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 [...]

Jewel tones

Crisp edges
Bold Contrast
Geometrical Shapes
Surprise

These are the qualities that describe most of my art quilts. These are the design elements I frequently post about on “Your Inspiration Zone” blog. You can see how I make them on my website, Quilts4u.com.
I find visual inspiration everywhere. I don’t feel the need to make Statement Quilts, and expressing [...]

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 [...]

The National Quilt Museum announces 18 winning quilts from the 2010 An Old Favorite Contest.
on exhibit Mar. 19 – June 15, 2010 and traveling through Dec. 2011.

The Paducah Sun, Jan. 1, 2010
The National Quilt Museum has announced the 18 winning quilts of the 2010 Sunflower-themed New Quilts from an Old Favorite contest.
These quilts represent [...]

a website review of The Quilt Index – quiltindex.org

The Quilt Index is a growing research and reference tool designed to provide unprecedented access to information and images about quilts held in private and public hands.
It is a joint project of The Alliance for American Quilts and several several entities of Michigan State University. [...]

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)

Do these odd baubles appeal to your geometric instincts? I see quilts all over the place.
Round things, pointy things, the energy in these ornaments can animate your ideas and your art work. Why not bookmark this page for after the holiday season.

Color Palette + Design = Impact
These Creative Commons.org photos by Crystal Writer demonstrate that traditional quilt styles combined with stellar palette choices and ingenious layouts can result in stunning artistic art quilts. Enjoy Crystal’s computer created kaleidoscopes. More photos by Crystal Writer and her personal vision.
Why not try a new direction in the new year, [...]

in the CQA Quilting News
Artist evolving as quiltmaker
Nancy Crow’s latest work, the ‘Markings’ series, shows she’s kicked it up a notch
article by Dorothy Shinn Ohio Beacon Journal art and architecture critic, 11/08/2009
In the past, I’ve had difficulty writing about the work of Nancy Crow.
It’s not her fault. She’s seen as a leader in her field.
In [...]

In the CQA Quilting News
from the Idaho Statesman, 11/05/09, by BY DANA OLAND doland@idahostatesman.com
Artists from Gee’s Bend see life and history in every quilt they make
To Louisiana Pettway Bendolph, the beautiful quilts she makes are like her children.
“You have to love them first, and then you have to let them go,” she says softly, [...]

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 [...]

3685, a poem about the DMC embroidery floss color, burgundy red 3685,
by Stephen Beal,  The Very Stuff *, Poems on color, thread, and the habits of women. (It seems appropriate to celebrate burgundy at harvest time.)
Say you see it in a store, in a dress, this red, you could well say,
“Too dark” and pass [...]

International Street Markets
These photos of markets from around the world should inspire your quilter’s eye. Not only the autumn colors, but the repetition of shapes, variety of arrangements and mysterious produce add a local flavor that would energize a delicious art quilt. All photos were taken from Flickr’s The Creative Commons.
After preparing this post and [...]

2009 Houston Show Winners, some of my favorites-

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 [...]