Just returned from Quilt Market in Salt Lake City. One of the hot new items was the Pilot Frixion Gel Pens for marking quilts because you can iron away the marks. However, if you look closely, the advertising says that the marks turn clear when heated to over 140 degrees. "Turning clear" is not the same thing as "comes out of the fabric". The fine print also says that the marks reappear at temperatures below 14 degrees.
I consulted with an award winning machine quilter, and she had already tested the pens. She ironed them away, stuck the fabric in the fridge, and the marks came back. Re-ironed the marks away, stuck the fabric in the fridge, and the marks still came back. She also tried washing out the marks, but they still keep coming back. Now if you live in the heat of the desert, the marks are less likely to come back than if you live in Minnesota or even up here in Lake Tahoe where 14 degrees is not uncommon in the winter.
Keep in mind that these pens were not originally designed to use on fabric. They are great fun to use on paper. Something else to consider is what the marks may do to your quilt over time. Remember, we make our quilts to last a long time. So if the marks are really still there, just "turn clear", is that really what you want on your heirloom quilt?
I would love to hear what you think of this product..
Fabrics Unlimited 2089 W. Acoma Bl Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 One of Arizona's Premier Quilt Shops, offering quality fabrics and excellent service with a smile. We sell, service, and offer exceptional training for Handi Quilter Long Arm Machines as well as HQ Stitch Sewing Machines. We also offer fun and exciting quilt classes with local and international educators. Come play with us. We're a cut above!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
New Classes at Fabrics Unlimited
It has finally stopped snowing, so come up to see us in beautiful Lake Tahoe. We have a variety of new classes scheduled in May. Take a look!
- Beginning Quilting (6 weeks) Begins Tues, 5/10 from 9am-1pm
- Quick Start Beginning Quilting (1 day) Wed, 5/18 from 8am-4pm - lunch included
- Beginning Sewing I - Pillowcase Sat, 5/21 from 2pm-5pm (Ages 16+)
- Beginning Free Motion Quilting with Jill Schumacher Wed, 5/25 from 10am-4pm - lunch included
- Fat Quarters Anonymous 4th Sat Monthly beginning 5/28 from 9am-3pm
- Party with Patrick - 4th Wed Monthly 6pm-9pm
Call, come in, or sign up on line. 15% discount on class supplies purchased in the shop.
Also, AMGEN Tour starts Sunday, May 15 in Lake Tahoe for bike enthusiasts. If you are planning to come up here via Hwy 50 from the Sacramento area, be aware that Cal Trans is closing Hwy 50 for 2 weeks at Echo Summit (the really scary cliff area) on May 11 (yes, 4 days before the start of the tour!). Check out www.way2tahoe.com for updates and detour information.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Snow Day = Sew Day in Lake Tahoe
Woke up today to 2 feet of new snow on top of the 3 feet we got in the past few days. The snow from earlier this week was light, which made it easier to shovel. However, last night's snow is heavy and wet. Jerry made a path from the front door to our truck at home so I could get out there and clean off the truck. Of course, when you clean 2 feet of snow off of your vehicle, it all goes on the freshly shoveled driveway, so you get to shovel some more.
All 4 doors of the truck were frozen shut, so after some pushing, pulling, hitting, and kicking, Jerry was able to get the front 2 doors open, but the back 2 doors remained adamant about staying frozen shut. Not to worry, however, they did indeed come open while we were driving to the shop. We then pulled into the Safeway parking lot to close them. Then they didn't want to close. They were sneaky, though. Jerry seemingly slammed the doors shut, got back in the car, but the "door open" warning light was on. We turned around and saw that the doors had come open again. Again, Jerry got out and slammed the doors shut. This little game only went on for a couple of times, they Jerry showed them who was boss.
Back out on the road toward the shop, we were apparently driving too slow for an anxious snow-boarder behind us. Evidently we were cutting into his boarding time. So he sped up and passed us, only to catch his wheels on the center berm (in South Lake Tahoe the snow is plowed toward the center of the highway...makes it hard to make a left turn during snowstorms, but there's always 1 brave soul who tries to cut a path in the berm with their little Subaru or the like, only to get stuck until someone helps them dig out...but I digress..)and then he did 2-1/2 spins from the center of the highway over to the side, got his car aimed in the right direction and sped off. Fortunately, he didn't hit anyone or roll over. Probably thought he was on an "E-Ticket Ride" at Disneyland (ok, I'm showing my age now).
Above are a couple of pictures taken from the window of our upstairs classroom toward the lake. It's still cloudy and snowy so you can't really make out the lake. The bottom photo is taken from inside the truck toward the front of our house.
So if your weather is anything like ours, today is a great day to stay inside and sew. However, if you find yourself in need of supplies or company, come on down to see us. The parking area and driveway are plowed, the heat is on, and the coffee is hot.
Happy Sewing!
Sheri
All 4 doors of the truck were frozen shut, so after some pushing, pulling, hitting, and kicking, Jerry was able to get the front 2 doors open, but the back 2 doors remained adamant about staying frozen shut. Not to worry, however, they did indeed come open while we were driving to the shop. We then pulled into the Safeway parking lot to close them. Then they didn't want to close. They were sneaky, though. Jerry seemingly slammed the doors shut, got back in the car, but the "door open" warning light was on. We turned around and saw that the doors had come open again. Again, Jerry got out and slammed the doors shut. This little game only went on for a couple of times, they Jerry showed them who was boss.
Back out on the road toward the shop, we were apparently driving too slow for an anxious snow-boarder behind us. Evidently we were cutting into his boarding time. So he sped up and passed us, only to catch his wheels on the center berm (in South Lake Tahoe the snow is plowed toward the center of the highway...makes it hard to make a left turn during snowstorms, but there's always 1 brave soul who tries to cut a path in the berm with their little Subaru or the like, only to get stuck until someone helps them dig out...but I digress..)and then he did 2-1/2 spins from the center of the highway over to the side, got his car aimed in the right direction and sped off. Fortunately, he didn't hit anyone or roll over. Probably thought he was on an "E-Ticket Ride" at Disneyland (ok, I'm showing my age now).
Above are a couple of pictures taken from the window of our upstairs classroom toward the lake. It's still cloudy and snowy so you can't really make out the lake. The bottom photo is taken from inside the truck toward the front of our house.
So if your weather is anything like ours, today is a great day to stay inside and sew. However, if you find yourself in need of supplies or company, come on down to see us. The parking area and driveway are plowed, the heat is on, and the coffee is hot.
Happy Sewing!
Sheri
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Shop Hop Survey
We're in the planning stages of the Sierra 2 Sage Quilt Shop Hop coming up September 8-11, 2011 and want your opinion. We'd appreciate it if you would take a minute to answer the short survey below.
1. What type of shop hop project do you prefer?
a. Each participating shop makes a different quilt and sells fabric kits for it;
b. Each participating shop makes the same quilt design using different fabrics and sells fabric kits for it;
c. Each participating shop makes a sampler quilt with each shop in charge of a different block and a different finishing kit (ie, each shop uses all of the sampler blocks in their quilt but with unique layouts and DIFFERENT fabrics). Each shop would give away the pattern for their particular block and sell fabric kits for their entire quilt.
d. Each participating shop makes a sampler quilt with each shop in charge of a different block and different finishing kit as in "c" above, but all shops using the SAME fabrics. Each shop would give away the pattern for their particular block and sell fabric kits for their block and their finishing kit.
e. Project doesn't matter.
2. If you have attended our Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop in the past, what can we do to improve your experience? (We changed the weekend to help eliminate the traffic issues of 2010)
3. If you have attended ANY shop hops, what was your favorite and least favorite experiences?
We appreciate you taking the time to respond to this short survey. Please feel free to give us your comments, as your opinion is very important to us and will help to make the upcoming Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop experience the best ever!
You can respond to this blog or send us an email to info@fabricsunlimted.net. For more detail on dates and times of the 2011 Shop Hop, please visit the shop hop website at www.sierra2sageshophop.com. Thank you!!
1. What type of shop hop project do you prefer?
a. Each participating shop makes a different quilt and sells fabric kits for it;
b. Each participating shop makes the same quilt design using different fabrics and sells fabric kits for it;
c. Each participating shop makes a sampler quilt with each shop in charge of a different block and a different finishing kit (ie, each shop uses all of the sampler blocks in their quilt but with unique layouts and DIFFERENT fabrics). Each shop would give away the pattern for their particular block and sell fabric kits for their entire quilt.
d. Each participating shop makes a sampler quilt with each shop in charge of a different block and different finishing kit as in "c" above, but all shops using the SAME fabrics. Each shop would give away the pattern for their particular block and sell fabric kits for their block and their finishing kit.
e. Project doesn't matter.
2. If you have attended our Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop in the past, what can we do to improve your experience? (We changed the weekend to help eliminate the traffic issues of 2010)
3. If you have attended ANY shop hops, what was your favorite and least favorite experiences?
We appreciate you taking the time to respond to this short survey. Please feel free to give us your comments, as your opinion is very important to us and will help to make the upcoming Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop experience the best ever!
You can respond to this blog or send us an email to info@fabricsunlimted.net. For more detail on dates and times of the 2011 Shop Hop, please visit the shop hop website at www.sierra2sageshophop.com. Thank you!!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
**NEW** PARTY WITH PATRICK
Party with Patrick is a monthly quilting club featuring exclusive fusible applique patterns designed by Patrick Lose. Instore meetings are the 4th Wednesday monthly from 6pm-9pm. Online members will receive the party packet at the first of each month.
Your party packet includes:
1. A pattern for a project for the month with simple, easy-to-follow instructions to create things like place mats, door banners, table toppers, pillows, etc. Fabric kits will also be available for an additional charge.
2. At least two recipes for great snacks, light meals, and/or desserts.
3. A blank recipe card, designed by Patrick, that you can download and print as many times as you'd like for printing and sharing your own recipes.
4. An 8.5 x 11 piece of stationery, also designed by patrick in the theme of the month, for your personal use.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Patrick Lose Holiday Kits
We had so much fun making these Patrick Lose holiday projects. Fusible applique, so they are quick and easy! Kits are available for both projects. Click on the link to order http://fabricsunlimited.net/paloki.html
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
3rd Annual Sierra 2 Sage Shop Hop Results
We had a great Shop Hop, and would like to thank everyone who participated. The weather was great, too! Hoppers who came to Fabrics Unlimited enjoyed lots of shopping, great product demonstrations, doorprizes every 1/2 hour, and free hot dogs & water. Those who joined us on Saturday were also treated to a great performance by Mary, Queen of Scots, who showed off several of her handmade costumes and handed goodie bags to everyone as they left.
Save these dates for next year: September 8 -11, 2011. NOTE: This is a new weekend! You spoke...we listened. Many people commented on the traffic problem because of numerous other events in the region, so we have changed the dates for 2011 to coincide with Reno's Hot Air Balloon Races.
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