AccuQuilt - Go! Cutter Follow Up

Hi there!
Reading the comments from my review I decided that a follow up post was in order.  Like some of you I've had a few skeptical thoughts about the Go! Cutter, and it's efficiency, and so I thought I would share a little more of what I've learned using it.

This is how it shipped to me, the blank grey foam.  You can barely see it, but the 5" squares are not exactly straight with the edge of the green rectangle.  I emailed my contact at AccuQuilt to ask why - they try to position the shapes at a slant, because they go through the roller easier.  My initial thought was that I got a "off" die - I was ready to ship it right back!  But they did it on purpose :)  So then - what is the best way to use it?

I went searching youtube, for videos to educate myself.  First, take a permanent marker to the edges.  This simple step, makes lining up the fabrics easy!  Then I get cuts with the grain too!

I lined all my shapes - in the review comments someone asked if I could change it for the desired shape.  Nope!  What you see is what you get!

 Notice that the 2 1/2" strips die have no blade at the ends - continuous cuts!

 Line up the fabrics with the drawn lines instead of the edge of the die for precise and speedy cuts.

 You can see here better that the fabric is not square with the die.

Here is the other concern - waste.  After running the above piece through the roller, this is the remaining scraps.

 Not much really!  And I'm ready for another pass -

 With this smaller size die, having a little fabric overhang is not a problem.

I cut 5" charms and mini half square triangles until this was what was left of my fat quarter.  Not much more than I typically have after squaring and re-squaring my fabric.  I'm really loving having this around :)

I have pinned all my tumblers together, and I'm hoping to get to sew them today, but check back tomorrow for a chance to win your own Go! Cutter :)  I'm excited!

Amy




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AccuQuilt - Go! Cutter Review

I was recently contacted by the nice people at accuquilt.  They wanted to see if I would like to use and review their Go! Cutter!  My immediate response was YES!  I've seen Jackie talk about her Studio Cutter the last year or so, and admired from afar, knowing that I would probably not be owning anything like it....Now I do!  :)

I've never used anything like this, at first I was a bit incredulous.  Really?  That will cut my fabric?  It's just gray foam...

I went through my scraps, and pulled a bunch to cut. (I only got sidetracked for 30 minutes - organizing!)

 It's SUPER simple to use, the gray foam goes up, then your fabric on top.

 The cutting mat goes on top, to sandwich everything together - then crank it through the roller.

On the other side you get your shapes - 

 These are half-square triangles with the dog ears cut off for you already.

and full width of fabric 2 1/2" strips - just like a Jelly Roll, and perfect for bindings!

 After getting warmed up, I decided I wanted to really cut a quilt out!  I've really like the look of tumbler quilts, but never wanted to take the time to cut all those shapes.  With the go-cutter I can cut up to 6 layers of quilting fabrics - and they come out perfect, every time!  I pressed and folded my fabric, added the mat and ta-da--

 Less than a hour later a huge stack of tumblers, ready to go into a quilt top!  Did you read that?  Less than an hour!

 Aren't they pretty!?  I had so much fun, and I was cutting fabric! - no worrying about the ruler slipping, or where my kids are in relation to the rotary cutter.

Really good experience with accuquilt so far!  I can't wait to add to my collection of dies :)


Have you ever used a Go! Cutter?  Do you have a favorite die shape/size?  I'd love to hear your experience.

Thanks again to AccuQuilt for the opportunity to review your product!
Amy




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Get Lucky

Winner:  Darlene at SewCalGal!  Congratulations :)

I'm happy to have read a book!  Really it shouldn't be such a monumental occasion, but life has been so busy - I haven't let myself get caught up in books as much lately.

Get Lucky
I set up this review months ago with Lisa at TLC Book Tours, here's a little from the back cover -

Sarah Harper isn’t sure if the stupid decisions she sometimes makes are good choices in disguise—or if they’re really just stupid. But either way, after forwarding an inappropriate email to her entire company, she suddenly finds herself out of a job.

So she goes home to Houston—and her sister, Mackie—for Thanksgiving. But before Sarah can share her troubles with her sister, she learns that Mackie has some woes of her own: After years of trying, Mackie’s given up on having a baby—and plans to sell on eBay the entire nursery she’s set up. Which gives Sarah a brilliant idea—an idea that could fix everyone’s problems. An idea that gives Sarah the chance to take care of her big sister for once—instead of the other way around.

But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. After a decade away, Sarah is forced to confront one ghost from her past after another: the father she’s lost touch with, the memories of her mother, the sweet guy she dumped horribly in high school. Soon everything that matters is on the line—and Sarah can only hope that by changing her life she has changed her luck, too.

The cover made me think that the book would be all sunshine and easy going, but not so!  The author, Katherine Center, engaged me from the first pages, with characters I could relate to, struggles with family relationships, and making the most of the present situation.  I found myself at the end of the book wanting to know more about Sarah and how things had worked out for her and Mackie.

Did Sarah "get lucky"?  I guess you will have to read and find out!

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it too, in fact I'm headed to Amazon to look into Katherine's other books!  If you would like to win a copy of Get Lucky, leave a comment - I'll select a winner over the next weekend.

Happy Reading ~
Amy
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Keeping the Feast

I'm excited to be reviewing another book for TLC Book Tours!  Keeping the Feast: One Couple's Story of Love, Food, and Healing in Italy, by Paula Butturini, is an incredible journey, that I loved reading!

From TLC Book Tours --

Keeping the Feast is a story of love, trauma, and the personal and marital healing that can come from a beautiful place and its simple traditions. It’s a memoir about what happens when tragedy and its psychological aftershocks strike a previously happy marriage and a couple must stubbornly fight to find its bearings. Most significantly, it is a book about the power of one of the most fundamental rituals – the daily sharing of food around a family table. Food — the growing, shopping, preparing, cooking, eating, talking, sharing and memory of it — becomes the symbol of a family’s innate desire to survive, to accept and even celebrate what falls its way.

Paula's memoir recounts the highest highs and the deepest lows in such a way that is meaningful and encouraging.  She takes you back to the table of her childhood, time and again, and describes the foods eaten in such a way that you can almost taste it.  Many, if not most, of us have encountered devastating, life altering circumstances in our lives, which makes this book relate-able, even if we've never traveled to Rome, or don't eat Italian food. 

Paula opens up the world of depression as her husband, John, struggles to remain afloat for years, and her own emotions as she is angered by the way life has turned out for them.  Daily she and John would share three meals together, no matter the circumstances before or after the meals. Paula describes mealtime as her anchor for each day, she would plan no more than for the three meals each day, and getting through each of the meals was a milestone.  Beautifully simple, delicious food to nourish them - body and soul.

I know from my own trials, that it is the little things that matter the most.  The little (big) hugs, excited giggles, good food, and friends to smile and laugh with, morning light through the window, and the gentle whisper of the wind.  Looking at all that is right, and focusing there.

I highly recommend this book, and Lisa at TLC has kindly offered a copy for one of you!  Just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.  (I'm not ready to part with my copy yet.)  I hope I've told you enough about it to whet your appetite, but not too much that you are no longer interested  - it is so well organized and thought out, it reads easily despite the heavy nature of the content.
 
Keeping the Feast: One Couple's Story of Love, Food, and Healing in Italy


I'll select a winner on Monday~
Amy
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The Quilts of Gee's Bend Fabrics

I almost forgot to tell you --

I have had the privilege of working with Windham's Gees Bend collection of hand dyed solid fabrics! They are SO pretty, so much more than the color swatches online show. The slight variations in the fabric is really nice and adds depth to my projects!

(image courtesy of Sew, Mama, Sew)

The quality of fabric is great too, nice weight and feel in my hand. Windham highly encourages a pre-washing in cold water and a color catcher in the wash after you have finished your quilt.

After a quick google search I found the following retailers selling the fabrics, or kits -

Sew, Mama, Sew
Fabric.com
eQuilter.com
If you are a shop owner and have the fabrics in stock leave a comment letting us know! I will add you to the list :)

If you haven't entered yet, there's still time to enter to win a Moda Bake Shop Sampler in yesterday's post!

Good Luck ~
Amy

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Saving Sammy: Curing the Boy Who Caught OCD

I'm excited to have a chance to review Saving Sammy, by Beth Maloney for TLC Book Tours. While the content is serious, the book is well written and a real page turner!
From TLC Book Tours --

"Sammy’s mother, Beth, already coping with the overwhelming responsibility of raising three sons alone, watched helplessly as her middle child descended into madness. Sammy was soon diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and later with Tourette syndrome. Unwilling to accept the doctors’ prognoses for lifelong mental illness and repeated hospitalizations, Beth fought to uncover what was causing this decline. Racing against time as Sammy slipped further from reality, Beth’s quest took her to the center of the medical community’s raging debate about whether mental illness can be caused by infection. With the battle lines firmly drawn, Beth searched until she found two cutting-edge doctors who answered that question with a definitive yes. Together, they cured Sammy. Five years later, he remains symptom free."

I read this book over a 24 hour period - while cooking dinner, waiting for the girls to come out of the school, and while the World Series and Monday Night Football were on! Reading all the struggles that Beth encountered, and the accomplishments, were very intriguing. I found myself, having to know how Sammy got better.

Sammy had some extreme and crippling behaviors, the book begins with a letter to a doctor cataloging these behaviors, in order to prepare the doctor. Simple tasks like getting in the car or walking up the stairs inside the family home would take Sammy hours to manage. Life changing for the family, as Sammy had previously been a happy, healthy, math wizard!

I've never encountered anything quite as difficult with my kids, lots of sleepless nights like most moms, but not sleepless months. Beth kept searching for the doctors that had the answers she needed. She fought for her boy she knew was trapped inside. Like any mom would. In the midst of the struggle, she made a promise to tell others. To help raise awareness, not only of Sammy's situation but also to encourage moms to ask the tough questions and challenge authority when it comes to the health and wellness of your child.

This is video from the Today Show in September --

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

It's pretty impressive to see him now! I want to pass my copy on, leave a comment and I will pick a winner next Monday.

I hope you are well and blessed today ~
Amy

ETA: The winner is AmyR! Congratulations Amy - I've emailed you already, please send me your mailing address.

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Book Review: Daniel X -- Watch the Skies

Something new for me! A while back I joined the MotherTalk network, and was recently asked to review Daniel X - Watch the Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust.

I have to say that action/alien adventures are not usually my first pick in leisure reading - but this book is fun! It is geared for teen boys that haven't found a book to hold their interest - and I imagine it would. Written in the first person you get a sense that you are there with the characters and in on the secret. Who doesn't love to be in "the know?"

Young Daniel is himself an alien and busy fighting his nemesis, Number 5, in a sleepy US town. Daniel is likable and surrounds himself with his materialized, imaginary friends, to help outsmart Number 5. While Number 5 is busy recording reality tv shows, and interfering with normal life. The book is very imaginative and full of adventure!

In the end, this is a fun book and quick read! I would like to giveaway my copy - just leave a comment and I will select a winner Tuesday evening :)

Amy

Comments are now closed
Congratulations to Jenny!

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Quilting Community

I love, and am so thankful for this community of crafters in blogland! I have found another community, just for quilters - My Quilt Patch.

They host an interactive quilting website, including forums, and master quilters sharing their knowledge. My Quilt Patch is a members only site, with a small monthly subscription fee, (this keeps advertising on the site to a minimum) but they offer a free trial month - so you can check it out and decide if it's a good fit for you!

My Quilt Patch has galleries to display your creations, lots of articles to encourage you as you learn new techniques and styles. I found free patterns and project there too!

The quilters forum is a great area to ask questions and share from your experiences, and they seem to have lots of new and fun topics there all the time.

You are also able to promote your blog in your profile, or make a new blog through this site, if you are not yet a blogger. :)

My Quilt Patch is a new site (launched last summer) always looking for fresh quilters to voice their ideas and make new friends. And it is an international crowd too - from the US, Europe and Australia.

If you would like to join this quilters group - click the link for a free trial!