From Our Family to Yours ...

Want to Be A Bag Lady?

Veronica will be teaching another Quiltsmart class at Cactus Quilts December 7, from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Participants will have the choice of making a Midi or Mondo Bag using printed interfacing. These adorable bags with their perfectly-matched seams and easy construction are simple and quick using this technique.

The totes are perfect for shopping bag, toy bags for long trips, or make a great Christmas present! Use it as a carry-on bag when you fly to visit family this holiday season and fill it with your favorite magazines, books, treats and more! The uses are only limited by your imagination.

Cactus Quilts is located at: 1811 6th St. N., Texas City, TX 77590 (between Houston and Galveston). For more information, a supply list or to sign up for the class call Cactus Quilts (409) 965-9778.

Want Veronica to teach a class in your area? Visit our website to learn more about scheduling a lecture or workshop!

Tote-ally Cute Projects on Upcoming Cruise!

Have you added "cruise" to your wishlist for Santa this year?

Well, we have one that you might want to take note of!

Veronica is one of the featured teachers on the Cactus Quilts sponsored Quilting Cruise February 9-16, 2014. This round trip cruise leaves from Galveston, Texas and the ports of call include Key West, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas and Freeport, Bahamas with three fun days at sea on Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic.

There are a variety of classes that will taught while at sea, and participants are encouraged to explore while in port.

One of the classes Veronica is teaching is a hands-on workshop creating Quiltsmart's Bitty Bag, using printed interfacing. This cute bag with perfectly-matched seams and easy construction makes a great little accessory bag or a small handbag. There are two design options.

For more information or to register for the cruise, visit Cactus Quilts website.

End the Week with a Wild Lecture, Chicks Workshop

Boy, is Veronica ever busy!! Tonight she is off to present a lecture at the Golden Needles Quilt Guild, in Conroe, Texas.

The lecture, Talk a Walk on the Wild Side, explores the art of fusible applique with a display of more than 50 art quilts including wildlife,  wildflowers, wild and wacky,  and the Wild, Wild West. Veronica will demonstrate fusible techniques using the Applique Pressing Sheet,  discuss the various tools used as well as explain the roles that different fabrics play in raw edge applique.

The lecture will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Conroe Bible Church located at 4491 1-45 North, Conroe.

Tomorrow, she will be teaching a workshop, Pick A Chick, where participants of this class choose from one of Debbie Hubbs' whimsical barnyard birds or crows to create a wallhanging as Veronica walks them through the steps of fusible applique.  

The workshop will start at 9:00 a.m. at the Sewing and Vac Warehouse located at 2014 I-45 North, Conroe. 

For more information on the Golden Needles Quilt Guild or to sign up for these programs, email Ruth at sewuniquelady@gmail.com.

 

Scraps of Fun Turn into Beautiful Blocks

Special thanks to Lonestar Quilt Guild in Friendswood, TX, for having Veronica teach a Scrappy Charm class before yesterday’s meeting. It was so much fun!! This is Veronica's block ... can you find the flipped piece? Who would have thought such ugly fabrics could make such a beautiful block!! 

Check back later as Veronica creates a entire quilt with these ugly charm squares. She has been collecting charm squares for years and is finally ready to put them to good use! There was even a contest for "Ugliest Fabric" .. and Veronica wasn't even the winner! 

Many of the class participants liked fabric that other attendees thought was ugly. Isn't it funny how one quilter's "icky" is another quilter's "awww!"!?! 

If you are in the Friendswood Area and want to learn more about the Lonestar Quilt Guild, contact Susan at SusanVeres@gmail.com to learn about upcoming meetings and classes.

Lonestars and Cactus: Join the Adventure

What do Lonestars and cactus have in common? Well, quilting of course!!

Ok, so it might be a stretch to figure that one out, so we'll give you a clue. Saturday Veronica will be teaching a Bitty Lonestar Workshop at Cactus Quilts in Texas City, Texas, from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Have you always wanted to make a Lonestar Quilt but are scared to face diamonds and Y-seams? Well, now you don't have to! Veronica Cox will take you through the steps to creating a small Lonestar Quilt top using Quiltsmart printed interfacing and rectangles. In this 4-hour class (with lunch break), participants will have the opportunity to complete a 19-inch Lonestar that is perfect for a wallhanging or tabletop.

Cactus Quilts is located at: 1811 6th St. N., Texas City, TX 77590 (between Houston and Galveston). For more information, a supply list or to sign up for the class call Cactus Quilts (409) 965-9778.

Want Veronica to teach a class in your area? Visit our website to learn more about scheduling a lecture or workshop!

Creating a Fan-tastic Project with Quilting Treasures & Quiltsmart

Things are in full swing here as we countdown to the holidays and the end of 2013. Around here we are working on projects as feverishly as ever.

Veronica just finished Quiltsmart's Grandma's Fan using Quilting Treasures fabric and could not be more excited!

"Quilting Treasures hits a homerun with these fan-tastic fabrics," Veronica said as she worked on the project. "The fans are fanning themselves and drooling over this fabric collection."

Quilting Treasures has always had amazing fabrics, but the Bear Thread Designs team really fell in love with the Abigail Collection by BJ Lantz. This collection is created to "evoke the aura of English country homes interpreted in a contemporary way!" The 7 fabrics have color variations and styles to create 14 fabric options - enough to mix and match for the perfect project.

The Grandma's Fan quilt itself took Veronica a mere 5 hours to complete because it was made using Quiltsmart's fusible interfacing. This simplified technique provides quilters the tools and tricks needed to make traditionally difficult patterns easier. After all, quilting smarter, not harder is their motto!

Grandmother's Fan and other Quiltsmart projects will soon be on the Bear Thread Designs website. Stay tuned and we'll let you know when these fun projects will be available! We will also be posting more Quiltsmart projects and the Quilting Treasures fabric collection Veronica used to make each one. Have your pen and paper ready, you'll want to add these to your letter to Santa!

Join Us in the "Lonestar State" and See our Lonestar

What do you think of Veronica's finished Lonestar using Quiltsmart's fusible interfacing and Quilting Treasures' fabrics?

We are excited the International Quilt Festival is only a few days away! We are finishing up some great projects like this Lonestar and will have them for you to see. We will have many Quiltsmart fusible interfacing packs for sale as well as many other great items. Stay tuned this week for announcements and previews of Festival preparations! We'll be in booth 1802/1804, stop by and visit!

Bear Thread Designs Introduces ... Sew Fresh!

Bear Thread Designs has been working on something new ...

SEW FRESH Odor Eliminator formula eliminates odors without a scent or fragrance. This non-toxic, water based formula eliminates odors by using all-natural ingredients. When directly applied onto an odor problem, Sew Fresh formula eliminates the odor and the results are permanent. SEW FRESH removes odors caused by pets, urine, vomit, smoke, mildew or mold, paint fumes and more.

To use as an odor remover, simply spray directly onto odor source, brushing formula into fabric by hand.  It can also be used as a laundry aide. Add  approximately 6 oz. to washer loads. Eliminate airborne odors by spraying formula towards the ceiling. SEW FRESH may be used throughout the home to eliminate odors. 

SEW FRESH is in a 16 oz. spray bottle. It is $10.99 plus shipping. SEW FRESH will be available October 25 just in time for Houston International Quilt Market (Booth 1571) & International Quilt Festival (Booth 1802/1804)! To pre-order, send email to BearTD2hotmail.com with quantity desired.

 

The Making of A Star ... A Lonestar

Veronica and Michelle have been busy the past week making samples and such as they prepare for the International Quilt Festival. So many projects on the (ironing) board, I don't know how they keep it straight.

One project Veronica worked on was a 58-inch Lonestar using the fusible interfacing by Quiltsmart and fabric by Quilting Treasures. The fabric series, aptly names "Temptations" is a series of brightly colored fabrics that make the Lonestar "pop".

We'll be sure to post a photo of the completed quilt top. I'm off to help with more samples (and by "helping" I mean play in the fabrics!)