Guest Blogging: International Quilt Festival, Chicago & SAQA

Today I am a guest blogger on the Bella Crafts Quarterly Blog. I am sharing information regarding my experience earlier in June at the International Quilt Festival in Chicago, Illinois. I'm also sharing information regarding Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). Hope you will check it out, and check out the other creative posts! There are some fun crafts tutorials posted there. Also, if you are interested in Guest Blogging for Bella Crafts Quarterly, you can send them an inquiry, with a link to your current blog.

Happy Monday and Happy Creating!

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

http://bellacraftsquarterly.com/bella-blog

Creative Tools

I recently stopped by the Blick Art Supply store to pick up a new Sewing stylus, which I use for guiding fabric through the sewing machine. I had purchased one previously, but it has migrated and I haven’t located it. I believe it is hanging out in one of my project boxes. I hate to buy duplicates, but decided to make an exception this time. Shown is the new stylus I purchased, and some other tools I found in the store: A Susan Bates Weaving Needle, from the Crafts section, and other tools from the Ceramics section of the store. The stylus is a double ball stylus, with a wooden handle.

On the back of the Stylus package it lists uses for the tool: “embossing paper, card stock, stencils, metals & foils, painting dots & designs on any surface, and making dot impressions & fine line work in any type of clay or modeling material.” The other 2 plastic tools are ceramic modeling tools, but I plan to use them for finger pressing fabric, as an additional stylus, and possibly use the one with the pointed end for making marks on scratchboard, or foils. The prices were very affordable, the double-ended stylus cost $2.49, the weaving needle was $1.39, and the other ceramics modeling tools were $.79 each (before my 10% member discount). You can definitely save money on sewing tools by checking out the art supply store (or any other type of store) for alternative tools to ones found in the sewing stores or catalog.

I have been working on a new wall quilt project. I’ve included a glimpse of it. I don’t want to show too much of the design, because I plan to enter it into shows. Some shows exclude you from entering, if you have previously displayed the work on a blog or website. My project has piecing in the background, and machine applique on top. I hope to add lots of embellishment.

 

I had to tear out some of the applique recently after a false start (my sewing tension was off), and I used a new seam ripper I had purchased. It is from Havel’s and it is wonderful! It is very sharp, so you must be mindful when using it. I was amazed at how quickly and easily I was able to remove the applique stitches. I’m now less apprehensive about making a mistake, since it makes the ripping out much easier. Glad I discovered this tool!

So…keep your eyes open for new tool discoveries, and be open to new ways of using the tools you may already have. Have a fun Tool Hunting Safari!
Happy Creating,
Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Links for Resources:

Havel's Sewing, www.havelssewing.com
Blick Art Materials, www.DickBlick.com
From back of Stylus package: www.kempertools.com
From back of Susan Bates Weaving needle: www.coatsandclark.com

Pattern Sale!

Happy October!

It is starting to feel like the start of the Holiday Season - though some places have already begun advertising for Christmas sales. There is still time to make Holiday gifts, and if you don't finish them you can save them for next year. (I've done that before...)

There is a great sale going on this month on PatternSpot.com.  All seasonal epatterns are 20% off. You can save on all patterns listed under the Sewing/Holiday and Seasonal Patterns category , and also under Quilt Patterns/Holiday and Seasonal Quilts.

Find projects to decorate your home for the holidays, or to give as gifts. My Yo-Yos Cubed Pincushion & Ornaments pattern can be found under the Sewing/Holiday and Seasonal Patterns, so it is part of this sale! Use code HALLOWEEN14 to save 20% off when you check out.

A direct link to my pattern is http://patternspot.com/patterns/sewing-patterns/4705-yo-yos-cubed-pincushion-amp-3-ornaments.

Have fun creating and getting ready for your holiday celebrations,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

A Great Resource for Craft and Art Supplies

I'm sharing a Craft resource today www.Blitsy.com - it's a craft supply website I recently found out about. They have supplies for alot of different crafts, including paper crafts (scrapbooking, card making, etc.). Also, some sewing supplies, and art supplies - I love looking at the supplies they have posted, it is very visual! And they have great prices! I haven't ordered yet, but will try them out soon! They also have a nice blog (click on the link in the upper right hand corner of their web page).

Have fun shopping and creating,

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

Published My First Pattern on Patternspot.com (yeah!)

I'm writing to share some news - it is a first for me, I've self-published my first pattern design on Patternspot.com. (Yeah!)

I first learned about Patternspot.com from TheQuiltShow.com. I believe it was in one of their newsletters/blogs. I kept the information in mind, and finally was able to use it to publish my first designs. After the work of writing the instructions, it was very easy to post my pattern on their site. If you are interested in publishing your designs, it is a fun place to check out. There are also many nice designs on the site for purchasing, and some free ones to try out.

My pattern is for a Yo-Yos Cubed design I created several years ago, and have wanted to share for a while. It includes instructions for a pincushion design, and 3 ornament variations.

I've attached photos of two of the designs. Yo-Yos Cubed Pincushion and one of the Yo-Yos Cubed Ornaments made from stacked Dupioni silk yo-yos.

I had wanted to publish a book for awhile, but decided to self-publish the designs as patterns, instead. I like the immediacy of getting the patterns out, rather than spending tons of time submitting proposals to publishers. (Life is too short!) It still took several weeks to self-edit my instructions. I plan to have additional related designs in the future. First, however, I am looking forward to taking a bit of a break, and working on the in progress quilt project in my studio!

Has anyone else self-published their patterns before? What experiences have you had? I would love to hear from you, if you would like, please leave comments below.

The link to the design on Patternspot.com is http://patternspot.com/patterns/sewing-patterns/4705-yo-yos-cubed-pincushion-amp-3-ornaments, if you would like to take a look.

Take care and have fun creating!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Studio Tips and Guest Blogging

Today I am a guest blogger on the Bella Crafts Quarterly Blog.  I am sharing some studio tips and a work in progress. While there, check out the other creative posts!

Happy Creating!

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk

http://bellacraftsquarterly.com/bella-blog

When not Quilting….Knit!

Knitting is one of the activities I do when I’m not working on arts/crafts which I consider my “artwork”.  It is a form of relaxation when I’m not working on projects, and want to unwind at the end of the day, or meditate a bit.

It is also very useful for making gifts.

Recently I finished a blue baby blanket and washcloth for a new great nephew. My second time as a Great Aunt!  I used Shine Sport yarn from Knitpicks.com in Sky color. It is a 60% pima cotton, 40% modal yarn and is very soft and pleasant to knit. For the afghan, I used a free downloadable lace pattern from www.Knitpicks.com. They also have many free dishcloth/washcloth patterns there as well, and I used one as a start to my baby washcloth.  I’ve attached a photo of the completed projects.

Baby blanket and washcloth - knitted from
 free downloadable pattern(s) from www.knitpicks.com

After I completed the baby blanket and washcloth and sent them off to their new destination, I went back to knitting an afghan I am making using acrylic yarn. I found myself saddened that I wasn’t still knitting with the luxuriant feeling cotton/modal yarn! It was very soft, smooth and pleasant to work with.  The quality of yarn definitely enhances your knitting experience.

I haven’t purchased much new yarn, lately, as I’m determined to make use of my yarn and project stash, but when I do need yarn for a new project, www.Knitpicks.com is one of my favorite places to shop. They have reasonable prices and free shipping if you spend $50 or more. They are a great resource for knit, crochet, weaving, spinning, tatting and needle-felting tools, books, and fibers.  They have many free patterns to download, videos to watch, and designer patterns that you can purchase and download.  I like browsing their website, even when not purchasing, just to look at and be inspired by their many beautiful designs and fibers.  

Knit, create, and meditate!


Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk