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Let Your Sewing Techniques Take Wing

The more closely I watch birds, the more fascinated I have become with trying to capture their colors and textures using fabric and stitchery . I have developed a design and sewing technique for "capturing the moment" in cloth and quilting stitches.
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Thread Sketching and Thread Painting - New Free eBook

In The Art of Thread Sketching: Free Thread Drawing and Thread Painting Techniques , five quilt artists show you how to turn machine stitching into drawings with thread. Depending on the style and density of the stitching, thread sketching and thread painting can stand on its own or be combined with
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Speed Thrills: Machine Stitching on the BERNINA 7 Series

My husband bought me a cute little Italian car as a present recently. It's fun, efficient, and I can really buzz around in that thing (while still obeying all the traffic laws, of course). I look for the same qualities in a sewing machine. (OK, it
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Bring Flowers to Life with Machine Embroidery and Paint

Dimensional flowers lend beauty and texture to a piece of fiber art, but they are not easily accomplished. When I saw Barb Forrister's demonstration of how to make realistic looking flowers with a combination of machine embroidery and surface design techniques, however, I was intrigued and wanted
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Sketch, Stitch, and Embellish: Create Designs for Mini Fabric Art

Here's a little exercise that gives you a chance to flex your mixed-media stitch muscles and produce a little piece of fabric art .
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Use Surface Design Technique to Explore the Emerald City

Last year when Pantone announced its Color of the Year — Tangerine Tango — I was a fan. I like cheerful, sunny colors, and this one hit the spot for me. I could see using it in different modes, from fabric to embroidery, to surface design techniques .
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Customize Handmade Bags with Applique

I'm a sucker for bag and purse patterns. If they feature appliqué hexagons or are made with a fun, contemporary fabric, so much the better.
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Quick Quilts that Fill a Void

Finishing a large quilting project is always satisfying. I feel such a sense of accomplishment. But I have to admit: finishing small quilting projects is almost as gratifying, and I can get that feeling of accomplishment so much faster!
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Imaginative Hand Sewing with the Buttonhole Stitch

As you read this, picture me curled up on a comfortable chair by the fire, hand sewing . Although that's probably not the case, it's certainly what I would like to be doing on a cold, snowy day, wouldn't you?
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How to Stitch with Pojagi Patchwork Techniques

About three years ago my friend Linda got me hooked on Pojagi. Ever since she told me about this beautiful Korean form of patchwork quilting , I've been experimenting with it
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Make a Vintage Valentine with Hand Sewing Techniques

Hand-sewing techniques and embroidery are so much easier if you use the right tools. Sharp needles, tiny scissors, and exquisite threads are in every sewing kit, but the humble thimble is often overlooked.
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Bump Up the Texture in Applique Quilts

I enjoy raw-edge appliqué for many reasons. It's certainly a faster way of appliqué quilting than than hand appliqué and I like the extra texture it brings to my fiber art.
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 1112: Stitch Designs in Quilting

Whether by hand or machine, there is an endless array of patterns and designs to enhance your quilts. Laura Wasilowski starts out with tips for adding hand stitches to abstract quilt blocks for texture and style. Then, Angela Walters introduces the "tiles"
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 1107: Modern Quilting and Modern Stitching Explored

The modern quilt aesthetic has many elements that identify its style and we'll take a look at a few of them today. We begin with Penny McMorris and Anne Marie Chany, and a project that interprets modern quilts and offers a design challenge. Then,
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 1106: Creative Approaches to Quilting

We all approach projects in our own way-sometimes we start with a color, sometimes it's a technique, and sometimes we unearth a forgotten tool to get us motivated. Libby Lehman is back with her favorite presser feet. Then, meet Luana Rubin for a discussion
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Now is the Perfect Time for Hand Sewing

As you read this I am on vacation, happily snuggled in on a chair by the fire with my pug, Elvis, peacefully hand stitching .
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In Stitches Volume 7

Quilting Arts In Stitches features an abundance of stitching inspiration! In Issue 7, find articles about needle-felting, decorative stitching by hand and machine, fabric beads, stitch samplers, conceptual art quilts, free-motion machine lace, and much more.
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Ideas for Handmade Quilted Gifts

If you're looking for some ideas for handmade quilted gifts , I want to remind you of three of my favorites. Two are make-in-day projects. One is a little more involved, but worth the time, I think.
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Appliqué Quilts That Tell a Story

When I first laid eyes on Dijanne Cevaal's "Blue Travelers' Blanket," a rich example of appliqué quilting , I fell in love with it.
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Quilting for Beginners: Don't Go it Alone!

How did you learn to quilt ? In my family, the women passed down needlecraft techniques like sewing, embroidery, knitting, and quilting.
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Needle-Felted Fiber Art with Papers and Silk

Two of the most creative words in the English language — and least when it comes to fiber art — have to be, "What if?"
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Blend Hand Sewing with Machine Stitching - 7 Tips to Try

Hand sewing and machine stitching can happily coexist on the same fiber art piece. Personally, I love to add hand stitching to my sewing projects, even if the bulk of the stitching is done by machine.
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Machine Quilting Circles - The Perfect Solution

During almost a year of sharing quilting ideas with you via the Quilting Daily blog, I've noticed something interesting: circles are popular. Whether the circles are sewn with hand stitching or machine quilting doesn't matter. Every time I write about circle motifs, the post gets a big response
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Easy Beaded Fabric Embellishment Techniques & Tips

Did you ever have one of those quilts that was almos t finished, but just needed a little something ? A little sparkle, a little more texture, a little oomph to catch the eye? Chances are, what the quilt needed was some embellishment.
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Fall Art Quilts

Though we here at Quilting Arts are always looking to the future for the newest techniques and the most talented up-and-coming art quilters, I thought it would be a fun ode to Fall to take another look at some of the autumn-inspired art quilts from past Fall issues of Quilting Arts Magazine . So put
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Bead Embroidery Stitches Add Sparkle to the Ordinary

I'd love to tell you that I am already working on my handmade holiday gifts, but honestly, it's not happening. I do like to give gifts with handmade elements like quilting and embroidery , but this year, I'll have to streamline those efforts if I'm going to get it all done.
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Sew Longer and Faster with Bernina 7 Series

My studio time is precious. When I get a chance to play with my fabrics and thread, I want to get a lot accomplished with few interruptions.
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Patchwork Owls: One Way to Show You Give a Hoot

When I saw Lynn Krawczyk's Wishing Owl plushies in International Quilt Festival: Quilt Scene magazine last fall, I knew I had to make some of my own. Encouraged by her suggestion to jazz them up in your own way, I gave mine patchwork bodies made from vintage feed sack fabrics.
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Quilting Arts Magazine, October/November 2012

Join the do-it-yourself movement with ideas and techniques from the contributing artists of Quilting Arts Magazine. Learn a versatile surface design technique from Carolyn T. Abbott to personalized your own fabrics, ways to improve your quilt photography with Maria Elkins, how to dye your own cloth with
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Machine Embroidery Exercise for Blending and Shading with Thread

One of the differences between art quilting and traditional quilting as that in art quilting, thread is almost always part of the design. The choice of thread in machine embroidery , in particular, can affect the look of the quilt.
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Hand Sew a Fast and Scrappy Felt Circle Pillow

My living room sofa could use a few new pillows, which means I'm headed to the studio. I love making throw pillows, because they are easy sewing projects I can use to try out stitching designs and techniques.
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Make a Monoprint with a Plate of Lace

Have you ever looked at a heavily stitched or textured textile and thought, "That would make a great pattern for printing?" Lace, embroidery, even free-motion stitching can all be inked up (or painted) for monoprinting and surface design .
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Hand Stitch a Bevy of Boro Bobbles

Hand sewing is the foundation of needlecraft, and quilting is no exception. But trust art quilters to take needlework and turn it on its head!
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Hand Sewing Doodles for Every Day - Tips on the Feather Stitch

Every time I think I that I am too busy to make any art, I come across an artist who has found a way to fit fiber art into her day — even if it is just a bit of hand sewing .
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Hand Embroidery Tips and Tricks

Idle hands were frowned upon in my house when I was growing up. There was always something to do. If I wanted to watch TV (and I wanted to watch TV!), I had to be doing something productive at the same time. So I would sit down with either knitting or embroidery , and watch to my heart's content
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Hand Sewing Q&A with Deborah Boschert

I often look at someone's art and wonder who inspired them to quilt, embroider, and stitch. Did they start by hand sewing or go straight to the machine?
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 1010: Art Meets Stitch

This episode looks at thread and stitch and their impact on projects. Rebecca Kemp Brent starts us out with a small drawstring bag. All sorts of stitching is prominent, from the machine-embroidered redwork designs to the enhancements with needle felting
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 1008: Stitch, Quilt, and Finish

It’s hard to define the common elements of an art quilt, but at the most basic level all have stitching, quilting, and finishing plus the added element of a contemporary attitude. This episode begins with a segment taped on location with Valori
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How to Design Mini Quilts for Maximum Impact

Small art quilts are fun to make and generally take less time than larger art quilting projects. I especially like working on small quilt wall hanging and fiber art pieces like prayer flags because they are usually portable.
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Customize Your Buttons with Surface Design

In reality, can you ever have enough buttons? To me, it seems that no matter how many I collect, there are times when my stash is lacking just the right button to complete a quilt's surface design .
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Hand Embroidery Tips for Contemporary Fabric Collage

Fiber artist Deborah Boschert and I share a love of hand embroidery . Although hand embroidery stitches are often associated with antique and vintage textiles, Deborah uses classic embroidery stitches to add interest and texture to her contemporary quilts and fabric collages.
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Share Your Sewing Story with Coats & Clark

Coats & Clark is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
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Pass On Your Passion for Quilting (Giveaway)

Quilters are passionate about fabric, thread, embellishments, embroidery, surface design, and a whole lot more. But I think what we're most passionate about is sharing our artwork and techniques with others. To celebrate National Craft Month, Quilting
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How Hand and Machine Embroidery Affect Your Quilt Design

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!)
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How to Sew a Quilt with Dense Echo Quilting

Echo quilting is a sewing technique that can add texture and lushness 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.
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Trouble-shooting Tips for Machine Quilting and Embroidery

Like any other technique, "painting" with machine embroidery takes practice to get the result you want. And there are many technical variables that come into play, such as tension, choice of feet, the warp and weft of the fabric, and type of machine quilting thread used.
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Fabric Painting Without A Brush

While looking through past issues of Quilting Arts Magazine and past episodes of "Quilting Arts TV" for ideas, one easy method of surface design caught my eye.
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Unplug with Japanese Sashiko Hand Sewing Projects

Hand stitching is one of my favorite ways to enjoy some unplugged studio time, and Japanese sashiko is one of my favorite hand sewing techniques.
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How to Make Flower Quilt Designs That Pop

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.
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A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

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.
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Embellishment Techniques to Make your Pet Portraits Pop

You know I'm passionate about my pets; I'm particularly taken at the moment with the newest addition to my menagerie, Clarence.
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Go from Flat to Fabulous with Hand Stitching

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.
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Announcing the New Editor for Quilting Arts!

A couple of months ago I announced a few sizable changes at Quilting Arts (you can read more about those changes in this post ). Now I’d like to share the fantastic news that we have a new editor for Quilting Arts! Meet Vivika Hansen DeNegre, a
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Machine Embroidery Designs: No Perfection Required

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 who embrace imperfections in their machine embroidery designs.
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Surface Design Delights: A Cornucopia of Love

On this Thanksgiving Day I am in transition. I'm settling into my new Houston digs in preparation for my fresh adventure with Quilts Inc. while still consulting for Quilting Arts and preparing for the next season of "Quilting Arts TV."
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All in the Details: Use Machine Quilting to Add Texture

Choosing the right machine quilting pattern for your piece is as important as the thread and fabric selections.
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A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

Do you like to follow a prepared pattern or design for your fiber art or start completely from scratch? Maybe your answer is "a little of both" or "it depends on the project."
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The One Hand Embroidery Stitch I Can’t Live Without

All these new TV shows about fairy tale characters in the contemporary world casting spells and carrying out age-old vendettas has me thinking: If an evil fairy/stepmother/witch cursed me so that I was left with ability to create only one hand embroidery stitch, what would it be?
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Appliqué Quilting Tool Works More Than One Way

I may have my favorite methods of doing things in my studio, but I'm always open to new ideas, techniques, and tools. I say, if it makes my art experience easier or better, it's worth trying.
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Patchwork Quilt Runner Comes Full Circle

I'm known for my high energy, but sometimes my life gets so busy, I feel like I'm running around in circles. That's when I have to schedule an hour or so in my studio for some artful R&R.
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Holiday 2009–2010

Quilting Arts Gifts is a special issue of Quilting Arts Magazine devoted to the art of gift-giving. Inside this whopping 148-page issue, you'll find 20 festive gift projects, 14 seasonal décor ideas, dozens of recommendations from our editors on the newest and best tools and gadgets, and much
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Get 5 Free Articles to Make Creative Quilt Art

Quilt art can come in many forms. From wall hangings and landscape quilts to paper quilts and fiber art that fits in the palm of your hand, quilters' art options are unlimited.
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Make Your Own Paper For Fabric Art

Have you ever made your own paper? It's easy, and a great way to create a unique piece of fiber that can be used as a component of your fabric art , or as a stand-alone piece. You probably have most, if not all, of the tools and supplies you need already...
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Enjoy Free Hand and Machine Embroidery Designs and Techniques

Machine and hand embroidery are the hallmarks of art quilt design and construction. Depending on the stitch and the thread or fiber used, embroidery techniques can give your quilts a contemporary edge or vintage charm. In this free eBook, Essential Embroidery Stitches: Free Hand and Machine Embroidery
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Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

I am laughing so hard right now. Earlier in the day, Cate Prato, online editor of Cloth Paper Scissors Today , sent me an email: "When you have a minute, I have something funny to show you from my past."
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Make a Quick, Patchwork Quilt Game Board

With summer approaching and the school year ending, a lot of parents I know are looking for projects to keep their kids busy (and somewhat unplugged) in the coming weeks. This patchwork checkerboard designed by our assistant editor for special projects, Lindsey Murray, is perfect for teaching quilting
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How to Combine Hand and Machine Stitching

Hand stitching or machine stitching , which do you prefer? If you ask me, the answer would depend on the day or the project. Hand stitching is meditative, tactile, and personal. Machine stitching is fast, even, easier on the hands, and less likely to be interrupted by certain four-legged friends.
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How to Make Scrap-Zapping Baby Quilt Numbers

When I'm with friends who aren't quilters and the discussion turns to expectant parents, it's often assumed that my go-to gift would be a baby quilt. I explain that while I have nothing against baby quilts, my style of quilting doesn't really apply: babies and beaded, screen-printed fabrics
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What's Weaving Got to Do with Quilt Art?

Have you experienced fiber art creep? You know, when you learn one fiber genre, let's say quilting, leads to dyeing your own fabric, which may lead to screen printing or felting...which may lead to spinning...or paper making...and so on?
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Enrich Your Surface Design Mark-Making Vocabulary

I can still remember the thrill of first learning to read. When I realized those marks on the page meant something and I could figure it out all by myself, I devoured every book I could get my little hands on.
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Learn How to Hand Sew with Our New Free eBook

People the world over have used hand sewing and needlework for centuries not just to stitch two pieces of fabric together, but to add color, pattern, and interest to their clothing and home décor.
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How to Make Amazing Fabric Art with New Fibers - Q&A

I was first exposed to spunbonded "fabrics" like Lutradur and Tyvek several years ago and was captivated by their seemingly infinite possibilties for textures, surface design, construction, and more in your fabric art. You can paint them, heat-distress them, stamp on them, print on them, foil
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Some of My Favorite Beaded Embellishment Techniques

When someone asks me what's the difference between contemporary art quilts and traditional quilts, one of the first things I think of is embellishment, especially beads and encrustation.
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Free eBook: Learn How to Appliqué the Contemporary Way

The art of appliqué quilting has long been a way for quilters to add designs to their fabric, in addition to piecing. But while traditional quilters used the hand appliqué stitch to place their fabric motifs, contemporary quilters are more apt to fuse or machine appliqué, opening
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6 Keys to Metallic Thread Success in Your Fabric Art

I love the sparkle and shine metallic thread gives to my fabric art, but the hassles--shredding, the curling, the broken threads-give me such a headache. I always approach metallic threads with trepidation, and I could swear the spool can smell my fear.
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My 10 Favorite Quilting Arts Tips

Every time I come back to our editorial offices back east I'm greeting with more Quilting Arts @10 anniversary postcards. I love it! We'll be featuring some in the next issue of the magazine, so watch for them.
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5 Ways to Create Your Own Handmade Quilts

To anyone who loves fabric and thread, making a handmade quilt is often the ultimate creative experience. The contemplative act of hand quilting-needle moving rhythmically over and under fabric-is a pleasure even for those who primarily rely on machine quilting enjoy.
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 103

103 Embellishments and Encrustations Embellishments such as beads, sequins, yarn, and even metal add dimension and sparkle. Create shimmering fabrics out of fibers that actually fuse together when heated. The first feature is fabric foiling or adhering
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 206

206 Fabric and Design The use of fabric and design is at the heart of your quilting projects. First, Claire Fenton uses images to create a unique background or as she says: “one mans rust is another’s dyeing material.” Then Andrea Bishop
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Give a Pillow Punch with Easy Sewing Techniques & Scraps

Little by little, I'm establishing a style for our Colorado home, accessorizing with pieces of artwork here and some new furniture there. With one eye on the budget and another on the time I have available for decorating (almost none!) I have been looking for some quick, easy, and budget-friendly
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 411

411 Today’s show focuses on perfecting your sewing skills. First up, Jeanne Delpit will demonstrate stitching techniques for mixed media quilting especially with metal. We’ll discuss needle tension and thread strength. Then, meet designer
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 408

408 Today’s show focuses on real world solutions to quilting issues. The show opens with Jay McCarroll; he’s back to demonstrate fusing techniques. First, is a cute grommeted tote bag, then a revival of a knit shirt with fusing and last, fused
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 511

511 First are some of the quilts from Quilt National—one of the most prestigious international showcases for contemporary quilts. Next, we’ll meet Paula Prass for a still-life framed art quilt. Then it’s time for Bonnie McCaffery and
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 506

506 Today’s episode introduces us to some new materials to incorporate into our art quilting. Mary Hettmansperger leads off with metal embellishments on a quilted wall panel. Her experiences as a mixed-media artist, weaver, and jewelry designer
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 505

505 All of our guests have started out with a traditional technique or pattern, but they’ve interpreted it in a whole new way. First up is Sarah Vedeler – you’ll be amazed at her technique for using machine embroidery to create quilt
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Quilting Arts TV Episode 503

503 Make sure you have your machine threaded and ready. As we feature machine quilting. Our first guest is Teri Lucas. She’ll demonstrate her innovative free-motion designs and give us tips and hints for machine quilting. Up next is Carol Ingram
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Let Your Imagination Fly

Where do you stand on art dolls? Some people love 'em. Some hate 'em. I've seen doll art flourish as angels, goddesses, and other feminine totems, then fall out of favor as an art form (been there, done that), and then be reinterpreted by a new generation of fiber artists who call them "stuffies"
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Winter/Spring Stitch preview

Chipmunk Hot Pad from The Art of Applique section. Kimono Wrap Top from the Knit Wit section. Spaghetti Strap Necklace from the Sew Small, Sew Stylish section. The new issue of Stitch hits newsstands January 18, and it's the exciting start of our
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5 Learn-to-Sew Skills I Plan to Pursue Next Year

I've been enjoying the stories over on the QA community discussion board where members are sharing how they learned to sew. Everyone has their own unique story (some funny, some bittersweet) but most people seem to have learned to sew from: their mothers, their 8 th -grade home ec class, or from
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Thanksgiving sewing and a free Amy Butler download!

Free download: Patchy Jeans from Amy Butler! Thanksgiving is coming, and for many people, that means a break from work and school. I don't know about you, but I have some fairly lofty sewing plans. I probably won't get to even a quarter of the
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Quilting a Story: A Quilting Arts Reader Challenge inspires a series

Having studied French for many years, I’ve read The Little Prince , by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, dozens of times. So Heather Reid’s entry for our “How Entertaining!” Reader Challenge, based on this charming story, naturally
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Announcing the First Facebook Blogger of the Week: Susan Ettl!

Last week we asked our Facebook fans to share with us one of their blog entries in hopes of becoming the first Quilting Arts Facebook blogger of the week. There were so many great blogs that were posted it was nearly impossible to choose one! in the end
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New car vs. new sewing machine?

If you had your choice between a brand new BMW sedan and a state-of-the-art Bernina sewing machine, what would you choose? Car vs. sewing machine: which would you choose? Hmmmmm, not an easy decision, right? Well it was for David Hyatt of Dallas, Texas
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Create Your Own Art Quilt Reference Library

We always want to capture what's new on the scene and of interest to you at the moment. But while machine stitching, hand stitching, surface design, embellishment and the other big topics of contemporary art quilting are always covered, the trends in those areas change.
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Episode 604

In Episode 604 it’s time for a fashion update—to your stitching and your wardrobe. Liz Kettle appears first with a lesson on free-form machine embroidery. Then, Lindsay Mason demonstrates how to make the perfect year-round fashion accessory
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10 Reasons (and Ways) to Celebrate With Us

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!
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Quick & Scrappy - My Strategy for Fall Art Projects

I've been cruising Etsy and art blogs looking for interesting pieces to decorate my new Colorado home with, but I've gotten side-tracked with all the ideas I'm getting for holiday decorations. Maybe it's because I have a new home, but I'm particularly excited about decoration for
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Naturally Beautiful Quilts: An interview with artist Sharon V. Rotz

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
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A Patch of Patchwork Pumpkins

I love fall. Perhaps it’s the New Englander in me—I love running in the cool crisp weather, watching the changing leaves, and even returning to a sense of routine after the hectic summer months. There are so many little details that herald
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What's So Funny About Fiber Art?

When we first started Quilting Arts , one of the ways we spread the word about our fledgling magazine was by passing out lapel pins with funny, quilt art-related sayings on them at quilt shows. "Give me all your buttons and nobody gets hurt" was one. "I don't exaggerate, I embellish
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Sneak Peek Preview: Stitch Fall 2010!

Our packed Fall 2010 issue of Stitch , available in early September, celebrates our passionate love of fabric. Get ready for fabulous projects and articles celebrating the wide world of textiles that inspire our sewing fantasies and fill our overflowing
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The Trick Every Art Quilter Should Know

Has this ever happened to you? You find something you really love--like the perfect shade of pink lipstick that doesn't make your skin look dull and is appropriate for day or evening--and the next time you go to buy it, you find out it's been discontinued. Gone. Gone forever.
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How Fast Can You Make Art?

"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
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Dog Days and Doll Days

Your local fabric store is probably beginning to stock wool plaid and wool crepe in rich autumn colors right about now, along with fall patterns for tailored jackets and long skirts. Here in our part of the world, though, we've got 100-degree temperatures
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Summer: Time to Stitch on the Go

Isn’t it funny how the summer can be the busiest time of year? Of course, there are always those lazy afternoons spent at the beach, leisurely outdoor dinners, and nice long bike rides. But, at least in my case, there have also been many weekend
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Make Your Focal Point Pop with Thread Painting

I first became aware of Elin Waterston through the Quilting Arts reader challenges, particularly our annual calendar contests. Very quickly, our team came to recognize Elin's distinctive brand of well-thought-out, uncluttered design featuring a strong focal point.
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Five Free Embellishment Techniques Ready To Download

I love quilts that have been encrusted with lots of beads, baubles, buttons, found objects...you name it. The more outrageous the embellishment, the better! So I can't wait to share with you our latest ready-to-download eBook, Fine Embellishment Techniques from Quilting Arts : 5 Innovative Ways To
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Q&A: Heidi Boyd of Crafty Inspiration

When we're looking for cute and charming projects for kids, there's one person we know we can rely on. Hailing from mid-coastal Maine, Heidi Boyd is the author of twelve craft books and got her start in professional crafting as a contributor to
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New Freeform Machine Embroidery Tips & Project

I love the ethereal effects you can achieve with water-soluble stabilizer, fibers, and free-motion machine embroidery. The combination can create a stunning focal point for an art quilt or wall-hanging, or even be used to create a garment. But working with the stabilizer can be tricky-unless you know
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The Secret's Out! Our New eMag Has Arrived

It was hard to keep our mission a secret for so long, but now we can shout it from the rooftops: We were visiting artists like Melanie Testa and Beryl Taylor to shoot video for In Stitches , our new, interactive eMag which is available to you now. And let me tell you, this revolutionary digital magazine
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My Tasty Recipe for Art Quilt Success

It's officially summer, and that means blueberry season. I'm lucky enough to live right next to my father-in-law's blueberry patch--more of a field, actually. While they last, I just have to walk out my back door and down the path to have access to fresh blueberries for breakfast, a snack
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Art Books I Can't Live Without

I love to read-fiction, non-fiction, romance, instruction--you name it. And I love it when other hardcore readers suggest books they love and think I would enjoy, too. So today, I thought I'd give you a list of some of my favorite books of the art and craft variety, the ones I have on my studio shelf
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Art Quilts Down Under

At about this time last year, I was setting out for a month-long trip to New Zealand and Australia. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with this region, full of friendly people, beautiful sites, and delicious kangaroo meat. But I was also impressed
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Do You Know Your Sampler History? Learn Now!

We live in a time of high-speed connectivity, with hundreds of thousands of books, magazines, and newspapers online and in print, with texting, Twitter, Facebook, and patterns available for instant download. It's hard to imagine a world without them. But long before instant communication, before
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Easy Inspiration From Natural Beauty

Last weekend the Bolton clan convened for its annual family reunion. Although it rained a bit, we had plenty of sunshine, beautiful views, and great times. Of course, I brought a slew of art-making supplies, the better to bring people together through art. Plus, who wouldn't be inspired to create
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Stitch + Travel: You Can Take It With You!

Summertime means travel, right? I love being on the road under the summer sun, whether it's in a car trip on the highways of the West (yes, you can still get your kicks on Route 66), a weekend at the beach, or a transcontinental adventure. Travel
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Texture Tips To Improve Your Art Quilts - Free Download

Is there such a thing as too much texture? I don't think so! Texture is what we art quilters are all about. Texture is what excites the quilt artist and it's what entices the art quilt viewer to come up and take a closer look. Plus, adding more texture to our quilts gives us a great excuse to
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Revive Your Wardrobe with Art Quilt Techniques

Every time I'm planning one of my crazy "Surviving the Runway" retro themes for Make It University! TM and we start scrounging up '80s prom dresses and Halloween costumes, the members of the staff who were teens in the '70s start going on about adding fringe trims to their bell
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Create Something New with Quilting & Mixed Media

I started Cloth Paper Scissors magazine back in 2004 in part to give voice to forms of art that mixed fabric and stitch with paint, glue, and embellishment but were not strictly speaking art quilts. Forms like altered books, fabric and paint collages, shrines, assemblages, and paper quilts.
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What Do Bikinis and Quilting Have in Common?

I thought that headline might grab your attention. I recently took a brief three-day break to a beach before our publishing schedule vamps up this summer, and decided to turn my vacation a Stitch-cation. As summer approaches––and so do vacation
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Stitch Magazine Creations

We're on Flickr ! We were thrilled to learn this week that an intrepid sewist named Layla has launched the Stitch Magazine Creations group on Flickr.com, a popular free photo-sharing site. Anyone can join and upload photos, as long as they're
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Create Unique Impressions With These New Stamps

Isn't it funny how sometimes the simplest of art processes can be so satisfying? I mean, you know I love my Thermofax screen printing and I am a sucker for hand embroidery. Thread sketching fascinates me and I never get tired of dyeing. But when it comes to hands-down fun, I have to go with stamping
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Infuse Your Art Quilts with Mexican Flavor

Since falling in love with the art quilting world more than a decade ago, I've seen thousands upon thousands of quilts. Despite the fact that each one is unique, I've noticed some themes and motifs that attract quilt artists repeatedly: nature, the sea, faces and memories of loved ones, and geometric
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How to Sew on the Subway

Something about the spring weather has me out and about more than usual these days. During the cold winter months, I like hunkering down in my sewing room all night long, but lately I can’t resist venturing out into the sunshine whenever possible
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Boost Your Creativity with These Tips

It’s officially spring, and not a moment too soon for me. I already traded my boots for open-toed shoes a few weeks ago--and I'm not going back! Now it’s time to open the windows, do some spring cleaning, and let some fresh air into my studio in the hopes that fresh ideas will float in
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It's a wrap! Just returned from QA TV Series 6 TV taping

Above: Diane Nunez's dimensional fabric flowers Five days, 39 segments, and 13 episodes later, Season Six of Quilting Arts TV is born. A number of very talented guests joined me this season: Jane Dunnewold was back to dazzle us with two surface design
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A Sneak Peek at the Next 'QATV' Series

I'm packing my suitcase again, getting ready to fly to Cleveland to tape the sixth season of "Quilting Arts TV." As hectic as the shooting pace is, I always look forward to taping, because I get to learn new tricks and techniques in person
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We Reveal Our Animal Alter Egos

We received so many fun and interesting Let Out Your Inner Animal Challenge quilts from readers that the Quilting Arts editors decided we had to play, too.
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From Television to Textiles: An interview with artist and actress Lalla Ward

There isn’t normally a great deal of crossover between acting and art quilting , but textile artist Lalla Ward has crossed this unusual divide. Well-known for her role as alien Romana in the BBC television series Dr. Who, Lalla now devotes the majority
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Introducing the Quilting Arts Community Spotlight: Janice Paine-Dawes

We’re kicking off the new month with a new online feature: the Quilting Arts Community Spotlight. These spotlights will give us the opportunity to focus in on the work of some of our talented QA Community members, to share the stories behind their
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Editor's QA picks for January!

We're introducing a new feature to the Quilting Arts Community... Every month I will be cruising the site, noting what people are posting in the galleries and forums, and essentially looking to see how you--our cherished members--are utilizing our
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Good Food and Fiber Art: Enter our 2011 Quilting Arts Magazine Calendar Contest!

This January, I’m all about soup. You see, I ate a little too much of this kind of thing while on vacation in Mexico: (the best chicken and mole I’ve ever had in my life) I received a glorious Le Creuset ® French oven for Christmas (basically
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Travels and Textiles

Happy New Year to you all! I know I'm a little late, but I only just returned from an indulgent week-long trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where I spent all day every day swimming in the ocean, lying in the sun, and drinking mojitos. However, I did
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Learn to Design Unique Quilts with Value

Of all the elements of design--line, color, texture, shape, form, value, and size--I think the most difficult one to grasp is value. Not only understanding what it is, but how to use it when you're in the process of designing a fiber art piece. How can you use value to your advantage? How do you
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the Slowness of Being

Being creative and fostering growth within that realm is a process of engaging with the world around you as well as that of other artists. Taking what you learn from these places and making it your own is the imperative of each of us as artists. A few
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Slow Sewing

I am preparing for a class I will teach later this week. In this instance I was asked to do my Small Works, Big Impact class with a leaning toward painted imagery (rather than dye) and hand sewing. I love dye for its vibrancy, but paint is pretty awesome
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