Happy New Year from Cedar Canyon Textiles!

It is just beautiful outside today – we've had fog and very little wind for a couple of days, and the frost on the trees (and everything else) is nothing short of amazing! I went out to shoot a few photos this morning. We don't have pretty blue skies to add color to the scene, but the frost is something to behold. Believe it or not, these are color photos.

REMINDER: The online store is closing...

Just a gentle reminder that our online store is closing on January 1, 2008. Your enthusiasm for paintstiks is incredible, and we have to make changes to our business structure to keep up with everyone! Visit our Service page for complete details if you missed the announcement in the last newsletter. Or click here for a link to the mid-December newsletter.

Remember, you will always have access to our complete line of paintstik and accessory products. Our friends at Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines have added our entire product line to their online store. Visit the Quilting Arts online store at http://quiltingarts.com/shop/QAshoppe.html. (Link opens in new window.) You can also visit our Locate A Retailer page for links to Online Retailers, Show Vendors and retail stores in your area that carry our products. We have recently updated this page to make it more user-friendly.

Featured Online Retailers

Laura Murray Designs is home to paintstiks and rubbing plates (of course) along with amazing hand-painted, vintage kimono fabrics. Laura is also a stencil designer, with at least 20 incredible stencils in her collection. If you like garment sewing, check out the Garment Pattern pages. A number of Laura's garment samples have been embellished with paintstik colors. Laura, along with husband Jim, travels to sewing and quilting shows around the nation. You can visit with them and see her fabulous fabrics in person at these shows.

Joggles.com is a fascinating online retailer. If I remember correctly, joggles.com began with doll-making supplies. My, oh my, that business has grown! Owner Barbara Stembicki says "Welcome to joggles.com where I hope you will find everything you need to create textile and mixed media art in all its forms. From dolls to art quilts, fabric & altered books, journals to wearable art, purses and paper dolls and much more!" You'll find our paintstiks under Mixed Media Embellishments at the joggles.com site.

We'll be featuring shops and sites in future newsletters, so stay tuned!

That's a good question...

Q:  "How do I use your brush soap? There are no instructions on the package."

A: Oops! I've cleaned so many stencil brushes that I didn't even think about instructions. We'll have to see if we can come up with something short and sweet that will fit on the label. At any rate, here is my method for using the brush soap.

Dip your brush into the brush soap. Rub the brush soap into the bristles. I rub the bristles in a circular, scrubbing motion in the palm of my free hand. Once you have worked the brush soap thoroughly through the bristles, rinse the soap from the brush under warm, running water. It may take more than one application of soap if there is a lot of paint in the brush. Remove excess water with a towel and allow the brushes to dry before using them again.

Paintstik color will often stain the brushes, so the brush may not return to its original color after it is washed. The only product I have found that will completely remove the stains is homemade lye soap -- a gift from one of my students. Your brush may be clean, but still discolored.

If you have a question, send it in. To see the answers to other questions, go to our (brand new) That's a Good Question page in the Learning Center.

Have a fabulous new year! And again, we thank you so much for your support as we continue to expand our business.

Shelly Stokes