I have loved McKenna's work for years, but never did one because I was a bit intimidated and also, it's been years since I demonstrated at a show- like 10 years! Usually, I usually do the sales and cashier part of shows since I wasn't too comfortable answering off-the-cuff questions that come with the demo part of it. I know the facts (the marketing side of me), but never really did the quilts, so I couldn't really talk about technique or experiences. Yesterday, someone called me "an expert on fusible" and I turned looking for my mother! I guess I answered her questions sufficiently!

Wow! This post is getting long ... Ok, so back to McKenna's Bella Gardens. I did Block 1 {Garden Party}  and half of Block 2 {A Vine Buzz} on Day 2 of the show. So easy, so fun ... But mainly so beautiful. The flowers are so much in the realm of what I love, being a girly-girl and all. I like the animals of Bigfork Bay, but the floral ones win my heart!! Here is Block 1. We have to put it on background fabric, but Mom will do that when they are all put together.

Here is Block 2. I loved putting the grape clusters together and the intertwining tree truck was awesome. I was so happy that McKenna chose to intertwine the fabric pieces rather than piece them, it is so realistic. 

I started fusing Block 3 {Lily's Pad} to fabric, but we didn't get it cut or start fusing together. Maybe I'll get to work on that one later, but either way, I'll try to post photos of all of the ones we worked on when they are finished. 

Happy stitching, and I'm sure Jaggie will post some photos of his adventures when he gets some sleep.

I'm Packing My Bags!!

I'm packing my bags and getting ready to head off to the Quilt Expo in Madison, Wisconsin September 5, 6 & 7! Veronica, Michelle and I will be spending a few fun-filled days with Midwest quilters and we already know one of our vendor "neighbors" is Barbara Crawford of Crawford designs. (http://www.crawforddesigns.net/)

The Quilt Expo will feature appearances by Nancy Zieman, Host of Sewing with Nancy® as well as ...

– 85,000 square foot vendor mall

– 10-category juried and judged quilt contest and exhibit

– 126 informational lectures

– 24 stage presentations

– 30 sit & sew workshops

– 12 hands-on workshops

– Quilt appraisals by AQS certified appraisers

– Raffle prize drawing

– Community service project

If you're going to be at the expo, stop by and see me, Jaggie, and see the newest fusible appliqué patterns we've added to our collection. We have patterns by Pine Needle Patterns, Bigfork Bay Cotton Company, HissyFitz, O'Carol, Sweet Seasons and more! Added bonus - you'll receive a free pattern book with your purchase. Don't wait, we only have a limited number!!

>>> Jaggie 

Find Us In the "Tea" Section

O.k. Not really. But we have some exciting news. Tea in Texas Magazine's annual Quilting Issue will hit the shelves September 1 and there is a short article about Veronica teaching and a Bear Thread Designs ad!

 

Sure, I wanted them to do a profile on me, I mean what crafter or tea enthusiast doesn't want to know about this cuddly ol' bear, but it was Veronica's turn. She's been teaching quilting for 20+ years and she is already booking classes for 2014-2015 now, so she's going to be busy.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of Tea in Texas Magazine or visit their website. Not only will you find us in there, but a few of our quilting friends as well. I had lunch with Popcorn the Bear, at Quilting Treasures and he said you can find them in the magazine too. I am excited to see what they have coming this fall!

Join Us at the Oregon Summer Expo

Are you planning on attending the Oregon Summer Quilt Expo this week? Veronica starts over each day with her lecture, "A Walk on the Wild Side". It is an hour-long presentation which includes discussion of raw edge applique, showing of 50+ quilts that can also be passed around for up close viewing by attendees, and a demonstration on the technique and explanation of tools and methods used. The lectures are free with expo ticket.

There is a lot to explore at this expo. There are 70 vendors with a variety of products, tools, patterns and fabric ... All specifically targeting the quilting community. You can also enjoy a variety of exhibits including National Quilt Exhibits, Sew Batik Challenge, Hoffman Challenge, Pilgrim/Roy and Route 66.

​​Oregon Summer Quilt Expo

Deschutes County Expo Center

​Expo today through July 13, 2013 9 am to 6 pm

Sunday July 14, 2013 Hours 9 am to 3:30 pm

Always Free Parking and Sisters Show Shuttle on Saturday

 

Check Us Out at Quilting Hub

Bear Thread Designs has joined Quilting Hub. With this listing, more potential quilters and retail outlets can learn about their products and events. To view and like the page go to the Bear Thread Designs profile. QuiltingHub is an amazingly powerful tool for quilters and listed organizations. 

Countdown Oregon Summer Quilt Expo

Veronica and Jaggie are a week away from the start of the Oregon Summer Quilt Expo! 

Come hear Veronica's lecture, "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" at the Oregon Summer Quilt Expo in Redmond, OR  July 11 - 14!  She will have multiple lecture times so be sure to plan your schedule so you can attend one.

Join her for this great trunk show where we'll pass around approximately 50 quilts all made using fusible web and The Appliqué Pressing Sheet. You won't believe that these wildlife quilts, wild flower quilts and wild and wacky chickens and crows are all made using this easy technique. There will be a short demo on the process and lots of tips and tricks to get these amazing results for your quilts. She will talk about the tools she uses and how you too can create beautiful quilts.