After a long weekend at CHA, I had an even longer drive home (about 7 hours), and I thought about all the things I’d seen in my 2.5-ish days at the show. And there was a lot. Lots of lots. But I kept coming back to one thing. Sticky. There was a lot of sticking going on at CHA 2014. Many of the brands I was talking to either were already involved in, and expanding, their line of adhesives. Others […]
Quilting: Half Square Triangles with Triangle Paper
If you’ve ever tried quilting, you’ve probably encountered the half square triangle. The half square triangle, or HST, is a square made of two right-triangles. The seam connecting the two triangles runs through the middle of the square from corner to corner. Right along the bias. In woven fabric, the fabric most commonly used in quilting, the threads running one way are called the “warp” (parallel to the selvedge), and the other way is the “weft” (perpendicular to the selvedge). […]
Beacon Sea Shell Glue Review
I have an entire shelf filled with adhesives. Multiple brands of decoupage, in different finishes (matte, glossy, glittery, pearly), glue for fabrics, glue for paper, all-purpose glue, fast-drying glue, super strong glue, glue sticks, the list goes on… when I was asked to review Beacon’s Sea Shell Glue, I knew it was official: there is now a glue for everything. Beacon’s Sea Shell Glue is designed for use with… Sea Shells. Shells can be tough to craft with because of […]
Cool2Cast Product Review
When Jenny asked me if I was up for trying out Cool 2 Cast, I thought it sounded like fun. I’m always up for trying new things. Cool2Cast has been on the market for a couple years, but it is new to me. Although I’m a big fan of fabric, my hot glue gun is never put away for too long, and I like trying new media all the time. Cool2Cast sounded like a great way for me to try […]
FloraCraft Smooth Finish
I love products that help me use the craft supplies I already have in my arsenal in even more ways. I think it is because I like to sew. Take the same sewing machine, add a zipper foot, a buttonhole foot, or a walking foot, and suddenly your sewing machine can handle new tasks. That’s what Smooth Finish is. It is like a buttonhole foot for your Styrofoam® crafts. Before I get into all that craziness, let’s start with what […]
Clover Create-a-Strap Review
When I reviewed Nancy Zieman’s Trace N Create Tablet Keeper pattern, I had no idea I was about to fall in love. This wasn’t the gentle, slip into love… this was heart-stopping love. I completely fell for the Clover Create a Strap. I have no idea where this product has been all my life. I’ve been making straps the hard way for a long, long time. The Create a Strap is a system that makes creating perfect straps effortless. Here […]
Best Press – a Starch Alternative
I’ve been quilting since I was 12, though my love for fabric started at an earlier age. Several years ago I was able to fulfil a long-time fantasy of mine (and of many quilters) – I worked at a quilt shop. There are many amazing things about working in a quilt shop – being surrounded by beautiful fabrics, getting to tear into boxes filled with brand-new bolts of fabric, being surrounded by like-minded ladies (and men!), and getting to swap […]
Nancy Zieman Trace n Create Tablet Keeper Pattern
When I was first asked to review the Nancy Zieman Trace n Create Tablet Keeper Pattern, I had mixed feelings. I have a Samsung Galaxy 10 Tablet that needed a new case – it was suffering in an iPad case that was a poor fit. But, I’m not a fan of templates. Still, I thought I could give it a shot… I like my finished result, but there were some hiccups along the way… but, first things first. Here is […]
Mod Podge Mod Melts Review
Cathie and Steve, designers over at Plaid (the makers of Mod Podge), have come up with a new product called Mod Melts. Here is what Cathie has to say about the new product: With our new sea glass and milk glass Mod Melt Sticks and Molds you can now make your own scrapbooking, mixed media and jewelry making embellishments. You can customize Mod Melts with a variety of finishes! You can use FolkArt acrylic paints, shimmer mists, alcohol inks, glitter, […]
#CHAshow surprise: Carolina’s Favorite
This week I attended the semi-annual Craft and Hobby Association trade show. I’m not a newbie to CHA, but this was the first time I’d been able to attend the summer show and it was the first time I’ve been able to attend in my own backyard – they had the summer show in Las Vegas this year! There was lots to see, and more that I will share, but the thing that thrilled me to the bottom of my […]
#CHA Show Trends: Modular Scrapbooking Pages
Modular scrapbooking is not a new concept. These page protectors divided into easy-to-fill pockets have been around for the better part of a decade, often marketing themselves to new scrapbookers and those who say they “can’t” scrapbook as a quick and easy option for organizing photos. While at the Summer CHA show, I saw that the modular scrapbook trend is growing in several ways that make me very, very happy. In the past I wasn’t much of a fan of […]
Stuffed Animals from Concept to Construction Book Review
I was given a copy of Stuffed Animals from Concept to Construction by Abigail Patner Glassenberg to review. This 192 page book has patterns and instructions for making 16 different stuffed animals, including a fish, bumblebee, elephant, lion, cat, teddy bear, monkey, and hippo. It also includes 52 lessons on the designing and creation of your own stuffed animal. Here is what Amazon has to say about the book: Are you ready for a soft toy book that goes beyond […]
Zodiac Felties Book Review
Today’s review is of a sewing h0w-to book, “Zodiac Felties” by Sarah Skeate. This book provides patterns and instructions for creating felt plush figures representing the twelve signs of the zodiac, plus Mars, Venus, the sun and moon. Each figure is created using small scraps of felt, embroidery floss, and beads, and then lightly stuffed. The resulting figures are only a few inches in height. Here is what Amazon has to say about the book Zodiac Felties: With easy […]
Craft-A-Day Book Review
The Craft-a-Day book takes you on a journey of 365 simple and inexpensive crafts to create. The crafts are categorized into 52 themed weeks. The beginning of each week has templates for you to trace for that week’s projects. The projects are simple, most taking 30 minutes or less to create. Some, such as the felt plushies, take a little longer. The projects require basic tracing, cutting, pasting, and sewing skills, and most would be great for grade-school aged children. […]
Westcott Scissors ExtremEdge Titanium Adjustable Scissors Review
When I was first given these Westcott ExtremEdge Adjustable Tension Titanium Bonded scissors, I thought they looked like they would work well as a pair of general crafting scissors. Here is what the Westcott website says about these scissors: Our best performance scissors! ExtremEdge Titanium® Bent Scissors. Titanium Bonded® Blades are used for improved durability, increased corrosion resistance and a sharper, longer-lasting cutting edge. * Lightweight yet durable * Cuts multiple layers of fabric or a few layers of […]
