Craft Focus - April/May 2020 (Issue 78)

18 ZWEIGART In addition to the company’s new creative embroidery idea booklets on the topics of Sweet Love, Flower Power, Hardanger and Punch Needle, the company has added numerous new colours to the range. The ‘Sweet Love’ embroidery designs and ‘Save the Date’ designs are perfect for the months ahead with people planning their weddings. +49 (0)7031 7955 zweigart.com JOSEPH BEAR DESIGNS A new launch from Barbara Donovan of Joseph Bear Designs is this complete crochet kit accompanied by a book written by Barbara’s mother, the established author Elizabeth Darrell with artwork by Richard Maes. The kit includes four crochet patterns of the characters of the book, Joseph Bear, Swan, Owl and Hare. Worked in King Cole and James C Brett Super Chunky yarn (all yarn and toy stuffing is in the kit). The kit is worked in the simple double crochet stitch to enable beginners and children starting to learn to crochet to make these figures. The book is also available separately with the four crochet patterns included. Another kit and book Joseph Bear Goes Fly Fishing was released at the end of March. Knitted versions of these kits will soon be available. +44 (0)1202 573 117 josephbeardesigns.co.uk BOSTIK Bostik has introduced Blu Tack® Squares – a new format of the original reusable adhesive, which sees the traditional slab transformed into pre- cut squares, making it even easier to use. With more than 10 million packs sold every year, Blu Tack® is the nation’s favourite reusable adhesive. However, recent consumer research carried out by Bostik showed that 65 per cent of adhesive tack users would like Blu Tack® to be available in pre-cut squares, instead of having to tear pieces off from a slab. The new Blu Tack® Squares will be showcased on the Bostik stand M446 at London Stationery show this september and will be available to buy from summer 2020. customer.services@bostik.com +44 (0)1785 272 625 bostik.com/uk CRYSTAL PARADE Invented by Kellie DeFries, the Crystal Katana will shave time off the process of hand setting-gluing crystals from 1.5mm up to 8.5mm, it will also pick up sequins, paper embellishments and seed beads. It has replaced regular beeswax pickup tools which can leave a residue on your embellishments and tweezers where crystals are prone to ping across the room. Crystal Parade, UK distributor of the Crystal Katana has used this fabulous tool for many exciting projects including crystallizing the drapes for the West End Production of Cinderella whereby a team of 10, each armed with a Crystal Katana, applied more than 60,000 Preciosa crystals in 400 hours. Other projects for the team using the Katana have included embellishing a fully crystallized vintage Singer sewing machine, electric guitar, Febreze bottle gifted to influencer Mrs Hinch and cricket balls for the ICC. Crystal Parade is offering the Crystal Katana at £18.90 which includes a free storage case and free pack of Preciosa crystals and if you enter SEW10 you will receive 10 per cent off the entire order. +44 (0)843 2898 192 crystalparade.co.uk