When you make a quilt, at some point you will have to consider the quilt binding. You may opt for an elaborate binding that makes an impact on the overall design, a simple and subtle binding, or no binding at all.

Last year about this time, I was inspired by a group dyeing adventure at the Interweave offices to host my own dyeing party at home.

When I returned to New England from QuiltCon in Austin, Texas, this week, I couldn't help but notice: it snowed again while I was gone. Yes, while I was in the climate-controlled comfort of the exhibit halls surrounded by colorful quilts--and quilters--Mother Nature had thrown another heavy blanket of snow over my region.

In the coming year, I hope to spend more time focused on the things I am most passionate about, and my family and my creative pursuits top the list. Maybe I'll even combine the two, making a photo quilt!

Recently, I shared Marcia Derse's tips for making your own fabric stamps for resist dyeing. The way that Marcia came to surface design and incorporates fabric painting and dyeing techniques into her quilt art fascinates me so much, I thought I'd give you some insight into her thought process.

I just returned from the Quilt Market trade show in Houston, and my head is buzzing with ideas. There was so much to see: so many colorful booths filled with the latest fabrics, embellishments, and tools for quilt making.

Put this in the category of "Why didn't I think of that?" A few weeks ago, Assistant Editor Kristine Lundblad came up with a terrific way to solve a problem we have at Quilting Arts.

I have a long history of finding, buying, hoarding, and using Japanese fabric. I can't bear to part with even the tiniest scrap. I am always looking to incorporate a piece in my patchwork projects.