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At the Quilters Take Manhattan event this year a number of quilts from the "Playing Favorites" contest created by the Quilt Alliance were on display. Because the challenge allowed you to do whatever you wanted to do, you'll see all types of quilts encompassing every style and technique imaginable.  There are painted quilts, embroidered quilts, scrap quilts, appliqué quilts, and more.

Here is their description of the contest:

"Our 2016 contest was for all quilters—we encouraged everyone who makes quilts to enter regardless of their style (traditional, modern, art) or technique (longarm, hand quilting, appliqué, pieced…)—all are welcomed and valued! This year’s theme is “Playing Favorites” and we encouraged entrants to work deep inside their comfort zone, their happy place, and we presented our resources to give you extra inspiration.

The rules were simple: make a 16” by 16” wall quilt showcasing your very favorite pattern or technique. Whether it’s double wedding ring or hexies, crazy quilting, textile art or modern, make your quilt about whatever you love most in quilting right now. We’re interested in documenting the state of quilting in 2016—including your favorites!

The contest quilts will tour the country to various quilt shows like Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, corporate exhibition spaces like the one at Handi Quilter, Inc., and events like Quilters Take Manhattan, before being auctioned off to benefit the Quilt Alliance. An exhibition schedule will be shared here soon. All quilts will be labeled using StoryPatches, which include a QR code to link the quilt to its Quilt Index record."

This is just a small selection of the quilts that will be available for auction on the Quilt Alliance website beginning November 14, 2016.

Click here to view a gallery of all the quilts.

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Here are some of the entries in this year's wearable art exhibit at the Pacific International Quilt Festival. The Best of Show winner is a familiar name in wearable art. Did you guess who it was?

Click here for a full list of Wearable Art Winners.

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Paint is an inexpensive way to completely change the feel and look of a space. But before you run to the paint store, here are a few tips to make your work perfect from start to finish. Considered one of the least expensive of remodeling projects, painting a space can also:

• Give a fresh and new feel to a space
• Bring value to your home
• Hide marks and scrapes on walls
• Be less expensive than remodeling
• Promote positive energy
• Require less prep time than wallpaper

Here is an example of how paint, plus a few other changes, can transform a small space (in this case a bathroom) into a much brighter and large looking space. 

ApartmentTherapy

Selecting the color for your space depends on the mood you want to create. If you absolutely love beige, embrace it. This is YOUR space after all, and you need to be happy in that space. Colors can set a tone, so if your desire is to be in a warm and calm space, you might want to select white and neutral tones for the walls and decor. If you love the energy vibrant colors bring, by all means, add those colors to your work area. But, keep in mind that the color you see on that small paint chip will look much different on a large expanse of wall.

Before painting an entire room, try these suggestions from HomeLogic:

1. Paint squares of primed drywall with samples of the colors you’re considering, and then move them around the room during the day. Apply at least two coats.

2. Most contractors won’t hang lights before you paint, but you can get a color approximation by placing a bulb you’ll be using in a floor or desk lamp. If you’re hyper-sensitive to color or want a very specific look, ask your electrician to hang the lights, then cover them carefully during painting.

3. Turn on artificial lights even during daylight to see what your colors will look like. Remember that natural and artificial light will work together during certain times of day, especially in summer when dusk lasts a long time.

4. Paint sheen also affects color. Glossy finishes will reflect light and change the way the color looks, whereas flat finishes are less reflective and allow colors to look truer under bright light.

5. Light-colored walls can reflect the colors of bold carpets: A bright blue rug, for instance, can cast a bluish tone on a white wall.

Don't believe that the light of day and which color paint you select makes a difference? Check out the color adventure Dana went through when painting her studio/office space. Not one, but two color choices didn't work until #3 was the perfect fit.

Color 1-Celery green                                                                      Color 2-Yellow


Color 3- White with gray stripes. MadeEveryDay

Are paneled walls keeping you from enjoying your space? Check out what a difference a splash of white Sherwin Williams ProClassic paint can make. In this case, an off-campus college house shared by three young women is completely transformed. Learn more about the process of painting paneling here.  

Honeycombhome

Go for calm with Behr's "Gentle Rain" gray walls. ScrambledEggs

Here's another creative solution for a boring white/gray office/sewing space. TheHappyChateau

Duron's Sugar Cookie took a boy's bedroom from drab to fab new quilt studio. BetweenNapsOnThePorch

How about yellow and white gingham walls? SewWeQuilt

Or are you a seafoam kinda gal? ALittleSweetness

Green is sometimes not the best color if your room is on the north side of the house. After a room move, Melly painted her space white to have the light in studio bounce. MellySews

Love the color pumpkin? It might vibrate too much for an entire room that is only 10' x 10'.

A move upstairs into a family room, and different selection from the vegetable family, became a sanctuary for this crafter. InfarrantlyCreative

Instead of an entire room, paint just one wall red for a big vibrant punch. ASortOfFairyTale

Need some color in your life?  How about fuchsia? Pinterest

Click here for more organization blogs.

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RARE Science works directly with patient families and foundations to find more immediate therapeutic solutions for children with rare diseases. 

This year RARE Science is partnering with TQS (and a number of other great organizations) to bring you... the FIRST Ever Celebrity RARE Bear Auction!  This is your opportunity to own a signed bear made by the quilt world's most talented artists while helping a great cause.

Meet "Artsy" by Melody Crust

Artsy is definitely not shy when it comes to entering a room. She is bright, bold and loves wearing all of her pink bling. When it comes to embellishment, Artsy’s motto, ‘More is More,’ is worn with absolute confidence and pride. Richly encrusted with hand-embroidery, hand-beading, ruched ribbons, dyed to match vintage crochet medallions, buttons, sequins, and so much more, she is truly a sight to behold. This divinely encrusted girl will definitely make a statement in your home.

Star Members can watch Melody in Show 1706: Textural Backgrounds, Appliqué on Silk & Straight-Line Quilting.

Click here for links to see more Celebrity RARE Bears.

Melody Crust, a popular quilting instructor, brings her natural teaching ability and contagious enthusiasm to quilters from coast to coast. An award winning quilter and nationally celebrated fabric artist, her work has been featured in dozens of books and magazines. In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Melody is in constant demand as a curator and judge for national and regional quilt exhibitions. She has authored Stitching Through the Layers: The Art & Elegance of Straight Line Stitching, Eye Candy Quilts: Super-fast fun with beads, baubles, buttons and more, Quilt Toppings: Fun and Fancy Embellishment Techniques and A Fine Line: Techniques and Inspirations for Creating the Quilting Design. See samples of Melody’s work, check out her workshops, order autographed copies of her books or contact her directly at www.melodycrust.com.

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RARE Science works directly with patient families and foundations to find more immediate therapeutic solutions for children with rare diseases. This year RARE Science is partnering with TQS (and a number of other great organizations) to bring you... the FIRST Ever Celebrity RARE Bear Auction! This is your opportunity to own a signed bear made by the quilt world's most talented artists while helping a great cause.

The results of Round 1 are in and the winners are:

3rd place - "Wooly Bear" by Allie Aller

 2nd place - "Gertie the Green Bear" by Sue Nickels

1st place - "Yosemite Bear" by Nancy Brown

Congratulations ladies, Round 2 will be coming shortly.

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Voting for Round 1 is now closed.

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The City Quilter and ArtQuilt Gallery NYC were featured in "New York Originals" a while back, take a moment to learn their story. We will miss them.

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Want to know how to miter a corner? Barbara Black walks you through the process step by step. And yes, they will come out as perfect as in this picture.

Want to know more about Barbara, a retired Alabama accountant and former Marine? Her quilt, "Red and White - By the Numbers," was selected as the commemorative quilt for Ruby Jubilee, the 40th celebration of the International Quilt Festival. Click here to learn more.

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Bugs Bunny himself would love to take a bite out of this oversized carrot from Carol Morrissey.

Star Members can watch Carol in Show 1908: Postcards and Photorealism.

Original Photo: Gregory Case

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RARE Science works directly with patient families and foundations to find more immediate therapeutic solutions for children with rare diseases. 

This year RARE Science is partnering with TQS (and a number of other great organizations) to bring you... the FIRST Ever Celebrity RARE Bear Auction!  This is your opportunity to own a signed bear made by the quilt world's most talented artists while helping a great cause.

Meet "Ruby Duby" by Tamara Leberer

Ruby Duby is made with a combination of luscious hand-dyed Dupioni silk and silk fusion.   Hand embroidery and beautiful set of fused glass eyes and ribbons of silk sari fabric around her neck complete the ensemble.

My name is Ruby Duby. I was named after my Grandpa Rube, and “Ruby Duby” is the name he liked to use around his grandchildren. Like the color Red invokes, Grandpa Rube was strong, sassy and generous. Ruby Duby is a reminder of how important and enriching your relationship with your grandparents can be! They are always there to lift you up and strengthen your confidence. They are simply the best!

Star Members can watch Tamara in Show 1901: Silk Fusion.

Click here for links to see more Celebrity RARE Bears.

As an artist, creating beauty, first and foremost, drives me. I prefer to create what I personally feel is appealing. My inspiration comes from the colors of nature, the built environment and the classic definitions of design. Still, I consider myself a rule-breaking, get-it-done kind of gal.

Trying new things; always trying new things; and putting things together in new ways fuels my creativity. My ideas come from a conglomeration of traditional and aesthetic skills picked up through my personal and professional life in architecture, sewing and gardening.

Whether you call them art quilts or fiber art, my work revolves around a love of fiber, fabric and color. I find the vivid colors of fiber and fabric and the texture and dimensionality of quilting thrilling. No matter what or how much I do, I can’t extinguish my passion to create with my hands. My favorite manner of work is improvisational, where I explore line, shape and color to create harmony and motion.

I have been teaching Silk Fusion, along with many other fiber art techniques such as felting, nuno felting, modern quilt piecing, and free motion quilting in Colorado since 2011.

I have spent the last 15 years exploring every facet of fiber art before finding the sweet spot that makes my artist heart feel at home: combining a wide variety of fibers in different ways, and then quilting, always quilting.