In looking back thru all the tips, I know I’ve talked about taking classes.  I realized I haven’t told you about classes I teach.  I’m teaching in Paducah for AQS Week,  April 22-25!

I bring this up now to encourage you to register soon as many classes are already full.  Three ofmine are FULL!  Twirl-A-Tool still has a few spots left, so if you’ve wanted to take a class with me, don’t delay in registering.  I’m also presenting at both All-Star Reciews.   I will have a booth in the Pavillion again this year, Booth #4403.  Be sure to stop by as I’ll be demo-ing Brilliant Bindings when I’m not teaching a class.  I now offer 10 patterns that use Brilliant Bindings as a template to make those patterns!  Brilliant Bindings is double duty and more!

The weekend before last, I attended one of my guild’s getaway weekend!  We were on Cape Cod, loving known as “The Cape” in New England.  With 50+ mile an hour winds and many inches of snow, it was nice to be inside with humming machines and a room full of creative women!  We watched the bay go from icey edges to a layer of of ice for many yards out.  What an amazing sight!

Beach at bottom edge. Ice out to lighthouse!

At the getaway I was cutting many, many strips for a project.  Do you have a method for speeding up the process?  Instead of cutting one strip at a time and removing it and then cutting the next, try cutting several before removing.  I straighten one edge and then move my ruler to the furthest measurement I can cut.  3 x 2 1/2″ = 7 1/2″. I move my ruler to 7 1/2″, make a cut, move to 5″, cut and finally to 2 1/2″ and cut.  This helps me save time with fewer movements.  I’ve shown this in the photos below.  Notice the cut line.  It is very faint as I leave it in place until I’ve made all three cuts.

Cut at 7 1/2″

Cut at 5″

Cut at 2 1/2″

#1 – find time saving methods to speed up your cutting process.

With cutting a lot of strips, I want to be sure my blade is sharp!  When changing a blade, remove parts in order.  This will ensure you put it back together in the correct order!

#2 – keep rotary cutter parts in ORDER!

May all your cuts be straight with a sharp cutter!

~ Debbie