In this recent post I told you my method for making handles for purses or totes. I use one of my favorite sewing tools, the Fasturn. The Fasturn is a slick as snot tool for making fabric tubes. My handles start off as a fabric tube and I then insert a piece of belting.
Well, thanks to the power of google, David Graham found my blog entry and contacted me. David’s father, Don Graham invented the Fasturn. David credits both his parents for the incarnation of the Fasturn. His mom needed a tool for making fabric tubes and she asked her husband to come up with something and the Fasturn was born! How cool is that! The Fasturn became a cottage industry and is now a business called The Crowning Touch. All those Fasturns are made in the USA, made in Oregon. The website has several other sewing items too.
David has asked me to extend an offer to my fellow bloggers. If you ring him up, 800-729-0280 and mention my blog, he will give you a 30% discount on their products. FAB!
The story of Don Graham and the Fasturn reminded me of a book I read several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed. I enjoyed it so much I went back to the library yesterday and got it so that my daughters can read it. The title is "Mother’s of Invention: From the Bra to the Bomb, Forgotten Women and Their Unforgettable Ideas" . The book is about women like Betty Nesmith who invented Liquid Paper and was the mother of Michael Nesmith. (you are dating yourself if you remember who that is!)
So don’t miss that last train to Clarksville and check out the Fasturn and the Mother’s of Invention read at your local library.
GeorgiaPeachez - Wreaths and More 
very cool GP!
I am a Fast Turn devotee as well.
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Thank you so much for commenting on my book, Papier Mache Treasures! I lived in Norfolk,VA for a long time and lease my house out, just love the area so much I couldn’t sell it! I am so envious (a bad trait I know!) of people with such wonderful blogs!You are so talented I will keep returning.
Teena
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Wow,,this world just gets smaller and smaller, huh?
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Thanks for the Fasturn history…they sure are handy. I hadn’t heard of them until I took a doll making class with Renee Plains at a Liberty Gathering back in 2002. I always got so frustrated trying to turn fabric before that. The Teena Flanner book is really fabulous. I’m planning on using her technique for my Hippity Hop Easter Swap project…wish me luck!
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Thanks for the Fasturn history…they sure are handy. I hadn’t heard of them until I took a doll making class with Renee Plains at a Liberty Gathering back in 2002. I always got so frustrated trying to turn fabric before that. The Teena Flanner book is really fabulous. I’m planning on using her technique for my Hippity Hop Easter Swap project…wish me luck!
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Okay, so I remember the Monkees…I’m a believer. That was a very cool post. You never know what the universe will turn up. xxoo, Susan
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What a cool thing that Mr. Fasturn got in touch with you! LOve my Fasturn A LOT!~~~Yes, my favorite Monkee is living off of the White Out fortune, sigh….XXOO, Beth
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Now I have to get a Fasturn! I bought some thing like it a while back & I got so frustrated trying to make it work – I just threw it in the drawer.
I used to come up with great ideas all the time & then I’d find out someone else invented it. lol. Last night I got a brilliant idea to make life easier – I just need the actual person to develop it.
I didn’t know that about Monkee Michael Nesmith’s mother – sounds like a really interesting book. I love the Monkees music, too. 🙂
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I’ve seen and heard about the fast turn! How neat that the son contacted you! I could use one of those one day!
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I bought my fast turn kit a long time ago (5-6-7 years?) from our local sewing machine shop, it’s a cool kit. I didn’t know the inventors were in my state (Oregon!), just a few hours away!
*Heidi*
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I am definately buying one! Thanks for the info.
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That is pretty cool! Makes me wish I knew how to sew! I’ll have to pass this on.
Karla
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Hot dog! That liquid paper lady is one of my favorite pieces of trivia. And Mike was my favorite Monkee too. I really missed him when he skipped their reunion concert in 1986. Wow, I really am dating myself 🙂
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How wonderful!
I’ve gotten behind on my blog reading this week and just saw your post on handles.
That was always my least favorite part of making bags! Turning interfaced fabric can be a challenge. And with the double fold method I was scorching my fingerprints off…ouch.
I’m getting a Fasturn and some belting.
Thanks for the great tips!
Kimberly 🙂
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