JWD Publishing Blog

Hi Everyone,

I couldn’t wait to tell you about the fabulous thread that I was given to test for you. It’s Razzle Dazzle Thread by Ricky Tims and Superior Thread. Oh my gosh!! If you need just a little “bling” in your project, then you have to go to your quilt shop and get a spool of this fabulous thread! It is used for bobbin work, couching, and serging. The thread is an 8 weight. It comes in 25 really cool colors! Now you know that I am going to tell you the facts. Quilters, it was soft and pliable. It was not bristly or stiff. It is 100% polyester with metallic running through it.

I used a color called Irish Eyes. It is a beautiful green with flecks of metallic. So cool!!! I just tried it on some scraps, but I can think of several things that I could use it on. You can use it as a decorative top stitch on a jacket or a bag and it would make it look so high-end. Oh course, you can use it on your quilts for just that little “pizzazz.”

Tip of the day: Need a quick dip to take along on a quilting retreat? Mix 8 oz. of cream cheese with Marshmallow Creme―You know, the stuff that comes in the jar. It makes a great fruit dip. I was in a pinch one day and put it on top of cupcakes! Yum!

See ya later!

First, let me thank C&T Publishing for letting me review Beth Ferrier’s new book More! Hand Appliqué by Machine. What a wonderful book! I sat down one evening to look it over and before I knew it, I had read the whole book. I don’t usually read my quilt books like that, but it was so interesting that I did just that.

Beth starts out telling you how to do appliqué the usual way with freezer paper. Then she surprises you with another easier way that is over the top! She worked with C&T Publishing and came up with a new product called Wash-Away Appliqué Sheets. This stuff is great! To quote Beth in her book, she says, “For some time, quilters have had water-soluble paper that we can use instead of freezer paper, and it works okay. Without a fusible side, this paper must first be glued to the fabric and then glue basted―a fiddly process. But now C&T has come out with Wash-Away Appliqué Sheets. This iron-on stabilizer will soften and practically disappear with washing. In other words, it’s like water-soluble freezer paper. I know! How awesome is that?” 

And Beth is right, it is awesome!

Now if you are frugal and are wondering if there are other uses for the sheets, I can help you out with that also. It is a stabilizer, so you can use it with trapunto or paper piecing. You can run a sheet through your printer for paper piecing and you won’t have any paper to tear off!! Fantastic!!

The book is full of tips and a few personal stories that I especially enjoyed reading. The patterns! Oh, I didn’t mention the beautiful patterns that are in the book. This is another item in my “things you never knew you needed” category. You need this book and a package of the Wash-Away Appliqué Sheets. There is just too much in this book to tell you about. You just have to go to your favorite quilt shop and pick it up. You won’t be sorry.

Tip of the day comes from Beth Ferrier:  Don’t forget both sides of the fabric! Sometimes the perfect shade can be found on what is commonly called the “wrong side”. Using both sides of the fabric instantly doubles your fabric stash! Thanks Beth! Everyone have a great day and keep quilting!

I am sitting here in my log cabin and the snow is just blowing everywhere outside. I think we are going to get a lot of snow today. I was checking out some products for you when I came across something that I think is crazy good. It is called 60 Degree Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler.

I will tell you that when I first saw it it look kind of strange. I then went to Checker Distributor website and watched the video of how it works. WOW! It is really cool. The Double-Strip ruler is one of a range of strip rulers designed to make cutting 1/2-sq-triangles, 1/4-sq-triangles, 60 degree triangles, trapezoids and more from 2 1/2″ wide strips quickly and easily! When I said it looked funny at first it is because one side of the ruler is to cut strips and the other side has triangles. You use two 2 1/2″ strips sewn together to make a 4 1/2″ strip. You then cut your pieces from that. If you sew two 2 1/2″ strips together and make a tube you can cut a diamond shape. The rulers come in three sizes. You need to go to the Checker Distributor website and watch the short video on it. You won’t believe it.

Now I have another tip for you from one of my quilting friends and this is a good one that I have never heard of. If you have a project you are buying fabric for but you know you may not get to it right away, then photocopy the page in the book or magazine of the project and put it with the fabric. That way when you pull the fabric out you don’t have to wonder, “What did I buy that for”? I have done that so many times. Great tip! If you have a tip let me know in the comment section. Until next time keep quilting!!

Happy New Year !  Jan. 1st provides us a new beginning, fresh starts, and a chance to wipe the slate clean and move forward. I hope in the next year to bring you lots of reviews on new products, ideas and places to go. Since I am a “foodie” (loves anything that has to do with food) I may slip in a food tip or recipe from time to time. Little “snackies” you take to a class or retreat. Now I need to tell you about the next product I reviewed.

Have you heard or “Marking Magic”? This stuff is great! If you are a machine or hand quilter you can use this. You know how tedious it is to mark a whole quilt? It takes a lot of time! Not now! It is water soluble aerosol spray that comes in white or gray. You shake the can to loosen the product. You place your stencil on the quilt and then you just spray! You need to hold the can 8 to 10 inches away from the quilt and use a sweeping motion so you don’t get too much on. Let it dry a few seconds,yes seconds, not minutes. Now I know what you are thinking. What if I make a mistake? Easy, easy! You just get a mister bottle or wet cloth and wipe the marks away. I made a mistake on purpose to test the product and it does come out very easily. It sells for about $15.00 per can but I think this would do a lot of quilts and save you a lot of time. You can check it out at www.quiltingcreations.com

If you have a product you would like me to check out for you let me know in the comment section. Now be safe and keep quilting!

I have to hand it to Susan K. Cleveland of www.piecesbewithyou.com for her great tools she has designed. She has made our quilting a lot easier and much more fun to do.

Now I told you about the nifty Prairie Pointer tool yesterday. Now I am going to tell you about the Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool and the Piping Hot Binding Workbook. I will admit to all of you that I have never put piping on any of my quilts. Why? Because when you trim the piping it is impossible to maintain a consistent seam allowance. Not any more! The Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool makes this task quick and accurate and it comes in two sizes. The tool has a groove in it so you can’t mess up! Then with the Piping Hot Binding book Susan takes you through each step by step and makes you a pro! You don’t have to use piping on just your quilts, you can also use it on your wearable arts! You need to check this out. Thank you Susan for all the great ideas.

Now what am I going to review for you next time? Well, you will just have to check back to see what that might be. Until then keep quilting!  Don’t forget to check out our current giveaway ending Sunday night!

Is everyone ready to see one of the tools that I mentioned that would make you BaNaNas? This is really cool. Susan K. Cleveland, a really sweet gal, sent me two tools to test out. I am going to tell you about one today and the other tomorrow.

Do you ever have prairie points that just do not want to meet in the middle? Sometimes the fold just doesn’t want to behave! Not any more. Susan has come up with a pressing tool called Prairie Pointer. It is fun to use and it is easy! It comes with the pressing tool and a wonderful easy to read chart. The chart tells you how many prairie points you can get from your fabric, as well as what size to cut to get the size prairie point you need. You can add an optional decorative stitch and create a completely different look to you prairie points. Your prairie points can now add bold highlights, or perky accents to your quilt or project you are sewing. The Prairie Pointer aids in making prairie points ranging in size from 1/2″ to 2 1/2″ in height with folds meeting in the center. Pretty smart Susan!

You can visit Susan’s website at http://www.piecesbewithyou.com/  Now if you want to know what the other cool tool is that Susan gave me to test out for all of you, you will have to check back tomorrow. Have a great day and keep quilting!

P.S. Don’t forget to visit the 100 Block Contest post for your chance to win a copy!