Issue 12: November 2007
Editor: Sharla R. Hicks
Newsletter index for all issues

• FAQs
  1. Holiday Themed Activity using LuminArte's Polish Pigments & Mica Powders
     
     
• Online Store News
  1. Last Minute Gift Ideas for Quilters
  2. Clearance 30%, 40% and 50% off, limited to stock on hand

From the Keyboard of Sharla Hicks

Welcome to Computer Quilting Bytes.

Wow, is your holiday season as busy as mine. I am not sure the staff here at Soft Expressions has caught their breath after a very busy November, but we are geared up to help you with your quilting needs during December and the coming year.

Below find gift ideas for quilters, a wonderful Holiday Activity for the family & friends using LuminArte's Polished Pigments, and some great priced CLEARANCE items.

Soft Expressions is starting December 2007 with a BANG with an Open House at our Warehouse the first Saturday of December with a new mini-quilt exhibit and a book signing to meet the author and contributors event. We will be having fabric embellishments demo's during the day using foil, fabric inks, stencils, sponges, polished pigments and more. Hope to see you there.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

Great Family & Friends Activity for the Holidays

One of the great new lines we have added for quilt embellishment is the LuminArte Polished Pigments (dry pigment powders with a touch of mica for metallic sparkle.) Turn polished pigment into permanent paint by mixing the dry pigment with Simple Solutions, an acrylic medium designed specifically for the LuminArte line. Then paint on all kinds of surfaces like fabric, glass, leather, plastic, metal, gourds, wood and even the inside of ornaments. See below how we used them to create Brilliant Baubles AKA Holiday Ornaments

Polished Pigments Brilliant Baubles

Sizes: 4 oz. & 8 oz Simple Solutions Soft, Medium, & Firm Each works on a different types of surfaces: Use on fabric, leather, plastic, paper, glass, wood, polymer clay, & more Brilliant Baubles

Pure Mica Iridescents & Metallics Brilliant Baubles

Brillant Baubles
& Polished Pigments
Activity

If you are looking for a WONDERFUL family and friends project around the Christmas theme, consider Brillant Baubles! The ornaments are decorated on the INSIDE! and are absolute magic to make. Add your own outside can be embellished.

For instructions on this fun activity

For instructions on this fun activity

Sharla spent the month of September at the Los Angeles County Fair doing Make and Take Demo's using our new line of LuminArt Polished Pigments and Mica to create Ornaments aka Brillant Baubles. A fun time was had by all and when family and friends sat down to play or gathered around to watch.

• The wees ones 2-4 participated by selecting the colors that the parents put inside the balls.
• Sharla found that the 5-7 year olds had shorter attention spans and required someone at their elbow to help, plus they liked doing the small balls because they were faster.
• The 8-9 years old needed close adult supervision to keep them on track and not waste pigments.
• The teens (boys and girls) were super excited and came up with some very creative coloring.
• The adult men were the most fun to watch as they would advise their wives and friends about color choices and the lady would protest "This is my ball, do your own!" and then they would throw up their arms and say, "Oh just give me one," because they did not want to be left out.

Sharla was a hit at the after Thanksgiving Dinner party at her large family gathering (30+). As the table cleared she brought out the pigments and micas and everyone made 2-3 balls each. The grandparents in were in awe exclaiming, "I have never seen any activity that involved everyone in the room that was not food!" Even Sharla's 75 year old father and mother made 2 each!!

For instructions to do the Brilliant Bauble Ornaments

Now on to last minute Christmas Shopping Ideas
&
Some Great CLEARANCE Prices

Checkout our gift line for quilters
Examples Below.
GIFT INDEX for additional ideas

Expanded Laurel Burch Line
Designer Totes, Purses, Socks, Mugs, Plates, Charms, Earrings & Books

Laurel Burch fans will be happy to know that we have expanded our selection to include her full line of Bags & Totes, Jewelry and Ceramic Plates and Cups.

Laurel Burch Mugs Ceramic Mugs

Jewelry Index Laurel Burch Pins & Earrings

Socks Index Laurel Burch Solemates & K-Bell Socks

Laurel Burch Fantastic Felines Ceramic Plates

example

example

example

example

example

Quilt Themed Calendars are always a hit with quilters

One of my favorites is the Baby Sock Coin Purse. Popular with the Adults and Children

More info here

More info here

More info here

More info here

More info here

Rebecca Barker's Quiltscape Mouse Pads & Puzzles are always popular

Rebecca Barker Painting Influenced Quiltscapes Mouse Pads

Mouse Pad Spools

Mouse Pad Stacked Flower Quilts

Mouse Pad Delectable Mountains

Mouse Pad Feathered Star Quiltscape

Rebecca Barker Paintings Influenced Book,Quiltscapes & Other Jigsaw Puzzles	Book Quiltscapes II by Rebecca Barker	Puzzle Cactus Flower	Puzzle Sunflowers	Puzzle Pumpkin Vine
	Puzzle Airplanes	Puzzle Feathered Stars	Puzzle Pennsylvania Dutch	Puzzle Spools

Rebecca Barker Painting Influenced Quiltscapes Mouse Pads

Mouse Pad Spools

Mouse Pad Stacked Flower Quilts

Mouse Pad Delectable Mountains

Mouse Pad Feathered Star Quiltscape

Diane Phalen Painting Influenced Books and Puzzles

Book Quilts from a Painter's Art by Diane Phalen

Puzzle Lazy Cats

Puzzle Delectable Mountain

Puzzle Floating Sisters

Puzzle Hole In the Barn Door

Jigsaw Puzzles by Various Artists

The Family Circle by Lee Stroncek

The Quilting Bee by Bob Pettes

Time for a Nap by Gre' Gerardi

It Takes Two by Adele Earnshaw

Jane Wooster Scott Jigsaw Puzzle The Garden Quilting Club

Jane Wooster Scott Jigsaw Puzzle A Golden Age

Ready for Photo Transfer Jigsaw Puzzles: 110 or 30 piece

Quilting Girls White	Quilting Girls Black	Making Music Black	Tubular Cow Knee Highs	Relax Top Floral Ombre Scallop Pink
K Bell Women's Themes	Cat with Fancy Hat Black	All Over Hats Black	Shoes	Handbags

Laurel Burch Soul Mates AKA Socks

Mythical Mares Black	Sea Goddess Blue	Polka Dot Leopards Black	Rainbow Cat Wavy Stripes	Blue Feline
Celestial Cat Black	Feline Friends	Rainbow Giraffe	Rainbow Sun	Dog and Doggie

30, 40 & 50% off CLEARANCE
Limited to Stock On Hand

We would like to thank you all for your support over the last 10 years. Our business continues to grow and our warehouse is bursting at the seams so we are clearing out some product lines to make room for all our new items.

50% off: $1.99 Each Dye It! Everything to dye 1 yard of fabric with Fiber Reactive Dyes

50% off:, Limited to Stock on hand Green Orange & Yellow & Rose Bud Purple to Lilac

30% OFF Sale Limited to Stock on hand Candamar Designs Stitch 'n' Quilt Embellished Cross Stitch Kits

30% OFF Hummingbird Pillow 30% OFF San Francisco Quilt

30% OFF Liberty's Light 30% OFF Kitty In Yarn Basket

30% OFF Beyond Spring Gate

30% OFF Garden of Dreams

Jennifer Lockey Book & Machine Embroidery Designs on CD	SALE 40% off Come Have Tea with Me	SALE 40% OFF Bunny Hop	SALE 40% OFF Crown of Beauty	SOLD OUT Snowflake Wonderland
	SALE 40% OFF Sweet Flower Wreath Mini Quilt	SALE 40% OFF Tree so Tall		Book 20% off Machine-Embroidered Quilts

Feedback and questions are welcome!
e-mail: info@softexpressions.com



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