Quilting Arts Blog

Odds and Ends

Want to see a sneak peek of the cover for the February/March issue of Quilting Arts (on sale February 3rd)?

This chirpy piece is by art quilter Kathy York (who some may remember from this particular Saturday night event). Doesn't it make you hunger for spring? Kathy hasn't seen the cover yet, so hopefully she will mosey on over here and have a look!

This just in…

I find the following an exciting opportunity for anyone living in New England wanting to get serious about art quilting. Quilting Arts contributor Amy Ropple will be teaching a quilting class entitled "Expressive Quilting" this semester at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Here's the course description:

Experiment with using a variety of quilt techniques as expressive fiber art forms. Learn traditional techniques and then explore their expressive potential through working on a series of artistic challenges using mixed media. Approaches to piecing, collaging, embellishing, and quilting will be taught, with an emphasis on using traditional techniques in experimental, original and personally meaningful ways. Wednesdays, 6:30-10pm.

For more information contact the Continuing Education office at MCAD at (617) 879-7200, or email Amy at aropple@aol.com. 

I think it's terrific that this college is now including art quilting as part of their curriculum!

More reader challenge opportunities...

We just posted a new Cloth Paper Scissors challenge on our website called "Life's a Beach!"

Help us celebrate summer in the July/August issue of Cloth Paper Scissors by taking our “Life’s a Beach!” reader challenge. Just make a piece of mixed-media art that’s in keeping with the “Life’s a Beach!” theme. The piece may be two- or three-dimensional; it may be one piece, such as a mixed-media sand castle; two or more pieces, like an altered bikini; or it may portray a scene. You may use text or beachy elements like sand, shells, salt, stones, etc. You may be inspired to use some of the techniques in the January/February issue, such as Patricia Gaignat’s encaustic books, Anne Quinlan’s narrative collages, or Chrysti Hydeck’s digitally altered photos. Or, show us something completely different. It’s your choice, so long as you adhere to the basic beachy rules.

 

And don't forget about our Quilting Arts Rock On! Reader Challenge! Only three weeks left before your quilted tributes to Def Leppard, AC/DC, Bob Seger, Debbie Harry (or Debbie Gibson) pieces are due!

Winners in the New Year!

Congratulations to following 10 people for winning the first QA Blog fabric raffle for 2009!

Thanks to everyone for posting your resolutions, goals, and good wishes for the New Year. We loved reading what you all aspire to accomplish by the end of the year. (You're an ambitious lot!)

I ask that the following people email me your full name and mailing address, and in the subject line of your email write (in caps) 2009 WINNER.  Once everyone has emailed me, I will get the goods out to you (probably within the next ten days).

Willa (OK, I admit I purposely picked Willa for being the very first to comment in the New Year.)
Alice (of Aliceandjo)
Melissa (who posted at Jan 2, 6:12 PM)
Elaine Koenig
The Quilt Rat
Karen Christensen
Penney
Beth M.
Mary Ann Van Soest
Katie (Raggamuffingal)

If you didn't win some fabrics, you can still win a heart…

I found the following news story via Laura Krasinski about a young boy battling a rare form of brain cancer. To keep him distracted from painful chemo. treatments, he loves collecting postcards from around the globe. I bet he would equally love handmade postcards, too. Will you join me in sending him one? Click on the image below to see Connor's story...

Lastly, we are hard at work on our March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and have a burning question for you!

How have you improvised? When you can’t find—or don’t have—the tool you really want, what’s the silliest (or craziest) substitution you’ve ever made? And what were the results? We’d love to know. Send your responses to bdelaney@interweave.com.

Special Quilting Arts & Cloth Paper Scissors News for 2009

Some news that I can at long last share with you...

  
Ready to get floored?
Cloth Paper Scissors STUDIOS is going to a four-issue publication schedule in 2009! Cate Prato will be at the helm as Editor for this magazine, so if you have a studio you want to share, are planning a studio renovation, have some organizational tips, or want to write for the magazine, be sure to let her know! She has a lot of great ideas for this publication and we’d sincerely love for you to be a part of it!

Stitch This…
Quilting Arts/Interweave STITCH, our new sewing publication superbly assembled and edited by Tricia Waddell (Editorial Director for books at Interweave), will be published again next year. Check out the STITCH website to learn more about why this magazine is generating so much excitement.

Feeling crafty this holiday season?
Quilting Arts GIFTS will once again hit the stands next fall and we start planning this issue in January. So if you’re making quilted gifts this holiday season, now is a good time to send your ideas to us for consideration.

On the Tube
QA TV Series 300 uplinks on PBS starting December 26th, so check your local PBS listings for times, or go to the quiltingartstv.com website to find a station near you. If you want to see what happens this season, this blog entry highlights some of the talented guests we were honored to feature.

More news for 2009 still to come, so please check back.

In closing, I want to thank everyone for your comments and emails regarding our silly holiday video. I am so glad our lunch break shenanigans amused you! Bottom line: An office that dances together (albeit foolishly), stays together.

More tomorrow,

Pokey

 

Rock On! Art Quilt Update

OK, my boogie-loving, head-thrashing, air-guitar-playing quilters, how are those Rock On! art quilts comin''? T minus 10 weeks until the due date, so I hope you're jammin' and quiltin' the night away.

We've gotten a handful of entries so far, and above we see Tina Turner stitched and beaded by Bonnie Ouellete of Seneca, South Carolina. 

Gotta' give credit for the sizzling hot pink background, the wild locks, the stilettos, the black mini, and of course those babe-a-licious Tina legs. A job well done, Bonnie! 

Out of any challenge we've posed, I admit am most eager to see what everyone creates for this one. Wouldn't it be fun to have all of these together in an exhibit with...say... I dunno... some rock playing in the background? 

On a related note, this morning (Friday) I was going to take a few hours off to rest up and screen fabric at home; but while thinking about this challenge, an idea came to mind that made me laugh so hard, I immediately went to work and presented my crazy thought to the team.  (And honestly it's one of the nuttier ones I've had.) I was nervous that they were going to ban me from the building, but they got it straight away, and we're all so excited to see this somewhat outlandish venture through. (More on this in two weeks, but I hope I have piqued your interest.)

If you're going to join our Rock On! challenge, I'd love to know what musical artists have inspired you, so please post below what band/singer you're going to stitch.

Rock on, people!

One more fabric winner and sneak peek of the guests for Quilting Arts TV Series 300

My screen-printed fabric packs are cut, sorted, and ready to go! Goodbye my colorful calico and crepe de Chine lovelies, I hope your new owners put you to good use…

I only received nine emails yesterday instead of 10 so I am drawing another winner. Congratulations to: Milkcan! If you read this, please email me ASAP so I can send off your fabric goods to you.

In other news, we start taping for Quilting Arts TV the week after next and I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peek of the roster of quilt artists for Series 300. Some of the artists who will be taping with me include: Lyric Kinard, Melanie Testa, Jane LaFazio, Anna Maria Horner, Laura Wasilowski, Frieda Anderson, and Hollis Chatelain to name a few.

From our taping this past April in Chicago, we'll also have: Kelli Perkins, Debbi Crane, Virginia Spiegel, Beryl Taylor, Julaine Lofquist-Birch, and interviews with International Quilt Festival Founder and Director, Karey Bresenhan, and S.A.Q.A.'s Peg Keeney.

Series 300 will started airing nationwide on PBS in January 2009, and I hope you are as pleased with the line-up of these amazing artists as I am!

Quilting Arts GIFTS and a Fabric Giveaway

I feel such a huge sense of elation, relief and utter joy; I want to jump up and down, dance around the office, or go run along the beach and holler into the breeze. Why am I so giddy?  The Quilting Arts GIFTS issue officially went to press today. I'm not one to use exclamation points very often, but I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am that this baby is born and off to press(!!!)

A sneak peek of the cover:

Above you see a table runner by Kathy Mack, a wine bag by Elin Waterston, and fabric candy cane napkin rings by yours truly. I hope you enjoy this issue (which by the way has a whopping 35 fresh projects in it).

Another Fabric Giveaway!

Because I'm feeling so blissful, I want to share my glee with you and offer another fabric giveaway.   If you want to play, please answer the following question in the comments area, and I will randomly choose 10 winners to receive a plastic baggie of screen-printed fabrics that I'll print this weekend. The drawing will close Monday, August 11 at 6:00 P.M. EDT, and I will announce the 10 winners on Tuesday on the blog. It is then the responsibility of those 10 winners to email me their shipping address by Wednesday evening so I can send the fabrics.

My question: What ritual do you perform when you are done with a big project such as a quilt or piece of art? (I know many of you finished your journal quilts for Houston this past week.)

Do you splurge on a sundae or buy a beach read? Take the family out for Chinese food? Hunker down and immediately start creating something else?

My ritual: Whenever we send an issue off to press, I tend to blast the music in my office very loudly, much to the dismay of John whose office is just around the corner. It's usually after hours when these things happen, so no one can hear my pathetic singing or dancing as I shake out all of the elation that I feel.  My song de jour would be Coldplay's "Death and All His Friends/The Escapist." Some music critics would scoff that I love their latest album (and I hear what they're saying) but I can't help myself: I love Coldplay. There. I've said it. When John and I celebrated our 10th anniversary three summers ago, he didn't get me jewelry (which I really didn't want) but rather great tickets to Coldplay's X & Y concert.

Since I missed the Coldplay concert this past Monday night while they were in Boston because of all the happenings here, I've been feeling a little sorry for myself. But this afternoon, after we sent GIFTS to the printer, I went on YouTube and found a few videos of the Coldplay concert at the Boston Garden. (That's GaHden to all of you who don't live in Massachusetts!) One video showcases Chris Martin dedicating "Death and All His Friends/The Escapist" to Tom Brady, our New England Patriots Quarterback who apparently was in the audience. A funny and uplifting tribute.

Happy weekend, everybody!

Stash Winners, Current Projects, and 2010 Quilting Arts Calendar Contest Rules

I want to send a heartfelt thanks to everyone who stepped up and answered my burning question.  I am blown away by the sheer number of responses and in awe of all the diverse gadgetry you have in your stashes! And now what I really want to know is… when are you going to invite me over to play?

If you are one of the winners of this drawing, please email me your full name and shipping address so I can mail these fabrics to you next week. And this is important––please put in the subject line (in caps): I'M A STASH WINNER!

Congratulations to:

Dorothy  Cochran
Karen South
Ann in Georgia
Cyndee
Jackie K.

I have piles of screen-printed fabrics and other supplies/books to offer over the summer, so I will be hosting a few more drawings within the next eight weeks. I do have some challenge ideas and questions for these drawings, but if there is a burning question you'd like me to ask or a challenge you'd like us to host, please post your thoughts in the comments area.

In the meantime, I am very curious what mixed-media or quilting project you are working on at the moment. Care to share? If you have pictures on your blog, please make sure to link your blog address to your answer.

What are we up to here in Stow?  Despite the fact that it's about 90 degrees, humid, and the calendar says it's June, we are immersed in the holiday season as we're in between shoots for our Quilting Arts GIFTS issue, which goes to press next month. So while many of you are sitting poolside, picture us calling local nurseries, asking them if they have a potted Christmas tree we can borrow or by chance a poinsettia in bloom. Joking aside, the GIFTS issue is quite an undertaking, but it is a joyful process. I am really pleased with the quality of the projects this year.

Lastly, if you're looking for something to stitch while winging in your hammock this summer, we have posted the 2010 Quilting Arts Calendar guidelines online. We have not yet published these in Quilting Arts, so you are the first to see them.

Happy creating!

Breaking News! New STUDIOS issue

You are hearing it here first! Due to the reception of our first STUDIOS issue we are publishing a second edition, which will be available this October. I am really so thrilled to share this news with you. Cate Prato, our features editor, will be Editor of this edition and she is very much looking forward to putting this issue together.This second edition will feature a wider variety of studios--from collage and quilting to weaving and beading. Studios will vary greatly in size, from rented outside studio space to tiny in-home closet studios.

If you have anything studio-related to share, please follow the general submissions protocol on our website and send along images of your studios and ideas to us.

I welcome comments in the comments area about anything more you'd like to see in our second edition of STUDIOS. Also, if you have a picture of pets in your studio on your blog, please give your link in the comments section so we can all have a peek. Hope you are as excited by this news as we are.

Quilting Arts TV

I've been mum about something and it's just about killed me to have kept this secret for so long.

Coming the end of December a brand new quilting show called "Quilting Arts TV" and hosted by yours truly will join the PBS programming line-up. During the next few months, we'll be planning the set design, the content (and we have some arty ideas), obtaining sponsorships, and scheduling quilt artists and designers for the first series taping in September.

When we have more details, I'll be sure to post them.

Cool, huh? I, for one, am pretty gosh darn excited.

Okay, my heatgun-wielding, rotary-cutting lovelies, I have big news, but before I share, I want to tell a story:

Back in the day when I was in sixth grade, my art teacher plopped a pile of colored felt, a bag of needles, and skeins of DMC floss on the art table one afternoon. I picked up a needle with my monkey-bar-loving, blister-ridden hands and once I figured out how to thread it, proceeded to take those bits of colorful craft felt and floss and stitch a scene of ducks swimming in a pond. It was ... shall we say…the most abstracted little duck scene you'd ever scene: a whir of blues, browns, and greens with the occasional wonky, loose stitch placed haphazardly about. No one—not art teacher, not parent, not friend—knew what in the blazes it was supposed to be, but looking back, nothing my two hands had ever fashioned made me happier.

Becoming a professional needle artist, however, wasn't in The Grand Plan, so off I went to college on the east coast where I majored in English. (Hey, if I couldn't stitch a duck scene at least I could read all those Austen books where they featured duck scenes.) Then grad school to be a teacher (not of needle arts), and then—much to the shock of my family: One day I had the overwhelming urge to pick up the needle again.

And once I started to stitch, I just couldn't put the needle down. I quit school, quit teaching, took my money and set up a computer in my in-laws' sheep barn to put out a quilting magazine. I had no newsstand plans for it; I thought it would be a subscription-only magazine (but of exceptional quality, of course).

Then stores called asking what my wholesale terms were. (What in the heck were our wholesale terms?!) And my sister-in-law Sally (who had four young kids at the time) took pity on me and came over every afternoon to help me go to the post office and drop off boxes of issues.

And then my husband, who'd previously owned his own business, came on board as publisher.

And then we hired a couple of employees.

And then we thought we might need to move the business out of our house, so when a historic building downtown in need of renovations came on the market, we snapped it up.

And then we thought, "Hey! We have this fabulous old building…why not have a little retail store, too, and offer all the cool stuff we talk about in the magazines?"

And then we thought, "People! We get all this incredible mixed-media art for QUILTING ARTS, but some pieces aren't exactly quilts, so why don't we start a second magazine!?"

And then we thought—dream of all mother dreams—wouldn't it be fun to publish books!

And then we thought, "Hey! We love to stitch by the pool––needle in one hand, margarita in the other. Let's launch a stitching cruise!"

And then we thought, "We're not publishing enough! Let's go to a six-issue publication schedule! For both magazines! At the same time!"

And then and then and then…

Here we are on a beautiful (and eerily balmy) January afternoon and Quilting Arts LLC has taken another gigantic leap into the publishing frontier:

As of January 2, 2007, Quilting Arts LLC has joined the family at Interweave Press. Hopefully you know them––those talented, creative folks who publish FIBERARTS, PIECEWORK, BEADWORK, and INTERWEAVE KNITS among a host of other high quality publications and books. Both John and I are thrilled about aligning forces with such a passionate, innovative group of people.

The quality, the photography, design, etc. will all stay top-notch for both publications. In fact, in addition to both magazines going to a six-issue publishing schedule, we're looking forward to offering all of you even more ways to get the freshest, most cutting-edge, thought-provoking, and creative content.

John will remain as publisher for both QUILTING ARTS and CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS (and will be the Group Publisher for Interweave's Quilting and Paper division), and I get to do what I love: being editor-in-chief for both magazines, working closely with Interweave's book division, and having fun planning some special projects that are in the works. John, myself, all of our staff, and our offices, including our retail store, will remain in Stow, MA.

So there you have it. My news. Picture me overjoyed when I say:

We're so excited to be part of the Greatness of Interweave Press!

Above (left to right): John Bolton, Pokey Bolton, Clay Hall, and Marilyn Murphy