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This time of year, I am “nest obsessed.” The birds are chirping outside my office window, and the robins especially are actively searching for blades of grass and small twigs to use in their nests. These architectural wonders may seem like random assortments of sticks, but actually have a...
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If you've wanted to learn how to quilt but didn't know where to begin or didn't want to take on a big project, our new free downloadable eBook, Quilting for Beginners: 5 Easy Quilt Patterns Plus Lessons on How to Quilt for Beginners , is for you! This eBook offers you basic quilting techniques...
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Over and over I've heard fiber artists talk about the power of keeping a sketchbook or art journal. Keeping a sketchbook can help you develop quilt designs and quilting motifs, record patterns and textures you see on your travels, and jumpstart your creativity when your muse is on vacation. In Art...
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We're just a week away from the deadline of our current reader challenge , "From Sketch to Art Quilt," and I can't wait to see the results from our talented readers. (You still have time to submit!) "Squirrely Treasures" by Cami A. Weaver I entered my first reader challenge...
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Vivika's Blog
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Vivika_Blog
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7 Mar 2012
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Filed under: Embroidery, Quilt Patterns, Quilting Designs, Hand Sewing, Sewing Techniques, Machine Quilting, Quilting Techniques, Art Quilts, Hand Stitches, Fabric Painting, Quilting, Quilting Stitches
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Echo quilting is a sewing technique that can add lush texture to art quilts. It is one of those quilting techniques that can take some practice and patience to learn, but it's well worth the effort. And a bit easier to do if you know a few tricks of the trade. Nancy G. Cook uses a dense echo quilting...
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Vivika's Blog
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Vivika_Blog
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22 Feb 2012
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Filed under: Embroidery, Quilt Patterns, Quilting Designs, Hand Sewing, Sewing Techniques, Machine Quilting, How to Quilt, Quilting Techniques, Art Quilts, Hand Stitches, Quilting Stitches
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I admire quilt artists who paint pictures with thread. The best ones remind me of Georges Seurat's pointillist paintings with their ability to make variations of little stitches in different colors come together to create a whole image full of light and texture through free-motion machine quilting...
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Last week, I asked for advice on exploring surface design techniques . A lot of you said I should just relax, have fun, and play with different materials and techniques for designing fabrics. I agree! Lisa Kerpoe's prayer flags designed with fabric paints and dyes. From "QATV" Series 800...
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Vivika's Blog
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Vivika_Blog
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1 Feb 2012
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Filed under: Embroidery, Fabric Art, Surface Design, Hand Sewing, Sewing Techniques, Machine Quilting, How to Quilt, Embellishment Techniques, Quilting Techniques, Hand Stitches, Fabric Painting
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Flowers are one of the most popular motifs in art, and quilting designs are no different. From antique quilts to the most contemporary quilt design, the flower often takes center stage. Flowers by Barb Forrister. There are as many ways to make a flower quilt as there are flowers: piecing geometric quilt...
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It's a new year: have you made any fiber art-related resolutions? One of my goals for 2012 is to complete — or repurpose — at least one UFO (unfinished object) in my stash, and I'll bet that might be on your list, too. Can you find the peppers in this chameleon by Jane Haworth? We...
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Hello! I am so enjoying my new role as Quilting Arts Magazine editor and am excited to be joining the Quilting Daily team. There are so many tips, tricks, and techniques I'm looking forward to sharing with you, and I hope you'll share back on my blog. I thought I'd start off today with a...
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Guess what? Santa came a bit early to me this year, dropping a box of freshly printed copies of The Best of Quilting Arts: Your Ultimate Resource for Art Quilt Techniques and Inspiration on my doorstep. Inside this book I've gathered Quilting Arts' best information on surface design trends, embellishment...
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Detail of hand-stitched quilt by Victoria Gertenbach. Sometimes I think I'm finished with a quilt. I've surface designed it, free-motion stitched it, maybe even appliquéd it. But it still looks a little flat. It needs a little . . . something. That's when I take out my needle and hand...
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Strategically placed embellishments can cover machine embroidery imperfections. Art by Terry White. We often advise artists to practice, practice, practice if they want to improve their machine embroidery skills. But practice doesn't have to make perfect. In fact, I recently spent time with two artists...
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Helen and I joke around on the "QATV" while tech guru Alan tries to adjust her microphone. Last week, my colleague, friend, and co-conspirator Helen Gregory took over the reins as Editorial Director for Interweave's Quilt, Paper, and Sewing Group. Many of you know Helen from working the...
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Ana's sketchbook collage of color schemes for quilting designs. I usually have a variety of quilting designs kicking around in my head at any given time. But often, when I finally get around to actually designing a quilt, I draw a blank. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by fabric and surface design...