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Ever since the days of the early quilting bees, we seem to associate quilting and cooking as related arts.  The ladies who gathered to help one another on their quilting projects usually enjoyed eating together, too.  Then in the evening their families might join for a social evening.
When my daughter’s fabric arts group meets, they sometimes gather for lunch.  They at least have snacks at these gatherings and often exchange recipes.
Quilters also post recipes in their newsletters, such as Deb and Jill do at Fat Quarter Quilters.  In fact, when I checked out their latest newsletter this morning, I found …read more

Fabrics depicting characters from children’s books seem popular with quilters and fabric artists.  They’re also fun to use when making clothing for children, as I did when my daughter was small.
Were any of you brought up on the Dick and Jane reading books in grammar school?  Do you have memories of learning to read when you see these characters?
            
I discovered at, Fat Quarter Shop, fabric with Dick, Jane and Sally.  A current feature is the Sally Look Quilt Kit by Michael Miller Fabrics, for a 50-inch piece, packaged in a collectible Dick and Jane lunch box.

Food and recipes seem to accompany quilters and constitute an important part of their life, along with their quilting activities.  Pioneer quilters shared recipes and served food at their quilting bees.  In the evening families often joined them for supper and  a social event.
Nowadays, quilters put together cook books and share recipes at their get-togethers.  We often find favorite foods in quilting newsletters, like the Fat Quarter Quilters Newsletter.  I’ve subscribed to this and receive a weekly update on fabrics and quilting ideas.  Deb and Jill usually include a recipe.  This week it’s one for Angel Food Cake.
             You’ll find more …read more

When I began quilting during our country’s Bicentennial years (1975-76), there were only a few companies offering fabrics focused especially for quiltmakers and fabric artists.  I’m amazed now, when I visit quilt shops, web sites, online stores, and read magazine, to see such a variety of quilting fabrics.
Some of them center around a theme, era, event, region or country.  Others simply are fabrics that strike the manufacturer or designer’s fancy.  Also, quilt artists, once they become well-known, often design fabrics for a manufacturer. You’ll also find fabrics designed by quilter/authors, such as Jennifer Chiaverini (www.elmcreek.net ), who writes the Elm Creek Quilters novels. She designs …read more

If you’re sending out a quilting e-newsletter, how do you ensure that others will want to subscribe and continue reading?  Generally the newsletters I’ve found are published by quilters and quilt shops selling fabrics, patterns, kits, and quilting related items.  The newsletter becomes a way to connect with your customers.
As I’ve subscribed and browsed through e-newsletters lately, I’ve found these appeal to me:
*Adding something personal about your quilting life, travels, and projects.  This catches my interest more than simply a listing of items for sale, even when those items come with pictures.  This personal blurb generally shouldn’t be too long, but …read more