I mentioned late in the summer that I had designed a ruler for Creative Grid and promised to show it to everyone here on the blog as soon as we had samples and video ready to go. I have to admit that it took longer to find time to shoot the video than it did to produce the ruler! We filmed quick demonstrations at Quilt Market that are available on You Tube and on the Checker Distributors website. Keep in mind that these are last minute videos that were filmed on the convention floor, not professional studio shots. You will hear lots of convention noise in the background as people stopped by asking questions and making comments just off camera. I can hear them, but you can't, that explains my temporary distractions. If you would like to see me, exhausted, having a bad hair day on the last day of Market, click on the link below. Keep in mind it is all about the RULER - not me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxzlBFVq0d0
Designing the ruler and working with the Creative Grid team has been a delightful experience. When they agree to do something, consider it done. I suggested the ruler on a Friday afternoon. I emailed drawings of what I wanted it to look like Monday morning. One week later the design was approved, changes had been made, Plexiglas had been ordered and two weeks later I had a prototype in my hand. For someone that is use to taking a year to pull a fabric line together that is like working at the speed of light!
I have had the ruler to work with for almost 2 months. I LOVE the way it works and I hope you will too! Naturally I had to design a few quilts to work with the ruler - although the ruler works with ANY 45 degree angle line on ANY pattern you already own.
Both our Sea Glass, pictured here, and the Migration pattern have step-by-step illustrations of how to position the ruler right in the instructions. Both quilts are "jelly roll" projects as well. One set of 40 strips with just a little more fabric added will make either one of the quilts.
My absolute favorite part of the ruler is that I no longer have to draw a zillion lines to sew on. I simply pre-trim the pieces and sit down and sew. Perfect every time. Demonstrating the ruler to both customers and other shop owners I have discovered that everyone else loves the idea of using the ruler to trim their binding strips. Apparently that has been a big issue for most quilters - problem solved! Feel free to go back and watch that segment of the video if you missed it or stop in the shop, we would love to show you in person! If you don't live near The Quilt Company, stop in your favorite quilt shop and ask for a demo on the ruler, I am pretty confident that I showed it to every quilt shop owner that attended Quilt Market! Tell them I sent you!
PS If you can't find the Quick Trim Ruler in your area, call the shop and order one by phone. The price is just $16 + postage and we would be happy to send you one.
If you live within driving distance of Columbus Ohio, I hope you are a member of the Common Threads Quilt Guild. If not, you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity. I was invited to speak at the guilds March meeting and teach a class featuring my Quick Trim Ruler and my Sea Glass pattern the following day. I have to say that they are a pretty impressive group!
My guild presentations are a little different than the usual show and tell of beautiful quilts. I want everyone in the room to learn something - even if you have been quilting forever, I believe you can always learn something. I'm not there to just sell you a ruler, I really want to give you plenty of ideas and techniques that you can use as well as let you know what is happening in the industry. I'm pretty confident that once I show you the ruler, you are going to want one, so I try to include as much additional information as possible. Someone referred to it as the Lamaze method of quilting. The more you know, the easier it is to get through the process.
I travel and teach quite a bit and I have to say that working with Common Threads was absolutely delightful. They were well organized, fun to be with, receptive to learning something new and very talented quilters. Not everyone that organizes guild activities understands the importance of letting you know every detail, like zip codes for your 
GPS. Not everyone welcomes you with a gift bag of treats in your hotel room. After a week on the road it is very nice to arrive home to a hand written thank you note. It's not necessary, but one of those touches that makes you feel like all those miles in the car, schlepping all of those quilts and rulers and bins of patterns was appreciated. Thanks Common Threads, it was fun getting to know you!
