This quilt is my new FAVORITE! The unexpected color scheme is so interesting and everything coordinates in a unique way. The origin of this quilt began with the crab in 2021. Exactly one year ago I was doing a 30-day creative challenge and I developed a series of critters. The crab was one of them! I made a BIG
Quilts in 2022 are back! And I have been lucky enough to attend these and teach.
A fabric collage quilt doesn't need to be scary!
A lot of trial and error went into the creation of this sunflower bargello applique art quilt. Read about the source of inspiration and experimentation that made it a reality.
So you want to make a fabric collage quilt. Great! After choosing an image to work from, the next step in creating a fabric collage quilt is making a simple pattern. This is a critical step, one th…
You’ve heard of a photo collage, but have you heard of a collage quilt? Let us introduce you to this exciting way of combining scraps to create a picture quilt. With virtually no rules and endless designs, collage quilts offer a unique way to play with scraps. Layered pieces of fabric come together to create […]
As a designer / artist who is always trying to improve, there are times when my brain is on full-throttle creative mode and I seem to tap into a source of inspiration beyond my own capacity. I know that sounds weird. But, what I mean is that when I push myself to innovate, I'm rewarded with with that "stroke of geniu
Joanne Schwartz has been a huge supporter of mine for years now. She’s traveled from California to attend a couple of my Maine quilt retreats, and she’s been a joy to have in class each…
Difficulty Level: BEGINNER - INTERMEDIATE Create the perfect summer table setting with the Sweet Summer table topper! Included in this Parchment Pressing Pattern: Instructions to help you complete the table runner A gray tone template for each element that guides your fabric placement and fabric selection. Additional Supplies Required: Fabric Scissors Lite Steam a Seam 2 (or adhesive of your choice) A wide range of fabric in light, medium, and dark. Our fabric bundles are perfect for getting started! Background fabric Parchment paper (baking paper). I have found that the Reynold's brand works best, but use whatever you have. Mini iron Finished table topper size is 30" x 38"
In my journey to learn more about the history of quilting and fiber arts, I have discovered some incredible makers, artists, thinkers and leaders. A couple weeks ago we talked about one of our founding Quilt Mothers, Nancy Crow, Marti Michell, Rachel Clark and Judith Scott. Today, I bring you someone who is not justContinue Reading...
Lesson idea from Art. Paper. Scissors. Glue! 3rd graders started a conversation about what textile arts are by reading the book "Tar Beach" by author and artist Faith Ringgold. We talked about how the book and its illustrations were actually inspired by a story quilt that Ringgold created (the original work is pictured in the back of the book I had). The story in the book brought up the themes of both inequality (which works well since February is Black History Month) and imagination. The book's main character 3rd grader Cassie Louise Lightfoot discovers she has the ability to fly and in doing so, finds a sense of power and ownership over whatever she flies. She flies over the George Washington Bridge (a structure her father helped to build), an ice cream factory, and the Union Building (a building which housed an organization her father was not allowed to join because of his skin color). After reading and discussing the themes in the book, I asked my 3rd graders "Where would you go if you could fly (real or imaginary) and why?" This question was the inspiration for our very own patches on our 3rd grade story quilt. Students created their own "story patches" by creating a border using squares of 1.5"x1.5" decorative paper along the edge of a 12" x 12" piece of white drawing paper. Students then attached a strip of grey paper to the bottom of their picture squares and wrote about where they would go and why. Then in the remaining space, they used colored pencils to illustrate their ideas. I got a huge range of responses from Candyland (naturally to eat a ton of candy), to Columbia (to visit friends and family), to the Twin Towers in New York City (which prompted an entirely difference conversation). Students really enjoyed working on this project (which took between 4-5 class periods -- including one day for sketching ideas). I really love the finished product - and even more so when they are all hung together to make a giant story quilt! :)
Phyllis Cullen is inspired by the people and places in her life to create art quilts using collage and stain glass quilting techniques.
As promised, I’m selecting some of the most popular posts from my blog and updating them with video—something that elaborates on or shows more detail in the fabric collage technique. Starting…
Every year, thousands of quilters and quilt lovers descend on Houston, Texas for the International Quilt Festival and Quilt Market. This year, Quilt Festival is from November 2-5, 2023. Many attendees’ favorite part of their annual trip is seeing the Festival Judged Show presented by Quilts, Inc.
There's an imminent new arrival in our extended family, so it's time for me to get working on another version of my baby beach scenes. Simon suggested I incorporate surfing since the father is a keen surfer. That was the starting point for my designing, anyway. I ended up with this row of (potentially surfable?!) waves which will go across the top of the reef/water section, and I started by piecing them. I divided the waves into organic shapes, much like those I used in the much larger Australian scene and space quilts, which I could then piece from different colour water fabrics. The first step was to trace these onto mid-weight non-woven interfacing and mark some registration points along the curved seams to help piece thems evenly, then cut the pieces apart. After carefully selecting the fabrics to use for each piece (colour, and a smooth gradation was the main consideration)I placed the interfacing patter piece directly on the fabric and drew around it with a air-erasable marker, adding the 1/4in seam allowance by eye as I went. I then added the registration marks and the piece number with a fine-tip permanent pen before cutting it out. I've saved all the interfacing pieces in case I want to do the waves again. Then I pinned all the pieces in place on my pattern and checked I was happy with my fabric choices. Then it was just a case of gradually sewing them all together, carefully easing the curves. The wave section is all done now and will be pieced to the top of the reef/water section once that's done (the bottom is straight-ish).
Check out these picture quilt patterns and projects from the Bluprint community to inspire you to plan your first picture quilt.
Something that isn’t obvious about fabric collage (as I teach it) is the importance of the sequence in which you approach the construction of your image. Where you start, and the order in whi…
Join us as we learn how to make picture quilts with expert fiber artist Wendy Butler Berns whose method is simple, fast, and oh-sew fun!
It’s all the rage among scrap-using quilters. Search for it on YouTube and Pinterest and you’ll see what I mean! Video by Brenda of “Conquering Mount Scrapmore with Brenda” …
Instantly learn how to create a delightful and realistic pet portrait using fabric, batting, and thread. In this video download, artist Faith Cleary shares her method for creating unique quilted pet portraits.
In early April, I’ll be returning to Australia for my third excursion to the other side of the globe. In 2016 my first trip took me to Melbourne on the Southern coast, teaching for AQC, the A…
As promised, I’m selecting some of the most popular posts from my blog and updating them with video—something that elaborates on or shows more detail in the fabric collage technique. Starting…
Make a super-simple landscape art quilt with free-motion thread sketched embellishments, regardless of whether you’re a beginner or advanced.
One thing you will notice if you visit a redwood forest…the people will all look up. You can’t resist, they are just amazing. This is done in my mosaic method with heavy quilting and sun rays highlighted. 31″ wide x 44″ tall This quilt was juried into and displayed at Pacific Int’l Quilt Festival in ... Read more
Fabric collage is a technique used often in art quilts. Learn how to create a layered, three dimensional look collage from a photograph with this step-by-step tutorial.
So you want to make a fabric collage quilt. Great! After choosing an image to work from, the next step in creating a fabric collage quilt is making a simple pattern. This is a critical step, one th…
The horse is a recurring theme among quilters. It represents freedom, beauty, and power. I wanted to pay tribute to the life force of this animal in a simple representation, made of natural colors, suitable for adventurous beginners. This meticulously crafted pattern features vibrant hues from the Robert Kaufman Kona C
If you're a quilter , you know the pain of having a huge fabric scrap pile and nothing to do
- Teton Mountains - NEW Form of Foundation Paper Piecing Pattern - 26" x 36" Quilt Block - The Teton Mountains pattern was designed by Cynthia England. Her new Paper Piecing technique is called ‘Picture Piecing’. It is a slightly different approach to foundation paper piecing and the pattern packet contains detailed instructions on this new technique. However, the pattern can be used as is with the traditional sew & flip method of paper piecing. The pattern packet contains a master pattern, a freezer paper pattern for cutting up and sewing on, a detailed fabric listing with measurements and all instructions necessary to construct this wonderful quilt block. The finished size of the quilt is 26” x 1936” and is for an intermediate level piecer. This pattern features a lovely, serene view of the Teton Mountains of Wyoming. Pattern Includes: A full-size master pattern, full-size iron-on templates and 4 pages of illustrated instructions.
Fabric collage is a technique used often in art quilts. Learn how to create a layered, three dimensional look collage from a photograph with this step-by-step tutorial.
As the fall arrives and summer winds down, I find myself thinking about images that relax me. I just finished this art quilt in early September. It transports me back to quiet afternoons at Long Beach Island in NJ with my family or visits to the Outer Banks in NC. Beaches are universal. After creating Read the full article...
During my January 2021 Patreon Show and Share, I gave feedback to one of my patrons who was working on a father and daughter portrait. She was having trouble with the little girl’s nose. At s…
Imagine quilting your favorite dog breed tomorrow... Ask for the breed you want, I create them on demand and upload them here every week. Craft this Havanese Quilt Pattern, a delightful addition to your sewing projects! This meticulously crafted pattern features vibrant hues from the Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids
