Back to the "real" calendar now....it is Friday and yes I am aware of that....today. Now tomorrow...all bets are off! :)
Today I get to tell you about visiting with Kari Carr at the Checker Distributor Open House last Sunday. You know I was thrilled to be able to take photos of the quilts Kari has made for her new book, Just Around The Corner. I had just received the book for review from Martingale & Co., perfect timing!
The fans were going and hair was flying on Sunday at Checker's Open House. No complaints at all....we were all thrilled to have the cool air :)
I had just read Kari's latest book, Just Around The Corner, Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders, so I was excited to see her pillow and purse with my own eyes. What really grabs me about Kari's mitered borders is the variation of fabric colors in the mitering. Can you see what I'm talking about? Look at the bottom of the pillow above. See the fabric that is pulled back? It has the brown paisley and on the sides....you see the pink solid over the brown paisley. The design in the center is fun enough....but with that mitered border...I think this pillow goes from "nice pillow" to "an eye grabber." Very zippy indeed!
I find it very difficult to find a purse pattern that I will actually carry. I'm very conservative when it comes to handbags...I don't want them screaming from the roof tops (quilts are another story all together). This bag is actually a bag I would carry....choosing my own conservative fabrics of course. The pattern and directions are in Just Around The Corner....along with the pillow pattern and 7 other projects.
Everyone knows the directions have to be VERY clear and have lots of pictures if I'm going to be able to make something from a book. Kari used to be a school teacher and she is very good at explaining the process and steps to make the projects in her book. Even I understood completely what she was saying...and that my friends....is impressive :)
Kari also is the inventor of the Clearly Perfect Angles template you see here in the photo. She uses it in her book but you don't have to have it to make the projects in Just Around The Corner.
The Clearly Perfect Angles Template is a soft flexible template that clings to acrylic sewing tables. It is easy to peal back and reposition if you are taking your sewing machine for a walk (just checking to see if you are still reading...:). There is a 1/4 inch and 5/8 inch seam guide along with the angles for be able to sew accurate 45 degree angles for triangles, flying geese, snow balls and mitering bindings etc.
Since Kari was demonstrating at Checker's Open House....I took advantage of taking a few photos even though my main focus was on her new book.
So what do you think? Do you like what you see? I want to know what all of you are thinking about Cari's new book, Just Around The Corner. If you are kind enough to leave me a comment....I'll choose one very lucky IHAN blog follower on Wednesday August 31st to receive my copy of Just Around The Corner. If you can't wait....no worries....you can order the book now at IHAN and save money....until the end of Aug. only.
FYI....lots of folks have left comments to win Susan Brubaker Knapp's latest book, Point, Click, Quilt....but they are no-reply bloggers or anonymous and there is no way to reach those folks to tell them if they win....so they loose and I draw another name. That drawing is open until 9PM tonight....so if you were one of those...better get back there and leave an e-mail addy and if you didn't know about it....you better get over there and leave a comment. Like how bossy I'm feeling this morning? LOL
Smiles,
Kelly
Sounds like my kind of book. Really good directions. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love mitered corners and have done some. I could really use a tutorial. I, too, would carry that bag.
ReplyDeleteEasy mitered corners? Doesn't seem possible! I guess I'll have to give this book a closer look!
ReplyDeleteYou can be as bossy as you like, Kelly . . . heck, when a hot flash pops up, just let 'em think you're a drill sargeant! LOL Whew! I'm glistening, now, as they say! Oh, I hope my name is chosen! The corners are my biggest problem on my quilties!!
ReplyDeleteAnother great review! Here I've been trying to cut down on my book buying and you you pique my interest with this review. Great pics and am looking forward to more reviews from your visit with Checkers.
ReplyDeleteI'd love this book :D
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book and we know I can't do a straight line, so I need help, lol.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
That would be a great book for me, thanks for the chance to win. Gonna have to get one of those angle templates too :)
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the wonderful review of "Just around the Corner". It was nice to get to visit last week at Checker. Take care! Kari
Very cool - you know, I have my first quilt top (yeah, I know, it really is my first!!) still waiting for me to add the borders. I used to be waiting for the border & backing fabric to arrive at the LQS....and it never did, so I went back & chose something different, that was in stock. Now, *it's* been waiting....and ya wanna know why? Of course you do, or you wouldn't be reading! Well, 'cuz I wanted to do mitered corners & much as you *tried* to explain 'em to me, I just didn't get it. (sorry, I 'fessed up, did I) Sooooo...it sits, waiting for this book to come out, apparently! Now, if I should happen to win it, there'll be absolutely NO excuse!
ReplyDeleteI dunno about that template - where does one get an acrylic tabletop to stick it on? And how'd you know I was out walking my machine the other day? (ha - just checking to see if you were still with me!)
Gotta go, machine just said CLUNK. I'll probably have something choice to say, myself, in just a few!! :)
Mitered corners on borders have always scared me....looks like this book is perfect for me. Thanks for the chance to win it!
ReplyDeleteEasy mitred corners? Sounds like an oxymoron to me! I just can never get them right!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review. This would be an awesome way to finish borders. And I'm like you with bags... they have to be special to make. I appreciate the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteThat purse looks cute! I would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity.=)
ReplyDeleteI love the pillow design and the mitered corner you point out. If the book shows you how to make that kind of border then I would love to have it. The look of the folded back edges in the pillow and the quilt that's pictured behind Cari is neat, too.
ReplyDeleteOk, I do take my machine for a walk sometimes and it is extremely well behaved. It sits up straight and does not wobble side to side. I have even tied a pretty fabric bow around its handle/case! It likes to go to my favorite quilt shop best--
ReplyDeleteOk, I do read all of your blogs carefully--now I am hoping to win that wonderful book! Thanks so much!
Mitred corners are something I haven't tried yet. Thanks for your review of the book and the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteI do like your reviews! Keep 'em coming. Very cool border treatments - something I could use. I'm in a rut where I just put plain borders on pretty much everything.
ReplyDeleteI love the look of this book! thank you for the review and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI love that pillow. It is so striking with the two different borders coming together.
ReplyDeleteI love your reviews and respect your recommendations. Wonderful giveaway and hope I can see this book up close and personal. Thanks to you. Judy C in NC
ReplyDeleteStunning looking cushion and lovely purse too, I enjoy your book reviews.
ReplyDeleteI've stayed away from mitered corners. Thanks for the book review, and think this book could be helpful to a 'fraidy cat like me.
ReplyDeleteLOOKS LIKE A NEAT BOOK!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
jldouglas@wispwest.net
I would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of the pulled back fabric on the pillow. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks interesting to me. Count me in!
ReplyDeleteI really like her pillows and have some fabric at home that would look great that way! Thanks for giving a chance to win a book :)
ReplyDeleteThis would be the perfect gift for my friend Diane's birthday. She is a phenomenal quilter, who would love to improve her mitered corners. Thanks for bringing this book to my attention and for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeletewordygirl at earthlink dot net
That does look like a neat book, Kelly, but don't pick me, I'll never do a mitered corner, lol...I do love the purse, quilt and pillow pattern though. You can be as bossy as you want, you ARE the boss!
ReplyDeleteHi Thanks for making this possible. I have never done mitred corners so this would be a great book to read. regards Sam sdownes@oceanbroadband.net
ReplyDeleteThis book looks extremely interesting but I have to be honest it looks like it might be a little out of my realm. I hope it is "me" friendly. LOL
ReplyDeleteName: Jeanne Crowell
ReplyDeleteEmail: jcrow54@gmail.com
Comments: I left my email and comment about the book you couldn't give away but for some reason, it won't take. So I'm leaving it here because I know you will get it here. I have a plastic bag with 10 quilting magazines and 3 books in it in my Hummer at all times. I have a feeling that I'm going to get into a wreck someday and will be stranded for a couple of days and if I have the quilt materials to pass the time, it won't be so bad. I put them in a plastic bag in case my car ends up in water. Sounds sick but it's happened. My husband thinks I'm nuts but I've had to change my plastic bag out a few times because I end up reading them while waiting for him to get off work conductor, at dr. appt., traffic construction, and just about any other reason to read the directions to a quilt. I love reading the directions. I actually picture myself in my quilt room with the fabric of my choice, making the quilt. It's very delightful. Another good reason for all the books and mags is since I've read them, when I go thru a town and spot a new quilt store, I can grab a mag with a pattern I want to make and go inside and find new fabric and buy enough to make me a quilt. It's so much fun to be so crazy about quilting. Jeanne Crowell
A book about easy mitered corners would be most welcome!
ReplyDeleteOh this looks like a very good book!~ you would give away your copy? Are you crazy? Oh. no. That's me! :-) I'd love to give your book a new home. Thanks for the fun!
ReplyDeleteHI Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThe book looks interesting. I am always on the look out for new ways to do borders on quilts. This seems to have some answers for that dilemna.
I will leave my email so that I don't miss out.
ruthq@rogers.com
Looks like a very good book especially for mitered corners. Thanks for a chance to win!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book. I need help with the
ReplyDeletemitered corners. Cute pillow. Would love to win the book. Judy S.
I am following the IHAN Blog on Google Friend Connect. cgreenleaf2(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDelete"Just Around the Corner" sounds like a wonderfully useful book / learning tool for adding borders / bindings. I'm just a beginner so I've never done either of those things yet but I'm hoping to do so soon.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
I would love to learn how to do mitered corners. The book looks great.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteLike the review! Would love the book.
ReplyDeleteDo I Like what I see? I love it! I've never in my life managed to make a respectable looking mitred border, and this sounds like just what I need.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great book. Hope I win.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a chance to win the book!!
ReplyDeleteMitred corners are a snap with this new wonderful notion, and just wait till you do the half square triangles with the angle tool......amazingly easy! Book is great also!
ReplyDelete