Quilling Tool Choices

When I opened my first quilling kit in the 70's, there was a regular corsage pin included. This is what I used to learn to quill and still do. I like to use my commercial wooden handle quilling tool when I don't need a really tight center.

 I also use a round wooden toothpick or wooden dowel when I quill with wide, crimped strips to make large pieces.

In 2000 I started making a novelty quilling needle tool with a polymer clay handle. I tested them for a year with different focus groups and then sold over 500 on eBay and at a few NAQG conventions. Seems like 15 years ago a lot of people used needle tools.

I used a regular corsage pin and made all sizes of handles. Then I started making the same tool with a smaller quilters needle for miniature quilling and sold them as sets. I used either gold plated or sterling silver beads and discs at the base.

I experimented quite a bit. These are all the imperfect needle tools I kept and a few I still use. I shined up the handles over the weekend, brushing on a coat of Future floor wax.  I'm going to make some type of enclosed, framed art piece for my craft room with the imperfect ones -- to remind me of that particular time in my life. Plus I just like bright, colorful things around :)

The only slotted tool I have bought, and use to make fringed flowers or roses, is the 4" metal handle. This is all I will say about slotted tools as I know they are the most popular, easiest to use and I want people to use what is best for them.

What are your favorite quilling tools?

Enjoy the week!
~Molly

P.S. I don't make these tools any more.

Cards for Baby ~ quilled elements

I recently came across these baby cards that I made nine years ago in 2002 and decided to share. Remember the speckled paper with matching envelopes that was thick but soft? And I used to put a ribbon in every card I made :) For these I used small paper punches, a few pearls, thin satin ribbon and quilled elements. The balloon string is wire.

The following is a variety of baby buggies for cardmaking or scrapbooking. These were made about five years ago. I weaved 1/8" paper strips and added a glue backing. When dry, I cut out a circle and a piece of the circle .. trimming to the center and then at an angle. Crimping the strips makes it easy to use as multi color trims and adds dimension.

Primary Colors

Twins

Baby Girl

Vintage

Baby Boy

Thanks for looking!
~Molly

Real Simple Refreshments

In case you haven't heard, it is HOT in Texas. We have received only 2.94 inches of rain this year where I live. Nothing is better or more relaxing on a hot day than a refreshing drink, something different, perhaps a mood enhancer. Treat yourself to something refreshing!

Here are 40 Real Simple drink recipes. 

And with drinks you need coasters.

Board Walk Candles and Quilts is the best shop I have found for beautiful quilted coasters. And they are great for gifts because they cost next to nothing to ship. Check them out!

Enjoy!

~Molly

Happy August!

Last Friday, while lurking on Twitter for the first time in a month, I found an eye-catching post by Ann Martin. Many of you already know that if it is unique, over the top, and the very latest quilling .. Ann finds it first. From there I received Susan Myers' permission to link to her fabulous June project. Yes, it was the end of July but like me, Suzy is the queen of UFOs. Below is my favorite coffee mug which represents my favorite painting and the reason for this blog post.

I love an artist who can go from a sewing machine to plaster and then sit down and quill something like this. So I wanted to share Suzy's June project in August :o) I think it is amazingly beautiful. The colors are gorgeous. I like her description of quilling as "painting with paper". And, it is not only a piece of quilled art, it is a HUGE piece of quilled art. Her quilled Vincent van Gogh The Starry Night is 2 by 3 feet in size!

Suzy's details are shown here. Her lastest box of chocolates pincushion tutorial post is equally amazing. AND she also decorates and sells gorgeous Ukrainian eggs .. and that whole process totally blows my mind.

Happy August to all ~
Molly