Originally Posted by
mckwilter
I googled "rotating cutting mat" and found a Martelli 16" round mat for $27.19 at Staples.com. Michaels and JoAnns.com both had Olfa and Fiskars 8x8" (around $15) and 12-1/2 x 12-1/2" (around $35). I have the 8x8, and it is great for trimming HSTs and would work well for cutting pieces with small templates. Also, if weighs almost nothing and I take it to classes and retreats just in case it might come in handy. I have seen the Martellis demonstrated at the Houston Quilt Festival, and they are very well built.
The martelli mat at staples that is $27.xx is only the top mat. Not the turning part. It's basically just a circular cutting mat. You have to buy the mat plus the turntable base, which is another $38.xx, to make a mat that is truly rotatable.
There's also an ironing surface attachment for the martelli system. I have all 3 pieces, which I got from martelli during a 50% off sale. I love it. I have the fiskars rotating mat and I don't like it at all.