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…

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.)

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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.

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…

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…

We’ve hung these star lanterns in our booth at shows for a couple of years now and I’m always asked how I made them.

Photo Star Lantern

After the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, PA last week, I decided it was time that I sit down and write up the instructions.

Our booth at the AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, PA last week

Of course, you will need Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 to make these lanterns. Also, for those of you who have seen these in our booth, please note that I used a 13″-wide printer to print them.  You can still make the lanterns with a smaller printer, but they just won’t be as big.

Click here for the printable instructions to make these Photo Star Lanterns.

I had a great trip out to Cleveland for my taping for Quilting Arts TV (QATV) Series 600. I had an uneventful flight on Wednesday and got a brand new (1.5 miles on the odometer) rental car. I’m sure some of you might think this is very cool.  I, on the other hand, was afraid that any little scratch or stain upon returning the car would clearly be my fault. Give me a gently used car next time please!

I arrived at the hotel in time for dinner with Linda McGehee who had taped her QATV segment earlier in the day. Linda has long been a fan of Kaleidoscope Kreator and was just back from the Puyallup Sewing & Stitchery Expo where she taught a class based on Kaleidoscope Kreator.  After dinner, she showed me some patterns/kits that she is working on incorporating kaleidoscope images. They are very creative and I can’t wait until I can share them with you!

I was supposed to be at the studio by 8am the next morning. I thought I had given myself plenty of time to stop by Starbucks first – that is until I walked outside to find a heavy layer of frost on the car and no ice scraper in the (brand new) rental car.  Argh!  continue reading…

Kaleidoscope Kreator has been mentioned a couple of times on other blogs in the past few days.  I thought you might like to see how other people are using KK.

SewCalGal wrote an article on how to use kaleidoscope images from Kaleidoscope Kreator in Electric Quilt (quilt design software).  This is something that I’ve been meaning to research for quite a while now, so I’m thrilled that SewCalGal has already spelled out the basics!

The Design Team at Creatively Green has been busy with KK again!

• Ali MacDonald used KK to make a beautiful sympathy card for a close friend.
• And Nicole Gailliot used KK to create a Valentine’s Day Gift Set.

If you know of any other blogs that have mentioned KK (or if you’ve written one yourself), but sure to let us know!

Our Make & Take project at the CHA Craft Super Show

The Dilemma

When we decided to participate in the CHA Craft Super Show (in Anaheim a couple of weeks ago), we were encouraged to offer a Make & Take project for attendees. (A “Make & Take” project means that attendees make a project in our booth and then take it with them.) The trick was coming up with a fun project that didn’t take too much time to make. I wanted to do our layered kaleidoscope ornaments, but was worried that it would take too long to cut out each of the kaleidoscope pieces. As I was wandering through my local craft store looking for ideas, I realized that we could use paper punches that come in graduated sizes – just the ticket for the layered ornaments! (You may wonder why I hadn’t thought of using punches before. That’s a really good question! )

The Solution

Marvy-Uchida deserves a major shout-out here. Our M&T would not have been nearly as successful without their help!  continue reading…