Morning Glory Designs

Every once in awhile something you have anticipated for a long time finally arrives.  Sort of like waiting for Christmas when you were a kid.

Well my kind of Christmas has arrived!  EQ8 has been released.  Wow.  As a designer, a day doesn't go by that I don't use my EQ7 computer design software.  I was thrilled to be given the chance to help beta test the new EQ8 and had a chance to play and learn.  The new EQ8 has some features I really love, and will be telling you about a few of them over the next few weeks.

The really good news, however, is that the order I placed for EQ8 upgrades is shipping today!  That means that those of you who pre-ordered on my website last week (when my newsletter came out) will be getting your copy very soon!

In addition, the EQ Blog is listing the top 10 new features of EQ8 and you might want to take a look at that if you want to see what's new and improved.

Here is my favorite new feature:  the updated user interface (start screen).

The new interface is task-oriented making it so much easier to work with.  When you open the program you have three options.  Design a quilt, draw a block, or import fabric.  Wow.  Now that is smooth and simple.  

If you want to design a quilt you have 3 options:  open a file you already created, open a new file for a new project, or use a Quick Quilt project.  If you have never explored quick quilt, it has dozens of pre-designed quilts, even a new t-shirt quilt layout, that you can use as a starting point.  Of course you can edit the color, fabric, size and style of any of these quick quilts.

If you want to draw a block you have 2 options:  design a block from scratch using the block drawing tools (more powerful than ever), or search for a block in the amazing new updated block library with more than 6000 blocks!  

The coolest new feature of the interface is the ability to scan fabric right from the start screen to get your fabric into the program first, before you start to design.  Many new features for cropping, sizing, straightening, and scaling your fabric scans are at your fingertips, and not hidden away in menus you have to hunt through.

Images are from the EQ website:  www.electricquilt.com

Can you tell I am excited?

Of course I will be offering classes this fall and winter at Quilting Bits and Pieces in Eudora, KS.  But I am also available to travel to your shop or guild to show you a preview (so you can decide if you want to buy it or not), or to teach you how to use the new version of EQ8 once you have purchased the program.

Two things you should know.

If you have EQ7 you can purchase EQ8 at a discount price right now!  Currently it is $74.96 on the EQ website, but that price is an introductory special and won't last for more than a week or two.  

I have it on my website as well:  www.morningglorydesigns.com  along with a few other EQ products I carry.  I am not a big retailer, but carry items which students typically request when I travel and teach. 

If you have EQ6 or EQ Mini you can still upgrade for a special price.  Check out the EQ website for more information.

The new stand alone EQ8 will be $239.95.  It won't be available for a few weeks yet, I was told this morning, but you can still pre-order it for 25% off on the EQ website.  I have ordered a few copies of the complete EQ8 and will also offer them at a discount when they arrive.

Both Mac and PC versions are available.

Want to know more?  Stay tuned.  I will be working on tutorials all winter which you will find on my website.