“Inchies” and “Plus Size Inchies” have become one of my daughter Beth’s latest fabric art projects.  These are 1-inch or 1 1/4-inch squares that you embellish.
Beth has been using some of her dyed fabric and embellishing with stitching, beads, fabric and other items.  You can give your imagination free reign and create very interesting tiny pieces of art.
An online fiber arts group Beth recently joined trades the “inchies” and “plus size inchies.’
Sometimes they make these tiny items all of one color; other times they’re multi-colored.
Beth posted this blue collection on her Meandering Threads blog.

Here’s the latest creation Beth made for the Round Robin her fiber arts group (Fiber Explorers) are doing.  She made it as a page for Carmen’s book with the them of “In the Woods.” Since we have trillium among the wild flowers growing the three acres of woodland around our home, it seemed appropriate to make these flowers for Carmen’s book.  You’ll find more about their Round Robin books on Beth’s Meandering Threads blog and perhaps gain inspiration and ideas for a book of your own.   Each of the fiber artists developed a theme for their book.  Then each of …read more

Beth’s fiber arts group has completed another segment in their Round Robin quilts.  She posted some photos, at her Meandering Threads blog, of work they’ve accomplished so far. 
Each quilter is contributing a page to one another’s books.  They also selected themes for their books which the contributors are carrying out.
It’s very interesting to see the various techniques and ideas they are coming up with.

Here is Beth’s contribution to one of the books with the theme of “Sky.”  It’s difficult to see clearly here, but Beth placed cheese cloth over the blue ocean to give it texture.  The fabric is some …read more

 Chloe, at the Tangled Thread blog also creates ATCs [Artist Trading Cards], one of the popular projects in the quilting and fiber arts world. She recently posted three of the ATCs she has made for fun. 
You might want to see them at Artist Trading Cards from My Studio.
I found very interesting the way Chloe used a variety of fabrics and embellishments…buttons, feathery threads or yarns, along with more traditional ones. 

Developing a quilting business doesn’t differ too much, in general principles, from one involving knitting, crocheting, and other fiber arts.  Also, if a quilter wants to design and sell patterns or write books about them, the same basic practices are utilized.
I read an interview of knitter Margaret Radcliffe, author of The Knitting Answer Book,  and found it very interesting how she got started in knitting, pattern designing, and writing this book.  Even though Margaret is a knitter, you’ll find ideas in the interview that may serve as a springboard for starting your quilting/fabric arts career.
(The interview of Margaret Radcliffe was …read more

Noreen at Hankering for Yarn, with her fascination for yo-yo’s, has designed and made another vest using yo-yo decoration.  She also posts attractive photos of much of her work, including this one.
Perhaps Noreen’s creativeness will give you inspiration for making yo-yo projects.  Yo-yo’s are very versatile and can be used for decorative effect or making complete items, such as bed coverings and tablecloths. 
(I shall go more into detail about making and using yo-yo’s in future posts.  I’ve written about them for magazines and in my newspaper columns in the past.)

Cathy Perkins mentioned QuiltingandPatchwork.com, in her blog, Tangled Thread (http://www.tangledthread.com/speaking-of-quilting/ . In her writing about needlework and other similar crafts, Cathy occaionally posts information concerning quilting.
There seems to be an interrelation among the fabric, fiber and thread arts.  For instance, in the previous post on this blog, I related how embroidery and cross stitch are incorporated into quilting. 
Some artists use thread for painting and embroidering exquisite pictures, to use as hangings or quilts.

Most people have some idea about quiltmaking, whether it concerns creating bed coverings, wall hangings, pillows, clothing, table cloths, placemats and similar items from pieces of cloth stitched together and then finished with decorative stitching.  However, the term “fiber art” is one we’ve begun to hear about more recently.
Fiber art works primarily are created from fabric.  However, other materials, including paper, paint, beads, metal, wood, plastics, and tyvek also may be utilized.  These pieces of art generally don’t cover beds but usually are hung on walls, framed, or set on stands. Some of them even may be three-dimentional.
They incorporate a …read more