Creative Sewing, Quilting Supplies, Classes, & Fun

It has happened to all of us – you are using your machine, feeding layers through while your brain is on “auto pilot” and all of a sudden you realize that your fabrics aren’t properly aligned or you prick your finger on one of your pins or you jam your machine when your needle hits and bends your straight pins - UGH!  We have found a great little gadget that can help avoid these issues and serve as an extra set of hands for you when sewing – Wonder Clips .  These durable clips are made of transparent plastic and look like little clothes pins.  One of our partners, Merrie, tested these clips out when making a laminated tote bag for her daughter and she thought they worked really well!  The clips open quite wide so they are perfect for holding together several layers of fabric when top stitching or for holding handle connectors and piping in place without distortion.  They also come in handy for holding on binding while you are machine sewing.  Wonder Clips are a great alternative to avoiding making holes with pins, especially when working with laminated cotton fabric or when you need to "pin" thick layers. Typically fabric layers will shift as you try to bring the pin back to the front side, but these clips hold firmly to minimize shifting and you don’t end up with a lot of bent pins. The bottoms of the clips are flat so your work lies flat on your machine bed and moves along just fine. The clips are also easy to reposition and easy to see so you can readily find them when you drop them on the floor-hooray!  We like Wonder Clips so much that we now carry them in the shop.  They are available in a package of 10 or 50 clips – click here to order some now and happy sewing!

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Need to thaw out on a cold winter day?  This Taco Soup Recipe is an incredibly easy and delicious way to make a hearty meal that is a nice alternative to chili.  This recipe makes a large pot and the leftovers freeze very well for another day. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Taco Soup Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground turkey
1 small onion, diced
2 packets taco seasoning (mild or medium)
2 cups water
2 packets Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (original flavor)
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can kidney or canellini beans
1 can shoepeg corn (a white sweet corn, can substitute regular corn)
1 can mexicorn (combo of whole kernel corn, red and green peppers)
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 - 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes

Instructions:
Brown the turkey, then put all of the ingredients listed above into a large pot and simmer for at least one hour.  Serve with grated cheddar cheese and tortilla chips.

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Are you tired of piercing your fingertips with needles and pins while sewing?  If so, then we suggest you give Poke-A-Dots a try!  Poke-A Dots are nifty little sticky thimbles that you place on your fingertips to protect them while doing hand work, such as stitching on quilt binding, doing hand applique and embroidery, sewing on a button, etc.  You can use these polyurethane stickers instead of a traditional metal or rubber thimble.  However, if you like to work with a traditional thimble on your sewing hand, these are still great to use on your opposite hand that is underneath the fabric to avoid pricking your fingers as they guide and stop the needle when you push it through! As you can see from the photos below, Brynne's poor fingertip was like a little pincushion, so she was happy to give these stickers a try while sewing a recent project.  She found that these disposable dots stick firmly in place and you can re-use each sticker several times. Because the dots are textured, they not only protect your finger but they can also help you to pull your needle through the tough spots.  Stop in soon to pick up a pack or order Poke-A-Dots online by clicking here  - your fingers will be much happier!

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It is that time again...we have begun a new calendar year and can make a fresh start.  A new year presents an opportunity to reevaluate priorities, set goals and make resolutions to achieve them in the coming year.  Many of us make resolutions regarding our careers, work/life balance, fitness and/or weight loss objectives.  Why not also make some resolutions regarding our sewing and quilting to help us remain focused and make the most of our crafty industriousness?  We have thought of a few noteworthy resolutions that would be helpful for many of us to adopt - check out our list below and let us know if you have any other good suggestions too!

Sewing and Quilting Resolutions for 2012:

1) I resolve to replace my sewing machine needle every 6-8 hours of sewing time and to always use the appropriate needle for the task (no more breaking universal needles trying to sew denim!). 

2) I resolve to regularly clean the lint and dust bunnies out of my bobbin case so I don't jam up the sewing mechanism and to take my trusty machine in to Quilters Corner for a thorough annual cleaning and tune up.

3) I resolve to finish at least one sewing or quilting project for every three that I start.

4) I resolve to always have an extra new rotary cutting blade on hand and to change the blade when it gets dull so that my fabric cuts evenly and I minimize strain on my cutting hand and wrist.

5) I resolve to complete at least one stash-busting project this year and to donate the finished product to a charitable organization so it can help warm and comfort someone in need (Quilt of Valor, ABC quilt, pillowcases for United Way, etc.).

All of us at Quilters Corner wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and look forward to spending time with you in 2012!

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Can you believe that there are only two days left until Christmas?!?!? Time is certainly flying by and we are all hustling and bustling in a holiday frenzy. Whether you are in need of a last minute hostess gift or are just craving a sweet holiday treat, here's a great peppermint bark recipe that is fast, simple, inexpensive and yummy!

Peppermint Bark Recipe

Ingredients:

16 oz. of white chocolate chips
1/4 tsp. mint extract
6 candy canes

Instructions:

Place candy canes in a resealable plastic bag and crush into very tiny pieces using either a meat tenderizer or a rolling pin (this step is an effective and productive way to relieve any accumulating holiday frustrations!).  Set crushed candy cane bits aside.

Place white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and thoroughly melt them in the microwave, pausing every 20 seconds or so to stir the melting chips so that they melt evenly and avoid scorching.  Depending on how strong your microwave is, this melting process will likely take a total of 2 to 3 minutes.

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Stir the mint extract and half of the crushed candy canes into the melted white chocolate and then spread the mixture evenly on the foil-lined cookie sheet.  Sprinkle the bark mixture with the rest of the crushed candy canes and gently press the candy cane pieces into the soft bark.

Let bark harden for at least a couple of hours, then break into chunks and place in a festive candy dish for serving or a decorative tin to give as a sweet little gift!

All of us at Quilters Corner truly enjoy the opportunity to share our passion for sewing and quilting with all of you throughout the year and we thank you for your patronage, enthusiasm and friendship.  We hope that you will take time to enjoy the holidays with family and friends and that you have a joyful and healthy holiday season!

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