Ruth B McDowell Workshop

I just recently took my second 5 day workshop from Ruth B McDowell. Although I had always wanted to study with her, I had never felt ready. Last year when a number of my quilting buddies were going, I thought maybe I should just climb on board and did. This year, after a second visit, I think I am seeing differently. The actual techniques of drawing, transferring, sewing and designing are taught in her most recent books: Ruth B McDowell's Piecing Workshop; and Ruth B McDowell's Design Workshop.

I think the "seeing" you either have naturally or comes with practice. For me it also requires some distance from distractions, such as life. More walking along the river and quiet time.

Ruth has a terrific website and is and a good writer. So her books are easy to learn from too. It is inspirational to study her quilts up close. After 2 - 5 day classes with her, I think I could take more and continue to learn. In class she is helping us answer our questions and from that exercise, much is learned. Now, I understand why people return year after year. There are new questions to answer. Several people in our class had been as many as 8 times.

This time I was much more relaxed. And I loved the photo I was adapting to a quilt. I took more fabric. Most of the fabric in the quilt came from my stash. It was especially fun to have a 1 yard hand-dyed piece end up in the background that was purchased from a visit Ellen Anne Eddy made to our Boise guild. As people pulled fabrics from the store to use in their pieces, it was easy to add to my stash, too and I did! As soon as I complete the jar, I plan to start another piece right away to see how I do on my own.

Right now I am still busy sewing it together. When I left class my project looked just the way it does here. After 5 days, I hadn't sewn one stitch and still had 4 small pieces to cut out near the base of the project. It isn't "quilt-in-a-day" but it sure is fun! I will post again when I finish it and show my new design. I should write the other students and ask if I can post their pictures too. It was amazing the variety of work.

If you want to take a closer look at Ruth's books, Click Here.

Nuance Fabric Collection by Paula Nadelstern

It has been so long since we have had time to post it is hard to know where to start. We have so much to share from Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh (fabulous city), but, since Paula Nadelstern's new fabric arrived yesterday, we decided to start with it. The Nuance Collection is incredibly gorgeous!!! Since 1998, when her first line was introduced, each one has brought the artist and printer closer to capturing her blocks right on the surface of the quilt and this time it has actually happened. It is something to see, so like her quilts.

Which, by the way, if you are in New York between April 21st and September 6th, you can do just that. Kaleidoscope Quilts - The Art of Paula Nadelstern is the exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum between those dates. This is not only the first one-person exhibition highlighting the work of a contemporary quilt artist, it is the first time they have featured in a one-person exhibit a living artist - male or female. Since Paula is a native New York City artist, it must be quite something to see her very own exhibit flag flying outside the museum on 53rd street. We happen to know this is a dream she had when she first started making kaleidoscope quilts. Imagine the thrill of reaching such a goal. We know she how hard she has worked.

And, with great timing too. Her new book is out - Kaleidoscope Quilts and is meant to be a catalog for the exhibit along with note cards and a tote featuring one of her gorgeous quilts. The note cards are blocks which were photographed before they were framed so they put the back of the block on the back of the card. Paula has always claimed that she doesn't sew that well, which we know is hard to believe, but when you see the reverse of her blocks, you will know one thing for sure, she presses well. The method she uses for construction gives her accurate seam allowances all the same size and it makes for a dizzy display on the reverse. Alone worth the cost of the cards.

If you want to see her new line, the note cards, book and all, just Click Here.

Cheryl

Organ Sewing Machine Needles - PD (Perfect Durability)

(Last 4 times longer!) These needles were introduced to us by one of customers with a strong recommendation. We did more investigation and this is what we found out: The Organ Needle Company has managed to combine the functionality of sewing machine needles with the latest technology of ceramic coatings. The PD (Perfect Durability) needles have titanium nitride layered on their surfaces to EXTEND THEIR PRODUCTIVE LIFE BY AS MUCH AS FIVE TIMES THAT OF CONVENTIONAL NEEDLES.

Organ's process for PD needles also strengthens the point of the needle, increasing wear-ability and durability while maintaining a perfect shape. Using PD needles means better quality stitches, higher productivity and in the long run lower cost. We now offer 10 Needles in either size 14/80 PD or 10/70 PD - Gold in color - thus titanium coated.

Organ Needles is also developing a reputation for a higher quality control standards resulting in fewer "bad" needles. If you have ever put a brand new needle in your machine and had problems, putting in another new needle may solve it and is always worth a try.

To learn more, Click Here.

We also carry Schmetz machine needles,
Click Here.

Sunday Blues Quilt

Here at The Cotton Club we are HAPPY to be back from the holidays and working on the February, 2009 issue of The Cotton Club. As soon as it is sent to our subscribers, it is added to our Online Catalog. To see where, Click Here.

Within a week of adding it, we post to our Email Roster, so if you want to stay up-to-date on what we are doing, joining our Email Roster is an easy way. To join now Click Here.

There is a core crew of 7 people here and we all contribute in different ways, but over the last year one person, Kate White, has been remarkable in the making of the Sunday Blues Block of the Month quilt blocks. She left what looked like the hardest one to last and recently revealed it to us. As happened with each one, our mouths dropped open, when we saw it. Even though the last block won't be online until the end of the month, we thought it would be fun to post it early on our Blog. So here it is. If you would like to see all the blocks, here is the link.
Click Here.

We hope like us, you are busy planning for the best year yet! More soon!
Cheryl

Serrated Scissors

Here at The Cotton Club, we have long been fans of serrated scissors. We love the way they HOLD on to what we are cutting. After a visit from teacher, designer and author, Karen Kay Buckley, we have another reason to love them. They make her top 10 list because the serrated edge prevents the fabric from raveling - just like a pinking shear only micro-sized. Of course! And for appliique, what could help more! From left to right, her favorites are: 3 1/2" Gingher Serrated Embroidery Scissors, 7" Serrated Scissors by Clover and 5 1/2" Serrated Scissors by Clover. To read more about these scissors Click Here.

Bendable Bright Light

We think the Bendable Bright Light is one of the best new products on the market for sewers. It directs the bright white light EXACTLY where it is needed. Once you take the time to figure out where to mount it on the sewing machine and get the job done, you will be in sewing heaven for 100,000 hours. That is sewing 12 hours a day for 20 years!! It may seem like a big investment, but the truth is, we have already invested 5 times that much it lighting that didn't make the difference this one little light did. Being able to see well makes sewing much more enjoyable! To read more about this fine light Click Here.

Slam Dunk Basketball Pattern by Jacque Riddlemoser for Glendora's Girl

Slam Dunk is the 4th pattern in a sports series by Jacque Riddlemoser for Glendora's Girl. The finished size is 50" x 78". Jacque is a talented quilt artist and teacher. Using a combination of piecing and applique, her color choices and design sensitivity produce a quilt that will be treasured by its recipient. Her patterns include full-sized drawings and the applique can be done by hand, machine, fusible or a combination. The previous sports include football - Touchdown; ice hockey - Center Ice; and baseball - Home Run. Next up is Soccer. To read more about Jacque and see her other patterns, fabric and kits Click Here.