MINNEAPOLIS, MN
It was hot and humid in Minneapolis as the Clover crew set up our 6 booths for International Spring Quilt Market. Once the booth was put up and futzed with until it was a picture of perfection – well, at least to all of us, we relaxed and drank gallons of water. It’s always with excitement that I head out to this trade show each year because it travels around the U.S. and I delight in visiting the older cities and seeing the beautiful and unusual architecture and the historical sites each city contains.
I was especially excited for this show because Clover was introducing the new TRACE ‘N CREATE QUILT TEMPLATES by Nancy Zieman. I was taught to quilt as a young child in my rural Southern home and to this day love to hand piece the old traditional quilt designs. However, two traditional quilt patterns I have had trouble with are the LoneStar and the Dresden Plate patterns. I have never finished my LoneStar but did complete the Dresden Plate after a year or so. When these new templates arrived at the house I was thrilled and rushed right out to purchase more fabric … any excuse as all you quilters know! Within 2 days I had made 15 blocks of the Dresden Plate and had started on the LoneStar. These templates are just flat out awesome in their simplicity (no pivot points) and versatility. Each template allows you to choose the size of your block … from small to large enough to fit a Christmas tree skirt. I’m color-challenged and dislike picking fabrics so when I discovered I could use charm packs on the 6″ Dresden Plate I was in heaven. I had a rich selection of fabrics that would work together to produce my beautiful quilt top.
When you all get your templates I would love to share your pictures with our readers, just snap a pic and send it to me — fran@cloverusa.com. Or you can upload it to our Gallery.
NEW ITEMS INTRODUCED AT QUILT MARKET
TRACE ‘N CREATE LONE STAR QUILT TEMPLATE
TRACE ‘N CREATE DRESDEN PLATE TEMPLATE
TRACE ‘N CREATE FLORIDA BAG TEMPLATE
TRACE ‘N MARK MARKERS
BRUSH TYPE ERASER
SORT ‘N STORE PIN CUSHIONS
WRAP ‘N FUSE PIPING
BAMBOO NOTIONS
Check our website for more information on these new items.
Have you seen our new oval yoyo maker? You are gonna love it!! Carol Porter, our education director and gifted designer, used the “yovals” as we have affectionately named them, to make a bright color splash accent pillow and a wall hanging. These oval yoyo’s work well to reproduce traditional quilt designs like the Cathederal Window, Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, and more. Pick one up at your local store and have some creative fun with them. They are great to embellish projects with, also.
Notice the piping around the two pillows in the picture … Wrap ‘n Fuse Piping is now available in home dec size! This piping cord is covered in fusible web which allows you to wrap your fabric around the piping and simply iron!! What could possibly be quicker and easier?!
I am off on a road trip with hubby John to see Yosemite National Park and I just bet there are going to be some cool fabric shops and yarn stores along the way. I will announce in a moderately loud and enthusiastic voice, “Oh, look there’s a quilt shop!” Ten miles down the road he’ll ask, “Did you want to stop there?” We are going to have some behavior training on this trip! And the computer goes with me so I will post from the road.
Till next time ………….