Craftside

Streak o' Lightning Quilt Block in Red, White, and Blue from the book: The Quilter's Palette

Happy 4th of July! In honor of this auspicious holiday, I thought I'd share this Streak o' Lightning quilt block made in red, white and blue fabric from the new book, The Quilter's Palette: A Workbook of Color & Pattern, Ideas & Effects. 

This block showcases the complimentary colors and the tonal difference that the solid cream brings. If you want a less dramatic effect, substitute the solids for the patterned fabrics and the "zigzag" nature of the block will be a little less loud.

 

Psst! You can get this book for 35% off in honor of Independence Day if you use the code STARS14 on QBookshop.com! Offer good until July 13, 2014.

 

 

The Quilter's Palette: A Workbook of Color & Pattern, Ideas & Effects

by Katy Denny

It is an everyday challenge for crafters of all types to make choices about color, pattern and texture for their projects. 

The range of options makes this challenge nearly impossible and often the end result can be disappointing. Fear not! 

The Quilter's Palette offers readers more than 400 color swatches and a library of 60 different color palette combinations to help guidequilters in their choices for each project. 

The Quilter's Palette is a comprehensive guide to the myriad color and texture choices available and offers inspiration and instructions for getting the final results you want with each project. Each chapter tackles a new technique, along with palettes and swatches. 

Each palette illustrates variations on effects, patterns, and designs. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate quilter, this instructive guide helps you choose successful fabric combinations and define your unique project style. The Quilter's Palette is perfect for exploring color and texture combinations in a visually appealing and instantly understandable way. 

Each palette offers a specific theme that allows you to see what the result will be before jumping in. With over 150 fabric combinations arranged in 52 palettes and divided into easy-to-understand chapters, each revealing a different aspect of color or pattern, this book will provide you with eight full quilt designs with illustrated step-by-step instructions and 50 quilt block patterns with templates.

Katy Denny is an experiences craft editor and writer. She has been quilting and sewing since she was a teenager. Her work has appeared in bookazine Love Patchwork. She lives in the south of London.

How to Draw Banners and Pennants with a Patriotic Quote

Today, I have a peek into a page from the new book by Rachael Taylor, 20 Ways to Draw a Doodle and 44 Other Zigzags, Hearts, Spirals, and Teardrops: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers.  It has 20 marvelous ways to draw pennants and banners and I'm sharing it with you, along with a quote that I embellished using the page of banners as my guide.

The quote is, "Energy and persistence conquer all things." - Benjamin Franklin

My goal when I write my quotes, is to really play with the letterforms and experiment. I'm not really going for perfection more like doodling with my letters.

To embellish the doodle quote, I grabbed my red, blue, and black BIC markers, and quite simply drew some of the banners and pennants on the page. Again, not trying to think very hard, simply enjoying the experiment.

These 20 ways books are the best cure for "doodle-block."

What are you going to create using this exclusive page of 20 ways to draw banners and pennants? Create some art and post it using the hashtage #20waysdoodle. Rachael Taylor and I are waiting to see and share!

More about the Quarry book:

20 Ways to Draw a Doodle and 44 Other Zigzags, Hearts, Spirals, and Teardrops
A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers, and Doodlers

by Rachael Taylor

Swirls, spirals, and symbols come alive with 20 Ways to Draw a Doodle. Beautifully illustrated, this inspirational sketchbook lets you draw outside the trapezoid and create beautiful designs and patterns.

Explore playful polygons, zany zigzags, tweaked twizzles and twirls! Let your pencil roam freely across the page and create your own designs! 20 Ways to Draw a Doodle is perfect for illustrators, cartoonists, doodlers, and anyone who loves to sketch.

This is not a step-by-step technique book--rather, the abstract shapes, lines, and patterns in this volume are simplified, modernized and reduced to the most basic elements, offering simple forms that meld together to create the building blocks of any item (man-made or organic) that you want to draw.

This all-in-one sketchbook let's you draw right on the pages making it easy to keep all of your most inspired creations at hand. Whether it's for a project or just to pass the time and relax, learn how to doodle and create cool patterns and designs. 20 Ways to Draw a Doodle is the perfect muse for any level of doodler. Best of all, you can use your doodles as a starting point for bigger projects like wallpaper, stationery, cards, wrapping paper, and more!

Rachael Taylor is a fun & energetic surface pattern designer & illustrator that creates 'patterns to make you happy'! All of her products are unique creations. Her aim is to help you fill your life with fabulous colour, patterns & designs that will put a great big smile on your face!

4th of July Firework Decoration and More News to "Spark" Your Creativity

I made 13- 4th of July Washi tape decorations a while back, but this giant recycled Voss water bottle didn't get wrapped with washi tape and topped with a bouquets of sparkly pipe cleaners to make a 4th of July firework decoration... until now.

This project was so fun and simple you could whip up a bunch in minutes for virtually no money. I was inspired by this page in Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun! where Courtney Cerruti uses a wine bottle decorated with Washi tape.

I simply made stripes with red, white and blue washi tape covering the whole bottle and cap.

Then I wrapped a bunch of sparkly pipe cleaners at one end with another pipe cleaner to secure them together.

I attached them to lid with a bit of hot glue.

To make the flag, I used Duck Brand Glitter Tape.

I folded a strip of it half around one end of a pipe cleaner and cut out a triangle.

NOTE: Can I say how great it is to cut sticky stuff with the new Fiskars Duck Edition scissors? I have been making a lot of stuff with Duck Tape since it's now available in such amazing prints, and now that I am a Washi tape junkie having some good non-stick scissors will be even more useful.

The last detail was to write "Bang!" on the Blue Glitter Duck Tape flag.

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And now onto some more tutorials, recipes and more:

Body Mind Beauty Health

Free Peace Mandela to download and color yourself

Quarry SPOON

Recipe for raw chocolate-carrot cake

Whole Home News

How to build yoru own herb-drying rack

Rock Paper Ink

10 rules of color: Know that people see color differently

Walter Foster

Washi tape birthday cards

QGeekBooks

Recipe for a Gin Rickey

More about the new Quarry book:

Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun!

by Courtney Cerruti

Perfect to use for parties. See how to create invitations, gift wrap, and goodie bags. Holidays have never been more colorful with ideas for ornaments, window adornments, and even garland.

Decorations for your home and office are easy and inexpensive when you use washi tape. Wall décor, borders and lampshades can become unique works of art and give your home a personal touch.

You can even use washi tape in fashion. Dress up your glasses, shoes and jewelry using these simple ideas and designs. And because it’s safe to use on delicate items, washi tape is great for personalized gifts like vases and photo albums.

Washi Tape by Courtney Cerruti offers 101 amazing ideas that will make this new craft tape your new favorite thing. It’s safe to use almost anywhere and great fun for children!

 

 

13 Washi Tape Crafts for 4th of July

Along with 13 ideas for decorating with washi tape for the 4th of July, you can get yourself in the running for a copy of Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun! and 8 rolls of Duck Brand Washi Tape!

I was so inspired by the 101 projects in Washi Tape. Maybe I went a little far? Nahhh.

If you are into washi tape as much as I am, enter here by May 17th, 2014 and then pop on over to Craft Gossip Recycling for a second chance to win a second book and tape set and see how to decorate shoes with leopard washi tape wings and how to make a tile bracelet. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are some detailed shots of the 13 different 4th of July projects.

I combined the 2 tapes to make a big 4 on a large pillar candle. This one happens to be a faux candle.

I thought the red heart washi tape and the blue striped washi tape would be perfect to use to decorate for 4th of July.

I added stripes onto a lampshade and covered the lamp base.

I made striped flags on each of an Ikea star lamp which I also added a stripe of red heart washi tape on each star.

Another easy decoration to make is a mobile with an embroidery hoop and Ikea stars (but you could cut some out of cardstock) that I decorated with the washi tape.

This one is pure silliness. I spotted the red solo cup crystal stemware out on Pinterest, and thought it would be silly to also make one with the tiny red solo cup shot glass size, and then of course, decorate the recycled candle sticks that you use to make the "stemware" part.

I wrapped the ends of chop sticks for a tiny touch of color.

Glasses, Fiestaware, cake plates, electric votives and matchbooks and matchboxes are perfect to dress up with touches of washi tape.

The white votive surround was made with a recycled creamer bottle.

It also happens to fit on my wrist so I can wear it as a bracelet! I very carefully cut the top and bottom off.

More about the Quarry book:

Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun!

by Courtney Cerruti

If you have never heard of washi tape, get ready to enter a bright new world of paper crafts! Originating in Japan, washi paper is stronger than wood-pulp paper making it perfect for use in projects like origami and scrapbooking. The tape is low tack and slightly transparent, in a mix of adorable colors and patterns, and a brilliant way to make all of your crafts even better. Perfect to use for parties. See how to create invitations, gift wrap, and goodie bags. Holidays have never been more colorful with ideas for ornaments, window adornments, and even garland.

 

Decorations for your home and office are easy and inexpensive when you use washi tape. Wall décor, borders and lampshades can become unique works of art and give your home a personal touch. You can even use washi tape in fashion. Dress up your glasses, shoes and jewelry using these simple ideas and designs. And because it's safe to use on delicate items, washi tape is great for personalized gifts like vases and photo albums. Washi Tape by Courtney Cerruti offers 101 amazing ideas that will make this new craft tape your new favorite thing. It's safe to use almost anywhere and great fun for children!

Maker extraordinaire, Courtney Cerruti (ccerruti.com) teaches at the San Francisco Center for the Book, and online at Creativebug.com. She studied painting at UC Santa Cruz and the University of Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France where she had her first exhibition and hosted many book making parties. In addition to teaching, Courtney is a freelance artist and avid instagrammer and pinner (on pineterest). In a previous life she did windows and display at Anthropologie as well as teaching and working at Paper Source. She makes something everyday and works mostly doing windows, wedding installations and set design. She is the author of Washi Tape and Playing with Image Transfers.

http://www.ccerruti.com

Red, White, and Blue stars and stripes quilt block pattern by Nancy Wick, author of The Quilt Block Book

With Veterans Day on Monday, I thought it would be nice to share a Red, White, and Blue quilt block pattern by Nancy Wise author of The Quilt Block Book: Fresh, Versatile Designs for Quilts, Clothes, Accessories, and Decor. Nancy designed this block with The Quilts of Valor organization in mind.

 

Click here to 

Download

the block patterns and piecing instructions.

This is an idea on the blocks could be assembled:

Thanks go out to Nancy for sharing, as well as congrats! Nancy had a great time in the Brewer booth who hosted her book signing at Quilt Market.

More about the CPi quilting book:

The Quilt Block Book: Fresh, Versatile Designs for Quilts, Clothes, Accessories, and Decor

by Nancy Wick

Packed with photographs and diagrams for 75 quilt blocks, The Quilt Block Book teaches you three basic block construction methods to get you started in the world of quilt blocks. The blocks are divided into three sections by technique: quick piecing, foundation (paper) piecing, and appliqué blocks. Each section includes basic technique instruction, followed by 25 blocks. Follow the step-by-step instructions to quickly learn the order of construction and directions for pressing seam allowances, while color diagrams of the blocks show them used in multiples so you can plan out your full quilt as you go along.

 

The perfect mix of original designs and modern interpretations of traditional patterns, this book offers something for both the beginner and experienced quilter. Each block can be interpreted in endless fabric combinations, so you’ll gain a wealth of inspiration. Whether you choose to use the blocks for full quilts, small décor pieces, or even fashion accents is completely up to you.

 

Links to online patterns make it easy for you to print out patterns for the blocks in the size you want. Paper-pieced blocks can be printed out on paper to go straight from printer to sewing machine; no tracing necessary.

 

The author's unique approach to foundation piecing provides the full patterns plus the option of individual rough-cut templates for each segment that prevent inadequate coverage. Patterns for quick-pieced and appliqué blocks include seam allowances, so you can forget about having to draw templates and add seam allowances.

 

Nancy Wick has been quilting for more than twenty years and shares her love of textiles and quilting by teaching machine embroidery and quilting classes. Using her longarm quilting machine, she has also turned her art into a profession and finishes her clients' quilts with beautiful freeform quilting. Driven to create, she cannot imagine a day where fabric, thread, and surface design does not feed her soul.

 

Although her roots are in traditional quilt making, she has branched out to contemporary quilt making over the years. As a former IT professional, she now explores ways to use her fancy, computerized sewing machines in innovative ways. In 2011, her quilt “Heather Feather” won a Viewer’s Choice award at the Minnesota Quilter’s Annual Quilt Show. More recently, her work has appeared in the 2013 edition of theFiber Art Almanac and quilting magazines, such as the Autumn 2012 edition of McCall’s America Quilts Together. Nancy's professional affiliations include IAPQ (International Association of Professional Quilters), IMQA (International Machine Quilters Association), and SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates).

 

www.textiletreasures.co

www.imapiecemaker.com

   

Kindle MatchBook makes it easy (and affordable) to have both the print and Kindle edition of the Quayside Publishing Group books you love. Purchase the print edition from Amazon and you can get the Kindle edition for only $2.99!  Here's the best part: It's good for past, present and future print-edition purchases! Look for Kindle MatchBook on book detail pages for qualifying titles. Or search for your favorite titles here:http://amzn.to/1gXUx7W