Daily Blog

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I don't know about you, but this time of year my body is making me fully aware of how much stitching I am doing. I have a need and desire to quilt and stitch on a regular basis...which means snippets of time grabbed here and there to enjoy sewing. But, in the weeks leading up to the holiday season, my stitching is ramped up. I feel like an elf with only so much time left to finish the napkins, table runners, place-mats, aprons, and pillowcases which I make as gifts. The result...is a body that is suffering from quilters strain! Neck stiffness along with shoulder and back stress. But in came an angel in one of my stitch groups who shared how to make this extraordinary pillow. One of the Quilt Roadie subscribers, Evelyn, made this adorable pillow for herself and, being a clever stitcher, she chose fabric that was already quilted and was able to skip a step!



Now we know everyone has a favorite pillow, but, this pillow will become your absolute favorite because it will extend your stitching hours. This fun little pillow is so versatile and is perfect for resting your arms on for hand stitching, which takes the stress off of your neck, shoulders and arms. Whether it be embroidery, cross stitch, binding, wool stitching, or hand quilting, this pillow is going to be your new best friend. I especially love using it in the car or when I am watching the tellie. Evelyn decided she needed to spread the joy and made them up as gifts for stitching friends!



Made from 2 fat quarters and a bag of stuffing, this little pillow will be a "must pack" for travel and especially for quilting retreats! If you are interested in making one for yourself or making one as a gift, you can check out our Quilt Roadies Video, you still have 13 more days still Christmas!!

Click here to check out the video.

Click here for Anna's YouTube Channel.

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TQS has secured 3 New Online Classes for 2018 and we are working on several others. This is a big benefit for Star Members. Usually classes like these are $19.99 to $39.99 at other sites, but they are FREE with your Star Membership. We want to encourage Star Members to take advantage of the online classes. Kathy McNeil's Learning Landscapes will be replaced by Kathy's Multiple Ways to Appliqué. So take advantage of the Learning Landscapes online class up until December 31. Then we will begin streaming the new classes. See a short intro below.

              Click Button Then Scroll Down Page

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One is never too old to learn something new. That is certainly the case with our Design to Quilt program. We too have found a number of ideas that WE just LOVE and want to incorporate into our personal work. Here are a few of our Priniciples of Design Editor's favorites.

Week 32 - Asymmetrical Balance
Shake things up to create a more interesting work. Asymmetrical balance means that the entire work is balanced, but with a more energetic and exciting feeling.
 

Week 35 - Pattern/Repetition

Pattern is the combining of elements or motifs in an arranged and repeated manner to delight the eye of the viewer.

 
Week 38 - Emphasis
Emphasis is a technique used by artists to shift the viewers attention to what the artist finds to be most important. Emphasis is one of those magic ingredients that can make your work stand out from the crowd.
 

Week 30 - Balance

Balance is the visual arrangement of elements (color, texture, space, etc.) to create a sense of stability and calm, but can also be used to create excitement.

Week 39 - Rhythm/Movement
Take the viewer on a visual journey into, around, or across a quilt by including rhythm and movement.

Over the course of our year, we have just dipped our toe in the water when it comes to understanding design. Continued learning and study is always recommended. Classes, online courses, and books abound to help you continue growing as a quilt artist. Below are a number of resources we believe would be a good place to begin your continued learning:

Alex Anderson (Shows 212, 408, 809, 1210, 2106) - All Things Quilting

Christine Barnes (Show 1407) - The Quilters Color Club

Deborah Boschert (Show 2108) - Art Quilt Collage: A Creative Journey in Fabric, Paint and Stitch ; Head, Heart and Hands: Developing Your Creative Voice Artist (Workbook)

Melody Crust (Shows 312, 1706) - A Fine Line: Techniques and Inspirations for Creating the Quilting Design

Jane Dunnewold (Show 1501) - Creative Strength Training: Prompts, Exercises and Personal Stories for Encouraging Artistic Genius (Self-guided course of study)

Becky Goldsmith (Shows 611, 1704) - The Quilter's Practical Guide to Color

Lyric Kinard (Shows 1311, 1710, 2013) - A Pocket Guide to Critique: How To See Your Work With An Artist's Eye

Katie Pasquini Masopust (Shows 906, 1913) - Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter ; Design Explorations for the Creative Quilter

Jean Wells (Shows 107, 1301) - Intuitive Color & Design: Adventures in Art Quilting ; Journey to Inspired Art Quilting: More Intuitive Color & Design

Joen Wolfrom (Shows 103, 2101) - Color Play, Second Edition

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Jinny's fabric choices make even a simple block beautiful. What do you think this block is called? Play the game and find out.

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Mystery Solved!

Montserrat wrote in Spanish and explained that she was told by a judge that the "chocolate bar" she quilted at the bottom did not "go" with the quilt, so she picked it out and re-quilted it. So, it is the same quilt. The drips don't show up because of the dark background!

Here is the translation of her original story:
"I can explain: It was presented for the first time in 2016 at the Sitges-Barcelon a festival.
A member of the jury indicated that the straight lines of the chocolate tablet was not suitable for this quilt.
I uncovered them and returned to Quilting the same background design.
It was presented at the Birmingham Festival and there was an honorable mention of the jury.
And yes, it's true. in Houston, being hung on a black curtain, it was not appreciated that the chocolate dripped out of the Quilt. It is, I believe, one of the attractions of this work.
Thanks for your compliments. mfb"

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First, the TQS award for best quilter name goes to Montserrat Forcadell Blasco. Here's the mystery. I (Capt'n John) wanted to show our viewers this wonderful quilt, but alas, my picture was not great. The lighting was a little shaded in Houston 2017 and the dark curtains hid the dripping chocolate. So I looked up the quilt online and found a wonderful picture taken in 2016 of the quilt. The only problem was that it looked different. Did the quilt get redone? Was some of the quilting taken out and then requilted? It's a mystery. Take a look.

 "Contraste de Sabores" - Picture by John Anderson at Houston Quilt Show 2017

 "Contraste de Sabores"

Picture by Maryline Collioud-Robert of the Sitges Patchwork Festival 2016

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Mel's Intriguing Interleaves Class

Mel's Magnificent Mandalas Class

Mel's Slice of Improv Class

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Mel's "CREA-TV" was a finalist in the Be Creative! Quilt Challenge.

Star Members can learn about Mel and her quilts in Show 2112: Creating Improvisational Patchwork and Modern Molas & A New Spin on an Antique Quilt.

CREA-TVbyMelBeach - 35 Pieces Non-Rotating

CREA-TVbyMelBeach - 99 Pieces Non-Rotating

CREA-TVbyMelBeach - 300 Pieces Non-Rotating

CREA-TVbyMelBeach - 35 Pieces Rotating

CREA-TVbyMelBeach - 99 Pieces Rotating

CREA-TVbyMelBeach - 300 Pieces Rotating

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Mel's "CREA-TV" was a finalist in the Be Creative! Quilt Challenge.

Star Members can learn about Mel and her quilts in Show 2112: Creating Improvisational Patchwork and Modern Molas & A New Spin on an Antique Quilt.