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Take your quilting to a whole new level using Robbi Joy Eklow's quick and easy techniques.  In her book, Free Expression:  The Art and Confessions of a Contemporary Quilter, Robbi shows you how easy (and fun!) it is to create complex quilts, even if drawing is not "your thing." Here are some tips:

• Using predominantly warm colors will add excitement to your quilts; cool colors will calm them down.
• Use a broad range of values to add sophistication to your designs.
• Keep your quilts from looking "tilted" by balancing light colors on each side of the design.
• Using only one dark shape creates a visual "hole" in your quilt.
• Move across the room to view your quilt. Make sure that you can see shapes clearly when placing two colors together. 
• Scatter colors throughout the quilt to create a visual "triangle." This adds sense of balance and draws the viewer to explore the entire image.

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Christie Batterman, of See How We Sew, has just unveiled the April block for her charming 2012 Block of the Month project. Her "blogging sister," Darra Williamson, is making her blocks using fat quarters from Alex's newest fabric collection, "Leila Rose," produced by P&B Textiles. Darra says, "I love this collection! The variety of textures-large- and small-scale florals, dots, stripes, and paisleys-are attractive and versatile."

Take a look, at See How We Sew. Christie's post tells you how to access the directions for the April block, as well as the blocks for January through March, and a setting diagram for the finished quilt. The blocks are so easy-it's not too late to join the fun!

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Cogs, Wheels, and Gears...on Quilts!

Don't waste a second! Join us ASAP as quilt artist, author, Quilting Arts columnist, and self-anointed "Goddess of the Last Minute" Robbi Joy Eklow shares some of her quirky and colorful work, including a recent series of cog-and-wheel-based pieces. In addition, she shows how to use Adobe Illustrator, a sheet of fusible web, and an inkjet printer to create a ready-to-cut-and-use design, and demonstrates an absolutely ingenious method for squaring up large quilts.

In the final segment, Alex teaches Ricky (and the rest of us) how to make a quick- and-easy gift using a 4" block, pre-made piping, and a secret ingredient from the pet store.

59 Shows & a disount!   

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If you are going to be in Paducah for the AQS Quilt Show, you'll want to tune into the Quilt Channel which runs quilting-related features, news, and ads 24 hours a day during the show.

TQS will be featuring shows from Series 6.  

And while you are there, don't forget to check your Paducah Show Guide for a special treat from TQS.

The AQS Show & Contest runs  April 25-28.

There will be quilts and vendors in the Paducah Expo Center, the first and second floors of the Convention Center, and the Paducah Pavilion.

Ricky and Alex will be there lecturing and hosting special events.  Click here to find a list of classes, lectures, and events.

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If you missed the New York exhibit of Paula Nadelstern's work, you have a second chance to catch it at the Heftler Visiting Gallery at Endicott College-Center for the Arts in Beverly, MA.

Organized by the American Folk Art Museum, this will be the last venue for the stunning exhibit - Kaleidoscope Quilts - The Art of Paula Nadelstern.

The exhibit features 19 contemporary quilts, 12 kaleidoscope quilt blocks by Nadelstern, an early 19th century star pattern quilt, contemporary kaleidoscopes and two rare early kaleidoscopes.

Kaleidoscope Quilts will run from March 25 - June 16, 2012.

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High or low contrast can play an important role when you're making color choices for your next quilting project.  All Lessons are Free to Star Members.

International Quilting Month Special is still on  

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A batik and triangle beauty by TQS member ajclapp

Word has it that the completed quilt submissions for the TQS Half-square Triangle Exchange book and DVD are starting to arrive. Organizer and TQS member, CMOELLERS, says that--at last count--she has received 145 beautiful works, and that the chronicle of this project (and its results) is destined to become a treasured keepsake. If you're still working to complete your entry, you still have time to make the May 1, 2012 deadline. CMOELLERS hopes to have the books and DVDs available for purchase at this fall's International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX. 

Find out more here.

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This month you will make the second set of paper pieced stars (3 copies again). Whereas the star in Month 3 was created as a ring, the star this month is created in sections that are then stitched together. Watch the video this month to see some tips for sewing the circular stars into the background hole.

Be sure to also watch the companion instructional video here.

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In What is Color?, the first (and Free) lesson in this exciting new classroom, Michelle Jackson gives an overview of what she'll be teaching throughout the course, and defines "color" and the terms associated with it. Then she'll walk you through a game that helps you determine what colors are really in your fabrics. 

This first class will be open to Basic and Star Members. All other classes are available to Star Members only.

Other lessons, premiering weekly, will include:

* Value and Dominance
* The Temperature of Color: Is it active or passive?
* Fabulous Color Combinations
* The Personality of Color
* Pattern, Texture, and Scale
* The Color Shift
* Adding Unique Color is as Easy as 1, 2, 3

 Special International Quilting Month Deal     

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Not able to attend the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah? You can still watch lectures and special events live via webcast!

You can choose from a single lecture, event, or an all-inclusive ticket - which includes all of the 2012 Paducah events being webcast. 

Just a hint, there is a An Evening with Alex Anderson on Wed, 7pm, click here to see other events.

Once you have purchased, you can watch it "Live" or "On Demand" up to 90 days following the event.

It will go live during the Paducah AQS show April 25-28. Register for webcasts by clicking on the button below.