I previously mentioned the Round Robin quilting project my daughter’s Fiber Divas group has decided upon for this year.  They’ve all been working on it, and Beth has posted her first quilt in response to quilter Marilyn’s theme.
Check out Beth’s Meandering Threads New Quilt post to get a look at this very interesting piece of fiber art.  In Circle Doodads, she answers a viewer’s question concerning some of the embellishments.  This may give you an idea of a simple, ordinary object you can use to enhance your projects.

To some quilters, tying your quilts seems “the easy way out.”  However, there are times for tying the three layers together and other times for stitching them.
Since my grandmother, my aunt and their friend Susie tied their quilts, that’s what I knew.  When I helped them make quilts, you might say I attended a “tying bee,” when they spread the layers out on the large dining table and tied and chatted.
When I began making quilts during the Bicentennial Years of 1975-76, I naturally tied them.  I continued to do so to make the quilts affordable.  Because it doesn’t take so …read more

The Arts Bloggers Visit Again. 
Today they’re offering crafty ideas and business suggestions to inspire you.
Angels can be tiny
Noreen has designed some tiny spool knitted angels that are easy and charming.
Layers Upon Layers
Cyndi explores making small quilts from rusted fabric. 
Painted Hearts Champagne Flutes
Make two of these romantic flutes for a special couple. Add a bottle of bubbly for a complete gift!
Photo Phun!
Some photos to use for your journals any way you choose.
Should We Brand or Not Brand Our Quilting?
Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork discusses the latest buzz word in business…branding.
What to Do With Used Disposable Pens
Don’t …read more

It’s Round Robin time again for my daughter’s quilting/fiber art group, the Fiber Divas.  Each year they try something new as they each contribute to one another’s work in Round Robin format.
Beth has described the Round Robin project at her Meandering Threads blog.  Each member chooses a shape and theme.  She cuts the shape into six portions, one for each member.  Eventually, when the quilters gets all her pieces back, including the one she’s doing, she puts them together.
On this same post, Beth also shows a picture of an ATC she recently exchanged in an online project.  Are any of you still …read more

The name, Rusted Fabric Art Quilt, caught my attention.  So I had to explore Cyndi Lavin’s Layers Upon Layers blog and discover what this type of quilt entailed.  It’s fascinating and an original design of Cyndi’s.
Here Cyndi has a “how-to” complete with photos.  You’ll also find the link to her tutorial for making rusted fabric.  Rusted fabric, quilted batting, stamping materials, beads and other embellishments result in creativity.  You also can make the quilt without using rusted fabric.

Sandy inquired about machine quilting and baby quilts.
I bought a pre-printed baby panel. I want to machine quilt through all 3 layers of material….my question is how do you stitch around all of the designs? Do you have to use a free motion foot? Thanks.
 Does anyone have suggestions about how Sandy could do this?
I’d say she’d have best results with a free motion foot.  However, when I made baby quilts, in days before I could get a free motion foot, I did manage to stitch around designs with a regular presser foot.  You needed time and patience and space to maneuver, …read more

Quilters and fabric artists have discovered all types of new techniques to produce projects they might never have imagined years ago.  Fiber and fabric art, that has evolved from quiltmaking, offers fascinating options for one’s talents.

Felting is one of these my daughter is exploring.  You can use a felting machine or do it by a handfelter.  At this point Beth is using the hand method, but has created some very interesting items in her explorations.
She has experimented with yarn, recycled wool, roving and cheesecloth.  Her latest projects involve recycled wool sweaters and recycled wool fabric (like from a skirt or jacket). 
Here are …read more

I’ve enjoyed watching my daughter play with her Christmas gift, Photoshop Elements 7, as she experiments with photos and gets ideas for her quilting and fabric art.  It’s amazing what all can be done with photos to improve them, to combine them, and to give them new looks.  You then can transform these into fabric art.
I’m fascinated as I watch Beth with this program…and she’s just begun to learn the fundamentals.  She also purchased some books that give her more techniques and ideas.
What are some of the uses?

Print off your photos and “new” photos on fabric for your projects.
Use the Photoshop results as inspiration …read more

The Uncommon Quilter

As I browsed through one of the books my daughter received for Christmas, The Uncommon Quilter (Small Art Quilts Created with Paper, Plastic, Fiber, and Surface Design) by Jeanne Williamson I was intrigued by some involving rubbings.
One is very simple and can be done quickly at home.  It involves crayon rubbing, which my daughter has tried successfully for interesting projects.
Then Jeanne introduces one called “Cemetery Visit,” in which she uses an actual gravestone rubbing on fabric, as well as a photo of the stone (p. 104-105).  You could expand upon something like this for a larger quilt, a …read more

White Work – There are various terms for this technique, but in general, “white work” encompasses it quite well.  This involves quilting solid pieces of white fabric, without any patchwork or applique.  It may be one solid piece to fit your bed.  Or you might use large squares that you sew together with backing and filling/padding.
The machine or hand quilting creates the design on the white background.  These were popular in days ago and sometimes were given as wedding gifts.  Thus I’ve heard them referred to as bridal or wedding quilts, too.