Blossoms Table Runner: A sample project for our new Blossoms Template Mini-Pack
I’ve been having way too much fun with our new Blossoms Template Mini-Pack which adds fifteen new shapes to transform your photos into fun flower designs. So I put together a project to inspire you to give them a try!
The table runner started with the following photo. If you click on the photo below, it will bring up a window with the full-size image that you are welcome to download for your own use. Just right-click on the larger image and choose “Save Image As” to save it to your hard drive.
Original photo used to make table runner
Just in Time for Spring: New Blossoms Mini-Pack
We’ll be unveiling our brand-new Blossoms Template Mini-Pack at the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah this week. Stop by our booth in the Pavilion (#4202) and be the first to see our latest fun mini-pack for Kaleidoscope Kreator 3.
After a long, dreary winter I was ready to see some springtime flowers, so I decided to create my own with this new collection of flower shapes. The cool thing is that you can make kaleidoscope flower designs from a photo of just about anything – I just look for bright colors and interesting textures, and let KK do the rest. 
If you can’t make it to Paducah, the Blossoms Template Mini-Pack will be available in our online store shortly after the show, so stay tuned! Meanwhile, here are some of the designs I’ve created with the new templates to whet your appetite: continue reading…
More Kaleidoscope Pendants
After my last blog post, someone asked if it would be possible to use fabric rather than photo paper to make the resin pendants. I knew it was possible to embed fabric in the cast pieces, but I wanted to embellish the fabric with stitching and make domed pieces rather than cast. After a few “learning experiences”, I think I’ve figured out a way to do this – and I absolutely love the results!
Here are some tips to make these pendants. I assume you already know how to make the kaleidoscopes in Kaleidoscope Kreator and how to print on fabric. I am using the Little Windows resin and you can find instructions for the doming technique on their site.
Kaleidoscope Pendants
While in Houston at International Quilt Festival, one of our customers turned me on to a great product called Little Windows. It’s an easy way to turn photos into jewelry, but I immediately thought of using kaleidoscopes instead of photos.
I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve been having the past few days making some pendants with our new Template Mini-Packs! I’ve already used up the resin in the starter kit I purchased and ordered more.
Just a few of the kaleidoscope pendants that I've made using the Little Windows starter kit.
1 inch cast pendant. Design made with KK3 and Snowflakes Mini-Pack.
The resin is truly low-odor (though I still wear a mask as a precaution when using it since I plan on making a bunch of these for gift giving, i.e. greater potential for chemical exposure.) I won’t go into detail on how to use the resin since that process is explained quite well on the Little Windows website, but I’ll give you some hints as to how to size & cut out the kaleidoscopes.
Troubleshooting KK3: Why can’t I see the shape of my kaleidoscope?
Every so often we get questions sent to Technical Support that take a while to figure out. We had a good one today that I thought I’d share here on the blog because there are a couple of good tips in the answer.
A customer wanted to start with this photo:
Original photo
and end up with a kaleidoscope printed like this (specifically so that she could see where to cut along the scalloped edge):
Desired result (simulated in Photoshop)
Unfortunately, when selecting “Show cutlines” in the print dialog, only the bounding square is delineated – not the actual kaleidoscope shape! continue reading…
Snowflake Cards: A sample project for our new Snowflakes Template Mini-Pack
We’ve just returned from International Quilt Market/Festival in Houston and are finalizing everything needed to make our new Template Mini-Packs available by the end of the week via our online store.
To whet your appetite for just a couple more days, I thought I’d post a project made with the Snowflakes Mini-Pack. These cards are incredibly easy to make, but oh-so-stunning! (Of course, you could make these with the new Filigree template shapes as well.) continue reading…
Filigree Pillow: A sample project for our new Filigrees Template Mini-Pack
Since we will be introducing our new template mini-packs at International Quilt Festival in Houston this week, I thought I would post a project (with instructions) that I made using the new Filigrees Mini-Pack to whet your appetite.
As a reminder, the Filigrees Mini-Pack will be available for purchase via our website on November 12, 2010. (We’ll send out an e-mail and post to Facebook as a reminder when it is available.)
Eye of the Quilter
I’m very excited to have two of my photos hanging in the Eye of the Quilter exhibit at International Quilt Festival this year. The theme for the exhibit this year is “Reflections” and we were asked to write a statement to accompany the photos explaining “how the image is used in your reflection as a quilter.”
It is always a thrill to see my work hung among other amazing artists and the exhibit this year is fantastic! If you are here in Houston for International Quilt Festival, be sure to spend some time at this special exhibit. You are sure to gain inspiration not only from the photos themselves, but also the artists’ statements.
Here are my two photos that are hanging in the exhibit:
As a photographer, I am always on the lookout for the "perfect light". But it's not so much the light itself as it is the way objects reflect that light that makes it so special.
"The Bean" in Chicago is a fascinating study of reflections. The view from ground level is completely different than the view from an upright position - a good reminder to always look for a unique perspective in the design process.
New Template Mini-Packs Coming Soon!
We’re putting the finishing touches on a new line of add-on template pack products for our popular Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 software. Our downloadable Template Mini-Packs bring fun new shapes to Kaleidoscope Kreator 3, adding new dimensions to your creativity.
The first two Mini-Pack products, “Snowflakes” and “Filigrees”, will make their debut at the International Quilt Festival in Houston on November 4th, and will be available via our online store on November 12th.
Our Snowflakes Template Mini-Pack combines childhood memories of paper-and-scissors snowflakes with the endless possibilities that only Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 can offer. Snowflake shapes come in 12- and 16-segment variations and are great for any winter-themed project.
• Requires Kaleidoscope Kreator 3
• Adds fifteen new shapes
• Download only
• Retail price $9.99
Our Filigrees Template Mini-Pack adds delicate, lace-like shapes that enable you to create stunning designs and embellishments for your next project. Filigree shapes come in 12-, 16- and 20-segment variations.
• Requires Kaleidoscope Kreator 3
• Adds fifteen new shapes
• Download only
• Retail price $9.99
I have been having so much fun with these new templates! Here are just a few of the kaleidoscope designs I’ve created with them: continue reading…
Spring Quilt Market
I recently returned from Minneapolis where Spring International Quilt Market was held this year and have returned inspired and ready to create! Quilt Market is a trade show (not open to the public) where everyone who’s anyone involved with quilting as a business attends to sell, buy, promote, network, etc.
We were not exhibiting at the show this time, so I had three full days to walk the show, reconnect with friends and look for anything that caught my eye. (It’s nearly impossible to do all of that when we are exhibiting!) continue reading…
