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Insects taken to flights of fanciful art and gorgeous antique quilts from a storied collection will be showcased in the spring exhibits on display at the Texas Quilt Museum from April 3-June 29, 2014.

Butterflies and Their Beautiful Kin: This is a juried exhibition of contemporary quilts inspired by the mission and purpose of the National Butterfly Center.  

“Butterflies symbolize rebirth and metamorphosis. This exhibit shows how modern artists are reworking quiltmaking, contributing new techniques, processes, and concepts to the historical continuum of quilts,” adds Dr. Sandra Sider, Museum Curator.

An Invitational Flutter of Butterfly Art Quilts: Wings of the Lepidoptera continue to flutter in this invitational exhibit featuring 17 amazing butterfly quilts, carefully selected by our Museum Curator.

Also on exhibit, Antique Quilts from the Gundersheimer Collection: This exhibit features eight incredible antique quilts in a wide variety of styles and genres from the personal collection of Karen and Werner Gundersheimer. 

The Texas Quilt Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity. It is housed in two historic 1890s buildings, which provide a fine showcase for both antique and contemporary quilt art with their high ceilings, brick walls, and original hardwood floors.

Home for the new museum is the picturesque Central Texas town of La Grange, located on the winding Colorado River between two major highways, making it within easy driving distance of the state’s major cities and airline hubs.

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Hop on over to your sewing room and make this quick little project which can be finished in an afternoon. From Samelia's Mum comes this adorable Scrappy Bunny Mini Quilt.  Use up your scraps, including selvedges, and create a colorful delight to decorate your house for spring!

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(Photo: Alabama.Travel)

Quilts are no longer relegated to the role of just being bed coverings, but are appreciated as works of art in and of themselves.  "It's pretty broad, from the extreme fine arts world to the grassroots," says Ricky Tims, one of the world's top fiber artists. The art form celebrates Quilt Week, one of its biggest annual events, April 23-26 in Paducah, Ky. Tims shares favorite places to see this "soft art" with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. 

TQS wants to know how many of these great places have you visited?

National Quilt Museum
Paducah, Ky.
Even when this city isn't celebrating Quilt Week, visitors can get a fabric fix at this museum, which has what may be the world's top quilt displays, Tims says. It's one of the reasons Paducah won the honor of being named a UNESCO Creative City. "You feel as if you've walked into a cathedral and your hat should be off. You're absolutely in awe of the work that's exhibited there." 270-442-8856; quiltmuseum.org

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Quilts are no longer relegated to the role of just being bed coverings, but are appreciated as works of art in and of themselves.    "It's pretty broad, from the extreme fine arts world to the grassroots," says Ricky Tims, one of the world's top fiber artists. The art form celebrates Quilt Week, one of its biggest annual events, April 23-26 in Paducah, Ky. Tims shares favorite places to see this "soft art"with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Tell us how many you have visited?

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Want to dress like Lady Mary of Downton Abbey?  These videos from The Hollywood Sew show you how to create a "vintage" dress incorporating style elements from the past while using a modern-day pattern.

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How would you like to own a quilt created by Libby Lehman, Caryl Bryer Fallert, or Judy Matheison? Now is your chance.

On April 7, 2014, The National Quilt Museum will launch its 2014 Annual Benefit Auction. This year over 80 items will be auctioned with a combined value over $40,000. It will include quilts, quilt miniatures, sewing machines, gift baskets, notions, and much more. Items were donated by over 60 companies, guilds, and individuals passionate about today's quilting community. 

It is a two-phase auction that starts with online bidding. To participate in the online auction, simply go to www.quiltmuseum.org/auction. Participants will be able to bid immediately following a brief registration process. Online bidding will run through Wednesday, April 23^rd at 10pm central time. The online auction system is highly dynamic, working similar to eBay's platform. Bidders will be informed if they have been outbid at any point during the 16 days. 

On April 24^th, at 6pm, the Live Auction will begin. The auction will take place at the Convention Center in Paducah, Kentucky. Online bidders will be represented by a proxy at the live event. Each item will be won by the person offering the highest bid, regardless if they are in attendance. Typically, over 70% of items are won by online bidders that do not attend the live event; as such, everyone has a good chance to win. 

The National Quilt Museum works to bring the work of today's quilter to new and expanding audiences worldwide. It promotes the quilting community through exhibits, education, and advocacy efforts. The Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that receives over 80% of its funding through the generosity of the quilting community. The Annual Benefit Auction is the Museum's largest annual fundraiser. 

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The Quilt Life Magazine isn't just about patterns, it's about living The Quilt Life every day.

Want to know who won the American Gothic Challenge?

How  to create a Fabulous Faux Flange, as taught by Janet Stone?

How symbols of the Netherlands are being used in delightful ways?

How to make Alex's Sweet Pototatoes or Ricky's Potato Blue Cheese Soup?

Jan Magee, Editor-in-Chief, writes, "There's more to quilting than making quilts. Alex and Ricky know what it means to live "the quilt life." It means planning your day to squeeze in as much quilting as possible. It's reading and learning about new techniques from books and classes. It's planning a vacation around a quilting retreat or a special quilt show. It's expressing your creativity and creating art. It's all that and so much more." 

Head on down to your local quilt shop and pick up the April edition or click the button below to subscribe.

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A new exhibition is running at the American Museum in Britain through November 2.

The Colorful World of Kaffe Fasset celebrates his fifty years working as an artist and colorist. The exhibition features work spanning Kaffe's creative life.

Over one hundred sumptuous works of textile art – a kaleidoscope of knitwear, needlepoint, beading, and quilts – will be on display in the dramatic exhibition alongside vibrant mosaics and still life paintings by the Fassett.

This is the grandest show of my career – every item is part of an intricate opera of colour. I have always wanted this approach to my work, but other museum designers and curators have steered me to a rather mixed approach in my exhibitions.

This show is so unique to me because it explains in a visceral way my growing obsession with the power of colour. My hope and conviction is that this exhibition at the American Museum in Britain will show the grey and beige clad young the sensual thrill of pure colour. I still feel vital! I want my message to come across in this mood altering show – I’m flying high on colour.

This show is closer to my desires than ever before in my many, many presentations around the world.

(Kaffe Fassett, 12 March 2014)

The American Musuem in Britain is located in Claverton Manor in Bath. For more on visiting the museum, click here.

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Presenting Part 3 of Edwardian Fashion - featuring more items from 1901 to the 19teens.  PiepMiau04 gives historical information and closeups of actual garments from the Edwardian period.  Silk ribbon flowers, hand embroidery, lace, linen and rhinestones. These gowns are breathtaking, as well as the corsets (fainting couches were invented for a reason.)

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Superior Threads puts a lot of effort into the creation of their MasterPiece Prewound bobbins to ensure the highest level of quality. Take a look and see how it's done. (...did you know that a prewound bobbin can hold up to more than 50% more thread than a bobbin you wind yourself?)