Subject:Express Yourself With Sulky
sulky thread
The email newsletter for Creative Machine Art Enthusiasts
 
Dear Sulky Friends,

Where did February go? Spring is almost here and I can't wait! I need some color in my garden. Only the daffodils are poking up so far, ever hopeful that winter is behind us here in Western North Carolina.

Don't forget, the first 2007 Sulky Teacher Certification Training will be offered this month in Marina Del Rey, CA. As I write this there are only a couple of spaces left, so sign up today. Isn't it time to do what you love? (More info about upcoming dates and places at the end of this newsletter.)

We just completed taping two more America Quilts Creatively PBS TV shows in Cleveland, OH. Following the taping, we had another fun opportunity over the weekend to quilt with friends at Abigayle's Quiltery in Olmsted Falls, OH. It's hard to imagine us "50 to 60-ish" woman giggling, eating chocolate and having so much fun. We are a spectacle! I can't help but wonder if we scare customers away from their shop with our antics. People are always poking their heads up the stairway to see what could possibly be that funny.

I just have to encourage all of you to form a Weekend Quilting Group. It is so much more fun when you laugh and do things together. That weekend there were a couple of us working on the same project, but the other three were finishing up UFO's, which is just so satisfying. We find we motivate each other to try new things, and finish old things.

We're getting ready to go to a national sewing machine company convention this weekend, which is always exciting. So many ideas, so much creativity all under one roof in Nashville, TN. Which reminds me... "Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can continue to operate well without!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. Fred, my husband of almost 31 years, is celebrating his 65th birthday that day. Hard to believe - my motorcycle-riding "Wild Hog" is 65! (If you haven't seen the movie "Wild Hogs", it's a riot!!)

    Until next month - Express Yourself!
Joyce Drexler Creative Director and
Co-Founder of Sulky of America
 

PBS TV SHOW UPDATE
AMERICA QUILTS CREATIVELY
Program #902
"Christmas Cats" Quilt with Joyce Drexler from Sulky.
Joyce and Sue Hausmann on the set of America Quilts Creatively. Sue and Patti Jo Larson having fun on the set.

Joyce Drexler shows a really simple and fun quilt from the book, Quick and Easy Weekend Quilting with Sulky. This is a perfect quilt for any theme fabric that you want to showcase in a quilt for those friends and family who have "special interests". This quilt goes together in no time. It is quilted with Sulky 30 wt. Multi-color Rayon Thread using decorative stitches and free-motion swirls. Sue Hausmann does a really terrific rotary cutter demonstration, and Joyce demos pressing secrets and chain-piecing, as well as how to use KK 2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive to effortlessly spray-baste your wallhanging before quilting.

Joyce also shows the Thimbleberries fabric version (which is made with a flannel cottage motif) and she accents the beautiful print using Sulky 30 wt. Cotton that makes the feature fabric really "pop". The checkerboard border makes a dramatic frame. Sue Hausmann mentioned, "I also love using Sulky 30 wt. Cotton thread to piece my quilts!"

Notice on Joyce's shirt, the cats jumping over the embroidered snowflakes, which are made from scraps from the quilt. Hmmm....that could be another show!

In the book, Quick and Easy Weekend Quilting with Sulky, there are also directions for making a matching fabric rag bowl and a cute button-flanged pillow and from the scraps.

Program #902
Creative Projects from Leftovers with Carol Ingram, Sulky Designer.
Carol and Sue showing off their
knitting bags on the set. 		Carol and Sue at work on the set.

Quilt leftovers, what a great concept, made into coordinating, fun projects. Boy, don't we all have too many of those scraps from past projects that we just can't throw away.

From the book, Quick and Easy Weekend Quilting with Sulky, Carol Ingram, Designer for Sulky of America, shows how to use your leftover project pieces for making additional matching projects. Don't limit yourself to just home-dec projects, wearables are quick and easy to make from scraps too! Nancy Bryant, co-owner of Abigayles Quiltery in Ohio, designed this project.

Carol featured Sulky Super Solvy Water Soluble Stabilizer, Sulky KK 2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive and Sulky 12 wt. Cotton Blendables to embellish Sue's shirt with just a quick cutout of the floral fabric, which was then stitched raw-edged onto the knit shirt.


Carol's main project is a tote bag made from the quilt scraps of the "Les Grande Fleurs" quilt, which featured the beautiful Lakehouse floral fabrics. The tote bag has 4 easy, large, inside pockets. Sue demonstrates how to apply fusible batting. Look at what else you will get: some wonderful decorative stitching ideas; repositioning appliqué pieces using KK 2000 and then free-motion stitching; and terrific tips for using Sulky Polyester Invisible Thread in the bobbin! Carol also shows placemats embellished with a free-motion floral design using the free pattern from the new book on the Sulky website, www.sulky.com

You'll also be inspired by the matching table-topper and tablerunner made from the scraps. What fun - and another present made for the next holiday, anniversary or birthday.

There are numerous versions of this quilt in the book, as well as other quilts using theme fabrics and borders.

One example is done with Joyce's Grand Flowers Embroidery Card #43021 by Great Notions, both as a filled version and also an artsy outline embroidered version that is then colored with Tsukineko Inks.

There is something for everone in this collage of projects.

Look - All new Curriculum for 2007!
The Ultimate Sulky® Learning Experience

Sulky of America, the premier decorative thread and stabilizer company, is offering an all new, dynamic three-day Teacher Training opportunity in select regional locations across the country. Don't miss your chance to be the first in your area to obtain these exclusive teaching tools.

Remember, these 9 locations will be your only chance to learn how to teach these dynamic, NEW classes. Don't wait. Sign up today.

Note: The first 2007 Certification class offered in Marina Del Rey, CA, is filling fast. If you've been considering signing up, don't wait!

Mar 28-30, 2007 Marina Del Rey, CA - Marina Del Rey Hotel and Marina - Linda Simmons
Apr 20-22, 2007Rochester, NY - Marriott Rochester Airport - Pat Rodgers
May 4-6, 2007Westlake, OH - Holiday Inn Cleveland West - Pat Rodgers
Jun 8-10, 2007 Portland, OR - Portland Airport Marriott - Linda Simmons
Jun 8-10, 2007Denver, CO - Red Lion Denver Central - Pat Welch
Sep 14-16, 2007Omaha, NE - Clarion Hotel Omaha West - Diane Gloystein
Sep 14-16, 2007Dallas, TX, - Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Market Center - Suzy Seed
Oct 19-21, 2007Kissimmee, FL - Clarion Hotel Maingate - Pat Welch
Nov 15-17, 2007Kennesaw (Atlanta), GA - Holiday Inn Express Kennesaw - Ellen Osten

Class sizes are limited. To reserve your place, call 1-800-874-4115, ext 161 today.

March FREE Project of the Month

Pieced Pet Vest


Loretta Durian in her "Pet Vest".

I'm always excited about the wonderful pet fabrics that are available each year, and I have been collecting them for more years than I care to admit. No doubt you have a collection as well, but really, any theme would work with this vest. There are two versions shown: one with computerized embroidery and one without, for those of you who do not yet have a computerized sewing machine. I think you'll find this a fun and inspiring project.

For complete directions go to www.sulky.com for a printable version.

From the Sulky Secrets to Successful Stabilizing Book by Joyce Drexler

This project is in memory of our beloved friends, Loretta Durian and her daughter Sharon Jordan.

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