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!

Checker Distributor 63rd Anniversary Open House

Sunday and Monday I was busy out shopping and gathering photographs at the Checker Distributor 63rd Anniversary Open House.    Each year it seems to get bigger and better.  This year I think there were 30 designers....and all right in my back yard...so to speak...LOL.  (I live 15 minutes away)

Rob Krieger is the owner and President of Checker Distributor.   Rob and his amazing staff really went out of their way to help shop owners learn about all the latest books, techniques and notions.  Classes were held and lunch provided both days....I'm telling ya they spoil all of  the shop owners. 

Not only were the orders being processed on the spot so folks could save on shipping....they even loaded their cars and vans with their purchases.

 These guys are really good at stuffing a van....I don't know how they do it.

This is what the floor looked like when you walk into the wearhouse.  The designers were along the left and then down the back isle....lots and lots of fun and interesting things.  I made sure to wait until I could actually see the booths before I took a picture.  Most of the days this wearhouse was so full of people you couldn't see the booths.

These are the friendly guys who were at the loading dock....they also loaded vans and cars....I grabbed a photo before the next van pulled in for their pick up.  I love being greeted by friendly faces and these guys always wave back and smile when I shout out the van window to them.  Yes...they know me...I don't just shout at folks...LOL....well...not normally anyway.

The following photos are just some I took of their Trunk Shows and some quilts that were displayed.  I did a good job of limiting myself and not taking hundreds of pictures.

 

 

 

I'll be reviewing this book and doing a giveaway soon :)

 

 

 

These are some of the quilts that were hanging in the warehouse.  I'll be adding these patterns to IHAN soon...if you want one before they are added....just leave a comment at the end of this post with your e-mail addy and I'll get back to ya :)

Big Ten by Swirly Girls Design

Bird Quilt- Complete Collection by Debra Gabel

Stack the Deck Revisited by Karla Alexander

All of that was Sunday and Monday....today...Tuesday....this is what the warehouse looks like....can you even begin to imagine the work that goes into the Checker Open House?  It blows my mind every year!!! 

I'll be posing photos of each of the designers I visited and share more about what I learned and saw in coming posts.

Smiles,

Kelly