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Contemporary art quilters and mixed-media stitchers may take vastly different approaches to their art, but one thing we all have in common is our love of stitchery and sewing techniques. I, for one, can never get enough sewing ideas, whether its machine quilting stitches or hand stitching techniques...
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Last week's International Quilt Festival in Houston was a flood of inspiration, as usual. Enough to make me forget about my tired feet--at least for a while. In the few moments when I'm not presenting, greeting old and new friends, or gaping in awe at the amazing display of quilt artistry all...
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As we celebrate 10 years of Quilting Arts Magazine , I've been going over the issues from the beginning. I have a mental catalog of every article we've ever done, and it's kind of become a little party trick of mine to be able instantly recall which issue an article or artist appeared in...
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Designer Kaffe Fassett has said he finds much of his inspiration for his palettes and patterns from books on ethnic textiles and his own worldwide travels. "I follow women in the marketplace to get a look at the pattern on the edge of their skirts or the way they put a flower in their hair,"...
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A lot of people ask me what they should bring to International Quilt Festival, especially the massive Houston show. It's such a big scene, just attending the show is like planning for a trip. Here is my suggested checklist: Comfortable walking shoes . A must! Business or Moo cards to share with other...
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When I look at Kathy York's body of work, it's hard to believe she has only been making art quilts since 2003. Her award-winning quilts are easily recognizable for their bold and graphic styles, bright colors, and whimsical or humorous topics. I'm an especially big fan of her three-dimensional...
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Ten years ago Quilting Arts was a little magazine that I lovingly sent out on its first flight into the big world. As it happens, this week also marks the one-year anniversary of launching Quilting Daily, as well as, drum roll...my birthday! It's been an amazing ride so far, and we have even more...
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As many of you may now, our next issue marks the 10 year anniversary of Quilting Arts Magazine! And I don't know about all of you, but in my family, birthdays were always a very big deal. The birthday girl or boy would have their meal and cake of choice, their birthday wish list (within reason--apparently...
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I'm not one of those people who dress their pets in cute costumes for Halloween or carry them in a special handbag--although my Min-Pin, Louie, would probably love it if I did. He's such a ham and he loves to be held. Still, when you have a sewing machine, a big stash of fabrics, and adorable...
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Are you up for some fun? Then let's do some exercises today, beginning with free-association. I'll say a word, and you respond with the first thing that comes into your head. Ready? Here we go. Me: Draw. You: ...? What came to your mind first? Pencil? Paper? Line? How about thread, twig, soldering...
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For many, this is the time of year when nature beckons. The scorching summer heat has passed but the sun is still shining, and the great outdoors has so much appeal. I think this is one of many reasons that SharonV. Rotz’s colorful art quilts recently caught my eye; they depict natural objects...
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Two of my most favorite pastimes are reading and needlework. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to do them simultaneously! Happily, my two loves can still be enjoyed together by working on fiber art that has a literary theme or reading books where needlework is a prominent character. PieceWork Editor...
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One of the hardest things for me at quilt shows is observing the no-touch rule. As much as I completely understand it, I often silently thank the quilt guardians for keeping me on my best behavior. It's so hard to resist all those touchable textiles! So, every time I return from doing a show like...
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Whenever I visit a new city, one of my favorite things to do is just walk. There’s no better way to soak in your surroundings and I find that wandering without purpose often turns up the most unexpectedly delightful finds. Of course, walking often turns into shopping, and this is exactly what happened...
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"I wish I had more time to make art." I hear that all the time--from art quilters at shows, from my friends, the Quilting Arts staff...and out of my own mouth. Unless you're a full-time artist, you've probably said it yourself many times (and I'm willing to bet even full-time artists...