QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
THURSDAY THIRTEEN
Often it’s difficult to find inspiration for quilting designs.  You feel you’ve made the same thing over and over, so want some new ideas.  But where do you come up with something unique and different?
Here are some tips on finding inspiration and new ideas.  Some may work for you.

Look at the different shades of green in the trees and shrubs, flowers and grass around you.  I first realized the many variations when taking an art course and the instructor pointed this out.
Find a photo of a place you’ve visited and see what ideas you glean from it.
Take several …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
We all need something or someone to uplift us when we’re discouraged in life and quilting…and even when we’re not.  One of the places I’ve found for “feel good” or thought provoking moments is Nancy Kirk’s The Monday Minute.  You have the choice of listening to it or reading it. 
Nancy is a quilter who specializes in quilt and fabric dating, as well as quilt restoration.  She’s noted for her quilt restoration workshops.  You’ll often find replays of free webcasts on quilt restoration.
I subscribe to her e-mail newsletter, so each Monday receive her tidbit of inspiration… often when I’m struggling to …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com

In a previous post, I mentioned quilting or doing handwork while watching the Olympics events.  A number of readers replied with their projects.

Were you inspired by the Olympics? 
Did you do handwork while watching the Olympics?
Have you designed anything that has a Olympics theme?
Have you come across any fabrics with a sports theme you could use in your projects?
Did you design some projects yourself or come across ideas on quilting blogs and in magazines?

Some related Olympics posts:
What Quilting Are You Doing During the Olympics?
The Panda Bears of China – Quilting Inspiration?
Quilting in Early China
(Amazon image; click here to check out fabric)
(c)2008 …read more

QuiltingAndPatchwork.com 
  Happy New Year and many blessings for 2008.
 What are your plans for the coming year?
DREAM BIG, REACH HIGH, and ACHIEVE MUCH!
Will you:
*Attend more quilt shows
*Take a special workshop
*Try an online class
*Sell some of your quilted and fabric art items
*Enter a competition
*Visit a quilt museum
*Find more online quilting friends
*Start a blog if you don’t have one
*Write a book about quiltmaking
Use these as springboards for venturing into new arenas of the quilting/fabric arts world.
I’d love to have you share your plans with me…as well as your progress as the year progresses.
My desire for 2008 is having Quilting and Patchwork provide you with …read more