A Classic – The Original Creative Grids Log Cabin

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Penny Haren

The original eight inch version of the Creative Grids® Log Cabin Trim Tool by Jean Ann Wright was the beginning of our most popular line of trim tools. I just did a guild tour and was shocked that not one person was familiar with this tool. If you aren’t demonstrating it in your shop, you are flat out loosing sales!
Item #CGRJAW1 Retail $19.45

There are lots of books and patterns to support this tool – and it continues to inspire new designs. These three Cut Loose Press™ patterns are the most recent additions. LOVE them!!!

Item #CLPNAM004 Item #CLPNAM003 Item #CLPCAM009

Nancy Myers creates a curve effect in these leaf designs by inserting folded squares which are then folded back to curve over the pieced log cabins. Simply brilliant! Doesn’t it make you want to go to the beach?
Cabin Flower uses the same technique – and looks totally different in the purple and pink colorway.
The Rising Star traditional log cabin block is stunning. It is eighty inches square and is fat quarter friendly. What a dramatic display quilt. Once your customers have tried this, they will want to try ALL of the trim tools by Jean Ann Wright!

A Creative Grids® Sampler – the Perfect Class Series

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Penny Haren

Item #DH1601 Retail $14.00

This is the PERFECT class/demo sampler! Deb Heatherly who created the Cat’s Cradle and Strippy Stars tool designed this sampler quilt which features five different Creative Grids® tools.

Each session, teach them how to use a different Creative Grids® tool. Each tool retails for less than $20 which makes the entire project very affordable when spread over a series of classes.

Cat’s Cradle Tool

Item #CGRDH1 Retail $17.95

Strippy Stars Tool

Item #CGRDH2 Retail $17.95

Eight Inch Log Cabin Trim Tool

Item #CGRJAW1 Retail $19.45

Six Inch Log Cabin Trim Tool

Item #CGRJAWMN6 Retail $17.95

Six Inch Square on Square Trim Tool

Item #CGRJAW7 Retail $17.95

AND, these tools are not one trick ponies! There are a host of companion patterns and books to support them. Once your students learn how to use the tool, they will want to make more! Encourage them to work on additional projects each month instead of working ahead! This satisfies the over-achiever in every class!

The pattern sheets are individual so you may choose to give them the pages that feature the blocks as they make them each month.

These are not professional photos – the slippers at the bottom of one pick may be a giveaway! But I wanted to share the pics from Deb’s test class. Since the quilt only requires five different fabrics – a background and four shades of a color (light, medium light, medium and dark) – it is easy for the students to pick out their favorite colorway.

Why not show these to your students so they can picture it in different fabrics.

Why not take a few minutes to pick out several different colorways for those who don’t like to pick out fabrics? And of course, scrappy is always a choice!

Perfect Log Cabin Minis Every Time!

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Penny Haren

I love, love, LOVE these new Creative Grids® releases! I love minis and could never achieve perfect log cabins in four and six inch sizes until now! These trim tools also create Courthouse Steps and Half Log Cabin blocks – with the cutting requirements printed right on the tool!

Item #CGRJAWMN4 Retail $12.95

Item #CGRJAWMN6 Retail $17.95

I am not exaggerating! I have made over 700 log cabin blocks in 4″and 6″ sizes – and they are just as accurate in the 4″ size with 1/2″ logs as they are in the 6″ size with 3/4″ logs! In fact, I love them so much that I wrote a book based on the six inch size – but more about that when we have a publishing date!

Jean Ann wrote a book that is available NOW – yes it is in stock!

Item #JAWBK01 $17.99s

This book includes patterns for projects made with the four AND the six inch log cabin tools.

There are also some charming Cut Loose Press patterns to support them as well!
Glory in the Cabin is a striking table runner that uses the six inch size.

Item #CLPJAW042

Or create a needle case…

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Diamond in the Logs by Debby Kratovil features the four inch version.

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Last but not least, Deb Heatherly has combined several of our top Creative Grids rulers to create this gorgeous quilt. Why not do this as a demo of the month type quilt? More about this later when the book is in stock! It is at the printers now!
Item #DH1601 Retail $14.00

These rulers sell themselves! Just have a sample sitting by the register! Visit our website to watch the videos and see just how easy it is to be perfect!

We’re making changes at Cut Loose Press

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Penny Haren

Cut Loose Press™ patterns are designed for shops to demonstrate products. They are reasonably priced and are easy projects to showcase tools, notions, and techniques.

For instance, Rainbow Swirls was created with the Creative Grids 6″ Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool.

Item #CLPJAW032

Drum roll please!!!! The minimum order has been changed from twelve to six – which means smaller shops can now participate. AND, they have added a hang-hole at the top so they can be easily hung for display. Everything else you loved about CLP stays the same.

For those of you who haven’t tried Cut Loose Press™ (CLP), here is a perfect example of why you should.

This six inch log cabin trim tool designed by Jean Ann Wright is one of a series of trim tools – and is a great demo! The technique? The strips for the logs are cut 1/4″ larger than needed. Each round – which consists of two wide and two narrow logs – are trimmed before the next round is added. Any variation caused by cutting, sewing and pressing are corrected before the next round is added! Perfect results every time!

Item #CGRJAW6 Retail $17.95

Now that you have everyone’s attention, why not offer a class immediately after the demo? Why not offer the class FREE if they buy the tool and kit for Roundabout – this gorgeous tablerunner – another favorite CLP!

Item #CLPCAM007

Once your customers see how easy it is to create these intricate designs, they will want to do more. Many of these patterns are fat quarter friendly so it is easy to kit. If you don’t sell a kit, just return the fat quarters to inventory! Absolutely no risk!

Item #CLPJAW021

Item #CLPJAW029

These patterns also suggest other notions that your customers may want. For instance, since these are scrappy quilts, a Bitty Buddy by Gypsy Quilter is convenient because it is a tabletop waste basket that collapses to carry to class.

Item #TGQ007 Retail $9.50

These companion items are listed below each pattern on our website. The yardage requirements for each pattern are shown on the website as well so you can check out the kitting requirements. Why not score a trifecta – fabric, notion, and pattern???

Organize your Rulers Today

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Penny Haren

Having the right tool for the job applies to quilters too. I have learned that the right ruler can save time and money – as well as guarantee that my final project will be something I can be proud of. Storing them, however, has been a problem – until now!

Item #194RK Retail $10.00

As you can see, it is made to fit over a hanger so you can now “hang” your rulers so they are easily accessible and protected. An added bonus? The clutter has been removed from your cutting table!

The pockets are designed to hold 12 and 24 inch rectangles as well as squares from 6 to 12 inches as well as a rotary cutter. Adjust the pockets as needed.

In my case, I have a LOT of Creative Grids® specialty rulers so I need to include more than one ruler in each pocket. Annie Unrein of Patterns by Annie has created a polyester mesh that is lightweight and the perfect divider for these pockets.

Item #SUP209-15WHT

It comes in a variety of colors so choose a color to coordinate with your bag.

This keeper is made of a high quality canvas – and yes we have that too. James Thompson has a Crossroads Denim line that includes a multitude of colors and is the perfect weight for a project like this.

This bag has been designed to be completed quickly and easily. Layer the pockets on the foundation piece. Then bind the outside edge just like a quilt. You can’t get any easier than that!

The Clover 1″ bias tape maker is perfect for this – and a new technique to share in a class!

Item #464CV-25MM Retail $7.75
You can literally organize your sewing room in an afternoon!

Square on Square – the hit at Road to California

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Penny Haren

I demonstrated the Creative Grids® Square on Square rulers at the Road to California show and they loved them!

Item #CGRJAW8 Retail $19.95

Why does everyone LOVE this tool? For the same reason, they love the entire line of Jean Ann Wright’s trim tools. All of these tools solve the problems quilters face when piecing blocks that start with a center square. These blocks tend to become skewed because of cutting inconsistencies; variations in seam allowances; and distortions while pressing.

The triangles are cut slightly larger and trimmed to size AFTER cutting, sewing and pressing – and the end result is spectacular!

Check out this new Spinning Snails pattern by Lynn Roddy Brown. Yes – this is the first tool designed to create the Snail’s Trail block. It is simply the color placement of the triangles. And don’t you love the scrappy look and the rail fence border???
Item #CLPLRB002

Sunflower Trails creates movement by piecing the Snail’s Trails blocks out of just three colors.

Item #CLPDKR014

Jean Ann Wright’s blue version makes me want to go to the beach!

Item #CLPJAW041

But this tool is named Square on Square for a reason! Don’t forget that the traditional blocks make striking quilts as well.

Item #CLPJAW039

Look what happens when you piece a block and center it in a square on square.
Item #CLPJAW040

The additional bells and whistles make this a must have:
1. The cutting instructions are printed right on the tool. (The outside edge of the block is always on the straight of grain.)
2. Create a 4″ block by stopping after two triangles or complete an 8″ block by adding four rounds of triangles.
3. Use the squares on the ruler to piece or fussy cut a 2″ or 4″ finished square.

These added features expand the design potential exponentially! Why not give it a try? It also comes in a six-inch version. (Item #CGRJAW7). Whichever size you choose, you will be happy with the result!

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