Quilt Market report: Absolutely fabulous!

This year's Quilt Market (trade show for the quilt/sewing industry) went by quickly. We set up the booth, sold at Sample Spree, then spent the next three days so busy that we never got to walk the show. Dena and I did get to see the quilt exhibit one evening. For a thread maker, it is so exciting to see your threads used in designs. We saw many things stitched with Kreinik threads; there was even a piece with the rings of Saturn where the Kreinik Iron-On Ribbon was used. Side note: I had given a talk a few weeks ago to the judges from the National Quilt Association, and they were amazed with what could be done with the iron-on thread on fabric.  In fact, one of the judges related a story where she had judged a piece and could not figure out how the metallic ribbon had been stitched on to the fabric. Now she knows: the "magic" of iron-on thread.

 I always like to look at the dolls at the quilt exhibit, and this year's selections were outstanding.  Kreinik again sponsored the Gypsy Doll exhibit.  Those designers are so creative, their little critters really are life-like and fun to view.

Our demo teacher for this event was the inimitable Louis Carney - a showman extraordinaire, highly technically skilled and knowledgeable. The ladies love him, he is funny, truthful, and he will not accept whining.  He assisted us in giving our class on Creative Trims.  It was very successful, the participants did not want to leave and our class ran over by half an hour.  We covered cording, creating trim from bits, creating tassels, playing with the iron-on threads for trimming, and just having a lot of fun. We recorded several segments from class to post on our YouTube channel so all can share in some of the ideas.

Louis created some unbelievable effects with the Kreinik Micro Ice Chenille, the Kreinik high-speed sewing threads and Kreinik braids.  We will post two of his project ideas on our web site in December. I learned many new tips from him. He pointed out, for instance, that on the Baby Loc serger, you can use almost all of our braids, chenille and trims because of the jet threading system. Soon we will start posting videos from the show on our YouTube channel, so stay tuned: www.YouTube.com/Kreinikchannel.

Many designers stopped by to show us their latest creations, and we met many new people that we hope to work with in the near future. It was the best show that have I attended all year.  The shops were enthusiastic, their customers were happy, kit manufacturers that we spoke with were looking forward to producing new products, and this all led to a very upbeat market.

by Doug Kreinik

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New Designer Program coming to TNNA, sponsored by the CTE group

Kreinik has worked with professional designers all over the world for 40+ years. We are always amazed at how they use Kreinik threads in their design work. Their creativity inspires you as consumers, provides retailers with business, and inspires us to come up with new colors and products. In continued support of designers, we want to spread the word about an opportunity for counted thread and embroidery designers to bring their innovative ideas to a TNNA trade show. Read on for details.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM TNNA/CTE:

Win exhibit space at a TNNA trade show

As a needlework designer, have you debated about bringing your counted thread or embroidery designs to a trade show? You know how important it is to be visible, but aren't sure how to get started. Well, the Counted Thread & Embroidery Group (CTE) of The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) is giving you a chance to WIN a trip to the Winter 2012 Needlearts Trade Show.

TNNA's CTE group will be awarding scholarships to five new counted thread/embroidery designers to exhibit at the January 2012 Phoenix trade show. This New Designer Program is a way to help new counted thread and embroidery designers with creative ideas and irresistible excitement reach national and international retailers.

Scholarship includes exhibit space, plus electricity, carpet, material handling, basic booth furniture (if needed). Designers winning the scholarship will share this exhibit space. This scholarship does not include transportation or lodging. However, a stipend to help defray expenses will be provided to each recipient. Winners will be determined by a juried process: a committee of TNNA/CTE members will be looking for quality design, presentation, and originality.

Don't delay; your portfolio is due by November 1, 2011. You have the ideas and talent, now let's get you to a major industry trade show. For a complete list of rules and application process, email CTE.TNNA@gmail.com.

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Eating on the Salt Flats

Surprisingly, if you stick to ethnic food in Salt Lake City, your taste buds will enjoy many treats from Indian, Mexican, Italian, Nepalese, Japanese and more.

Quilt Market has been a tasty treat and a great eye full of exciting Batiks, color, more art quilting and lots of creative clothing accessories. Aprons are big, fun tote bags and hats along with lots of interesting notions and new and exciting fabric print. Hand and machine embellishing of quilts along of course with lots of uses for metallics and silks are coming to a store near you.

By Doug Kreinik

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Spring Quilt Market Day 1

Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City has begun in blooming color. From the purple exhibit hall carpet to the vibrant quilts lining the booths and the eclectic clothes worn by attendees, from the cherry trees in bloom along the wide streets to the snow-covered mountains surrounding the city, this place is FUN.

Sample Spree last night was a shopping frenzy, with women and men of all ages carrying around enormous tote bags filled with fabric, thread and notions. TV personality Eleanor Burns was there in a space costume, but Doug Kreinik stuck with his favorite Kreinik tshirt - don't want to distract attention from the threads. If you want color, get some Kreinik thread. We met lots of long-arm machine owners, embroidery companies, fiber artists, and quilt shop owners all looking for a little metallic to add to quilts. We sold out of red, copper, and purple machine sewing Gimp thread immediately.

We also sold our new Iron-On Bag o'Bits to the delight of people who have requested it for years. Top ideas for the bits include jewelry, gifts, ornaments, and other quick projects. It really doesn't get any faster than a fusible embellishment thread.

So far today, market has been busy. Hearing many shops say hand embroidery is becoming popular. We are next to the fun ladies of Moonthistle Designs with wool felt designs featuring Kreinik thread for stitch embellishments. The look is subtle but more eye-catching than the traditional somber wool look. Check out her "Party Crow" pattern (web site www.moonthistle.com).

We have a Bernina Artista sewing machine running in the booth. We will be decorating some pillows, making scarves, doing dome clicking and bobbin work. We love how versatile the new sewing machines are and the Kreinik threads sew smoothly and beautifully. We have one of our gold threads running on a Gammill long-arm right behind us and it looks stunning on black fabric.

This is just Day 1 of market and we are excited to talk with shop owners and designers, and are already inspired with new ideas. Wish you could see it! Stay tuned to Kreinik Facebook for more pictures.

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Spring Quiltapalooza 2011

This week we jet off to Salt Lake City for the Spring Quilt Market. We thought it would be fun to focus on quilting this week. Check back this week as we will be posting throughout the week with additional content.

wednesday, May 11...

Free Quilting Projects:

• kids shirt
• pillowcase
• crazy quilt cozy
• teacup wall quilt
• crazy quilt sunglass/eyeglass case
• elegant table runner
• "quilted" pillow
• wedding ring bearer's pillow

Quilting Blogroll:

• crazy quilting using Kreinik threads
• crazy quilting using Kreinik
• crazy quilting spider web tutorial
• cq mag online
• When you know its good
• Thread Advice from a Crazy Quilter

Quilting & Sewing Videos:

• No Knit Scarf
• Free Motion Embroidery
• Bobbin Work 101
• Couching Kreinik Braids & Ribbons
• Couching with Kreinik Threads
• Couching Kreinik threads with a Longarm Quilting Machine
• Kreinik Metallic Threads on an APQS Longarm Quilting Machine
• Machine Embroidery On Cards
• Kreinik Janome video
• Kreinik Hi-Speed Machine Sewing Threads On a Gammill Longarm Machine
• Digital Lettering & Monogramming with Kreinik Hi-Speed Machine Sewing Thread
• Kreinik Iron-On Threads in Quilting
• Selecting the Right Needle When Using Kreinik Hi Speed Metallic Machine Sewing Threads
• Kreinik Hi Speed Threads on the TinLizzie Longarm Machine
• Kreinik Hi Speed Metallic Threads In Handi Quilter Longarm Machine
• MOV08160 Machine Micro Stippling with gold metallic thread Part 1
• MOV08161 Machine Micro Stippling with gold metallic thread Part 2
• MOV08151 Digitized Machine Embroidery the easy way, Part 1
• MOV08152 Digitized machine embroidery part 2
• MOV08147 Quick Tip on setting up for metallic machine embroidery
• MOV08146 Machine Embroidery with Kreinik
  

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From Houston, with Love by Doug Kreinik

Now that I have rested a bit after working the International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas week before last, and gotten acclimated to Daylight Savings Time, I need to say: I love Quilt Market. There is such a variety of creative options to see, from hand work to machine work. The art work is great and the imagination is overflowing. My favorite moment was the exhibition where there are more than a 1000 quilts to view. The quilts range from the very traditional to fantastic art quilts, plus clothing, dolls and this year a fantasy bra exhibit. The art quilts were big and used all sorts of medium. Landscape quilts played with experiences and scenes, making incredible eye candy. Being a bicycle rider, one of my favorite pieces was from Finland picturing a bicycle race. It showed depth, speed and perspective all at one time - very exciting. We are seeing more surface embellishing on quilts and, surprisingly, surface embellishing using the long-arm machines. We worked with several long arm companies at this show, using Kreinik metallic and silk threads for quilting and embellishing.

In our booth, we had a professional Janome educator, Carol McKinney, who used our product as I have never seen before. She also made a scarf from the Kreinik Bag O’Bits. It is so easy that even I could do it. She used a water-soluble material (preferably one sheet of the sticky type and one plain), added lots of metallic bits, a free-motion foot for the machine, Kreinik embroidery thread for the top stitches and a regular bobbin thread. Carol encased the bits by stitching around the outside, then creating an up and down grid, followed with lots of free motion embroidery. After about two hours, presto: a great-looking scarf. Our instructor made a sweater jacket with coordinating colors by creating fabric and cutting it out. The whole process blew my mind.

I really enjoy visiting with the doll makers. The dolls builders used Kreinik metallic and silk threads as embroidery and embellishments on clothing and also for the hair. They even used the Kreinik iron-ons in the clothing. This years theme for one doll challenge centered on Gypsies. The faces, clothing and fantasy adventures around the dolls described many stories. I will always be a fan of doll making.

Oh yeah, and the favorite eating places... I always eat at Whole Foods and Central Market in Houston. BBQ was at Goodes off of Kirby and 45, and my cousin took me to a terrific Dim Sum restaurant in the new Chinatown area near the Police Department at Bellaire and Ranchester. Also, I was treated to a 1-hour foot massage across the way. Very reasonable and relaxing.

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Buying local

By Dena Lenham

There’s a little store on a corner that could easily blend into the other retailers along the street – except for the line coming out the front and curving around two blocks, giving an hour wait time just to get in the door. Obviously, in Columbus, Ohio, it is The Place To Be. There is a line every day, all hours, all ages, all nationalities, all dress types. It’s Jeni’s ice cream shop, and blissfully it is a mere hop, skip and a jump from the convention center where the TNNA needle arts trade show was held earlier this month.

So Cathe Ray of the Alameda California store Needle In a Haystack merely had to mention ice cream and sorbet to get the Kreinik crew to stand in line at 10 o’clock on an 80-degree night after working the trade show booth all day. “What could possibly be so special about this ice cream??” I wondered as we stood in this incredibly long line. A few signs later, peering in the window, I started to get the picture: “Grass grazed Ohio cream”, “Locally made peanut butter”, “Home-made whipped cream”, “Freshly made waffle cones…” Oh yeah, this was a local-goodness, community-centered, expert-in-the-field kind of place, and everyone in that long line knew it.

Today, a week after the show closed, I wish I lived in Columbus so I could get that Dark Chocolate Vanilla Honey Pure Minted Bliss ice cream again (or whatever flavor it was, I just know it was so heavenly I was afraid someone would pick-pocket me as I walked, lost in that freshly-made waffle cone). But it makes me happy knowing that a community and its visitors support an independent establishment that specializes in something that spans generations, offering amazing things you can’t find in a chain store, using the best quality they can get for their customers who deserve the best - kind of like a needlework store. If you are lucky enough to have a specialty needlework shop in your town or within driving distance, support it. If you don’t have one, there are plenty of them that sell online. You won’t regret it.

Find a list of fabulous needlework retailers in the Store Locator on www.kreinik.com.

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TNNA Columbus Summer 2010 Preview

Weary road warriors Doug Kreinik & Dena Lenham, fresh off a great Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis will be in Columbus, Ohio this weekend for the TNNA Columbus Summer Show. Here's a sneak preview of what to look for from the Kreinik booth.

• Sample It: We will be offering the new Holographic ECE's and assortment packs of the new Holographic Threads in Medium #16 Braid. These will not last so act fast!
• SCHOOLHOUSE SERIES, TIPS program - Our program will be on holographics — Make Mine 3-D: 10 Hot Ways, 9:30 a.m to 10 a.m. on Friday June 11
• New Products to look for: Holographic threads in Medium #16 Braid and Tree Jewels Needlepoint Ornament Kits in Vintage and Urban color themes.

Looking for a class using Kreinik threads? Here's a list of a few of them...

TT201 Two Koi needlepoint class by Adrienne Spencer: Capture the serenity and graceful movement of HP'S "Two Koi". We will honor the exquisite painting and shading of this canvas by using a variety of stitches in the light or shadow stitching method.

ST120 Kreinik With A New Twist with Beth Robertson and Suzanne Howren: New to Kreinik threads, or want to learn new tricks and techniques for using threads to embellish needlepoint? Beth and Suzanne have fabulously fun ideas that will get your creative juices going.

TT214 Graphic Girls needlepoint with Sharon G: Embellish a trio of brightly colored "girls" with fabulous fibers and stitches - including Kreinik holographics.

TT301 Counted Canvas 101 with Debbie Rowley: The easiest and fastest way to learn more about counted canvas.

FT211 The Flakes: Snowman with a Broom needlepoint with Cynthia Thomas: Embellish a fun winter-themed canvas with fibers and stitches. Would make a great class in your shop, or project for an ornament club.

ST104 Flowers from The Heart needlepoint with Robin King: A bright, cheery, fun Needle Deeva canvas is brought to life in this class. - includes Kreinik holographics

ST105 Sew Many Threads, Sew Much Fun with June McKnight: How do you choose, how do you use...questions answered!

ST117 Candy Corn needlepoint with Cynthia Thomas: Too-cool candy corn canvas by A Bradley Needlearts, made dazzliing and dimension in this class.

NT107 Needlepoint Store Cottage needlepoint by Associated Talents: Learn multiple techniques for stitching, embellishing and making this 3-D village store.

Click here to see more information about these classes.

See you in Columbus! We will be in booth #1019/1118.

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Our Schoolhouse Rocked!

Special guest blogger Dena "Kreinikgirl" Lenham talks about our 2010 Spring Quilt Market Schoolhouse.

You never know what to expect when going to a new school. As we walked to the Kreinik classroom for Spring Quilt Market's Schoolhouse sessions, we wondered who would be there, would they like us? We were so excited to discover a room filled to capacity with shop owners, teachers and designers wanting to learn about embellishing in 3-D. We left energized by the ideas around Kreinik's holographic threads for fabric arts. It was a fun way to start the trade show.

At Schoolhouse, you have 15 minutes to show and tell. Doug Kreinik began by introducing Kreinik's new holographic threads as the "Avatar" of threads — the latest in hip, 3-D tech that is just downright fun. Then Dena Lenham showed models made with the holographics: a handmade felt bird, a machine-couched 'galaxy' quilt, a cross-stitched bookmark, and about 10 other creative projects made by hand or sewing machine. The lighting in a convention center is notoriously bad, but even in this classroom the holographics stood out, with flecks of color showing the unique 3-D effect. "Wows" were heard over and over from the students.

We had time for Q&A: "Are the holographic threads washable?" (yes) "What do you use for the couching thread?" (a clear monofilament works best) "Can you use these in a machine?" (yes; the thinner Blending Filament and #4 Braid sizes can go through a needle, the other sizes can be used in the bobbin or couched). "What do you use for the bobbin thread?" (a 60-weight cotton works well). The models were passed around the room and ideas started popping up: "You can use this for..." "This would be good in..."

We loved meeting everyone at Schoolhouse, most of whom came to our table at Sample Spree later that night or to the Kreinik booth during the show, bringing even more ideas they had thought of for using the holographic threads in quilting and sewing projects. At a trade show full of grand fabric companies, huge sewing machine companies, and renown pattern designers, Kreinik became The Little Thread That Could — that could embellish these fabrics, be used on those machines, and bring the patterns to life.

We can't wait to show and tell again as we host another schoolhouse session, this time in TIPS at the June 11, 2010 TNNA trade show in Columbus, Ohio. If you will be at the show, come to class.

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