You Lucky Dog

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Penny Haren

“You Lucky Dog” is the latest Block of the Month by Bonnie Sullivan that features her top quality Woolie Flannels.

The individual blocks are simply darling and each could be stand alone projects. And once again, there is a thread set to match!

There are eleven blocks in the series – which leaves the twelfth month to put it all together. The demand for these patterns is so great that we can not keep them in stock – Bonnie can not print them fast enough! Who says you have to start with #1? Blocks five through eleven are in stock now, so why not buck the trend and reverse the order?

Want to get your sample done quickly? The entire quilt with pre-cut appliques is due to ship next month!

Be Inspired to Try Collage!

Posted on May 27, 2017 by Penny Haren

When twenty patterns using the same technique are in the top 100, you better take notice! Many shops are paying their rent with these patterns and classes by Laura Heine. What about you???? If you are a little nervous, start out by reading her book on choosing fabrics. But remember – everyone who takes a class will want a copy as well….

Then choose your favorite art piece:

Be sure to have plenty of thread on hand!

Aurifil Most Popular Threads

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Penny Haren

I just looked on our website, and these are the most popular colors of Aurifil threads. In this case ten pictures are worth a thousand words….

a1050-2000 a1050-2021 a1050-2024 a1050-2026 a1050-2310 a1050-2311

a1050-2600 a1050-2605 a1050-2615

a1050-2692

The names of these colors? White, dove, natural white, light beige, black, light sand, grey, aluminum, muslin, and chalk. Frankly it is hard to tell which is which! Unless they are doing top stitching on bags or binding a quilt on the machine, the majority of quilters are using white, grey, beige, and black most of the time! That means if you are a small shop – and can’t invest in a large thread rack, having a basket of these basic colors at the register will meet your customers needs until you can invest in a multitude of colors!

And, for those of you who DO have big thread racks, why not have a basket full of the top sellers at the register anyway. Some call this an impulse buy, I call it a visual reminder that they may need thread!

Aurifil Introduces a New Cotton Thread

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Penny Haren

This eighty weight Cotton Thread by Aurifil was the talk of Market! For those who have gotten to try it, the response has been a resounding yes! No, I was not one of those people but I can’t wait to get my hot little hands on it when it arrives in January.

What is all of the fuss about? It is thin, so it is the perfect choice for applique and English paper-piecing. The stitches simply disappear!

And it is strong enough to use when machine quilting. I am currently working on a series of miniature quilts – and this will be the perfect choice. After all, we know there is a thickness to thread and traditional threads don’t translate well when working with tiny designs. But it works well when quilting traditional quilts as well.

But, first and forermost, it is the perfect choice for machine piecing – which is the most common use for any thread. So this is not a specialty thread. It is touted to become your go to thread of choice for ALL of your needs. With that in m ind, it comes in a wide variety of colors. And who can resist the return of WOODEN spools?

Meet the New Stiff Stuff Craft Patterns!

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Cindy Abdoo

written by Joan Hawley

Lazies, Join me for a whole new type of stitchy fun with my four new patterns and pre-cut squares of Stiff Stuff! Think of this as fabric construction paper. We are going to fuse a little, cut a little, stitch a little and done! Meet the new Stiff Stuff Crafts. All four of these designs use the same recipe, working with 10? squares, to create a ‘sandwich’. Cut shapes, stitch the edges, then finish. These new Lazy Girls are quick, easy, and addictive. Perfect for year-end crafting, stitching and gifting.

Transform your layer cake square to ‘fabric construction paper’
then cut, stitch and finish!

Ground Rules

Each pattern uses one 10? ‘sandwich’ composed of fabric, Fusi-Bond Lite and Stiff Stuff.
One sandwich makes one project – sweet!
Layer cake friendly!
Patterns available soon! Early November-ish, truly.

Button Boats #LGD138, $10
Oh my goodness, I love this design. Cut and stitch three planks, tie ends together and set sail for stitchy fun. Organize your life, then untie to store flat.

Prezzies #LGD139, $10
A sweet, delicate and simple wrap for little-ish things. Wrap a treasure in beauty for gifting, or hold small things in a beautiful way. For gifting, the recipient can gift again. Wrap a handwritten note with a small gift. More personal than a box for jewelry. Pack delicate items for travel or in your purse. I adore the simple elegance of this fabric wrap.

Tray Chic #LGD140, $10
Get ready to fall in love with these elegant, simple, stylish trays in three shapes. I already have these all over my studio, holding supplies while I work. Perfect valets for your goodies: keys, phone, eye glasses, etc. Don’t tell the Hexi or Square trays, but the Circle is my fav.

Gifty Card Holders #LGD141, $10
Easily personalize or wrap a gift card with these two sweet styles. The Keeper style wraps closed like a little envelope. The Tag style looks great tied to a package or as a tree ornament. They are my new essentials in gift card giving! One 10? sandwich makes two Keeper style or four Tag style holders. Love!

New Stiff Stuff Squares, #SLG107SQ, $8
The unique properties of Stiff Stuff from my Sew Lazy line bring these designs to life. Stiff Stuff is like the perfect hybrid between stiff/crunchy/thick interfacings and foam. Stiff Stuff has structure, but is forgiving, lightweight and thin. They are ready to go for any of the new patterns. Each pack includes four 10″ squares. That’s enough to try all four new patterns.

Fusi-Bond Lite
You are also going to need some of my Fusi-Bond Lite #SLG101 adhesive web to tie everything together. Fusi provides an amazing bond with the feel of ‘cush’, like a gel insole between your fabric and Stiff Stuff. It’s quite interesting and nice.

Button Up! #JABC8+color number
Get ready for a whole new line of amazing buttons from Just Another Button Company! These Snack Packs of gorgeousness are small-batch, hand-dyed buttons, in 35 custom colors to fit today’s fabric and crafting trends. One Snack Pack will make all of our new Girls. Oh my goodness! I want them all! More about these beauties in an upcoming post.

All colors are also available in two other packaged sizes: Smoothies, round buttons with a matte finish are perfect for primitives; Party Packs are loaded with different shapes, sizes and finishes for more fun.

Floss, Ribbon or Yarn Pearl cotton embroidery floss from Weeks Dye Works
The new Girls use a combo of buttons and ties for closures. I love the hand-dyed pearl cotton embroidery floss from Weeks Dye Works shown on the pattern covers. I use size #3 which comes in 10yd skeins of scrumptious colors.

Slicker Templates
Each pattern uses templates. Check out my handy tutorial for laminating your own paper templates. Tutorial: Slicker Templates

Talk To Me
What do you think? Are you read for some crafty, fusi, stitchy fun?

Please like and share this post with your stitchy friends. Join the Lazy Girl community on Facebook here: Facebook Lazy Girl

Enjoy!
Joan

Bertie’s Summer has Arrived

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Penny Haren

As I am writing this, it is the first day of summer and the perfect time to begin Bertie’s Summer block of the month. This four part series features Bonnie Sullivan’s summer line of Woolie Flannels.

As of today, ALL of the patterns are in stock – which is a miracle considering the popularity of everything by Bonnie! These are so cute, no one will be able to resist.

Why not display the patterns with your entire collection of Woolie Flannels and Prescencia threads. This is a great display just in time for Row by Row and Shop Hop season!

Take the Coloring Craze to a Whole New Audience

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Penny Haren

I love everything designed by Meg Hawkey of Crabapple Hill. Her latest – Mystery of the Salem Witches’Quilt Guild will be released in four parts the next several months.

Item #CAH345 Retail $10.00

This panel measures 15″ x 42″ and uses her technique for coloring with embroidery. This is the perfect next step for those new customers who have embraced the adult coloring craze!

The mystery includes three embroidered panel patterns and one that includes the piecing instructions to complete the quilt. The final quilt measures 57″ x 72″.

The second panel will be available soon.

Item #CAH346 Retail $10.00

Visit our website to see the entire line of Cosmos floss that Meg recommends. They are listed as companions for each panel. Why not join the Witches Quilt Guild meeting and get to know the entire cast of characters.

Bonnie Sullivan Has Found a Chick

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Penny Haren

When Bonnie Sullivan has a block of the month program going, you just have to look at the top selling patterns! ALL of them are in the top 25 – and they are all in stock!

Whether you choose to do “Here a Chick, There a Chick” with a light or dark background, your customers will love it.

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