Since I find the quilting magazines have become kind of boring
my newest project is making the blocks from Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Patch Blocks. I have EQ Block base that I use to draft the patterns. I have been looking for some of the older more dated, rarely made blocks that would look good as a stand alone block.

I make my blocks scrappy from left over fabric in my stash from other projects. I group them into THEMED sampler blocks in that all the brights go in one box --- all the dark traditional, male colors will go in another box.... etc.

I am having the fun of challenging my quilting skills and I plan to end up with some finished quilts.


Where do you find your inspiration for quilting?

Sew Dreamy,

For your collection of LARGE FLORAL PRINTS... try a 4 patch kalediscope pattern. It is easy and quick but so much fun to put together... It looks like you were slaving forever but it is basic patchwork. I taught my non sewing daughter how to make this quilt and she has gone on to make another. I think I have gotten her hooked.

I posted web links so you can look at the pictures. If you want I can send you the instructions on cutting out the fabric.

[url]
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/561194739UQtrLY?start=0

http://community.webshots.com/user/elainequilty


http://www.angelfire.com/art3/elainesquiltyshop/index.html

happy sewing!

I still have a subscription for Fons & Porter and Quiltmaker but I'm not sure I will renew when the subscription expires. I agree that the quilts seem to be all about a fabric line and there is so little contrast that fabric is all you see. When I see it at the grocery store I may pick up a copy of American Patchwork or McCalls Vintage Quilts. I haven't seen Vintage Quilts in a while so not even sure it is still being published. Besides, I'm trying to weed out magazines not buy more. Sandy

I love Quilting Arts magazine! I really loved Quilts with Style too, but it's no longer published.
With the rest, it seems as though most of the featured quilts are really just ads for the latest fabric lines...not too inspiring or even interesting.

Gisela
http://artaddworksforme.blogspot.com/

We've had a lot of discussions recently at our quilting group about the content of magazines.

We came to the conclusion that (and here I am talking about Australian magazines only) that the content is aimed at the beginner quilter .

We all agreed that we enjoyed the magazines at first but now find them very same old thing. This is in our opinion because we have moved on as quilters - either in the standard of our work , our experience or our tastes have expanded.


I would like to see the projects clearly marked as beginner or intermediate or expert.

I made a quilt from one of the Australian magazines soon after I started quilting and had a huge amount of trouble. As I didn't understand some of the processes. I met the designer of the quilt many years later when she was judge at our quilt show. when I was president and I was talking to her about my problems with her quilt and she explained that it was a quilt for an intermediate quilter rather than a beginner.

Since then I have had several quilts published in magazines and I often wonder whether anyone ever makes them or not.

The magazines also put pressure on the designers to produce quilts for them. If a new range of fabric is out they want a quilt to showcase it. This is also ( in my opinion) a problem as often if a quilt is made from ONE range of fabric it came look very ho hum as the fabrics are designed to blend with each other. You need something else to add the WOW to the quilt


OK I am off my soap box now and getting back to work.

I'll add my two cents worth...I agree about the uninspiring quilt mags. My daughter is an art quilter and she gave me a subscription to Quilting Arts for a year...it is very interesting to see but not inspiring unless you're into that. After looking at them I donate to my guild library. I receive three other quilting mags, Fons and Porter, Quilter's Newsletter and American Quilter. I was just about to cancel QN when they changed their format and I decided I liked it after all so re-subscribed. I'm really tired of Fons and Porter...I think their quilt patterns are quite bad. I used to love them on PBS, but North Carolina took them off. I did tape quite a few shows, so can look at them again. Someone...I can't remember who...said that TQS is the best money spent, and I totally agree!!!!

Nancy in NC

You're right, Lorchen. I've been getting the Australian magazines and really enjoying them. I just found Quilting Arts and am considering subscribing to it even though I am by no means an art quilter.

Marge

This could have also something to do with the way we develop as quilters. I have done all kinds of needlework since I was about 5 years old, and I reached the stage where most needlework magazines didn't have anything 'new' and/or interesting to offer. I only started quilting in 2002, and so I haven't reached saturation point yet, but it's definitely going in that direction. If I want a really inspiring read I look at 'Quilting Arts'. The rest of the time I try to get my hands on foreign magazines (German, Scandinavian, Japanese, Australian, etc.) because they often contain (for me) more interesting designs than the US and UK magazines.

And never forget to get inspiration from other magazines. Even 'Flyfishing for Beginners' or 'The Steam Railway Enthusiast' may contain pictures that just blow you away and result in a gorgeous wallhanging or quilt.

Lorchen

In the past week I have received 3 quilting magazines that have not had anything in them that inspired me to start a new project (That's probably a good thing for my UFO list, but still disappointing). It's as if they all are stuck in the same rut and need a real boost of creativity. Mark Lipinski's magazine at least shakes up some of the old preconceptions and gets people thinking, even if they do disagree with him. I have discontinued my subscriptions to 2 magazines in the past year and will probably let more drop as they run out.
I also agree that a part of the problem is the fabrics are just not to my taste. I hope they appeal to the younger people and bring them into quilting, but they certainly don't inspire me!

Marge in North East Ohio where spring might--just might--finally be arriving!

Betty Jo,
If you're leaning more toward art quilting, try Quilting Arts magazine. It's not your typical quilt mag.
eileenkny

I really agree. The AQS magazine is the only one that seems interesting anymore to me. The others are truly boring. I don't understand it--are they trying to kill off the quilting magazines? Not only are the patterns the same old same old same old same old, but the color choices are sometimes simply not inspiring. I would love to see some suggestions, for instance, on how to use some of those new fantastic large-scale prints that I have a growing collection of because I love them, but can't figure out how to use (how's that for a run-on sentence--lol). Or they could use their space to provide new ideas for quilting, etc. etc. The opportunities are endless, but they have no imagination. Also, almost NEVER anything for the wall art quilter.

http://www.isubscribe.com.au/title_info.cfm?prodID=150

this is a page that allows you to subscribe to several of our Australian Patchwork magazines
The pricing is in Australian dollars for example for Australian Patchwork and Quilting ( monthly mag) works out at approximately US$10.50 per issue ( the deal is for 14 issues for the price of 10)

Here is the link to the home page for APQ

http://www.apqmagazine.com.au/index.php


DownUnder Quilts

http://www.duquilts.com.au/

Enjoy!

I understand what you are saying about the current quilt mag. It use to be that I would look through them and see so many that I wanted to make I would be a bit overwhelmed. That hasn't happened in the past several issues. Maybe it's a good thing for me.

I haven't been happy with the US quilting mags in a couple of years. But I will say one thing in defense of Quilters Newsletter-I met ZJ Humbach, one of their editors, at MQX last year. I told her that one of my favorite things in the magazine had been when they showed the homes/studios of quilters. There's now a one page thing every month with people's sewing rooms. Everyone is invited to send in their stuff.
I stopped my Fons & Porter, I'll not renew Quilt magazine. I'm leaning more toward the longarm trade magazines now. They have more information that I can use.
eileenkny