We sometimes think it’s difficult to see our quilting when the lighting is poor or our eyes are tired.  What if we couldn’t see at all?
Some quilters, like Tanya, who is blind, have developed techniques to help them with their quilting art.  She passed along some of her tips, which, as she says, any quilter can use.  Tanya has found they make her quilting easier.
You’ll find these tips in the Oct. 31 issue of Kaye Wood’s Quilting Newsletter at http://www.kayewood.com/newsletter.pdf .

Quilters often enjoy chatting with others around the country and the world.  These opportunities present themselves on e-mail groups, message boards and chat rooms. 
As I was reading the current Quilting Paradise Newsletter online, I noticed a chat going on at the bottom of the site.  Here quilters were discussing various topics of interest to other fabric artists, types of quilts they’re making or have made, hints about fabrics and threads, etc.
If you’d like to check it out, visit http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/061-ewc.jsp .
Do any of you have other chat rooms where you find helpful information and can connect with other quilters?

A number of quilting sites offer free information about quilts, quilting, and fabric art.  Some of this you can find right on the site.  Others consist of a series of lessons or how-to’s sent to your e-mail box.
When I visited Penny Halgren’s How-to-Quilt site (http://www.how-to-quilt.com ), I discovered I could sign up for a series of “7 Common Quilting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” delivered to my e-mail.  I’ve received the first one about prewashing fabric…whether you should or shouldn’t and how to do it.
Have you found other helpful information on quilting, patchwork, and fiber arts sites?  We’d welcome …read more

Some ideas to inspire your quilting:
*Try a small project, like a fabric postcard, for a new project.  Then you’ll know whether you want to do something larger or try something completely different.
*Post photos of your quilting projects in an album, starting with your older ones and coming forward.  It might be interesting to see if you’ve changed your style at all.
*Take photos of your quilting projects and use them for postcards and business cards. These can inspire you and others.
*Visit quilting web sites to see what’s new and what’s going on in the quilting/fabric art world.
*Attend quilt exhibits and meet …read more

It was interesting, that soon after I’d written a blog entry about finding your quilting or fabric art niche…that particular something that makes you special, I read Bob Baker’s Artist Empowerment Blog about “Three Simple Marketing Words.” (http://bob-baker.blogspot.com/2006/08/three-simple-marketing-words.html )
“Recognize your uniqueness,” are the words Bob mentions.  He encourages artists to discover the talents and qualities that make them unique so they can “connect with their fans who are most likely to be blown away by the specific type of art you create.”
Thus, when involved in your quilting and fabric art, find that special method, technique, or style that sets you apart …read more

Threads for quilting may vary depending on the effect you want to achieve, the materials you’re using, and where you’re using it…for decorative effect or stitching pieces together.  Also, consideration should be given to the planned use of the piece.  Will it be a bed quilt or a decorative hanging?
Since you’re putting a great deal of work into your work, select thread of good quality that will endure.  Therefore bargain threads usually aren’t recommended.
Your usual threads are:
*100% cotton
*100% polyester
*cotton-wrapped polyester
*quilting thread treated with a coating to minimize tangling
*metallic and specialty threads
Quilters eventually will find the type and manufacturer’s brand of …read more

Applique, the technique of stitching pieces of fabric to a background with intricate and decorative stitches, frequently is used in quilting and fabric art projects. 
The current newsletter from Quilted Paradise gives “A Few Tips for Applique” where you can find how to perfect this technique.  (http://www.quiltedparadise.com/b/047/owg/9436 )
You also can register to receive e-mail notices whenever new newsletters are published.  These contain quilting tips, book reviews, and questions and answers.

There’s an even easier way to make your quilts that the method I described in a previous blog, What’s an Easy Quilt for a Beginner?, for making a simple quilt of 7-inch squares or smaller.  Here I mentioned making a template and cutting your fabric from that. 
However, you can purchase pre-cut squares of various sizes for creating a quilt.  Browse through quilt supply catalogs, check out online stores or visit your favorite quilting shop.  There you’re likely to find these squares.  Some are arranged around a theme or specific colors.  Others are a mix or ones from which you can choose what …read more

Sometimes a very helpful gadget can be very simple, so simple that we don’t even consider it.  I was browsing through the new autumn Keepsake Quilting catalog(www.keepsakequilting.com ) my daughter received, and saw…Glow-in-the-Dark Pins!
That’s what we need around here, I thought.  With three quilters in the family (my daughter, granddaughter, and me), our menfolk continually complain about the pins on the floor or on cushions. 
These 1 1/2-inch pins have white plastic heads that will glow in the dark.  Possibly these are commonplace to many quilters and other suppliers have them available.  Anyway, if you’re constantly losing pins, you may want …read more

“What’s an easy quilt for a beginner?” has been a frequent question over the years.  How can someone make a quilt fairly quickly and without a great deal of difficulty so they don’t become discouraged?
I found that a quilt made with 7-inch squares could be made easily and quickly.  Why did I choose 7-inch squares?  I have no idea!  Perhaps I read about it at the time, saw a quilt I liked, was informed by another quilter, or had an order for one of this type. 
So I cut 7-inch templates from heavy paper (often the front or back of a …read more