Quilt Market Week

 Quilt Market Week is always very energy filled for quilters. Lots of people from around the world start piling into Houston to celebrate QUILTING! The ladies in the picture above are from New Mexico where they have a shop called Bernina Sewing and Design . They rented a limo upon reaching Houston to go around town visiting local shops in style! We enjoyed their visit and appreciate them making our shop a part of their tour!
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 "Schoolhouse" for shop owners and personnel was on Friday at the George R Brown.

 Deb sent her two shop minions assistants:

Aren't iphones great!

Mandy (me!) and Nancy had a great time learning about running a better quilt shop, new products, new designers etc... We have been sharing our notes and ideas with Deb so look for good things in the future from the fruits of our day off extensive research.

 One of the schoolhouse sessions which had us the most excited was Mini Mosaics with Paula Doyle but........
 who is that pretty blonde I spy over on the left?

my apologies to Miss Doyle, I took several pictures of you and Venetta and unfortunately you seem to be afflicted with the same disease I have when the camera is turned on me, I call it "closemyeyesa-titus". I really wanted to include your wonderful book in this post though so I found the best picture I could!

 Why, that is our own Venetta Morger! She is personal friends with the author and promises to teach the technique at the shop! So watch for opportunities in the future for that!

 Look at these perfect mini mosaics!

These were made into a purse! 

We still have quilt show tickets for sale! Stop in before Preview Night or you will be stuck waiting in line downtown!!

Call the exterminator! :-)

We have bugs!--Ha ha ha

These are fabrics from Blank

so super cute and colorful!!!

We also have a brand new flavor of Best Press:

Peaches & Creme 
(which maybe our favorite flavor yet!)
There is a bottle for customer use out in the classroom
- take it for a spin!

 Also in the tradition of Aleene's products (they make Best Press) she has come out with this Odor Eliminator spray, seen above.  It can be used throughout your house- on textiles, in the laundry, bathroom and even in the kitchen! 

Lastly- our sweet friend and co-worker, TJ has been out with double foot surgery! but she was able to make this tablerunner from the Garden Trio pattern. It uses the Batik charm squares! 
It is gorgeous and something sure to brighten up any table in your house!

Dresden Name Tag Holder Tutorial

Every year I have gone to quilt show I have always been tickled by all the cute coordinating items other show "go-ers" have on. Every years groups of ladies visiting the show together have coordinating hats, vests, bags, or nametags. I thought in honor of Nancy's first trip to Quilt Market on Friday I would coordinate us!

Here is a tutorial for a "Dresden Name Tag Holder"

 - a Quilters Crossing original! :-)

You will need: 4 rectangles for your bag measuring 6"x7" 

( I pressed Shape-flex to the back side of my rectangles for some added stability)

9 different squares from a Bella Solids Charm pack

1 piece of clear plastic measuring 4"x6"

 ALSO: 1 strip of fabric 2"x WOF and from that cut one 2"x 6" piece. Reserve the remainder of the strip for the neck strap of your name tag holder. Note: You can get all of your bag body, lining and strap made from 1/4 yd of fabric if you cut perfectly!

 Also needed: a mini  Dresden template- 

I used a piece from this set by Marti Michelle:

 This is the piece I used:

Cut your 2"x6" rectangle down to 1.5"x6". We will be pressing it in half lengthwise and then turning the long raw edges in to the center wrong sides in) 

 This will create nice clean edges all the raw edges in!

 Take this and tuck the rectangle of plastic inside the fold and then stitch it down giving your plastic piece a cuff.

 Repeat the same pressing and folding in of the long edges on the longer strip for your neck. This one you just run through your machine to keep those raw edges turned in. 

Set both of these pieces aside while you work on your dresden.

First cut one dresden wedge from each of 9 different charm squares:

 Next fold them in half lengthwise:

Like this: 

 And then sew across the fat ends of each wedge

 Then flip the seam inside and you get your little pointy dresden wedge! How cute is that!

Here is one:

 Here they all are lined up ready to be pressed flat:

 After pressing them each flat, sew them, right sides together, down the long wedge edge:

Keep adding them: 

Until all are connected and form an arc 

Press your seams open 

 This is what you have:

Place this on a 6" end of one of your 6"x7" rectangles as shown--You will want to displace it by about 1/4 inch to account for seam allowance as shown:

 Applique in your method of choice: I did hand applique but machine would be fine:

 Next hand applique a circle over the whole in your arc. I used the wrong side of a yo-yo so that all my edges were turned under:

 Next place your plastic sheet with its cuff closest to your dresden on the bag front as shown:

 If your cuff covers up the lower edge of your dresden trim the bottom edge of the plastic down until the cuff falls just beneath the dresden points. Next lay the back side of your bag (RST) on top of the front and pin.

Leave an opening at the top! 

 Sew along three sides leaving top open

Trim your seams to 1/8" 

 Flip right side out- be sure to poke out those stiff corners at the bottom! Next sew the other two 6"x7" rectangles together to form the lining- make sure to leave one 6" side open! Leave the lining wrong side out.

Next pin your strap on to the BACK of your bag body (not the lining)- on the outside as shown: Be sure there aren't any twists in  your strap! I positioned mine about 1 inch in from each edge and placed the raw ends just over the edge of my bag.

 I wrapped the neck strap around and tucked it into the pocket on the front to keep them out of the way while I sew the lining to the bag body:

 Next, (with the lining turned wrong side out!!) tuck the bag body(right side out) into the lining as shown:

 Pin around the top edge:

Sew around but leave an opening between your straps for turning: 

Pull the bag entirely right side out (bag body and lining) 

you should have this on the front: 

 and this on the back:

 Now tuck the lining down INTO the bag body:

 Hand or machine stitch your opening closed between the handles:

 and Wha-lah!

A completely finished and lined nametag pouch to sport at quilt show or quilt guild:

Maybe make a couple for your co-workers too! 

Hope Deb and Nancy like theirs! 

Quilters Crossing has tickets for the show available now! 

Stop in and purchase yours:

$12 for adults ( includes a preview nite pass)

$9 for seniors and students