More Inspiration, Zoie News and Your Color Fix of the Day

The Inspiration Behind the Quilt

I can't tell you how lucky I feel that I get to teach all over the world! I wanted to share with you a wonderful inspiration of an architectural design I saw in a mosque in Turkey a few years back when I was invited to teach by the Turkish Minister of Culture to represent America at their first Quilt Show there. Lo and behold, at this Turkish Quilt Show was a beautiful applique quilt that was framed. It was the same design that I saw. I love when quilters are inspired by what they see and then interpret them into a quilt. This is what lead me to further investigate what other quilters do when they see something amazing on a trip, or what is in their own towns or countries. It took me a long time to contact quilters around the world and put together a digital lecture to present to quilt guilds and shows. I knew right away that I had to name it "A Quilted Journey Around the World".

Keep tuned to my blog to see more of these great inspirations and their quilts right here. Better yet, subscribe to this blog or click on the words "Follow this blog" on the right hand side. I truly do love sharing what I see and learn!!

Of course I told mom to post an updated picture of me since I am growing so fast. Mom wishes there was something she could give me to make me stay small, but I like my din-din ALOT and it is making me into a fully fledged true bonafided Corgi...ya know, long with little legs. My new game I play in the house when it's snowing a real lot outside is to "herd" the coffee table. I now can run really fast around it 18 times. It's no flock of sheep, or cows, but it's the biggest thing around the living room. Did you know Corgi's herd? Yep, and I love herding the little kids that come off the school bus to say hi to me. They think I'm funny! Mom tells me I'm funny all the time! :-)

Your Color Fix For Today

Groundhog Day - Journal your Quilts - Color Fix for Today

Groundhog Day
I shudder when I think that Punxsutawney Phil may see his shadow tomorrow and bring 6 more weeks of winter....brrrrrr! I've seen enough snow this winter in Milford, Pa and I am more than ready for Spring to arrive. I found some really great info on the history of Ground Hog Day and thought I would like to share it with you. Just click on the word: Ground Hog or go to the official site to see what all the hoopla is in Punxsutawney, PA.




Keeping a Journal for your Quilts

Are you keeping a journal for your quilts? As quilters,I think it's something very important we should be doing. If you haven't started to record your quilts, it's a great time to begin NOW! Not only is it a good progress report for yourself, but just think of all the time and research you'll save future generations.
Your quilts are important whether they are your beginner quilts, award winning ones or those you have given as gifts.Your creations will be telling a story to the future. You'll also get to see how fabrics have changed, or maybe your choice of technique has changed from your beginning quilts.
There are quilt journals you can purchase, or you can simply make your own by punching them to fit a 3 ring binder, stapling them together or keeping your pages in a scrapbook or folder. Over time, you will be amazed at just how many quilts you have made. Make your journal a place that is enjoyable for you to enter your info. Cut snippets of fabrics, then glue,staple or tape them on the pages. You can keep a computer file if you like and access them at any time, just be sure to copy them on a disc or back them up. Below is an example of what a quilt journal page can look like and the info that is needed. Perhaps you can think of more info you would like to add, but the main thing is :Keep a "Journal for Yourself" and for the future quilt makers and Historians,

YOUR COLOR FIX FOR TODAY

I just love the painted steps in all those great colors!

The Inspiration behind the Quilt, My first Blog Award, Color Fix of Today

The Inspiration Behind the Quilt

I thought you may be interested in what inspired me to make the "cover quilt" for my first book Turkish Delights to Applique. On my first trip to Turkey, I was overwhelmed by the amazing Iznik Tiles I saw everywhere from the Ottoman Empire Days. These tiles became a focus of my study for the next visits back to Turkey and my sketchpad came with me as well as alot of film. These tiles have withstood centuries of earthquakes as you can see in the picture. I loved the medallion designs and the "tulip era" floral artwork of them. I instantly named this quilt Mediterranean Medallion for my love of the medallion shapes. I have alot of the history and abundance of slides in my popwer point show lectures that I give Quilt Guilds. I am sure many of you have seen it already and we all now appreciate the fact to open our eyes a little wider when
we travel in order not to miss so many design elements. Turkish Delights is now "sold out" in print... BUT so many of you requested it back that it is now on CD which you can order on my website. I love Book CD's because you have a whole book on your computer and you can now print out all the patterns on your printer! Hope you enjoyed this little peek into why and how I create some of my quilts!!! ~Linda

WOW! I received my first blog award!!!

I was given the "Honest Scrap" Award by nanabarb and was told that I need to reveal 10 honest things that I've never told before and to list 5 of my addictions to receive it. Hmmm, and I'm supposed to do that on the internet??? Ok then, here it goes:

1. I have cut my fabric with paper scissors (YIKES)
2. I have cut my paper with fabric scissors (Oh the horrors!!!!)
3. I have 9 pairs of reading glasses cause I keep losing them, then finding them
4. I stink at text messaging
5. My first book I wrote, I forgot to make a backup and lost alot of it and had to rewrite. :-(
6. I own more books than I've read
7. I color my hair (I'm sure you know that though!)
8. I own 3 sizes of clothes.....just in case
9. I've nibbled a dog biscuit to see what it tastes like
10. I can combine 2 languages in one sentence and my mom knows what I said!!!

~My Addictions~ 1.Ice cream 2. Gadgets 3. My computer 4. Applique hands down 5. Blogs

So nanabarb, did I pass??? :-)

Your Color Fix for Today

Here's some color for you today to help wake up some creative energy inside of you!

Meet my assistant Zoie-More Patchwork Furniture-Patchwork Barns

Hi! I'm Zoie! I thought it was time mom introduced me to you so I told her that since I'm gonna be her right hand #1 assistant in the sewing studio,and it was time you all got to know me. I was born on September 17, 2008, only 2 days after mom's birthday. She told me we could have a big birthday party together and I would get presents. She told me I am a Virgo just like her. What's a Virgo? I'm a Corgi, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi not a Virgo. I'm kinda a little dog, but not really with very short legs. I heard mom tell me that I am gonna get 12" high and about 20 " long. I love her sewing room. There is soooo much stuff to see, taste and drag around. Mom is always chasing me to get things back. I just think she wants to play with me, so I keep dragging stuff out so she chases me and then I get to run and make her laugh. You'll be seeing me here on her blog every so often. It's only fair that you know my side of things and I promise to tell you what she's up to. I'm really smart and pay attention to everything, so if she forgets to tell you the good stuff....I will!
*~Zoie~*

I am really doing good at "steps" now. Mom stands there cheering me on and I get so happy because she gives me treats for doing this stuff. I got so good at going up the steps that i tried really hard at going down them. When I did mom jumped up and down and then I jumped up and down too and then can you believe this...I got another treat for that. I like learning new stuff! I like being told I am the best little girl in the whole wide world.

Mom gave me this great ducky toy that I love soooo very much. It's kinda hard to drag around cause the ducky body is about as big as my head.Mom told me I would grow into my head.

Believe me when I tell you that I really do own more than just this one blue toy. I have ALOT of toys, great toys, the best toys in the whole world, but I like to drag them out of my crib and throw them all over the place.


**MORE AWESOME PATCHWORK FURNITURE**

The other day I showed you those amazing patchwork egg chairs and today I found this awesome overstuffed patchwork chair. It would go perfect in my sewing studio...if I had the room! This beautiful chair is designed by the Squint. The squint comes from London UK. They redesign old, antique furniture by upholstering them in colorful vintage fabrics.

**Patchwork Designs on Barns**

I can't tell you how many times I find really cool stuff on my travels when I am driving to a guild to teach and lecture, or when a guild member takes me on a tour of their area I am visiting. One of the things I find most fascinating are all the barns with traditional quilt blocks painted on them. As I researched them a little further I found that the folks at "American Style" magazine say there is a trend of these patchwork squares popping up on historic barns all over the USA. (YAY!!!) There seems to currently be a grassroots movement of colorfully painted quilt motifs appearing on barns throughout eastern Kentucky. The state arts organizations are now working to help organize this effort in hopes of driving tourism to these rural areas. If you really want to see some amazing barn quilts from Kentucky,Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,Tennessee and West Virginia....well then go to this link and have some fun! http://www.ohiobarns.com/otherbarns/quilt/quiltbarns.html Be sure to read the two articles on Quilt Barns, it makes fascinating reading. Oh! And while you're at it, please read this wonderful newspaper article on how "Barn Quilts Blanket State"

I want this patchwork egg chair!

I am totally amazed at some of the really neat stuff you can find out there in this big world of ours.

When I saw these, I just knew that I had to share these patchwork egg chairs with you. I don't know about you, but I really, really want one of these for my sewing studio. Aren't these great??? I thought the idea concept behind them must have been a fun project to work on.
Make sure to go read all about it here.

Obama Fabric Designs

It's truly amazing that we just had our 44th
President sworn in and lo' and behold, there is fabric to commemorate this.

Heather Moore of Skinny Laminx lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and works as an illustrator, designer and writer. A while back, she had some fun and photo shopped U.S. president-elect Barack Obama into an African commemorative cloth design, which is the first photo you see.

The fabric is designed by Heidi Chisholm, and produced by Cape Town company Shine-shine (no website). Orders can be placed with Tracy Rushmere at tracy@shineshine.co.za. I don't know much more about this, but I wanted to share some of the new stuff that's happening out there in "Fabric".

A Rose is a Rose is a "Royal Rose"

I just had to show off a beautiful quilt from one of my students! It sounds so silly to call my mom one of my students! Mom taught me needlework, and in turn, as the years passed, I taught my mom to applique. It's a passion we both share and I couldn't resist to show all of you her beautiful interpretation from one of the Rose patterns in my book "Bended Bias Applique"
We both love Roses and I was so proud of my mom for breaking tradition and using purples for these flowers. Many of you may have already met my mom. Many times when I am on the road traveling to a guild to lecture to teach a workshop, mom will come with me if it is in driving distance from my home. She brings lots of laughter to the classroom, and it doesn't hurt to have an extra hand helping me pass kits out and hold quilts. She is a prolific and methodical quilter and one of my best pattern testers. So, as much as I enjoy seeing her work, I hope all of you do too!

Tutorial: Perfect Circles for Applique

As Mary Tyler Moore would say.....

I was looking through some photos today and remembered when I was teaching in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of the guild members took me on a great tour of the city. I knew the Mary Tyler Moore statue was erected there and I was going to be cheeky and drape my quilt over her and take a pic. I grew up watching the show and just loved Mary. I loved she had a cool apartment with funny friends and she gave hope to women living on their own and making a living. I always loved the opening of the show when she threw her hat up in the air and the song "We're Gonna Make it After All" would be playing. Just as I was reminiscing, I thought about tomorrow... the day our country will swear in a new President with many hopes and dreams that many, many Americans hold dear within their hearts. Tomorrow is a great day, a day of optimism for a great new future. President- elect Obama, I pray for the courage you have and can only hope that nothing will hold back your visions to make us a whole nation once again. I look forward to this new beginning...because....WE GONNA MAKE IT AFTER ALL !!!

What Inspired Designer Hearts

I am always asked in class or a lecture "Where did you get your ideas to design your quilts?" My answer is quite easy. I always have my eyes opened to the small details when I go anywhere. Having my camera by my side at all times, I can easily click a picture of something that may inspire me. "Designer Hearts" came from the endless balconies and iron scroll works that I saw in Europe. This one particular design seemed to be quite popular anywhere I went. Since I am a HUGE lover of bias tape, I knew that the designs I saw would lend well to bias tape, or as I like to call it "bended Bias" patterns. I love Bias tape so much that I even wrote a whole quilt book (Bended Bias to Applique) on different way to use it to achieve pretty additions to your applique without it looking like stained glass. So make sure that when you go somewhere, keep your head tilted upwards, you just may see a beautiful scroll work balcony that will call for a quilt to be made!!
~Linda