The AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter is a lightweight, portable fabric cutter quilters can transport easily to classes, guild meetings, retreats and quilting bees. Its design was inspired by the ideas and suggestions of quilters throughout the world and features an easy-lift handle, comfortable roller handle grip, magnetic seal and a neutral, light-colored work surface. Fabric cutting dies for the AccuQuilt GO! are light and made exclusively to ft the portable GO!fabric cutter. Designed for time-saving accuracy, these dies ensure all cuts are quick and precise so your shapes piece together perfectly every time. A GO!

My friend, neighbor and co-worker Jan and I bought the AccuQuilt about a month ago. We have been experimenting with the different templates.  Jan just loves the 2 1/2″ Strip cutter for borders and binding. She continues to comment on how straight her borders are now.

I started with the cutting die that has three different shapes on it.  I designed a table runner using the 2 1/2″ Square ; 2″ Finished Half Square Triangle.  I love the exactness of this product.  Cutting half square triangles was never my strength and they would bob and weave all over my quilt.  But with the AccuQuilt, I did not have that problem.

I have only loaded 15 of the MANY dies that the AccuQuilt uses on the web tonight.  Look for the rest of them on the web in the next week or so.  If you are going to order some dies, and want other ones not listed, just include a note in the comments section of your checkout form and we will have it for you so you can save on postage. You can check out all the dies that Accuquilt offers at The AccuQuilt Website.

Before to long, we will be offering to cut your fabric with the new AccuQuilt and hope to be able to set up a rental option for you at the shop. I will be doing several demo’s at the shop on the AccuQuilt in April so check the class schedule and drop by the shop to test it out!

Happy Day!

Wendy

American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine is challenging quilters, crafters and sewers across the country to Make a Pillowcase, Make a Difference. Local quilting enthusiasts will join the cause to help reach the goal of making and donating one million pillowcases to benefit local charities. Every pillowcase can make a difference in our community. A pillowcase can provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident.

Heart To Hand, will be hosting events locally at 412 Beavercreek Road, Suite 607, Oregon City, OR 97045 (located in the Red Soils Business Park). We are also hosting opportunities on our web site.

Throughout 2010, quilters, crafters and sewers across the nation will make pillowcases at their local quilt shops. The shops will then collect the pillowcases and donate them to a local charity of their choice. A counter will track nationwide progress toward the goal of one million pillowcases.

As the owner of Heart To Hand I see the One Million Pillowcase Challenge as a way to give back to the local community. “We have worked locally with the Passages Quilt Program and Emanuel Children Hospital, Oregon Food Bank as well as making over 50 quilts that were auctioned off for Breast Cancer awareness. I am glad to be able to help our customers serve the community in yet another way.

We will be hosting pillowcase events locally and on-line. How you can participate:
1. Donate 100% Cotton Fabric in 1 yard increments to the shop to be made into pillowcases.
2. Make pillowcases at home and get them to the shop.
3. Join the Pillowcase Parties! in January and February (Click link to see dates and times)
4. Order Pillowcase kits with the pattern from Heart To Hand. These are sale priced at $6.99. Make your pillowcase and return them to the shop to help us reach our goal!

FREE PATTERNS:
Need some pattern idea for getting started. Check out this link for four free Pillowcase Patterns

For more questions call 503-230-9075, visit the store or the website at: www.hearttohandonline.com.
Happy Day!
Wendy

I received a great note from Sharon tonight.  She posed some good questions so I thought I would post it on the blog, because I am sure many of you have similar questions.

NOTE FROM SHARON:

As 2009 rapidly comes to a close it is time to start choosing projects for the New Year.  We just concluded voting for the Thimbleberries 2010 and the color Midnight won.  You can sign up for Thimbleberries now on our web site.

Our McKenna Ryan club is just finishing Once Upon A Star and I would like to invite you all to vote on which of the following four quilts you would like to see us work on for next year.  Take a look at the quilts and then vote below in the “Leave A Reply” Section.

Quilt One: Back on the Farm

Quilt Two: Storybook Farm

Quilt Three: Journey To The Light

Quilt Four: When Friends Gather

Please cast your vote by October 2, 2009

Happy Day!

Wendy

It is voting time again, no not for politics, but rather for what color you would like to see us offer for Thimbleberries 2010.

This year the quilt is called Village Green, the quilt finishes at 72″ x 82″ and comes in three color options.  Each is created to reflect the stages of light: Dawn, Dusk, and Midnight.  You will see houses, trees, stars and flowers.

In addition to the monthly block patterns, Lynette designs extra club projects exclusively for Thimbleberries Quilt Club members, and communicates with you monthly through her Quilt Club newsletter. Before we commit to this major investment of time and fabric, we need to know from you if you might interested and what color way you like best.  We will take voting through September 22nd.

Cost: Depending on the number of participants the price will run $320 - $280. 

This includes: Membership fee, All 12 patterns, All fabrics for top. borders and binding, plus 108″ wide Thimbleberries backing fabric.  Pricing will be spread out over three installments.  You will be charged $25 up front to hold your place in the club.  This is non-refundable but will be credited towards the price of your first fabric kit.  Monthly project patterns and bonus instructions for the Throw Quilt and the Queen Quilt options. Actual shipping fees do apply. This program will start shipping Jan 15, 2010.

Village Green: Dawn

Village Green: Dusk

Village Green: Midnight

Cast your vote now! Send me an email to: Wendy@hearttohandonline.com

Sure, it is still September, but now is the time to get your Fall and Halloween decorations sewn up for next month.  Here are a couple of options for you!

A great show and tell from Drusilla Fox.  She is a member of our All Through the Year Small Quilts Club.  She sent me some wonderful pictures and I just had to share this one with you!  

Drusilla writes: “Thank you- I added an extra pumpkin as I needed a bigger piece of fabric. I used a fusion from Robert Kaufman. My batting was a  cotton low loft from Mountain mist. I can’t wait for the October kit!!”  You sure did a wonderful job Drusilla.

Here is another wonderful pattern or kit.  Spidey, he’s a quilt as you go table topper or wall hanging designed by Silk Road Creations.  He is VERY easy and you can finish him in just a couple of hours!

Blue Ribbon Days are here! The Oregon State Fair opened in Salem last week and runs through September 7^th.  There were some beautiful quilts shown at the Quilt Gallery and I thought I would share some pictures Dean took.  Thanks so much to Jan and Dean for heading to the fair and reporting back! Keep in mind that the quilts at the fair are sometime hung up high so it makes it difficult to take photos.

Happy Day!

Wendy

Be an Angel Day encourages us to do acts of kindness, and to help others. While it really is one day, August 22, 2009, I decided that it should be a week long, if not a year long event.  It is a perfect day to do something for someone who does not even expect your intervention.

According to Earth Angel for Peace: “Be an angel dayis a non-profit, non-denominational event celebrated annually on AUGUST 22. This is a day on which people around the world are encouraged to be like the angels - God’s selfless servants - and ‘do one small act of service for someone; be a blessing in someones life.’ The 1st Annual BE AN ANGEL DAY was celebrated August 22, 1993.

As Quilters we often do a variety of things for others.  I am repeatedly touched by the true kindness and offerings by my customers.  Special handmade cards, patterns picked for me, offerings to be retail staff to assist when we get overwhelmed.  They offer goodies from their garden, from their stash and mostly from their heart.  I am forever grateful for each and every one of our wonderful customers.

Enjoy the week!

Wendy

Have you heard about this grass roots idea?  Spend $20 on the 20th and save the economy?  Well, I had not heard about it either, until I received an email today and thought I would pass the information on to you.  Here is the idea.  We all have cut down on our spending, buying only the things we really need.  The more we do not spend, the worse the economy gets.  So lets make a plan to turn around the economy by choosing to spend an EXTRA $20 on ourselves on the 20th.  That is today.

You can read more about this interesting concept at Spend Twenty Dollars.

If you are looking for options, Heart to Hand has some wonderful projects and patterns that you can spend your twenty on!  Consider:

Just Another Button Company: Oh Holy Night Kit

Heart To Hand: All Through the Year Club

Ornament Table Runner Kit

Plus there are lots more.  So go treat yourself and do your part to boost the economy!

Happy Day!

Wendy