Category Archives: Cats

Look at them Glow!

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A20396b[1]As careful as I might be when I’m cutting strips, especially the whole width of the fabric (about 21”), my ruler might slip! Well, I’ve been using the Quilter’s Slidelock rulers for a few months, and now I can hardly cut without them! (A20396-A20398)

What is different about these is that when you press down, little rubber feet come down and really hold your fabric securely! Sharon (the designer,) calls these the retractable cutting system. You can see Sharon demonstrate the magic of the Slidelocks here. Since I have been cutting with two rulers for a long time, I had no learning curve. (See my information sheet on cutting with two rulers here.)

DSC00936There are two kinds and sizes: clear and lighted, in 14” and 24” lengths. I started off thinking I could manage with just the longer one. It wasn’t very long, until I got the 14” one. I just don’t want to cut without them! As for clear or lighted? I use the lighted ones because I don’t have too much light over my cutting table. The fluorescent green shows up against any color fabric and the edge really shows up. Here they are, sitting on my cutting table. (And of course, here’s Bernie, where he shouldn’t be! That bowl is the one we use to feed our smallest kitty, and we usually guard her bowl until she’s finished.)

DSC00938These Slidelocks aren’t actually lighted by batteries, but it almost looks like it. I happened to notice after I turned my lights off in the studio, how they glow with just the reflected light from the bedroom. Look at them glow!

(To find an item or event on our web page after clicking on the highlighted words, hold down the “Ctrl” key and touch F. Enter the item number in the box, press enter, and you’ll be taken to that item.)

You can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

All work and no play …

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Until I get past the panic stage with the newsletters, I work on them day and night except for classes, ordering, and trying to keep up with emails. And this time, for a number of reasons, I didn’t get past the panic stage, and I have over 150 emails to respond to after deleting spam and things I’m not interested in. So if yours is one that’s waiting, I apologize.

“Take time to smell the roses” translates for me to “take time to appreciate the kitties!”

And fortunately that pretty much gets imposed on me if I’m not doing it voluntarily. Puccini insists on sitting on my lap in the morning as I read and respond to some of my daily emails. Bernstein drops in front of me as I walk, for a quick back rub. Other times he brings his ball to my desk over and over ,and over, and over… (Bernie’s our fetcher!) Lacy, on the other hand, reminds me with a gentle paw to say “I’m here!”  Sometimes she’s lying on the ironing board, or the little mat I put on my sewing machine cabinet for her, looking longingly at me, hoping I’ll join her. Bernie sometimes sits behind the silent sewing machine and gives me the same look..

Well, the newsletters are done, and we’re back to the “normal busy” in this house the cats allow us to occupy with them.

Cats

Mama’s back at the sewing machine, and all’s right with the world!

Remember to “smell the roses,” however that translates to you. It’ll make life better for you, and for everyone around you.

So tell us, how do you take time to smell the roses?

Remember, you can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

They threw us this Curve!

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Quick Curve RulerThe more I see of “modern” quilts, the more I like them. I also love new tools! So this week Lacy and I decided to try the new Quick Curve Ruler (A20118), and make the table runner pattern that comes with it.

LacyShe had the proper reverence for the project, as always.

Chain PiecingShe also agrees with me that when chaining pieces, if you leave a slightly longer chain between them, it’s better than having them touch. That way, the beginning and end stitches don’t come out when you cut the connecting threads with your Gypsy Cutting Gizmo (47319).Table Runner

Table Runner Here it is, not quilted yet, but put together. It was a great project to learn the technique.

There are so many patterns from Sew Kind of Wonderful that use this cool tool, it’s hard to decide which to do next! I’m thinking about Urban Pods…Urban Pods Pattern

Until next time…

Erica

Remember, you can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

Step-By-Step

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Sew Simple Pinwheels (A16220)I took step-by-step photos as I cut some of the pieces for my Sew Simple Pinwheel wallhanging.

One can never have too many rulers!

I cut with 3 rulers, by first finding a ruler or square that has the measurement I need if possible. For the background I needed to cut 2 ½” by 5” rectangles.Lacy Step 1

So I cut 2 ½” strips.  Then I searched my ruler stash while Lacy held the strips down for me.  I found the Charm Wizard and two other convenient rulers/ squares.  (It doesn’t matter what sizes those two are.)Charming 5" Square

(The Charm Wizard is now being made by Creative Grids and called the “Charming 5″ Square (48089),” (I like Carolyn’s original name for it better.) You can see a video of it on our Product Videos page.

Step 1

1. I carefully layer several strips. I put my Charm Wizard near the right edge, where I have the selvedges. I cut them off to make a right angle. Then I nudge another ruler up against the left side of my Charm Wizard.

Step 2

2.  My Charm Wizard is measuring my 5 inches.  So I move it to the right and use the edge of the other ruler to make my cut.

Step 3

3.  After cutting, I snug my third ruler against the right edge of the one I used to cut.

Step 4

4.  I remove the one for cutting, and bump the Charm Wizard up against the left side of the third ruler, and I’m ready to repeat for the number of pieces I need to cut.

Lacy also had steps during my construction of this wallhanging.  You saw her Step 1, holding down the strips, above.

Lacy Step 2

Lacy’s Step 2.  Hold down Mama’s Steady Betty Pressing Board (40895).

Lacy Step 3

Lacy’s Step 3.  Hold down the little pieces.

Lacy Step 4

Lacy’s Step 4.  Hold down the bigger pieces.

Lacy Step 5

Lacy’s Step 5.  Hold down the quilt!

Until next time…

Erica

Remember, you can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

What Fun!!

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Magic 3D BlockThis is our new Magic 3D Block. Lynn from our Sewing Department made the sample.

I guess the original toy was made for children, but it seems that children of all ages enjoy playing with this fabric version! We used the bright rainbow fabric that comes in the kit. Instructions are included for using special fabrics, so full pictures show as the block is manipulated.

3D Blocks Model

On the home front, I had another “Staycation” when my husband went with Cathy to the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show in California!

Stacked Quilting

So I finally started quilting my Stacked Quilt from Quilts from the House of Tula Pink, (A18230). Angela Walters did the quilting in the book, and she did another version she showed on her blog. I’m doing a combination of Angela’s designs from her book, Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters, (A17336). I’m calling mine “My Journey through Bali.” Hopefully I’ll show you the completed quilt soon!Stacked Quilting

Bali Bed RunnerI like to have at least two projects going at once so whenever there’s time, I have something I feel like working on. Now I have the quilting and my Mystery Club quilt, but I’ve added a new one! I’m making the Bali Bed Runner, (A12347). I love paper piecing, and especially Judy Niemeyer’s designs, which this is. We’re putting together a pack for it, because it uses 60 different Bali fabrics! Not too many people are brave enough to pick that many fabrics. (Including me- I had “my Cathys” do it and I tweaked their selection.)

Lacy CatIf I always have this much help, it’ll take a little longer! Lacy has her own spot by the machine, but she always prefers to have a bigger role in things if she can.

Quilt and Print ViewerSomething really useful in deciding fabrics for a project is the Quilt and Print Viewer, (29894). I’m using it to determine the order for the rings in the Bali Bed Runner. When you look at your fabric with it, you can see value (lights and darks) and you can also see your quilt when you put the blocks on a design wall or on the floor, before sewing them together.

Until next time…

 Erica

Remember, you can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

Happy Holidays!

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Happy Holidays from our house (and shop) to yours!

Classroom filled with gift bags

We’ve finished up our “Fill My Gift Bag” event, (What fun! Thanks to everyone who enjoyed our emails and specials!) and the newsletter is under way. Watch for it the beginning of January, 2013.

Kitty helping schedule classes.

Here’s the help I got scheduling classes.

And now, not a creature is stirring…A Creature Stirs

(Well, that may not be completely accurate.)

It’s time for us to wish you safe and happy holidays, and to thank you so much for being with us again this year and as we begin a new one.

Santa

Warmest wishes, Erica and all of us at Erica’s Craft & Sewing Center

Remember, you can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

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Busy Season

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This is a busy time for all of us! Besides being a busy holiday month, it’s one of the months I do our big newsletter, and we have a lot going on in the shop!

I showed two projects in our Creative Sewing Club meetings this month. The first one was the “Sun’s Up” placemats (A17754), using the 10 Degree Wedge Ruler (24171)

Here Lacy learned how helpful the Gypsy Cutting Gizmo (47319) is in chain piecing.Here she tested the placemat before I trimmed the sun.

My other project was the Slicker Tote (A18878) by our friend Joan at Lazy Girl Designs. I got to try out two of her new Sew Lazy products, and I love them! Slicker Glossy Vinyl enhances the fabric and makes it indescribably beautiful! The body the tote has is achieved with her Stiff Stuff!  

 (I got this photo of my tote just before Lacy knocked it over to climb in!)

The Sew Lazy product line is color coded – blue for the two sew-ins, (Dreamy Sew-in and Stiff Stuff,) and hot pink (think of your hot iron) for the fusibles, (Fusi-Bond Lite, Slicker, Face-it Soft and Firm, and Dreamy Fusible.) Note – If you’ve signed up for our Gift Bag emails, you’ll see the Slicker Tote on Day 10.

If I don’t “talk” to you before then, besides being busy, we hope you’ll have a safe and very happy holiday season!

Erica

You can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

(To find an item or event on our web site after clicking on the highlighted words, hold down the “Ctrl” key and touch F. Enter the item number in the box, press enter, and you’ll be taken to that item.)

Our Inspired Winners

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This is our belated blog post (sorry for the delay!) about our contest. Entrants were asked to finish this sentence in 500 words or less: “When I shop at Erica’s I’m inspired because…”: We had so many entries that it took longer than we expected. We have notified the winners, sent their gift cards, and they have given permission to reprint their entries.Ericas With Tag

This is how it went…

Bill (son and IT person) printed out all the entries, without names, and Dick (husband), Cathy (daughter), and I started reading. What a beautiful collection of letters that reaffirmed our goal since we opened the store! We’ve always wanted to inspire!

I can’t begin to tell you how you touched us, and I don’t have words to express how warm and fuzzy you made me feel.

Thanks so much to all who took time to enter our contest celebrating our new tag line, “Your Inspiration Destination.” There were so many wonderful entries, that we decided to award first and second place gift cards to entries from our Internet customers and from our local customers. They have different perspectives, and we appreciate both. Not only have we doubled the number of winners, but our Lacy (feline) has chosen an entry to give a special “Feline Appreciation” Award! So we have 5 winners!Lacy the Cat

Let’s start with Lacy’s award. She just loved yours, Roxanne Schnitzler! (From Decorah, IA.) She may be prejudiced, but she thought yours was like catnip to her heart! She sent you virtual purrs and kisses, along with a $50 Erica’s gift card. (We had to do the gift card part for her.)

I have never actually been to the store because of distance, but shop online and love Erica’s. You have everything. I love machine embroidery and you carry supplies and magazines no one else does. Your newsletters are informative, newsy and fun to read. I love how you are always coming up with something to say and something new to do, even if you haven’t actually started it yet! You don’t mind laughing at yourself or pointing out your mistakes-makes you human, when I only know you online.

Purple CatOne of my absolute favorite things though, is your love of cats and seeing how you baby them and let them help you in your sewing endeavors and how they get to analyze and critique every project from start to finish! A little cat fur never hurt a project. Keep up the good work and maybe someday I will get to meet you in person and see your shop in person. Roxanne Schnitzler, Decorah, IA

These were are our $100 Gift Card winners:

The “local” winner is Ann Viviano from St John, IN, about an hour and a half away.Google Map

I’m in heaven – knitting, quilting, embroidery, cross stitch all the things I love to do and right at my finger tips. – I walk through the front door and my heart does flip flops – the examples hanging all over the store I can’t wait to pick out my project and race home to start – yes it is a 2hr drive and worth every penny of gas to shop at Erica’s. The people at the shop are so friendly and helpful and the staff manning the phones are just as helpful and just as friendly. It is a joy to do business at Erica’s. No matter what questions I ask there is someone that can help me. I have always been greeted when I arrive and I have always been asked if there is anyway they can help me – that is SO not the norm in most of the shops I have been to. Now if only I can get Erica and Dick to open a store in my area of Indiana. Thank you both for what you have provided to the quilting world and all the other wonderful hobbies we enjoy – you have made shopping in your beautiful store a wonderful experience. And I LOVE your newsletters, it is like reading a letter from a close family member – especially the antics of your furry friends. Keep up the GREAT job and a big thank you to all of your staff. Erica’s is an example of the way a shop should operate. You all are WONDERFUL. I mean every word of this – not just because you are offering gift certificates, I felt that this ‘contest’ was a way for me to let you know how I feel about your shop and your staff. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

First Place RibbonOur internet winner is Vicki Callahan from Mason City, IA.

When I shop at Erica’s, I’m inspired because of just about everything! Where do I begin? I love the site. I especially love the ‘what’s new‘ link. I have found the cutest fabrics there and get excited and motivated. Even though my niece was only recently married, I know someday they’ll be starting a family and I found the best baby fabric under what’s new and guess what? I already ordered it! I love that the communication is so quick and so friendly and I never have to doubt or wait to find out if the fabric is coming or if you’re out. Regular e-mails keep me informed and I live for coupons and specials and you offer those at the best of times! Your ordering process is easy, swift, and as I said, I never have to wait for long to find out and receive the exciting news that my fabric is on its way. Since I am not a patient person, your site allows me the close to instantaneous satisfaction that I love so it is my favorite site for ordering fabric. When I need inspiration, I just go straight to your site and start reading thru the ‘what’s new’ and the sale fabrics and when I was looking for dinosaur fabric for my great-nephew, all I had to do was type in ‘dinosaur’ and I was immediately given a list of things I could look thru… books, fabric, FUN! The site picks me up, inspires me with new ideas, and gets me motivated to work on projects I have or to learn how to do new things in the sewing and craft world. I thank you for that and continue the great work. Some day I will come see the store in person. I think I could spend hours looking around.

Our second place winners received $75 Gift Cards.

Our local winner is Jaime Stacy from Goshen, IN (about 45 minutes away):Balloons

When I shop at Erica’s I’m inspired because there are so many options!!! I usually never walk out of Erica’s empty handed. Whether I am looking for specific things to complete a project, looking for a new project, or I am just coming in to browse, I end up leaving excited by something that I have found. I have a hard time “imagining” what a finished project will look like. I love that Erica’s has finished projects hanging up around the store. I also love that you have everything right by the project to complete the project. I have a hard time putting together fabrics to complete my quilts and I love that I can buy a kit where someone has already pieced together the fabrics for me. It leaves me to do what I enjoy the most, sewing! I also love that you offer so many classes on such a wide range of ideas. I love to sew but I ended up taking a jewelry class when I saw a necklace displayed that I really liked. I would have never thought about making jewelry if I hadn’t seen the necklace or been given the opportunity to have someone walk me through how to make it. I was very inspired when I had the opportunity to come meet the creator of Art to Heart!! What a wonderful experience to realize that Nancy is just a normal person like me that loves to sew. I am also pleased to know that by taking my 9 year old daughter into your shop that she is becoming interested in sewing and crafts. Sewing and crafting has been a wonderful way that my Mom and I have kept a close relationship. I am so excited to see my daughter becoming interested in what I love to do and I hope for a lifetime of being able to connect with her through sewing and crafting. I love having a shop around that I can count on to keep me excited doing what I love.

Our internet winner is Marie Korol from Freeland, PA.

I can see such beautiful colors. The patterns for quilting are so varied, and I feel that I can quilt anything. I’m always amazed at the different styles and color combinations as well as the different techniques used. If I’ve never done that process it makes me want to try it, and by doing so, I broaden my horizons and hone my skills as a quilter. I feel like a fabric artist and I look forward to the creative process. When I’ve completed my personal work of art my self esteem soars. It’s so nice to feel good about yourself. I know I will receive my treasures in record time and in excellent condition. What more can you ask for? Great service, bonus points and a brand new pattern to make you smile! Your staff is polite and very knowledgeable, and I always feel like I am your most important customer. It doesn’t get much better than this. I am so glad I discovered your site. Thanks for being who you are.

I had the pleasure of calling all the winners. It was so much fun! They were all so excited and some even had their lists ready to be able to use their winnings right away! They were so warm and friendly, that I felt we were friends already. I have to tell you about my call to Marie! When she answered the phone, I introduced myself, and she said “Get out!!!” I do have to admit that this was the first time I got a response like that when I told someone who I am! She replied that she is somewhat of a free spirit, and we had a great conversation.

Working LadiesThank you so much, everyone, for entering. We had a hard time choosing our very favorites: we appreciate all of them. Wish we could give everyone Gift Cards, but we need to stay in business, so we can continue to be “Your Inspiration Destination!”

You can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

(To find an item or event on our web site after clicking on the highlighted words, hold down the “Ctrl” key and touch F. Enter the item number in the box, press enter, and you’ll be taken to that item.)

And the rest of the story …

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So now he’s finished! Actually, I was so excited when I got the face done, that I took it right to my Handi Quilter Fusion and set up the backing and batting I had cut last November. For some reason, they were quite a bit larger than the front. Oh, well, numbers have always been my downfall. I probably just figured wrong! I tore into this poor project that had waited so long in pieces, for my return.

Thread bridges on Bengal Tiger quilt

I do raw edge applique on my HQ – it’s so much easier than moving the fabric around under my regular machine. There was quite a bit of white, so I started with that. Instead of tying off at the end of each piece, I do tiny little stitches so the stitching won’t come out later, then move to the next piece and do tiny stitches to get it started. In the end, it’s faster just to cut the bridges all at one time.

Got it all done and hung it on the wall to admire before I cut the binding. That’s when it hit me! In all my excitement, I had forgotten to add the accent flange and the black border! Darn! What to do?! Too late now.  You know that great feeling when you think you’re on the last leg of the project? I went from there to it being too hot in the room, and the panic in the pit of my stomach! OK, calm down, and look at this reasonably. Ah ha! I’ll just put a wide binding on it!  That will frame it, like that forgotten border would have. So I went to my calculator. Let’s see, ½” for the seam allowance, some to frame the piece. That’s times two, and then it wraps around, and that’s times two. Got it! (Remember, I told you about me and numbers?)

I had help getting the binding on, as you can see.

Crafter Kitty helper

Got the first side sewn easily.  I got to the corner, and believe it or not, with all my brilliant figuring ahead, there wasn’t enough fabric to do the miter! So I invented these really cool corners! I won’t tell anyone it was either that, or take the binding off and go back to the calculator. So I decided these corners were really great. (Just don’t ask me how I did them!)

Corners of Bengal Tiger Quilt

So here’s my guy! Regal and impressive, with custom-made corners. And done!  (A13718)

Bengal Tiger

I did the Giant Panda earlier, which enticed me to do the Bengal Tiger.  (A13787)  The Panda pattern is down a little from the tiger on the same pattern page, and my blog post is here.  both are hanging in the back of the classroom now, and when you enter, you see them from a distance.  I just love them!  Since then, I’ve finished my first “modern quilt.”  I’ll tell you about that one in a few weeks.

You can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.

(To find an item or event on our web site after clicking on the highlighted words, hold down the “Ctrl” key and touch F. Enter the item number in the box, press enter, and you’ll be taken to that item.)

Dec la Table!!

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We finished my Dec la Table Holiday Tablerunner/Wallhanging class sample! I’m really pleased with it, and enjoyed both the bargello and the embellishing. (A16910 pattern, A16392 fabric pack)

Lacy enjoyed it too!

Join me in class if you’re in our area. 

I used to struggle getting the paper backing off some of the fusibles. Then I got a tip when one of the embroidery stabilizers came out, and I use it all the time! In case you’ve had the same problem, I’d like to share it with you, using one of the ornaments. I scanned the applique pages from the pattern and ran copies of them on Print N Fuse through my inkjet printer. (I hate all that tracing so this is a great way to get out of it!) (24252, 24253, 24254)

This is what one of the ornaments looked like after I fused the piece to the fabric and cut it out.

Next, I scored the paper with a pin.

That makes it easy to remove the paper backing!

By the way, our Annual Sidewalk Sale is going on right now, both at the shop and online, so you can get some really good buys. You can find links to our sale items on our home page  Check it out!

(To find an item on our web site after clicking on the highlighted words, hold down the “Ctrl” key and touch F. Enter the item number in the box, press enter, and you’ll be taken to that item.)
You can see What’s New at Erica’s almost every day! Any page of our website has a column on the left that tells you where to find things, and all you have to do is look for “New Items” in purple, and click to find out.