Recently I was the guest speaker in Marion, Indiana at the Philanthropic Educational Organization luncheon. WOW! That is a mouthful. I guess that’s why they go by the name PEO. There were about 30 lovely ladies there and we had a wonderful lunch. The PEO mission is to raise money for scholarships for young women entering educational fields. This year’s theme is Women Moving Onward and Upward. Since I am a new woman in business, they wanted to hear how I got started with my business, what I am doing now, and what I have planned for the future.

I told the ladies how I came up with the idea for the Sole Cool Hot Iron Bag pattern and my newest pattern release, Snap, Grab & Go. They loved both of these products. They especially liked Snap, Grab & Go because the pattern comes with a quilt and bag all in one. They also loved the snap-in and snap-out vinyl liner in the bag. (I love it too!) I had a wonderful time at the PEO luncheon. At the end of the program, my friend Cindy Beall presented me with a bouquet of roses.  So nice!

Now, I know you want the tip of the day:

Do you sometimes have leftover binding?  If you save your leftover binding, you can use it to put around potholders or placemats. I sew my leftover binding all together. Then I use this multicolored binding around my placemats or other items.

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!

Last weekend I was invited to go to the Winter Woolen Workshop in Kokomo, Indiana. What a treat! It is put on by the Howard County Historical Society and Beth’s Main Street Folkart. It is held the last weekend in February, so mark your calendars for next year. It takes place at the Seiberling Mansion and the Elliott House in Kokomo. This year there were day workshops and demonstrations in early samplers, colonial painting, punch needle embroidery, rug hooking, spinning, weaving, hand quilting, tatting, rug punch, needle felting, knitting and crocheting. Wow! What a weekend! And there were 22 vendors! The mansion….. oh my gosh…. it was sooooo beautiful.

Let me tell you about one thing that I did learn while I was at the Winter Woolen Workshop:

Kumihimo? Know what it is? I didn’t until last weekend. It is where you weave ribbon on a braiding loom to make cords for necklaces, bracelets, etc. They use eight bobbins and a loom. The loom is about the size of a large grapefruit. You bring the ribbon up and across― and the next one down and across. Thankfully the loom has numbers on it, so you don’t get confused. It was really cool to watch and it looked pretty easy to do!

Tip of the Day is something we should all do…. Put things back where they belong. It sounds so simple, but sometimes we get in a hurry and we don’t. When we do put things back, what we are looking for is always there waiting for us the next time we need it.

See you next time! Keep quilting!

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 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!!

I have another tip for you that was passed on to me. A woman told me that whenever she buys fabric as soon as she comes in the door she goes straight to the laundry and washes her fabric. She said that way she does not have to wonder if it has been washed when she goes to use it. Pretty good! Thanks for the tip. I got to go so be safe and keep quilting!

Now I promised you some sewing or cooking tips. Today it is a sewing tip.

If you are collecting a certain color of fabric, for example black and white, keep a small swatch of it in a small notebook in your purse. If you are like me you get into the fabric shop and wonder, do I have that one? Just take out your small notebook and look it up. It saves time and money. Have a wonderful day and keep quilting!

It is simply called “Fat Quarter Bag”. You can find it at your favorite fabric shop or at Jinny Beyer Studios’ website. It sells for around $13.00. It is a sturdy bag that is ideal for storing your fat quarters. It is not a new product but it is a handy one. I got about 100 fat quarters in mine. Each bag has a unique see-through lid and convenient folding divider. The bag measures 17″ x 9 1/2″ and 5″ deep. They are a wonderfully compact way to organize and store your fabric. If you have never seen this bag you may want to check it out. Have a great day and keep quilting!

January has arrived, and rumor has it that Mickey Depre is home enjoying a quiet respite before she revs up for another whirlwind tour of teaching, traveling, and designing. While in the midst of a hectic schedule last fall, I asked Mickey to jot down thoughts about her life as a successful quilt artist, teacher, and designer. She graciously complied. So now that we all have time to pour a cup of coffee, sit down, and relax for a few minutes, here’s a slice of life from Mickey when the fast pace of fall was upon her. There’s a good chance Mickey’s having her cup of coffee right now― along with the rest of us in this quiet time in January. Enjoy!

Ten Weeks…Two and Half Months… Seven Engagements…makes for one tired quilter. Since the first week in September I have been “on the road” nonstop.    And when I have been home it has been a whirlwind of activity.   Our twins (age 18) are off to college now and my dear husband has decided now is the time to get the entire “honey do” list that has accumulated over the last few years done in the same time period I am off  lecturing/teaching.  Thus when I did return home it was to… well…. house project chaos.

I often tell my students that most of my quilts are designed “on the road” in hotel rooms across America, because it is truly the quietest place on earth for me.  That and on airplanes…especially long trips.  I just put in my ipod earbuds and draw, draw, draw.   In fact The Ninepatchers  were born on a plane ride.   I spent the entire trip feverishly drawing these little characters in a whole slew of activities.   And when I heard the “ding” of the captain announcing it was time to land, I only then glanced over to catch the awkward sideways glance of my row mate on the flight.  I can only imagine the thoughts in his head as he watched me smile wildly to myself the last two hours of designing.

But now I am home for two months…and while the kids will be back and forth on various breaks/visits, I have made my dear husband promise that all “house projects” will be suspended until late January.   I need the quiet so I can begin to make my own chaos in the studio.   

JWD Publishing is proud to have Mickey Depre as one of its talented designers. Besides the hilariously cute pattern, The Ninepatchers―A Family Reunion, Mickey has designed the adorable wall quilt Friends in High Places.  Also, she has two charm patterns: Wild Flowers and Bee Charmers.  To view her patterns, click on Patterns > Mickey Depre. If you are a shop owner, you may purchase Mickey’s patterns through your distributor or directly from us. If you are a quilter, please order from your local store.

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!