Q First in Quilting: A Local Treat! - Part I

Good Morning and it's great to be back!  If you're a regular follower of Anne and I you might have noticed our absences last week.  For my part, I was on the road for most of April.  I went to Tipp City, OH; NYC and to good ol' Cincinnati.  All of my trips were very fun but there is no place like HOME!!!!  When life catches up with one from time to time one must give in to the demands of life on occasion.  However, no worries!  We're back and ready to come out swingin'!

Not long ago Anne and I sat down with Laura Schneider, owner of Q First in Quilting, a local Lexington quilt store brimming over with style and personality.  We conducted the interview as the first in a series of articles highlighting the delights of our community.  Over the short years we've lived in Lexington we discovered Q First and found the atmosphere light and airy with a nod toward the modern aesthetic.  Once you've gone in you cannot help but return again and again.  Not just because the fabric selections are inspiring but the staff are very helpful and make you feel welcome.  We asked Laura about her shop and philosophy toward the quilting arts.

Kim Dixon: When did you first open?

Laura Schneider: We opened 3 1/2 years ago on Halloween day of 2009

KD: Why a quilt shop?

LS: Well because I love quilting and have for a long time.  I started when my son was 4 and he's 24 now and probably within 5 or 6 years of starting to quilt I knew I wanted to open a store some day.  I've done a lot of other things in my life but this [store] was just fun to do.  Plus I know quilters because I quilt and they are just wonderful people!  I mean, who wouldn't want to spend all day with quilters?

KD: Did you think of starting out small at first or did you always envision a large establishment?

LS: From the beginning on it was always, "as big as I can get".  In my experience, one of the first things that can happen to a quilt store when they first open is, if they are too small at the beginning it takes a long time to build a loyal customer base because people don't want to keep going to a place that doesn't have what they are looking for.  The store may eventually provide the stock the customer is looking for but by then the store is already categorized as the "quilt store one does not go to..."  So we wanted to be a large store right away and grow as fast as we could.  We've been fortunate that this has been a really good location and our customers have responded very well.

KD: It is a good location...

LS: Yes, it is but when people first try to find it...

Anne Warman: It is a little hard to find the first time out!

LS: Yes!  People will call us saying, "This is a church..." and we'll say, "Good!  You're almost there then!" [laughter]  The shop is located in a strip mall set off from Harrodsburg Rd.  An old historic church is the first building seen when heading toward the store, which sets just behind and to the left of the church

KD: What is your business philosophy?

LS: Service.  My philosophy is: we cannot provide too much service.  We are here to help when a customer is stuck which will make them happy and successful and bring them back to us, and in-turn will help us in the long run.  It is also just a really good way to operate because people come in with a problem and you help them solve it, which is a really nice feeling!  So we help with sewing machine problems, quilting problems, fabric quantities, and technique issues.  We try to help answer such questions even for people who don't necessarily come to buy from us, with the thought, if we help them now we hope they will come back to purchase here at the store.

AW: Well I think that's something that separates a quilt store from the online version because not only can you touch the fabrics but there is a person you can consult.

LS: Exactly!  And if you buy a sewing machine from Sam's Club (for instance) where is the sewing machine expert that can help you when your bobbin winder doesn't seem to work correctly?  Or, where is the person at say... Walmart, who can help you make a pleat in a little girl's dress?  Those people don't really exsist in such stores and that's what sets quilt shops apart, as well as, what we like to call "fondling," which means you get to come in and touch everything!  Customers can actually see what the fabric feels like, get the weight of fabric, carry bolts around with them to compare with other fabrics and you can't always tell that online or necessarily see the true colors.

KD: Have you ever thought of expanding your business and developing an online component?

LS: Yes, absolutely!  That's in the pipeline and will probably happen sometime this summer or towards the end of the summer.  We are definitely going there and we want to do some online retailing for those customers who are not local and also we would like to expand our regular customer base beyond the 75 mile radius we have established thus far.  There's the whole United States and the world to look towards...

Stay tune for part two of this insightful interview!

Q First in Quilting
4383 Old Harrodsburg Rd
Lexington, KY 40513

Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(859) 554-5800

Birthday Banners Card

A very quick post this afternoon. I was playing around with some new stamps and this is the card I came up with. 

Banners are so popular in paper-crafting designs these days and I managed to incorporate 3 different types of banners here. I used the new photopolymer (clear) stamp set from Stampin' Up called Designer Typeset. I always need a birthday card for someone so this will come in handy. 

Enjoy!

A Banner for Sebastian - Part One

As you all know by now I've never been to strictly play by the rules when it comes to my work.  I like to mix things up and use non-traditional materials for various reasons.  Sometimes it's to save money (most times really) and other times for convenience, and then there are the times I happen to come across something that combines the two.  One such product came my way not too long ago when I was out shopping with my mother.  I was in one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie, in the sales area.  In one of the accessory bins was a few rolls of cloth.  I took a closer look and realized they were disposable cloth napkins.  They were on sale for a price I could not resist!  I knew the moment I saw them I would use them for some sort of quilt project.  I mean how could I not?!  They were perfectly square with finished edges and twenty on a roll!

Once I got home I wanted to find out a little more about the company behind my new napkins and what other products they offered.  What I found was very interesting.  Mydrap originated in Spain as a family owned textile business; however, in the 1990s the industry lost momentum and it was necessary to move in a different direction.  That's when the idea of producing linens for the hospitality industry was pursued.  From there they expanded to included common households and the consumer market.  They carry various sized napkins and placemats in 20 different colors and 5 patterns.  Each napkin and placemat is a perforated 100% cotton piece of fabric (or linen).  Here's what they look like:

As you can see they really are practically ideal for quilting and crafting.  Especially for people with arthritis or other hand issues.  Plus they limit cutting time since the napkins are perfectly square.  They come in beautiful bold colors and are very easy to work with.

Here's how I've been using them:

These are panels from the alphabet banner I'm making for my son's (Sebastian) bedroom.  Each panel is made from a Mydrap luncheon napkin.  I did not have to prep (like adding interfacing) and I will not have to do anything to the edges to finish them off because they are designed not to unravel.  They really are just a great product!

Make sure to check them out at their website where you can purchase individual rolls or buy wholesale.  You can also use the store locator to find stores near you that carry Mydrap.  Most napkin rolls come in a package of 20 and depending on their size the prices range from $27 to $44 (reflects linen placemats).  The cotton cocktail napkins are a pretty good deal since they come 50 to a roll for $27 and are sized 4.3" x 4.3".

I'm really just crazy about this product!  Now, if only I could get them to make quilting fabric on a roll in standard quilting sizes (4.5"x 4.5", 6.5"x 6.5", etc.)...  One can dream!

Keep checking back for more about this really fun and surprisingly easy alphabet banner!

Till then, happy crafting!

Embellished Notebook - Anne

I have a very quick post for today. For those paper-crafters out there, Stampin' Up has a new monthly club of sorts called Paper Pumpkin. If you subscribe, you get a kit in the mail each month with a new project and all the materials and instructions to complete it. Actually, if you are a crafter of any type you might enjoy it. I have gotten 2 kits now and it is a great little crafting break and all I have to do is sit down, open the box and create. Wonderful!

Anyways, one of the projects that I made today was a little embellished notebook. So fun, cute and easy to complete. The notebook that came in the kit happens to be graph paper - perfect for quilt-designing. And the size is small enough that I can take it on the go, ready for whenever inspiration hits.

The project went together very quickly so I decided to make two: one for me and one for a gift. 

Since she is away this weekend at a quilting retreat (see the previous post for details) let's see if she sees this little gift I made for her. :-) I added an inscription, and a sweet little crafty gift is complete!

What's in a Name Tag...

Another weekend come and gone... I would lament my lost weekend days if it didn't bring about new and exciting opportunities ahead.  Yes, for the past couple of weeks I've been preparing myself for a great adventure, and I have to say I cannot wait to get on the road!  It all started Christmas day of 2012.  My mother handed me an envelop and asked me to open it.  I wasn't expecting much since my mother and father were overly generous to me and my family throughout the previous year, and since the birth of my son most presents go to him (and rightly so).  So you can imagine my surprise and genuine heartfelt gratitude that came over me when I saw what was in that envelop... My mother gave me a four day (all expenses paid) quilting retreat vacation with renown quilting artist Sue Spargo!!!!!  I literally started crying when I saw what she had done because I felt completely unworthy of such love and pure generosity.  The gesture overwhelmed me.  It still does really...

So as I sit here contemplating the lists I need to make for packing, instructions for my father and husband concerning my son, and whether or not I'm going to clean the house for the last minute guesting coming (my husband's friend) while I'm gone, I thought I would share with all of you the prep work I've undertaken in preparation for my upcoming retreat!  We were asked to create a name tag for the retreat and I thought it was a great opportunity for me to test out some of my new embroidery designs (to see another example of the designs to come check out our Facebook page).

This was the initial design I came up with.  Actually, it's two designs combined into one.  I traced the lettering first and then the brick wall around the lettering.  I'm realizing that tracing paper is great because I don't need a light table (although I do have one) and the paper is durable enough to withstand a very hot iron.

A couple of years ago I discovered Sulky iron-on transfer pens and they are wicket awesome!!!!  They turn an ordinary pencil drawing into a iron-on pattern in a matter of minutes and the resolution is just as good as manufactured embroidery patterns.  I turned the drawing to the WRONG SIDE (this is very important to remember when working with lettering because otherwise your letters will come out backwards) and retraced the design with the transfer pen.

The iron should be on a very hot setting like cotton or wool.  If you're concerned about the fabric you're transferring your design on, use a damp cloth to cover the design and fabric where the iron will come in contact.  It may take longer for the ink to set and your design will get wet but it will be a buffer for your fabric.  And if it's very precious fabric that's sensitive to heat, you may want to rethink the transfer pen all together...

 Now we get to the fun part!  So, here's what I came up with to fill in my design.  I'm developing embroidery patterns based on graffiti, and this is my second attempt at the lettering.  I wasn't feelin' it at first because I felt the letters were disappearing within the brick wall background.  I think next time I'll use grey for the brick wall and make them look like cinderblocks.  Oooor I'll just use other colors for my letters.  Anyhoo, I thought this was going to be a loss until I added the flower and an interesting thread with copper wire running through it.  Ha ha!  The plot thickens!

Once I added the blue to the flower I think it really made the rest pop, but it was the green wire thread that made me positively giddy!!!  The thread is called Color Infusions Memory Thread and it's by DMC.  It really gave my name tag the spice it needed and I felt it actually started looking like real graffiti.  At least I think so...  I attached the thread by couching it with a similar colored (regular) embroidery floss.  The memory thread was fun to work with and pretty simple to use.  Actually simpler than I thought it would be.

After I finished embroidering everything I cut the design to the size I wanted and backed it with an extra stiff craft interfacing.  I then took pieces of silk remnants I had just laying around and used it as a border for the whole piece.

The silk binding is all one continuous piece I snaked around the edges and tacked down using thin strips of fusible web (typically used for hemming clothing).  My mother and husband tease me and say it looks more like a breast plate than a name tag because of its size, but I still like it and it was fun to do!

I just want to take a moment to thank my wonderful wonderful mother, not only for this opportunity but for all she (and I really need to include my father in this) has done for me.  She is the model I look to when parenting my own child and although we do butt heads from time to time and she may think I don't always listen to her...  I do listen and I try everyday to make her proud.  Thank you for this gift Mommy.  You don't know what it means to me!  I love you...

With that said have a good week and I'll bring back pictures!

Paper-crafting and Color Selection

I get questions on a regular basis about how to choose colors that go together. If you're an art major, I know you study this in great detail. I am not an art major and so it helps me to have a few tricks up my sleeve. I have some tricks that I use when I am quilting but today I want to focus on color choices for paper-crafting. I have a few cards that I made this morning as examples of this.

The base of this card was part of a "Simply Sent" kit from Stampin' Up. The kit made very cute cards but I wanted to get a little bit more of a punch of color on it. The Calypso Coral isn't my favorite by itself but it does really make this card pop in combination with the Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight. How did I come up with this color combo? I cheated! I have a handy tool called the Stampin' Up Color Coach. It is sort of like a deck of color cards.




Side note: If you aren't familiar with Stampin' Up, they do colors well, in my opinion. And they make it easy for non-art majors like myself to be able to put colors together. The Color Coach is one way. Another way is that they have different types of materials (ink, card stock, ribbon, brads to name a few) that you can purchase that are available in the different colors they offer. And you can be sure that the Baja Breeze ink is going to be the same color as the Baja Breeze ribbon, etc. Okay, back to the rest of my post...

The Color Coach has a large swatch of each color they offer on one side of the card with two suggested color-combinations for each color on the other side. I chose what they call the "Creative Combination" in this example.

Other companies have similar color-helper books. Pantone is another one that I have. This is what their book looks like:

For the other card I made today, I used the second color combo in the book. (Maybe it would be a fun challenge to try them all. Hmm. Something to think about.)

A very different look from my first card today - a bit more masculine. I didn't have any card stock in the lighter gray color. I think that would have made the card even better but I am still pleased with the results.  If you are someone who gets nervous about putting colors together, I hope this gave you a little more courage. When I get stuck, these can be a good way to get some inspiration.

Diamonds are Forever- Part 2

Good Morning all!

It's been a VERY crazy couple of weeks for me.  Life was moving right along when I was hit with a horribly nasty stomach virus.  Would not wish it on my worst enemy!  I was out of commission for three days and didn't actually eat until the fourth day.  It took me the rest of the following week to feel like my ol' self.  The up side... I lost five pounds.  Although honestly, there has to be a better way to loose winter weight!  Since coming up for air, I've continued to work on the Diamonds are Forever quilt and I have to say I'm lovin' it!  Here is what I've completed so far...

In the first part of this series I discussed my initial design processes and how my original idea morphed into something completely different.  Although my design did not start out in a traditional sense, I have tried to follow standard quilting "rules" with very little deviation.  Surprisingly it's been a pretty easy exercise and I don't say that lightly because I am notorious for bending, breaking, and flat out ignoring quilting rules.  Typically I would not concern myself with measurements or making sure every block is perfectly square.  I tend to get an idea and execute it by plowing through everything that has nothing to do with esthetics.  You can't do that when designing a quilt you hope others will be able to replicate; however, I haven't completely exorcised my demons!  I kept one or two elements from my own quirky nature.

For instances, as a quilter living on a budget I'm always looking for ways to cut costs.  

 I found this lovely packet of fabric from Sam's Club for less than $14 for 12 towels!  A great bargain when you think about it because a packet of 4 towels costs a good $10 at places like Bed Bath and Beyond...  Over the years I've found flour sack towels come in handy for all sorts of craft projects.  I use them for embroidery and quilting. They work great for foundation quilting which is exactly what I'm using them for in this project.

I cut the towels into the various sized blocks needed for the project, which included 6 1/2 and 3 1/2 inches.  Now this is a great way to save money but I don't think this is a good tip for beginners.  Flour sacks are VERY flimsy and not tightly woven.  All of which makes it very hard to cut squares evenly.  Especially if you are the type of person where everything must be perfect, this is NOT the fabric for you.  The upside though is that because the fabric is very light it does not add a lot of bulk to your finished project; however,  when in doubt it's best to stick with quilter's muslin!

Another little rule I've played fast and loose with is sewing on the 1/4 inch line.  Okay, before you get your panties in a bunch, let me just say all the blocks were sewn together a 1/4 inch; however, the strips on the blocks is another matter.  All I can say for myself is that I needed my freedom some where in this process!  Yet I did it in such a way that would not hinder others one way or the other.

I pinned my 1 1/2 inch strips onto the foundation square like everyone else would...

But instead of sewing a 1/4 inch I tended to sew a little closer to the edge which made a wider strip.  If you did sew the strips together the standard way it just means you'll end up with one or two more strips on a block.

 

As you can see the strips were a little wider but it still has the same effect.  And just to prove that I'm not a complete heathen, here's an example of what the blocks looked like once they are sewn together on the 1/4 inch line.

So far, I'm lovin' this entire process.  It's reaffirmed for me that I have a fundamental love and respect for piecing.  I've also been toying with fabric values, which has been rather difficult for me because I realized I gravitate toward medium value fabrics.  Sometimes I get it right and it looks great when I do, and sometimes not.  We can't all be perfect all of the time!

With that in mind, I'll leave you with this parting image...

This is just one of the tables in my sewing room covered with the guts of this project.  I am NOT perfect, but man I sure do love to quilt none-the-less!!!  Make sure to look out for the next installment of... Diamonds are Forever!