Don’t think you’ll ever be interviewed?  Never say “Never!”
When I was a reporter for our local newspaper and a writer for quilting magazines, I interviewed quite a few quilters, both those who weren’t widely known and others who were   Do don’t be surprised if what you’re doing is of interest to a reporter somewhere.
The next question…“What do I do if someone wants to interview me?”
You’ll find 5 great tips at the b5media Business Channel’s Home Biz Notes (5 Top Tips for Newspaper Interviews) with further expansion at Pimp Your Work (Top 5 Interview Tips). 
Part 3 of the Business Channel’s “Apprentice” type challenge consisted …read more

Chloe, at Tangled Thread, called my attention to the magnificent Quilt of Belonging that represents the many cultures and diverse people of Canada, made by quilters and artists throughout the country.  It’s 120 feet long and 10 feet high and currently is on tour.
You’ll find a photo of this quilt of many blocks at Chloe’s blog.  There’s also more information and photos at the Quilt of Belonging site about this collaborative work of art.

Beth continues to make “inchies” for herself and for trading in her group.  In addition to being fascinating little pieces of art, they’re a way to experiment with new techniques without wasting a great deal of fabric and art materials.
These are inchies she made to send as trades.

A friend was looking at these and suggested Beth make some into necklaces.  She has adorned inchies with handmade fabric and paper buttons, then attached pin backs.
More about inchies at her Meandering Threads blog.  Here are some inchie pins.

One of my daughter’s favorite magazines for ideas and updates is Cloth Paper Scissors.  The current issue (July?August 2007) contains more than 50 pages of mixed media techniques.  There’s also an article, “A Year Captured in Fabric,” about fabric collage journaling.
If your quilting interests have taken you into the quilting and mixed media arts world, you’ll find these ideas (may complete with instructions) a bonanza for you.
(The same company that publishes Cloth Paper Scissors also puts out Quilting Arts magazine, another innovative resource in the quilting and fabric art world.)

I’ve posted a new poll on the blog (scroll down the right side) so you can let me know which fabric you prefer to use for your quilting and fabric art.  We have so many options available to us nowadays.
Question: Which type of fabric do you prefer for your quilting and fabric art?
The possible choices: Polyester/cotton blend; 100% cotton; silk, satin, brocade, metallics; a combination of fabrics.
There’s no right or wrong, simply the fabrics that each artist prefers to use.  Sometimes, too, we’ll find ourselves changing as we venture into new artistic avenues.

Many quilters use e-mail and print newsletters to share their news and work.  These newsletters vary in style and content, depending on the quilter/fabric artist’s talents and what she wants to share.
Generally you use e-mail newsletters if you want to reach quilters beyond the area where you live.  If you have an online shop, or traditional store that also offers Internet sales, you’ll favor an e-mail newsletter. 
 If you mainly sell to customers who frequent your shop, whether in your home or another location, you might print up monthly flyers with sales, new products, and interesting quilting information.
Various types of newsletters:
*Promoting sales and …read more

My daughter and I browse through the second hand store in our little town for quilting “treasure.”  Sometimes we find clothing for the children, mittens for cold weather, an interesting dish or cup, cook books, and other odds and ends.
When we stop by, the owners remark, “You’re having a mother/daughter outing,” and laugh because we often make it no further than their shop.
However, during our search through the store, we’re on the lookout for materials we can use for quilt hangings and fabric art.  Today Beth found a kimona type robe made of silky fabric of Oriental design.  It also had unique “frog” …read more

Cyndi Lavin collects old fabrics, something I discussed in a previous post.  So I asked Cyndi what she did with these old fabrics and found she has some interesting ways to utilize them, whether in quilts or mixed media art work. 
Cyndi also writes a b5media blog about multi media art, Layers Upon Layers (www.layersuponlayers.com)  She says she’s not a traditional quilter, although she’s done traditional quilting. 
MEA:  Cyndi, would you tell us something about you, your art, and your blog?
CYNDI:  I’m a mixed media artist who mostly makes jewelry, but I also play around with all different forms of collage, from purely …read more

My daughter seeks out quilting calendars and particularly likes the one produced by Quilting Arts magazine.  She also entered their contest this year for calendar selection.  Her fabric art entry was one of the 30 selected in the first selection.  We all were thrilled even though she didn’t make the final 13 used for the 2007 calendar.
However, others companies produce calendars that appeal to quilters.  Some are derived from paintings of quilting scenes.  Others have quilting designs.  Some even may contain patterns for the quilt designs.
You also can make your own quilting calendars with photos of your fabric art and quilts.  …read more

Our ancestors gathered at one another’s homes to finish quilts, chat, and share recipes.  This was a social outing as well as a work time.  Sometimes the ladies finished their own quilts; sometimes they contributed to a quilt to give as a gift.  They often put a quilt on a quilting frame and all joined in to do the finishing stitches.  In the evening, families gathered, too, for a meal at the hostess’s home.
Nowadays, ladies still gather for quilting bees but more and more quilting get-togethers are online affairs.  Quilters and fabric artists from around the world join online groups to share …read more