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.)

Many quilters enjoy designing and creating the quilt top, but would rather have someone else do the quilting.  When I operated a quilting business from my home, rather than simply doing fabric art for my own enjoyment, I hand quilted several old quilts.  (Machine quilting was just coming into vogue.)
Nowadays, many quilters have taken up machine quilting, for their own use and as a business.  In a recent Quilted Paradise Newsletter, you’ll find considerable information about machine quilting, from doing it yourself to having someone do it for you.
*What to look for when someone is quilting for you.
*Pricing
*Preparing your top for …read more

Patricia Bolton, editor of Quilting Arts Magazine and Cloth Paper Scissors, will be hosting a PBS quilting show, “Quilting Arts TV.”  The show will debut near the end of 2007.  Ttaping of the episodes soon will begin.
Those who read Quilting Arts Magazine and/or Cloth Paper Scissors are familiar with Patricia and the work she inspires in the quilting arts world. 
  Some of you also may be familiar with the recently published 1000 Artist Trading Cards book, edited by Patricia Bolton.  (My daughter, Beth Mastin, had one of her trading cards published in this book.)

         According to the latest e-mail newsletter I received from Quilting Arts Magazine, paper quilts are all the craze now.  This is a preview of an upcoming article in the latest issue.
Paper quilts! you say. These often involve a collage effect and include the use of paper, fibers, expandable paint, netting, and other embellishments.  Quilters also include items such as angelina fibers, chiffon scarves and silk handkerchiefs. 
(My daughter looks for chiffon scarves at the local second hand shop to create various effects in her fabric and paper art.)
 What have you tried in the field of paper quilts, as well as mixed …read more

“Mom, my ATC [Artist Trading Card] is in the new book, 1000 Artist Trading Cards,” my daughter exclaimed. 
 Sure enough, when we received a copy of the book by Art Quilting magazine and edited by Patricia Bolton, there was an ATC by Beth Mastin (along with other quilters and  fabric artists).  Beth’s card also appeared in the magazine some time ago.
Chloe, who blogs at Tangled Thread, mentioned this book and is excited about it, too.  It will be a “must see” book for those who are involved in making and trading ATCs.

I mentioned in the previous post there is some thought that the stitching arts are on the decline, especially sewing.  Emily, at Quilters Village mentions the revival of the stitching arts.
“Now that quilting, sewing, knitting and other handcrafts are “cool” again, a younger crowd is starting to stitch again, and adding their own twists to “new” techniques.”  She admitted that these crafts/arts fell out of favor for awhile, but feels they are coming back into fashion and are being picked up by a younger generation.
This definitely is an encouraging viewpoint.
(Emily’s e-mail newsletter originates at the Village Quilt Shoppe.

Those quilters and mixed media artists who enjoy Quilting Arts Magazine and Cloth Paper Scissors will find it exciting that Quilting Arts, LLC has joined the Interweave Press Family.
You can read about this exciting event at Patricia Bolton’s blog and her story behind her successful magazine and company that started in her in-laws’ sheep barn. 
I also find it exciting when I learn of a small home business that has evolved into a very successful one that has worldwide recognition in their field. 
              

Old-time patchwork can be turned into Christmas gifts and decorations.  Yo-yo’s, which once were very popular with quilters, seem to evoke a great deal of interest when I write about them.  Some quilters contact me concerning their memories making these as children and with their children.  Other quilters want to know how to make yo-yo’s.
These decorative shirred circles can be used by themselves…with loop of yarn or trim attached…as decorations for your tree.  They can be sewn together in a chain.  Or they can be stitched to other items…such as pillows, tote bags, vests (see Noreen’s ideas), scarves, hats, headbands for …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