Some Excellent Tutorials

I love to share excellent tutorials when I find them and I have a few fun one's to share with all of you.  If you have seen them before....wonderful!  If not....I'll post the links below for you.

My girlfriend Diane sent me the link to Leila's blog, Where the Orchids Grow, after she saw this beautiful English Paper Pieced hexagon snap pouch.  If you would like the tutorial, CLICK HERE.  Many of you had asked what can be made with the Paper Pieced Hexagons after I did my video tutorial the other day.  Now you have another fun project and the instructions are FREE :)

Leila is the only one I asked permission to use a photo...so the rest you'll have to trust me and click on the link to see the projects :)

Ayumi's blog, the Pink Penguin has a wonderful Quilted Placemat Tutorial- CLICK HERE

For those of you who have been bitten by the Paper Piecing (machine) Bug (that is you Madame Samm!)...you can find a very fun  Juice Glass Tutorial at SewMamaSew Blog.   CLICK HERE to see it.

If you want to make a fabric covered box you'll definitely want to check out the tutorial at Oops-Lah blog.  CLICK HERE for that tutorial.

And lastly, Kimberly over at Bitty Bits and Pieces blog has an excellent tutorial to make a Scalloped Edge Trivet.  CLICK HERE for the tutorial. 

I have admired these tutorials for quite some time.  I've made boxes using artist paper and had a ball making them.  I think it is time to make a fabric covered box to store some fun notions or treasures in.  The Scalloped Edge Trivet tutorial just so happens to spotlight one of my favorite ruler/template designers, Janet Platt.  Janet designed the Quick Points Rulers and now the Scallop Edge Rulers too.  She and her husband, Brian, are two people I always enjoy seeing in Houston for Quilt Market. 

Do you have a favorite tutorial you would like to share with me?  Leave the link in your comment so I can have my horizons broadened.

Smiles,
Kelly

Quilt Market 2011 - 6 Quick Points Rulers and Jillily Studio

Veteran's Day:  My sincere appreciation goes out to each and every person who has served their country and their family members for all the sacrifices that each and every one of you have made.

Busy day here at IHAN...sorry this post is up so late in the day.  If it ya really want to know...I've been working on it all day between everything else I do :) 

 Who else but the Queen of the IHAN Nation with Janet Platt from Quick Points Rulers.  Yes, she is the genius behind those amazing Quick Points Rulers and now the Scallop Rulers too.  Janet is one smart cookie .... there is no other way these rulers would have been thought of...they are really great tools in my book.

Before I go further, I'd be terribly remiss if I didn't introduce you to Brian, Janet's really fun and helpful husband!  Ya always got to point out the great ones!

Quick Points Ruler Booth, Houston 2011

The photos are out of order...but you probably would not know unless you were following me around....I think there was only one person with me...Karin....so pretend you know all about the out of order photos, OK?

Janet's School House presentation was excellent!  One of the things I really like about Janet and Brian's presentations is that they actually use the rulers right in front of you.  No pre-made samples that lead you to believe it is so easy.

(This is surely one of the things I notice while at Market or Shows: I am always making sure the person is actually using the tool right there in front of me...so I can see if there is anything that may be dificult for me to do when I get home.   I don't like those demo's where everything has been pre-made and you are shown just the samples.  How do I know it really works or if when I get home, I'll be so frustrated that I don't ever use the product.  If they are not actually cutting/stitching/ironing etc. I ask if I can do it...I have to be sure it is what it says it is and will do what it is advertised to do.)

 This sample board shows you exactly what you can make with the Quick Points Ruler and the Scallop Ruler.    I should probably tell ya that Janet also has the Teflon Pushers that help make your scallops smooth when you turn them right side out.

 This is Janet showing every one how she just used the Scallop Ruler and is turning it right side out.

This is a beautiful table topper Janet has made.  Not only is it fun...but check out the scallop edges....so much cheer was added with that one addition.

 If you look closely here, you will see the flowers were made with the Scallop Ruler and the trim on the outside is too. 

Want some deep scallops?  Check out this really great apron Janet made.  I just love that apron.

 If I'm not mistaken, this is another apron...could be pillow case...sometimes I forget...what ever it really is....the scallop separates those fabrics beautifully.

 Ok, I do know this is another apron...LOL :)

 Halloween Treat Bags anyone?  You know that Ghastlies one is way too much fun.  There are so many Ghastlies Fans now!

This is a baby quilt...the scallops are turned inward...neat isn't it?

Back to Janet's booth now. 

Believe it or not, when I got to the Quick Points Ruler booth, Janet was out shopping.  David was sitting and pressing all the prairie points he would manage.  Ya gotta love a husband who will sit and demo for you while you are out shopping!!

Now, on to Jillily Studio Booth

 When I visited the first time Jill was not there so I took my photos and came back later for the demo's.

This is a demo of Jill's Appli-Glue.  There were a few excellent points about the Appli-Glue that I thought folks would want to know about.  First, it is acid free and water soluble.  The dry Appli-Glue will even dissolve when soaked in water.  I really liked the tip on the glue bottle.  The tip is tapered so when you stop squeezing the bottle, the glue gets pulled back into the bottle and doesn't dry in the tip.  I have had that happen with other glues and I really don't like that one little bit. 

Above you can see the tiny dots of glue being used...they stick very nicely to the next leave and to the background fabric too.  If you are in need of some new applique glue...I definitely recommend the Appli-Glue.

These are Jill's Poke-A-Dots.  Can you guess what they are for?  The gal in her booth asked me that when I walked up and I immediately replied, " they are finger thimbles".  I guess a lot of folks don't know what they are.  (On a personal note...ya gotta love that they are red :).   They have adhesive on the back and you  put it on the tip of your finger when you are doing hand stitching.  You use that finger to push your needle through the fabric.  They have a textured surface which makes it really nice for pulling a needle through fabric too.  Have you ever had  a dog-of-a-time pulling your needle through (be honest)?  The Poke-A-Dots grip very well and makes it much easier to pull that needle though.  They can be used over and over again because of the quality adhesive that is on the back.  I typically park it back on the paper and use them over and over again.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  I'll be gone tomorrow to the Machine Embroidery Guild to demo all my Sizzix Cutters.  You know I won't pre-cut that fabric before I go....I'll have it ready to go and I'll let them cut the fabric so they can see how nicely the Sizzix Fabric Cutters work!

Smiles,
Kelly

Quick Points Rulers by Janet Platt at Quilt Market in Houston 2010

I had the great fortune of meeting Janet Platt , inventor of the Quick Points Ruler a year ago in Houston.
Janet, her husband, Brian, and I spent a long time laughing and chatting that night.  When I saw her this year it was as if no time had passed at all....we picked up laughing right where we left off. 

Janet  demonstrated  the Quick Points Ruler at her booth this year.  Most folks with rulers and templates to market typically have demo boards (the stages of the cuts attached to foam-core boards)....not Janet....she demonstrates using her Quick Points Ruler right there in front of the crowd.....and I love it.

I bet most folks would see the foam-core boards that show how the ruler is used and would be satisfied that it would work and buy the ruler or template.  Not me.  I like to see the person actually using the item (when possible I use it myself too).  There is a big difference between actually using the ruler and seeing the steps taped to a demo board.  Janet shows everyone how to use her templates....over and over and over again all day long.  I wonder what she does with all those fabrics she makes into Prairie Points or Ric-Rac.
Hmmmmm....inquiring minds want to know Janet!?

These are some of ideas of projects she has made using the Quick Points Rulers.  Can you imagine perfect Prairie Points every time?  Well....it actually works...I've used it myself and I guarantee you that you will get perfect Prairie Points every time and fun Ric-Rac too....as long as you follow the instructions.  I must say the instructions are not difficult to follow.  Here is Janet's YouTube video....check it out for yourself :)

 

I loved the flag banner that was made in Janet's Booth.  Isn't it great? 

The photo above and the one below were taken last year at Market.  I thought they were great examples of how you can make fun Ric-Rac using two different fabrics. 

You can have lots of fun embellishing  holiday towels, sheets, pillowcases, Quilts, wall hangings and almost anything you can imagine with the Quick Points Rulers.  Keep in mind, I did say "your" imagination....not "my" imagination.  You know that would be trouble right?  LOL

This is a great visual of the size of Ric-Rac and Prairie Points the various size Quick Points Rulers can make.  They come in 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, 2 inch and 3 inches.  You can also use two fabrics to make Prairie Points.  To see prairie points with two fabrics click here.  By the way, the click here link takes you to the PDF instructions for using the Prairie Points Rulers too.

I find the Quick Points Rulers absolutely amazing.  Do you want to know why?  Because there is no other ruler or template that can be used to achieve what the Quick Points Ruler does.  Of course you can make them individually by hand or use a ruler to assist in the process.....but I'm telling you there is nothing else that gives you perfect Prairie Points and fabric Ric-Rac every time like the Quick Points Ruler does!!!   I tell Janet that every time I see her.  I think she is a genius!

Smiles,
Kelly

I used my Quick Points Ruler

Quick Points 1 " Ruler at IHAN for 26.99.  I have one and I love it.

Over Thanksgiving I had a chance to sew with my dear friend Mary Jane.  We had a ball.  This is one of the things we made.  We used some of her turkey fabric and make some Prairie Points or Picots.

Then we made the Ric Rack.  We did just what the video told us to do and it worked out perfectly.  I'm going to add the Ric rack to my co-workers Christmas pillow cases.  When they are finished I'll post the photos.

In case you did not get to see this video the first time I posted it....here it is again.  This is the Ric Rack video tutorial.

View all the Quick Points Rulers here.  These are great gift ideas.  How nice would it be to surprise somone with one of these under the tree?

Smiles,
Kelly

Quick Points Ruler purchased in Houston at International Quilt Market

Meet Janet Platt, designer of the Quick Points Ruler. I had the chance to meet Janet and her husband Brian at the MODA Customer Appreciation Dinner. We had some good laughs and enjoyed ourselves. Janet invited me to stop by her booth and see her ruler. I thought...Ok...cool....I'll stop by. I had no idea how very cool her "ruler" really is. I'm not much for prairie points myself but when I saw the Ric Rac....I went gah gah. Out came the visa....no questions asked. I am so impressed with how she has designed her ruler and the great uses it has.

Below are the You Tube videos Janet has taped demonstrating her Quick Points Ruler.

These are some photos I took of the Ric-Rac examples that I liked so much. I thought about it and there is no other tool I know of that I can do the same thing with....so I bought it. You can purchase Quick Points Rulers at I Have A Notion.

Smiles,

Kelly