An Expert Machine Quilter’ Blog
Seems recently I keep running across beautiful blogs of machine quilting experts who specialize in feathers.  Feathers appear simple and elegant. Most things that look simple to do are in fact challenging. Making complicated things appear easy is what the pros do.
Sally Bramald’s blog has a beautiful header which immediately draws [...]

New AQS Show in Lancaster, PA

The American Quilter’s Society has added the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster PA as the location for a fourth show and contest in 2010, (others being in Des Moines, IA, Knoxville, TN and Paducah KY). Approximately 200 quilts will be judged  in various categories with more than [...]

Gary W. Priester’s 3D Stereogram Gallery
In this post you will see 4 stereograms created by Gary W. Priester, c0-author of several Magic Eye books of stereograms. Gary also has a lot of information on stereogram creation on his Eyetricks.com website. While next to impossible, I think, to create a true stereogram with fabric, these stereogram [...]

in the CQA Quilting News
from the Lansing City Pulse
MSU Museum Shows Off Quilt Scholar’s Collection through Sept. 5, 2010,
by Eric Gallippo
‘Unpacking Collections’
The Legacy of Cuesta Benberry, African- American Quilt Scholar
Visitors to Michigan State University Museum’s “Unpacking Collections” exhibit will get a peek into the vast research and materials accumulated by pioneering quilt scholar Cuesta [...]

Quilting Retreats come in endless shapes and sizes.

An Internet Search for Quilters Retreats brings up the sites listed below. There are many others not listed.
These lists were compiled in Oct, 2009. The information is provided for your convenience. Please copy and paste any URL into your browser. These listings are not active links. (too much [...]

Two Books to Consult if you’re thinking of Accelerating your Quilting Career

Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers – This excellent guide produced by Linda Hahn and Merry May introduces the reader to the incredibly wide variety of careers available in today’s quilting world. The book offers practical advice and detailed instructions on how to start [...]

Imagine all the people,
living life under a quilt. You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will live as one (var. John Lennon)

TO MY READERS, PEACE,  PERSONAL HARMONY, AND MAKING AT LEAST ONE QUILT FOR CHARITY IN [...]

Photos of Unusual Holiday Light Inspire Shining and Exuberant Quilts
(and kindle ideas for cheerful, joyful, bubbly, bouncy and merry quilts as well)

How Green and Red Became Symbols of Christmas

© Nicole Skutelnik, in Cultural Anthropology, Oct 7, 2008 -posted here with permission of N. Skutelnik
Green and red. Together, these colors are immediately associated with Christmas. But where did that convention come from?
In fact, the convention began very long ago. There are two accepted beliefs about the origin [...]

in the CQA Quilting News, December 4, 2009
YOU MEAN 72% OF US BUY FROM BIG BOX ART RETAILERS?

excerpt from: Tips to buying art at Metro Arts Expo, by Michael Morain,  Des Moines Register, 11-1-09
(with specific reference to quilt art purchases)

Des Moines Arts Festival director Stephen King was speaking to a community group a few [...]

Sagittarius, November 23 to December 21
Sagittarius, if you have definite aims and objectives, with your good administrative abilities, you will be forceful in getting your quilt projects finished up.
Without a clear vision, your sensitivity and vagueness may lead you to drift and those unfinished projects could pile up.
As a lover of freedom, you would [...]

The person who “has everything” probably doesn’t have a hand made quilt.
Since it’s a one of a kind type of gift, a hand made quilt suggests that your loved one or friend also is special. When you give a hand made quilt, they receive a beautiful treasure.
It’s the beauty of the unexpected unique gift item, [...]

2009 Hoffman Challenge Winners Announced and

2010 Collection Announced

Fabrics for the 2010 Hoffman Challenge have been announced. The theme fabric is shown below.
Hoffman Challenge is the place to go for all the information you need to consider if you plan to enter next year’s contest. Apparently up to 1000 entries are received annually.
The Hoffman [...]

When you are inspired by a scene or subject
original post dated August 31, 2009, from Fine Arts Views, written by Keith Bond
1.  Figure out what it is that excites you.
2.  Then develop a composition which helps express that emotion.
3.  Make informed choices.  Use color and techniques which also emphasize, not distract from, your [...]

Scorpio – October 23 to November 21 Birthdays
Being passionate, Scorpios can be excellent quilters. When they rely on their natural intuition, they excel at choosing colour and pattern combinations.
Sometimes their compulsive nature can cause problems, as they leave projects unfinished in their quest to have the latest and greatest. When they stick with a project [...]

Increasing quilt artists’ visibility on the WWW
It is difficult to be noticed in cyberspace. Most artists do not possess the knowledge or time needed to create and maintain an effective web presence. Very few understand the complexities of search engines. Internet communities are a great way to raise visibility on the Internet and attract search [...]

“a breath that draws your breath into its breathing”

Three women of the 20th century, Emily Carr, Georgia O’Keefe and Frida Kahlo were strong willed and uncompromising artists. All 3 were North Americans, each drawn to expressing her unique personal relationship to her world. They are universally considered iconic women artists.
The art of Carr, O’Keefe [...]

Libra birthdays, Sept. 24 to Oct. 22

Easy going and sociable, Libra quilters are great fun to have in patchwork quilting classes and workshops. They enjoy helping others and never turn down a request to lend a hand to pin a quilt top.
Friends are very important to Libra and they don’t mind sharing their stash or tools. [...]

Copying digital photos for the WWW – what’s OK and what’s not – YES, NO, and MAYBE

Please note – this post has been modified twice since 09 09 15 due to changes being made with photo sharing websites, (eg. Creative Commons). Keep updated by visiting the share sites discussed in this post.
It’s very tempting, [...]

Words of Wisdom for Artists and just about anyone else
Maybe you are struggling with difficulties in your life. Maybe it’s an energy block in your art. Maybe you are in a lonely place, in uncharted waters.
Take comfort that many others have been there before. Listen to some experienced voices*:
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. [...]