In an effort to be a more “green quilter”, I have been researching different organic fabrics, battings, and threads. Today I got a call from a rep at Gutermann thread. He said that no one makes an organic thread and he wished they did.
The problem, he said, is that while you can grow and spin orgainc cotton into thread, you cannot lubricate the thread organically. The lubrication process used in thread manufacture does not conform to the green standards, thus negating any organic properties of the thread. If you make a thread without the lubrication process, it will not stand up to the demands of a sewing machine. The thread will constantly break despite tension adjustments and needle size.
So until a new organic process is developed to lubricate thread, anything you buy listed as 100% organic will likely have some fine print saying “exclusive of thread”.
Read more on this in my post Orgainic Sewing Thread, Continued.
For those of you who have read my posts in the past, you know all about the baby quilt or wall hanging I am working on – Turtle Tracks. It was finished about 3 weeks ago but due to a massive fall/November craft show schedule, never made it to the website for sale.
Well, here it is!
There are only 4 of this quilt. One is in the Art on Main gallery in Bristol, Vermont, so I only have 3 on hand right now. Each one is totally unique since the multi-colored strips are each randomly pieced and the quilting on each one is unique. On all of my quilts, I use only free-motion quilting. For those who are wondering what free-motion quilting is – you know how you can doodle on a pad of paper with a pencil? I do the same thing with my sewing machine. There is no set pattern, magic button, or pre-programmed stitch that I use. It is just me and the quilt and what I “doodle”. It’s fun!
So check out Turtle Tracks. I love it and really like the design to it. This style is very different from anything else I have done and it was a ton of fun exploring. Enjoy!
When the toys we are giving to our children turn into Trojan horses full of toxic chemicals and lead paint, it is time for change! When your toothpaste makes you sick, it is time for change! When your apple juice makes you sick, it is time for change!
Yet change isn’t happening.
People in this country and around the world are slowly waking up to the realization that dependence upon foreign made goods has serious consequences. You hear on the news about people opting to buy local and American made goods for the holidays, but they are standing outside Toys R Us and Wal-Mart and the local mall.
You aren’t going to find American made or local products there.
If you truly want to buy American, support your local craftspeople. They are the epitome of the true American made product. As a crafts-person, I know exactly what goes into each and every one of my quilts – from the kind of thread to the detergent I pre-wash it in. The reason I know this is because I personally made it. My customers have the assurance of knowing what I make is truly American made and safe.
Ask a potter what glaze they use, ask a wood carver what finish they used, ask a weaver what dyes they use and they will be happy to tell you (often in great detail) every little thing that was needed to make their craft. Ask them if it is safe for babies and children and they can definitively tell you “yes” or “no”.
So support your local craftspeople this holiday season. You will find that many of our products are very reasonably priced for beautiful, one-of-a-kind gifts. Little Timmy won’t have a million plastic parts missing an hour after the box is opened and Susie will not have a tea set she can’t drink out of, too. Make your holidays special and buy local first.
WOW! I was so pleasantly surprised by my local craft fair this week-end at the Barre Auditorium. I tend to do better at more high-end fairs and shows, so I was not expecting great results at my local craft fair. I was mainly looking to meet old friends, network, and advertise my custom quilt work.
Boy was I wrong!
Not only did I get to do all of that, but I had a profitable week-end, too! I think everyone was really in the holiday mood and looking for unique gifts. Ones not made in China!! There is so much talent in Vermont I cannot believe that people do not come to more fairs and shows. So many unique gifts that are supporting local artists and craftspeople. Gifts that you do not need to worry about getting duplicates of (ask me about the Thomas Trains one year).
My neighbors to either side of me were so supportive, Debbi and Adam of Woodzels by Wetzels and Donna Ellery. Being a “newbie” to the craft fair circuit, they really took me under their wings and had so much advice to share. They recommended shows, suggested new product ideas, we had brainstorming sessions, and gave me TONS of tips for cutting some of those expenses for out-of-town shows. I have returned from this show renewed, and full of wonderful new ideas which I hope you will start to see in the coming months!
Well, here it is. My last craft fair for the year (I think!). Today I get to set up and then, come Sunday, its all done. The really great thing is that the craft fair is here in Barre, about 5 minutes tops from my home. Because it is so convenient, I figured I would be crazy not to do it.
My biggest challenge with this fair is the booth size. Anyone who has seen my booth from past shows knows that my booth looks pretty cool. But it is a 10′x10′ booth and the space for this show is 8′x6′. That is barely enough room for my display racks! I wish they were a different size so I could use my backdrop and lights. Lighting makes such a difference in a booth. Really helps to set the mood and make it look great.
Because of this, I will not be able to set out my table and I’ll need to come up with a creative way to lay out my brochures and business cards. I think I will try to go to the store and get a rolling 3 drawer cart that might work – or “borrow” one from the kids! That way I can store my $ and lay out the info on the top. We’ll see!
The Hand Crafters Show was a huge success!!! I am so thrilled. I got to meet a lot of amazing artists who I will list out here in a minute, and had a blast. It was exhausting but well worth it.
The event was held at the Sheraton in South Burlington and while the venue was nice, the hotel was merely OK. When I got there, my room reeked of the pool chemicals since housekeeping had left my 1 window open that looks out on the indoor pool. Hence the smell. The toilet paper holder fell off the wall the first time I used the bathroom and, when either maintenance came to fix it or housekeeping left, they did not close my door!! Thankfully it looked like no one took anything, but it was stressful.
But I was able to meet with my customers and hear all of their positive feedback about my booth and the quilts. Everyone enjoyed the colors of my quilts and my non-traditional approach to baby and wall quilts. Some dear friends stopped by, Pam and her daughter Gracie (Miss Grace), and I had a really special time with them. I will be making a new unique design full size quilt for Miss Grace and one for her brother Mathew. They both received squares upon their adoption as part of the Chinese tradition of the Bai Jia Bei or 100 Good Wishes Quilt.
As for all of the goodies I saw, here is a list of some of my highlights of the show!
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- Marsya Ancker – màrs◦ya – Fine Jewelry – Integrating Yoga, Art & Life Beautiful jewelry with a unique set of energetic properties. Handcrafted in sterling silver and 14k gold-filled. www.marsya.com
- Lynne Berard – Creative Haven StudioBold and colorful watercolors. 458 Berard Lane – Barton, VT 05822 (802) 525-4546
- Jan Brosky – Knit to be TiedUnique, whimsical hand knit scarves and trendy ties and scarflets designed to bring out your fun, whimsical, or bold side. Duck Point Road – Highgate Springs, VT 05468 (802) 868-5666
- Elissa Campbell – Blue Roof Designs Hand made journals and photo albums featuring paper from around the world. Custom work includes invitations, announcements, and guest books. www.blueroofdesigns.com
- Randy Cysyk – Whisper Hill Soaps A complete line of handmade natural bath & body products: soaps, Bath salts, lotions and scrubs made with fresh, gentle ingredients. www.whisperhillsoaps.com
- Folk Floors Floor cloths are canvas rugs that have been hand-painted and then protected with urethane to make them durable and washable. www.folkfloors.com
- Woody Jackson – Holy Cow, Inc. (designed the Ben & Jerry logo)Watercolors and oils of Vermont landscapes, cows and dogs on t-shirts, light switch covers and note cards. www.woodyjacksoncows.com
- Mindy Jackson-Jefferys – Stray Cat Jewelry Unique and colorful polymer clay jewelry – inspired by the natural beauty of leaves, butterfly wings, wood, leather, stone and animal skin patterns. www.straycat.biz
- Joan MacKenzie – Pika WorksSmile making, colorful, bright paintings of wild and whimsical animals from the pint-sized pika to the one-ton moose. Photography of favorite moose and pikas www.pikaworks.com
- Alexis St. Croix – Novation GlassContemporary fused dichroic glass jewelry in a variety of styles. Unique gifts to accent the home such as colorful coasters, whimsical wind chimes, & gorgeous glass bowls. www.NovationGlass.com
- Jeff Schneiderman Photography Limited edition fine art photography of nature, landscapes, and abstracts in framed and unframed prints. www.jeffschneiderman.com
- Shawna Sherwin – Vermont Honey Lights Hand-molded and poured 100% beeswax candles that exemplify superior quality while offering a selection that is fashionable, functional, and fabulous. www.vermonthoneylights.com
- Ian Smith – Vermont Rock Candles A Vermont Rock Candle is an oil lamp made from Vermont quarried stone. The fire seems to emerge right out of the stone. www.vermontrockcandles.com
- Laura Zambarano – Laura Z Fun, funky, fashionable bags and accessories for women. www.laurazonline.com
There it is! I hope that you will take the time to see what all of these great artists have to offer. I know you will love their work as much as I did. Lets just say my holiday shopping list is now a lot shorter!
Today was spent setting up for the Vermont Hand Crafters’ Holiday Fine Art and Craft Show up in Burlington. My husband, Jeff, and I went up early to help mark out the floors for all of the booths. This allowed up to set up about 2 hours early which was really cool – we were done by 12:45 when set up for everyone else started at 1:00!
I am really anxious about this show as it is my first MAJOR craft show – playing with the big boys now! The Mad River Valley Craft Fair this Labor Day week-end would be the closest event in scope to the Hand Crafters that I have participated in.
With all of my nervous energy I have been sewing up a storm! I quilted a Dresden Plate twin size of my Sunshine and Flowers quilt and finished up the binding tonight. 24 of my new toddler blankets got quilted this week-end and only 6 of them still need binding. By my best estimate, I have gone through over 5,000 yards of thread in the past week alone! 5,000!!
A lot of people ask me how I do free-motion quilting, and the key for me is “relax”. I find that music can really affect my mood and my productivity levels depending upon what disc I choose.
If I am under a deadline (like now), some upbeat rock like Cyndi Lauper, Peter Gabriel, or Melissa Etheridge goes over really well. I especially like the new Annie Lennox. A little Celtic music can be fun, too. It keeps me hopping and my mood elevated. If I am taking things slow, doing delicate work, I might choose some Laureena McKennitt or maybe Andreas Vollenweider.
There is a new 70s rock station in our area that my husband really likes to listen to (especially since the other rock station is playing Christmas music already!!!). I can only take small doses of that. Then the guitar solos start to get to me and I get all tense and cranky.
So I guess the key is to find what works for you and helps keep you focused. If you are having a hard time, try changing your music. It may put you in a better frame of mind!
Between yesterday and today, I have made a total of 15 of my toddler blankets! All of the quilting is done and now I just need to put the binding on them. I am really pleased with the quality of these new blankets – I think parents will love them!
I have plans to make a total of 24 of these toddler sized blankets (40″x50″). Then I will start up on baby quilted blankets. I don’t know how many of them I will be able to get done by Thursday, but we shall see. Hopefully enough!
All summer I have been racking my brain as to what I can sell to my customers in a lower price point than my handmade quilts which average about $225. Finally I came up with these about 1 month ago. So by the time I finally got in the fabric to make them, I only had a few short days left! I hope my kids like take out.
Less than a week until the Vermont Hand Crafters show and I am so stressed. I am trying very hard to get more quilted baby blankets, toddler blankets and nursing blankets ready for this. The expected attendance is between 10,000 and 14,000 people!!! Eeek! and double eeek!
I have quilted 4 of the toddler blankets today – Minkee fleece and a coordinating print with a layer of batting. Very cute and snuggly. I hope the parents like them. The only bad thing is that I came up with these about 1 month ago so I do not have very many made. About 2 weeks of that month was taken up with ordering and shipping the fleece to me. So I will try to get as many done as I can and hope that it is enough.
