The Junk
I love wrapping presents! Whenever I go to garage sales and thrift stores I’m always on the look-out for ribbons, embellishments, and other little treasures that would make for perfect additions to my gift wrap, and make my gifts look truly special.
So, when I saw this messenger bag I instantly thought it would make great reusable gift packaging for a gift I was working on for a dear friend.
I took the opportunity to use some of her favorite things: Cashmere, the colors brown and gray, and sewing-related treasures—in this case, some pins, a button and a zipper.
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Cade and his skateboard quilt. Photo courtesy of Quilts for Kids.
When I was little, I was inseparable from a worn-out blue, pink and yellow baby blanket I dubbed my “special blankie.” This blanket with its blurry teddy bear and balloon design was soft and cozy and my special source of security. Many other kids find the same comfort through blankets whether they are battling scary monsters under the bed, or like the recipients of Quilts for Kids, serious sicknesses. Quilts for Kids is a non-profit organization based out of Yarly, PA that uses donated and discarded fabric from landfills to make quilts for children with life-threatening diseases or are victims of abuse.
Photo courtesy of Quilts for Kids.
Each quilt recipient has a very unique story, but in every story, feelings like gratitude, compassion, and optimism are a common thread. Four-year old Audrey, who has airway complications, received a pink ballerina quilt; Cade, who has leukemia, got a skateboard quilt; and Lauren received a quilt of fireflies and ladybugs. All three children are finding enjoyment and comfort in these heartfelt donations from quilters. Continue Reading…
I’m excited to find out that my miniature quilt, “Rainy Day Star,” was chosen to be a part of the AQS Quilt Show and Contest in Paducah, Kentucky, April 21-24, 2010. The miniatures are always one of the most popular exhibits at the show and I’m glad so many quilters will be able to see this lovely little quilt in person.
“Rainy Day Star” is my favorite quilt from Little Lone Star Quilts. This quilt is my miniature interpretation of an antique quilt that inspired me to create the technique in my book. I have always loved scrap quilts and I enjoy the challenge of combining many fabrics into a harmonious whole. The quilt got its name from the fun of planning and sewing with the cheerful colors of my ’30s reproduction scraps during a cold, wet spring.
If you attend the show, look for me around the miniature cases. Be sure to visit the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society and see my miniature Double Wedding Ring quilt. One of my little star quilts will also be exhibited at the museum and you can bid on it at the auction to benefit the museum. See you at the show!
A creative life is filled with challenges and rewards, puzzles and curiosities. This ongoing series of poems attempts to express the “Aha”s and “What if”s, the deep ponderings and casual observations of an inquiring mind trying to make sense of reality. May it serve, for you, as a bit of “Everyday Inspiration” along your own creative path.
OK—
So now
That I’m almost
60
It’s not the day
That’s important,
It’s the
“Getting there”
That feels
So special.
No more
Wondering
What people think.
I know
What I’m doing
Is good
And I know
Who I am
Is also OK.
I have the ultimate
Freedom:
To be 100%
Me.
Nancy Lefko is the talented mixed-media artist who blogs at nancylefko.blogspot.com. She teaches mixed media techniques and has projects featured in Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studio, and many other print and online publications.
Always on the lookout for new surfaces to use in her art and new techniques to create with, Nancy recently picked up our Lutradur® Mixed Media Sheets for the first time and shared her experience on her blog. Click here to read why Nancy says she is adding Lutradur to her arsenal of art supplies.
I’ve had so many of the shop owners I work with—I like to call them “my” shop owners—get Cozy Modern Quilts in their stores, then rave about it, and use it for classes, that I decided to try it myself.
I adapted the Mint Chocolate Wall Quilt project in the book (pictured below) to a runner size of about 15” x 51”, including 1 1/2” borders, by doing a 2 block x 6 block setting.
Mint Chocolate Wall Quilt project from Cozy Modern Quilts
I never worry too much about yardage requirements because, like many quilters, I have a lot of fabric on my shelves. I chose a lovely Asian inspired backing, so it can be reversible.
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I just looked through the preview pages of one of our upcoming Fall 2010 titles, Collage+Cloth=Quilt, by Judi Warren Blaydon, and it is amazing! The imagery is, in a word, rich. The concept behind the book is that artists can use collages of their own photos as inspiration for stunning, abstract quilts.
It is so fascinating to see how Judi finds just the right fabric to make things work and the quilt results are really interesting. I give Judi and her book a big thumbs UP!
I have been taking photographs most of my life–I even minored in Photography in college. I love the idea of collaging my photographic images to create something truly unique and inspiring.
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Today’s blog giveaway is all about Liquitex® paints and mediums! You’ve been hearing us talk about acrylic paints and mediums a whole lot lately, what with the introduction of our Liquitex Surface Design Center for shops, and in reference to the books we’ve published recently that dive into the realms of mixed media, painting on fabric, and surface design. And then again, in our Painting on Fabric article series here on this blog, and in many of the projects we’ve recently posted.
We simply can’t get enough of Liquitex’s paint and medium products, so it is with much joy and no further ado, that I’ll now describe the contents of our latest blog giveaway bundle from Liquitex:
While piecing blocks for the latest C&T baby quilt, I thought I’d document a few tips that made the sewing go faster.
1. For even, accurate 1/4″ seams, use a wider foot and adjust the needle position to 1/4″. With a wider foot you get better traction with the feed dogs.
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The winner of the fabulous Bari J prize pack giveaway is Barb in MI. Boy is she going to have fun with these gorgeous fabrics and fun patterns! Congratulations Barb in MI! For those of you who didn’t win, here is a list of online retailers that sell Bari’s patterns:
soon:
fabritopia.com
Thank you to everyone who left a comment, posted our blog badges, subscribed to our YouTube channel and newsletter, and tweeted up the giveaway on Twitter. We love hearing from you and appreciate your involvement in our online community.
Remember to check in tomorrow for the next giveaway!
