More Checker Distributor 63 Anniversary Open House

I have been knee deep in my Power Suit Challenge art quilt and actually forgot to post yesterday....so without further ado....back to Checker's Open House.

Edyta Sitar, Laundry Basket Quilts, was as beautiful and pleasant as always during the Open House.

She has a new book coming out, Reasons for Quilts.  She had a few copies and they sold out fast!!

Edyta's designs are timeless and I think that is why so many of her patterns and books appeal to so many quilters.  I have been fortunate enough to hear Edyta speak on a few occasions and one of the reasons I really enjoy her lectures is because she focuses on relationships and events as themes for her quilts. Friendship Triangles and Friendship Strips and Scraps are a great example of relationship quilting because quilters are encouraged to share triangles, strips and scraps to make quilts with those swapped fabrics. 

 Shelly Stokes, Cedar Canyon Textiles, came in from Minnesota (you have to say that with the accent :) and she brought with her some fun rubbing plates, stencils and of course Paintstiks.

Paintstiks are so much fun...and believe it or not...easy to use.  Since I don't' draw, stencils and rubbing plates give me a boost for creating fun and interesting patterns on fabric.  I bet you are wondering why on earth there is a vegetable peeler in this photo.  The peeler works great for taking off the outer seal on the Paintsticks.

I love the sunflower quilt Shelly had hanging in her booth....check it out.....isn't it beautiful, bright and cheerful?

Nick Coman, Dragonfly Threads, had some fun and colorful....or should I say "de-colorful" inks to share at the Checker Open House.  Unfortunately I was so focused on the Handi-Iron he brought from Kandi Corp that I did not even take his photo....how rude is that?  Sorry Nick!!! 

 Nick co-authored, Fabric Color Magic, with Abby Riba and it is one very cool book if I don't say so myself.  The book is about stamping, stenciling and brushing on fabrics.  Lots of photos and step by step instructions so even a beginner can actually complete the projects.

 This is de-Colourant and Nick explained exactly how it works.  I had read about de-Colourant in magazines and still didn't understand exactly what it is used for. 

 Here you can see Nick had used a stencil and made a leaf on this black fabric.  The color was dull until he heat set it and then it really popped nicely.

Do you know what de-Colourant does?  Get this....it removes/de-colors the pigment in the fabric and replaces the area with ink and the ink is colored.  If you are like me you are thinking....what is the difference between that and fabric paint or Paintstiks...right?

 The difference is you don't feel any thing at all on the fabric.  It is like the batik fabrics where you don't feel the designs....they are just part of the fabric.  Cool ay?  I think so.

 Look how pretty this notebook cover is....some de-Colourant, thread and a few beads and now Nick has one spanky notebook/journal.

Nick gave me a pretty good explanation and education during the Open House.  He and Shelly Stokes from Cedar Canyon Textiles were using some of the same stencils and collaborating which I think is really neat.

There is more to come....so stay tuned!