Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Mother Superior's Blog Has Moved

We are excited to announce that Mother Superior's Blog has moved to a new location. Our new address is http://www.SuperiorThreads.com/blog.

Please update your bookmarks and/or RSS feeds.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Texture Magic Tuesday/ Heirloom Baby Ensemble

Make an heirloom outfit for a special baby in your life using today’s modern techniques.
Achieve the look of hand smocking in a fraction of the time by using Texture Magic™!

Heirloom Baby Ensemble by Annie Unrein
Pattern includes complete, step-by-step instructions for texturizing fabric as well as assembling gown with self-lined bodice and border trim, bonnet, and slippers.

Sized to fit infants, newborn to six months.

Beaded lace trims, beads, and ribbons make beautiful, but easy embellishments

Texture Magic works well with all fabrics, including silk.
All three pieces can be made using 1 yard package of Texture Magic.

Your precious little one will look like an angel in this beautiful gown, bonnet, and slippers.
Heirloom Baby Ensemble can be ordered on our web site.

Monday, April 5, 2010

The Longarms are In!

In preparation for the School of Threadology, several of our longarm machines are now in.

We now have 5 machines that have been set up, with more on the way.

Come and play with us! Imagine a class where you can use all of our Superior Threads and try many of the major brands of midarms and longarms on the market today.

Our staff has been in training on the use of the longarms.
The men, too.

Even Bob has given each machine a try.

Make sure to check the calendar on our website for upcoming classes.
All school sessions will also be announced in Bob's newsletter.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Kinkakuji Quilt

The most famous Buddhist temple in Japan is located near one of our thread factories in Kyoto. It is called Kinkakuji which means the Golden Pavilion. The temple is situated in a small lake and the building is gold plated. When the sun hits it, the building lights up -- it glows! It is quite the site to see!
While attending the quilt show in Paducah a few years ago, we stayed at a bed and breakfast and happened to meet Trina Weller, a fellow guest who was working on some beautiful quilts.
Bob had always wanted a pictorial quilt of Kinkakuji to remind us of our 10 years in Japan and we asked Trina if she would make a quilt of this beautiful temple. She said, "Sure!"
Her friend Leona Law did the design and painting and Trina did the construction and quilting. Trina used so many different applique techniques in this quilt that I can't name them all. It is a masterpiece!
Threads Used: Metallics, Highlights, and Bottom Line. The border has Rainbows and Nature Colors.
Our Kinkakuji Quilt now hangs in an honored place in our Japanese Room.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Texture Magic Tuesday/ Handmade Cards

We are always looking for new ways to use Texture Magic.
Our appreciation today goes to Margaret Miller of St. George, Utah for sharing with us a handmade card she received that incorporated Texture Magic.

This was Pat Rimpau and Maggie Nicholes' way of saying "thank you" to Margaret who had taught them how to use Texture Magic in a purse class.
The fabric card was designed and created by Carolyn Chuatiuco, a member of the Dixie Quilt Guild.

The texturized fabric has been framed for the front of the card. A simple and yet unique process that can be applied to cards and even scrapbook pages.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Bowing To Bob

Now that we have an authentic Japanese room in our new building addition, Bob, who spent 10 years in Japan, kindly gave the women of our office a lesson in properly bowing.

In authentic style, we must first take our shoes off at the door and neatly line them up. No shows on the tatami (straw mats). Sometimes you can go home with a better pair of shoes!

Pat, our office manager answers the door most humbly when Bob knocks. Nice form, Pat! Head down, hands together. "Please enter, most honorable master."

He enters to make sure all is well. "Hey, do like Pat!"

Much better.
And the instruction of how to bow correctly begins (and seems to go on way too long). "Most honorable master, may we humbly get up now? My legs are hurting."
OK, we think he is enjoying this too much!

More instruction on beautiful artwork.

More bowing, when there is another knock at the door!
Superior Baby Avilyn is most curious to know where all the laughter is coming from.

We tried to teach her she must bow too, but she won't have anything to do with it.

She would rather stick with American customs and jumped into Grandpa's arms.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Japanese Room Now Finished

Having lived in Japan for 10 years, we desired to create a Japanese Room when we added the new addition to our building.
The name of this room is "Kaizen no ma" which means the space of continual improvement.

This room has been designed as a place of study and for meetings. We also frequently use this room to study Japanese. Bob is the 'sensei'.

Our employees may use this room to brainstorm new ideas or to contemplate.

The furnishings may look plain or unfinished to some, but this room design is authentic. The mats are made out of straw. The room is designed to bring nature inside. It is very simple, yet beautiful.


An area to display art.

A quilt that features one of the most famous temples in Japan, Kinkakuji, hangs in the alcove. There will be more on this quilt in a future blog.