We had a terrific turn-out for the Demo Day last Saturday and I was only able to snap a few photos of Celeste and the embellished Patternista balls and 4 videos of Kathy Brown telling us about her recent activities.
Here is a quick snippet of Kathy:
I love that smart=phone app linker on her rulers. The scan takes you straight to a video where she shows you everything about the rulers. For those of you who haven't had the chance to look at one up-close, check it out:
As you can see all the unnecessary lines are eliminated and only the most-used widths are clearly lined down the length and then across the widths you see the outline to square up any charms, 2.5" and 1.5" measurements. In addition, she specified where the grippers should be on the back for the best use...... not only are they behind every number, the grippers are completely around the outer edge of the ruler. All grip, no slip!
Kathy designed this ruler to be most friendly with the popular fat quarters. The wrapper has all the dimensions you can expect to cut with this ruler from any FQ.
Here is Celeste and a couple of the Patternista balls. She used Paula Nadelstern's new fabric and beads to embellish the ornament.
If you didn't get a chance to make it, we will be repeating the Demo next Friday, January 27 between 10 am and Noon. Sadly Kathy won't be with us but you can see how smart and useful her Fat Quarter Cutter is for yourself and all the other neat notions and projects.
Her 2-day class ended yesterday afternoon and I wanted to post the photos of the finished products.
The stitchers look very pleased with the results and I think they made wonderful duffles!
Linda Kay is taking new sign-ups for the next class in March.
When I popped in the shop this morning to buy binding fabric, I saw a new shipment of Michael Miller material being dropped off. And the sale fabric in the back really took a hit over the weekend and Monday!
We have our first Demo Day on Saturday, Jan. 14 with Kathy Brown and her Fat Quarter Cutter at 10:00 am followed by the staff showing new patterns and notions. I am very excited about the LED Mag-Ripper, (These eyes ain't getting any better on their own!) and we have another one that Georgia is keen on; a surgical-styled ripper.
I am just putting the final quilting on a top out of the Strip Smart Quilts book by Kathy B. and hope to have it at the Shop by Saturday. See you there!
I have just spent the (much) better part of three (count 'em, 3) hours trying to solve a sewing machine problem and if you read this to the end, it might just save you from the same.
I have a Viking Lily and I love the machine almost entirely. It would be beyond awesome if the dern feet didn't cost and arm and a leg. Love the drop-in bobbin and that I don't have to unwind the thread in order to wind a bobbin. I just pull the thread under the raised foot and loop it up by the tension coil and over to the bobbin winder and whizz it off the spool. Terrific feature, that.
It is a quiet machine, as well, especially when I compare it to the Singer student model I had been using for many years.
So, today I was sewing along and minding my own business, when I noticed the machine sounded noisier than usual. A clicking sound. Hmmmm. So I took the bobbin case out and cleaned the obvious lint away. That usually does the trick, and it did. Temporarily.
Then some time later, I got that weird looping/sticking that happens when the thread pops out of the arm that lifts up and down along with the needle. I recognize very quickly when that occurs because the needle jams. So quick as a bug, I pulled the thread up and back over the raised arm. All was well in with my world..... except the bobbin sounded loudish again. Like a click, click. Not with every stroke and not rhythmically.
Weird. So, I popped the bobbin mechanism open again and did more thorough cleaning. Ever notice how much lint can get caught in the feed dogs? It's amazing! Linda Kay gave me some pipe cleaner gizmos her husband made and I use them regularly to keep the area clean. Now, I put them to very good use. Put everything back together and went along my merry way. Or so I thought.
There was that click again! What the heck? But I don't give up or give in. Now I decide I really must figure out how to take the back of the machine off far enough to get under the feed dogs and bobbin case. That took 20+minutes alone and I tip my hat off to those Swedes. Once you know how, it makes perfect sense. Right up til then, I was thinking evil thoughts. In Swedish.
So, with everything clean again, I screw the back into place, reinsert the bobbin case and feed dog cover and drop in the bobbin and cover the case and....... Click. And I am reminded of this
That's me!!!!! Except it's a sewing machine instead of computer and no Frank and no birthday cake! "there's something wrong......."
When the needle goes down, all is good. When the needle comes back up again, it makes the bobbin "lift" in it's case. Not every time... just enough to allow me to stitch and lose my mind!
I kept at it, until I figured it and here is where you come in. Ever heard the phrase
"Be a wonderful example or a terrible warning to others"?
Well, you decide what I am. The solution to the problem was so simple, I blush to disclose.
I sat there fuming and staring at the bobbin for a few minutes, racking my brain for an answer when I my eyes drifted upward..... right above the needle, just past the tension coil to the arm. Remember the arm? The one that occasionally allows the thread to pop off and jam the needle?
Like it did a couple of hours ago? When I pulled the thread up and over the arm, I had accidentally twisted it, causing an additional tension against the bobbin thread. Duh!
So there you go...... always, ALWAYS RETHREAD the machine when you jam! Don't take the short-cut.
That is right up there with "It's usually the simplest solution to most problems. We just make them more complicated!"
On the up-side, I know how to open the back of the Lily! And the machine is so clean it squeaks! (no, it doesn't. It purrs)
Oh I hope you all had a very Happy and Safe New Years Eve. Can you believe it's 2012!
A LEAP year and an election year...... and a year of quilting up a storm. I know I am hitting it hard, fast and early this morning.
I have one of two Barbara Brackman Civil War quilts on the design board (which incidentally isn't large enough to accommodate all the blocks......) (I'm just saying...) and have it almost all together. I'll post a shot of it soon.
Up-date: here it is!
I started this project in January last as an attempt to rein in all my stash. Both of the tops are a "controlled" scrappy quilt and put a serious dent in my fabric collections but I still have a ways to go before I can call my pile "manageable". I'm working on it!
HOWEVER, Pearl has made it that much more difficult for me because she put 3 rows of fabulous bolts on the sale table as we closed out the year and you can see below how much is going to be available at $5.99 a yard when the doors open Tuesday morning.
Now if you look over to the far left side of the first photo, you'll see 3 large bins of fabrics. Stuff as much as you can up to the handle of our provided plastic bag and it's all yours for $7.99. We have batiks, Kaffe Fassett, Jinny Beyer, blenders, prints you name it. This is a great way to get small pieces for applique projects.
So, I guess you know where I'll be Tuesday morning!
In the meantime, I wonder if you know that the Dr. Seuss book, "the Lorax" is about to be released as an animated film? We have just received our long-anticipated shipment of the fabrics and you will not believe how soft the 'hand' is on them. The colors are brilliant and the selection is terrific. All of the bolts are made with organic cotton.
We have also finally received the focus fabric Peacock Panel from the Timeless Treasures collection, Plume. It is really really gorgeous.
Timeless Treasures is holding a "challenge" for this line and you can pick up the informational brochure at the shop.
Block of the Month!
Dancing with the Stars
Amish with the Twist
Blocks of the Month Sign Up is underway so if you are interested in joining in, drop by or give us a call and we'll be kitting up, ready to distribute Dancing with the Stars first month on February 1. Amish with a Twist will begin in March. As always, we do not charge a registration fee for joining.
I'd like to do something fun this year to showcase the quilts YOU make with fabrics you bought in Bright Hopes...... if you would like to add yours to the queue, please send a clear photo of the quilt, and yourself in the shot if you'd like!, and I'll add it the slideshow.
Let's make a bright and colorful 2012. Happy stitching...
Up-dated.... if you got here from clicking on the Newsletter, Here is your HOT-LINK to the new March -April 2012 schedule..... Click n that and you're good to go!
~Chris
We heard from some customers that they have trouble with the Schedule of Classes. Not able to see it or print it or save it to their hard drive. I hope to address some of this here:
First, if the image below is too small to read, you can increase the view by first making the window a full screen. Tap your mouse on the icon to the right of the percentage sign. That will make your view as large as your monitor. If you need it to be larger still, zoom in by holding your mouse over that blue slide button on the top and move it gently to the right.
When you wish to minimize the window, just hit your ESC button on your keyboard.
Now, for printing purposes, the easiest method is to tap on the small icon to the far left. (It looks somewhat like a printer). That will open a pop-up window that allows you to choose which pages you would like to print without doing all of them. Your individual printer will determine your additional options. Please go now to the bottom of that window below:
Do you see that line "Download document to PC" ? This is how you can download the entire schedule but it is a bit of a rig-a-ma-role and I don't recommend it.
HOWEVER: If you click on that, you will be linked over to the program, PDF CAST; I use this program to create the embedded PDF. It is cluttered with other information that looks very confusing but if you scroll down, you should find the word in large letters D O W N L O A D.
When you click on that, you will get yet another page that opens. Fear not. That should say something like this:
To continue, complete human verification below. We are sorry for the inconvenience, we need to make sure that you are not a malicious bot or virus. Complete the puzzle below to download the document, if you got confused click reload button to change the puzzle.
If you wish to continue, you must enter the words in that small window and you should then receive the PDF to your computer. Once again, I don't recommend this.
If you really need a copy on your harddrive, send me a note here by email, and I'll email it directly to you. brighthopesquilting@gmail.com.
Oh man, I can't believe how quickly this month is passing me by without posting!
Thanksgiving Day usually leaves me breathless as we enter the Holiday Month. This is the case as well at Bright Hopes where packages come pouring in with products that were ordered at Market and items that make good gift-giving.
But that doesn't mean we abandon quilt-making; oh no..... in fact, we have several new samples of patterns and fabrics that are so fresh, they are practically dewy!
Jane Sassaman has her new line out and Georgia was immediately inspired to make this Grand Central pattern. If you look closely, you'll see the center panel is one piece of fabric with spinning pinwheels and solid blocks surrounding the middle
Georgia is making a new one using the panel and softer "baby" yellow for the background so I'll post a follow-up post when I get the shot.
Paula Nadelstern's new kaleidoscope fabric is in and this is the "main feature". While at "Market" the gals found this fabulous ball made with the fabric and many pins and sequins.
Pearl is organizing another Demo Days nest month and Celeste will be demonstrating how this is made. We have so much to show & tell and it's great fun to be able to do a lot in short time-frame.
Here's a new item straight outta the box that arrived Thursday afternoon, Poke A Dots!
You've probably had your own issues with thimbles that don't fit well, or fall off or perhaps your favorite has finally worn it's own hole through. If this sounds familiar, you might want to check these little guys out. 18 to a box and made in the USA, these are sticky grippers that are reusable several times and are placed exactly where your "strike zone" is to give your fingers protection while stitching. And the tin is a great keeper for needles. By Jillily Studios.
As for me, what am I up to? I joined in the Farmer's Wife club here at the shop. I'm making mine out of my scrap-bag(s) of batiks (naturally) and will put a board up today showing some of the blocks from various fabric schemes that others are making.
We will host several free Sit n Sew's each month for anyone interesting in hanging out while making the squares. Our next meeting is Monday afternoon, Dec. 19.
Also, we got in a book by Cozy Quilt Designer, Strip Six, of six blocks using jellyroll strips (2.5" WOF) and background fabrics. I liked it and the information inside so much, I bought one
(I know I know! I swore I was going to finish the one's I started before I go off in another direction! But you know me....)
and am using my fruits and veggies left-over strips to make a sample for the shop.
(I figure like this... as long as I am using the stash, a new book doesn't hurt, right?)
It's fun to make complicated-looking patterns quickly.......
