April is here, and creativity is in full bloom!
We've got a fresh new project by Sew4Home to spark your making, and we just got back from AQS New England Quilt Week in Hartford, CT—what a wonderful show experience!
We're also featuring another book we love in the cosplay world, filled with inspiration to bring new energy and ideas into your creative practice.
And if you're planning your quilt show calendar, be sure to read this to the end to find out where we'll be near Chicago in May (Psst…there's a big launch coming soon)! Come visit us in person, try your favorite Oliso tools, and say hello!
Michele
Director of content and community
A Project from Sew4Home
The front of a decorator pillow is like a blank slate for creativity. Sew4Home took that inspiration and ran with it for their long lumbar pillow featuring a center panel of unique twisted strips. Solid color fronts flip to show pretty prints behind. See the full project here.
A Book We Love
Discover how the right fabric, from the ordinary to the intricate, can transform any project! The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fabrics & Unconventional Materials provides the essential information to cut, pin, sew, and finish a wide range of difficult materials with confidence.
Learn how to successfully transfer patterns, prevent fabric mishaps, and master techniques that suit each fabric's needs. Explore slippery layers or bulky textures through practical, step-by-step guidance and expert tips. Plus, explore alternative methods, like fabric-friendly adhesives, when traditional stitching won't cut it. With this resource, even the most challenging materials become manageable and fun to work with!
Annye Driscoll believes that cosplay brings joy, that making is an incredible form of creative self-expression, and (most importantly!) that everyone can cosplay. Their cosplay focuses on highly detailed craftsmanship, and they're willing to spend a year on a cosplay to get it right. Annye lives in Ohio with their husband, cats, horse, and a school of fancy guppies.
Oliso will host Annye for a signing + demo at h+h americas in May on the Wednesday and Friday! Come and say hello!
Explore Something New
Amy Barickman shared a beautiful hand embroidery project with us at QuiltCon from her new book Love You to Pieces: A Gift of Friendship. Her transfers were easy and precise with the Oliso M3Pro Project Iron. Missed the demo? Check out Amy's blog to explore her favorite transfer methods and download the design to create your own.
AQS QuiltWeek – New England
We just returned from AQS QuiltWeek – New England in Hartford, CT. It was the first year at this location and the show was brimming with inspiring classes and lectures. They'll be back with the show again next year August 4th - 7th, 2027. We had so much fun with Oliso Booth staff, Arya Muska and Rebecca Makas greeting new and existing customers.
The 10th annual Cherrywood Challenge called "The Abyss - Creatures from the Deep" was among some of my favorites at AQS this year as you can see by my close-up shots of a few of the entries. There was also an exhibit with Quilts of Valor and one that honors America's 250th birthday!
A "Sole"ful Product Feature
Meet the Oliso M3Pro Project Iron in AQUA – tailor-made for sewing, quilting, and crafting, with the performance of a full-size iron in a sleek, compact design. Comes with the Solemate silicone hot iron rest.
Where next?
The Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival (f+f) is an upcoming major multi-craft event in the Chicago area. This inaugural festival is designed to bring together creators, brands, and hobbyists across a wide variety of crafts. Oliso is the official iron sponsor for the workshops so if you take a class you'll be using our irons! Stop by our booth to say hello!
Right on the heels of f+f, we'll be at h+h americas, the leading trade show, bringing together industry professionals, brands, and creatives from across the fiber arts world. Oliso will be there! Stop by our booth to say hello. We can't spill the beans just yet, but we'll have an exciting product launch at h+h and a great line up of influencers and demos in the Oliso booth!
