QuiltingAndPatchwork.com
 More projects this week from the Arts Bloggers that you won’t want to miss.  If you don’t have time now, tuck them away for future use.
Heather at A Creative Journal  links to the amazing 1000 Journals Project, in case you’ve missed it so far.
Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork wonders what you think of the proposed Orphan Works Bill in the US Congress and how it will affect artists, writers, and artisans. 
The incredibly talented Judy Coates Perez has done an artist profile for Layers Upon Layers! 
If you have a die cut machine and some pretty cans, you can make your own …read more

Janet Wickell has posted some very interesting information on fabric grain, Understanding Fabric Grain Improves Your Quilting Skills, and the importance of quilters and fabric artists being knowledgeable about this topic.   Using straight grain pieces and bias cut pieces can produce totally different results…and sometimes not the results you desire if you don’t know the characteristics of each.
There are a number of articles suggested in addition to Janet’s information about fabric grain and when to use what.
This post builds upon my previous one, Learning Which Quilting Fabric to Select.

Create unique gift wrapping by using some of the fabric and embellishments in your stash.  Some of these may be fabrics you use in your quilting.  Others may be interesting fabrics you’ve selected for fiber art projects.
Also, if you’re giving a gift to a quiltmaker or fiber artist, what better way to wrap it, thus giving them an additional gift of fabric and adornments.
This book, Gift Wrapping with Textiles by Chizuko Morita, will give you many ideas on how to utilize fabric for Christmas gifts and others year round.