Posted by rubychew on 2005-09-05 22:29:41
Post Subject: quilters in downtown Toronto?
I would like to learn how to quilt and hang out with other quilters. I've looked on line and have found a few quilters clubs in the Toronto suburbs..but I live downtown and don't have a car.
if anyone knows of any quilters clubs in downtown Toronto, I'd love to hear from you
Posted by Letter_to_the_world on 2007-07-24 15:34:01
Post Subject: Help for a beginning quilter!
I''ve stumbled on this fun site while searching desperately for some help with my beginning quilting attempts. Hopefully you ladies can lend a hand!
I''ve been quilting for a maybe a year. I barely sewed before that. I''ve made a pillow, a baby quilt, and a table runner. Actually, I''m finishing the table runner now, and am just *not* happy with how it came out! My corners never match, my batting always gets bumpy -- I can''t even seem to rotary cut straight. There aren''t any quilting classes around that are available to me, but I like the looks of the Quilt University website I found. Only problem is the beginners class doesn''t start until mid-September. So until then, I want to use my extra summer time to practice as much as I can.
Maybe there''s a great book out there for beginning quilters (I have a Quilting 101 book and a book by Carol Doak that I use right now) that I don''t know about -- or maybe one for sewers, because really that would be just as helpful. Or maybe another online resource that could give me tips/lessons to try out. I love new projects, but in general just feel very inept, especially when it comes to anything that needs to be straight!
Posted by hodge on 2005-09-11 10:01:33
Post Subject:
i'm not sure about existing quilting clubs in downtown t.o., but you could get in touch with the textile museum of canada (http://www.textilemuseum.ca) and ask if they know of any (they have lots of volunteers who are quilters i think). there is also a quilt shop on mt. pleasant near davisville that you could contact (not downtown downtown, but i think this is the closest quiltshop to downtown downtown): Quilter's Quarters (595 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-487-1047)
another option is starting one up yourself. i am also a beginner quilter (very into modern quilts like Denyse Schmidt and quilted accessories) and really eager to learn more. i would love to do something like a quilt-along - choosing a project with a group and coming together to check out each other's progress, swap tips, etc. i just finished a big project and need to hibernate for a bit, but would be into something like this eventually. PM me if you would like to talk about this idea some more.
Posted by tiggycat on 2006-05-01 14:51:49
Post Subject:
Exactly what I was going to suggest, Stella! I've heard quilters rave about that stuff. Also, maybe try sizing? Don't know how much it costs or where to get it or how to use it (I'm so helpful!), but I know what it does-- makes fabric stiffer. For that matter, how about starch? Has anyone done that before? I'm just talking out my bee-hind, so I don't know if it would work...
Posted by Diana on 2006-01-03 14:49:17
Post Subject: a big yes to crazy quilts
I'm like you, I just love crazy quilts!! All that variety. Life is just too short to only use 100% cotton fabric. I'd be thrilled to join the quilters on line. I used to do traditional pieced and appliqued quilts, but now it's almost all crazy quilts. My Great-Aunt Gertrude keeps giving me loads of nifty fabrics to add to my stash. 2006 is going to be the year for me to work on a full size crazy quilt for myself. I've done two others, as well as lots of smaller c.q. projects, but those quilts I gave as gifts. Quilters Unite!!
Posted by msfish on 2005-09-22 16:32:35
Post Subject: Hand-quilting help?
Can anyone recommend how-to links for quilting sans sewing machine? I'm relatively competent with hand-stitching, but I wouldn't mind some pointers or project guidelines. The quilters I know have an awful lot of gadgets, and I'd like to try to make something as low-fi as possible...
Posted by moxiegirl on 2004-08-05 13:14:45
Post Subject: fabric art people in Northampton MA?
hey y'all, i started a SnB a few years ago from the Glitter boards, but they are all knitters and I was wondering if there are any quilters or any other kind of fabric artists around the Western Mass area. I also make weird dolls. give me a holler.
Posted by Nancy Flynn on 2006-03-10 13:42:52
Post Subject: questions for the quilters out there
I am a very impatient quilter, and also not at all good at math (when I design things, even after measuring them and scrutinizing the numbers, they always come out smaller than I meant). So basically I want to make a quilt of not-tiny but not huge squares (I've done 7x9 rectangles, but I want squares, and a bit smaller), that comes out to a nice throw-blanket size.
I know this is the lazy way of doing it, but quilters out there, what size blocks would you recommend, and how many across and down for what I'm thinking?
There are two fabrics that I want to be my "main" theme, with perhaps 2-3 other accent fabrics to set them off, so what would you recommend in terms of yardage for the main fabrics? I'm ordering online so I want to be sure to get enough...
Thanks in advance for answering my questions. I kind of feel like I am cheating by asking for so much help with basic design!
Posted by smudgy_cat on 2005-12-17 02:46:43
Post Subject:
when i was researching my machine, they came in the q and regular versions. the q version is for quilters, and it normally comes with some extra feet and an extended table top for supporting large items.
they tend to cost a bit more, so maybe you got a good deal through their mistake? will the warranty cover what they sold you?
Posted by gladygirl on 2005-11-01 10:23:31
Post Subject:
Small world indeed...I went to CCAD and have taught there as an adjunct as well!
There is an annual event called the Quilt Surface Design Symposium (qsds.com) where art quilters come from all over the country and the world really for week-end and week-long classes. It was started about 15 years ago by Nancy Crow and Linda Fowler, who are big in the art quilt world.
I took a week-long class with Susan in 2004 and the whole thing was just amazing...the energy of all these creative women at different places in there lives was the most inspiring thing I've been involved with. Many of these people attend every year, and I probably will too.
Susan said that when she was an art student in the '70's a feminist speaker (I can't remember who) told her that women artists have a duty to tell women's stories, and I think that doing it in a traditionally "female" medium like sewing adds another layer. That's why I find it so cool that younger women are embracng things like sewing, quilting and knitting (and child rearing as well) and part of their feminist indentity. I don't remember that being the case so much when I was younger (I'm 37).
Posted by bcorder on 2005-10-05 00:25:40
Post Subject: New Purse Kit for amy butlers new purse pattern!!!
Check out the great purse kit with everything you need for Amy's New purse at www.mygreenvelvet.com ....the patter is the newest issue of Better Homes and Garden Quilters Magazine.....great purse pattern and a great kit with the fabrics the purse is featured in from the magazine.....
Posted by quornflour on 2005-11-21 16:06:51
Post Subject: Crafty Party Idea: the Pajama Pants Party
With the holidays upon us I decided it would be nice to get all of my crafty friends together and craft up. Through this and a little inspiration from my friend Kelli and her "house shorts" and the episode of Craft Corner Deathmatch where they embellish jeans the: Make your Own Pajama Pants Party was born.
Step One: I sent out an evite asking everyone to bring embellishments to share and to let me know what size pants they wanted (S, M or L), what their favorite color was and to commit to coming or not.
Step Two: I went to the fabric store and bought 2 yards of different “quilters cotton” per person in different patterns and 2 yards of corresponding ribbon, and some “Ultrabond” to make everything an iron on and some of that iron on mesh.
Step Three: with a little help from a friend we washed, ironed and cut 24 yards of fabric into 12 pairs of pant (it was an even better idea than I had expected – guess that is what I get for having such crafty friends). *we used a pattern that was only 2 pieces instead of 4 which made it a little easier and cut 2 pairs at a time…
Day of the party: the party started at 4PM - I served hors d'ourves and wine and two of my friends brought their sewing machines so we had three total (for 10 people) and I had an ironing board and iron (2 would have been great but that was an oversight).
Everyone put the embellishments in a basket (along with oodles of ribbon I happen to have) and went to work on making their pants.
It was really cool to see how different everyone’s stuff was even though they were pretty much using the same embellishments, and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun eating and crafting. I have posted pictures to my blog under the photo album Pajїż˛£є™ for anyone interested.
If you decide to have one please let me know how it goes, or if you need any tips!
Posted by dahilia on 2004-11-03 16:51:15
Post Subject: beginning sewing tools?
I've started my sewing class this week and I really like it. I have almost zero tools in my kit at this point. I do have a machine.Any suggestions on things I need?
I've seen rotary cutters and boards in the stores....are those mainly for quilters? They seem like they would be helpful in cutting and measuring fabric.
Posted by plainmabel on 2004-11-04 19:38:50
Post Subject:
Yes, I second the seamripper! A key tool.
As for rotary cutters/mats, they're mainly for quilters but I think they're great for cutting small items, like when I'm going to make small bags, sachets, or fabric bracelets. You can plow through tons of layers at once and get good, accurate cuts. (Though ALWAYS keep the safety guard on the second you are not using the cutter. That sucker is sharp. Don't find out the hard way!)
Fray-Chek is also handy. It's a little bottle of glue-like liquid that stops fraying on the edges of your fabrics.
My favorite tool is Scotch tape. I hate pinning and basting, and a lot of times plain old Scotch tape will do the trick.
If you plan to sew vinyl or oilcloth, invest in a Teflon foot or roller foot for your machine since these won't stick to the fabric the way a regular foot will.
Posted by karikazo on 2004-10-06 12:48:07
Post Subject:
ooh, this is such an interesting question. I think about it a lot because of the quilting angle--it's certainly common, even among dedicated quilters, to pay someone else to do the quilting (a step which is VERY time-consuming if you do it by hand, and may require specialized equipment if you do it by machine).
Even a quilt artist like Nancy Crow--http://www.nancycrow.com/--usually pays someone else to quilt her tops, though she chooses the quilting design, so all the design decisions have been made by her. She's the grande dame of art quilters, and like other art quilters, when her quilts are exhibited, credit is given to the woman who did the quilting. Though it's still a "nancy crow" quilt.
I have mixed feelings about the practice.
I agree it's totally great for people to do *any* kind of crafting, and if paying someone to do the part you find tedious, or don't know how to do, will allow you to craft stuff that you wouldn't have otherwise, then yay for that. As long as any work that is sold or exhibited gives proper credit to those who contributed.
On the other hand, I think I would feel like I was "cheating" if I did it. Especially because quilting a full-size quilt is a very significant process. It's not just "oh, here's these last couple of technical steps to finish it off." The quilting designs, and the skill with which they're executed, have a significant impact on the aesthetic impact of the quilt. I make quilts partly because I love the process (including the months of hand-quilting) and partly because I want to exercise creative control over something, to make my own creative decisions.
Also, I'm still learning my craft. My hand-quilting has improved tremendously from practice, but is still nowhere near as great as those Amish ladies' quilting (sigh...). I wouldn't feel like I really "own" my craft, and my quilts, if I shirked that learning process. Having a creative vision and getting joy from the process are both very important in my quilting, but those things must be supported by technical excellence, no matter how damn long (*gritting teeth*) it takes me to learn it!
And, frankly, I also feel a tiny bit of jealously of those who can pay someone else to baste, mark, quilt, and bind their quilts. Because I could get a lot more done if I could afford to do that. I have dozens of quilts rolling around in my head that I can't start yet because I have so many other projects underway. But I can't afford to pay a nice Amish lady to quilt for me, so instead I grumble privately about how paying someone to quilt your tops is "cheating".....when really it's just another way of approaching the craft, and one that's been practiced for a long time.
oh dear god I wrote a book. Basically I think that people making stuff should be the end goal, and there's not one perfect way to do that and be a "good" crafter or quilter. Personally, I wouldn't pay someone to finish my quilts even if I could afford it, and I plan to feel proud that I do them myself. But I'm also glad that Nancy Crow is free to spend more of her time designing fantastic quilt tops, since they are a source of inspiration to me.
Posted by flyinpurplemunkiez on 2005-07-28 18:39:51
Post Subject: South (San Francisco) Bay Area Craft Group
On the first Wednesday of every month we meet up at the Campbell Library to show off things we've made, make new things together and just enjoy each other's company. We've had 2 meetings already but new comers are more than welcome. All types of artists and crafters are welcome. Quilters, painters, sculptors, knitters, and so on.
Who: Anyone who wants to come, that means bring along friends, family, boyfriends or husbands.
What: South Bay Craft Group strikes again!
What to bring: Pictures or examples of past work for show and tell, portable projects you’re currently working on, snacks to share.
When: August 3rd wednesday 6:30-8:30
Where: Campbell Library (community room)
77 Harrison Ave
Campbell CA 95008
Get directions here: http://tinyurl.com/7lgly
Posted by karikazo on 2005-02-09 10:39:35
Post Subject:
I also like http://www.borntoquilt.com because they've always had really nice customer service, though they don't have as large a selection as eQuilter.
Depending on your tastes, you can also check out the thrift stores for cool fabrics in old clothes. Some quilters prefer to use all proper quilting cottons (which are more consistent in weave, weight, etc.), but you can get some neat effects by using other fabrics, too. (Just consider washability.)
Posted by lizzymahoney on 2004-10-02 01:21:04
Post Subject:
Where we draw the line is going to be different for each of us.
I could definitely see painting or printing a picture and having someone else professionally mat and mount it. Actually, I do it myself, but my shortcut is that I don't use a router to make my frames usually. I'd rather buy preshaped pieces and miter them myself. Cut my own glass and mats, though.
I've done an awful lot of furniture refinishing over the years. If I needed someone else to hand tie the springs in a chair, but I did all the rest, I'd have no problem saying I did it. If anyone wanted to know how, I'd be open about the minimal assistance, but it's still my piece and my selection of fabrics. But then, would I have to weave the fabric myself, spin the wool, raise the sheep?
I'm a good writer. Better than you see here, anyway. I've been published, I've edited published manuscripts, etc. But just because someone else edits the work and others typeset it and print it and bind and distribute it, that doesn't make it any less my work.
Working PT in a craft store, I get customers all the time who are clueless about the craft they are attempting, and they are grateful for the finishers, like the quilters and seamstresses and reupholsterers and printmakers.
I love fine needlework. I dislike quilt patterns and embroidery transfers. If I am going to put all that work into it, I want it to be my concept, my colors, my design with all the inherent flaws I make. I dislike the use of machines. Quilters who talk to me about their precut pieces in a proscribed pattern with boring material sewn on a machine may think we are in the same league, but I'd be insulted if anyone of them still thought that after seeing what I can do. It's not that my stuff is better. It's a different animal entirely.
One thing that kills me is the modern approach to decoupage. Now people are talking about packing tape transfers and I'm thinking, Dang, if you learned the traditional decoupage this would be old hat. Is it wrong of people to take shortcuts and use full thickness prints for decoupage?
Too tired to write more, and I have to quit my craft store job tomorrow... Ha, maybe I'll tell some HGTV pretender to shove it before I go.
Posted by delqc on 2004-11-10 09:58:28
Post Subject: Montreal crafters
Hello ladies,
I host a weekly craft club Monday nights at my apt in Montreal, and I htought I would advertise it here ...
We have crocheters, knitters, quilters, jewelery-making beaders, and general crafters. I'm a sewer and cross-stitcher. there's a group of around 12 who come sometimes, but we have about 3-4 regulars. We're all women, mostly in the twenty to thirty something range, married, single, students, professionals, and we get together once a week to shoot the shit and make stuff. Everyone brings their own projects, and we take turns preparing food each week. We usually hang out from around 6:30 to around 9:30 or 10:00.
I have 1 adult cat and 2 kittens presently. I lock them in my room during craft sessions to save the yarn, but if you are allergic, BE WARNED!!!
We're looking to expand our ranks - if you're into it, post here or pm me :)
Posted by xuli on 2004-08-02 13:43:00
Post Subject:
Awesome! Thanks so much to both of you for the info! (I really like this quick-turning method, and I like the way tied quilts look, so I think I might do that.)
I forgot to mention in my original post that I'd LOVE recommendations on good how-to books for new quilters. I had so much fun with the first part of this project on Saturday, and am really excited about the next phase ... AND I already feel the "new-craft-addiction" coming on, so I'm pretty sure this won't be my last quilt. So for my next quilt it will probably be worth the time & effort to spend some time researching/reading up/learning more about the craft, and since a class is probably not feasible for me right now I'd love book recommendations.
Keep 'em coming, y'all -- I really appreciate this!!
(I'm thinking that my next project will be a quilt out of all the old blue jeans we were going to donate, but it's made my boyfriend a little bit worried. Yesterday he caught me checking out the blue jeans he was WEARING and he said, "Oh my god, I know that crafter's gleam in your eye. You want to quilt the clothes off my back now, don't you?" And of course, I couldn't deny it ...)
Posted by merrydeath on 2004-12-29 13:48:14
Post Subject: quilting help?
hi, i was wondering if anyone can offer any helpful advice about how to make a quilt. i'm going to start my first one and i was gonna make it out of old sheets. i found a website where the guy gave instructions and stuff, but i'm just looking for any extra hints...i think i get the basic gist. except i don't have any of the high tech scissor things he mentioned. somekind of rolling cutter for cutting the pieces out? i was just gonna use scissors. but i'm not the best at cutting things out neatly ;) i tend to rely on *fixing* that when i sew stuff up. but, i would totally appreciate any help from any of you veteran quilters. like, how do you mark off your squares or whatever before you cut them out? (i'm not great friends with my ruler or anything..) ^_^ i looked at the quilts on the website yardenxanthe posted and those were awesome. i mean, i don't expect to turn out that kinda work on a first try...but, you know..oh, i was gonna ask, do you make the top and bottom separate? like, this sheet of squares pieced together for the top and this sheet of squares pieced together for the bottom and then you stuff batting in between and sew it up? i'm not totally clear on that part...i'm gonna be using a '53 singer 301 machine to sew it all...um, i think that's it. lay it on me! ^_^ and thank you! btw, does anyone else have the problem of starting one project and then starting another and another....^_^ i can't seem to help myself!!! i have so many good ideas flowing out of my head nonstop and i tangle myself all up. eventually they all get done though. (usually) ^_^ i think that's my new year's resolution-- to finish what i start before starting something new.
Posted by xuli on 2004-10-01 11:32:12
Post Subject:
I've been trying to teach myself how to quilt for a few months and having a *ton* of fun with it. Like you, I'm totally intimmidated by the quilting shop and taking a class isn't an option for me, so I've been browsing quilting books pretty obsessively. My bf likes going to Borders a lot, so I just go with him, plop myself down in the craft section, and check out the different books until he's ready to leave. I'm planning to buy a book eventually, but I'm trying to figure out which one has the clearest instructions and best information before I do. In the meantime, I've learned a *ton* just from browsing.
Also, you should look up a thread I started a few months ago asking for online links for first time quilters -- some great experienced craftistas put some links in there that have been invaluable to me.
ETA: Oh, and congrats on the sewing machine find! That's awesome!
Posted by Athos on 2005-07-04 16:41:25
Post Subject:
oh my gosh, that's beautiful! what an incredibly moving poem.
selah - make sure to take pictures of whatever you work on to share it with us! i've never made a quilt before, but my grandmother was a great quilter, and there's one my mother did. with pieces of her old, worn out cloth napkins, the leftover fabric from the curtains, old jackets. i hope someday to be half the woman that these quilters were/are.
Posted by pteryla on 2005-09-02 21:47:14
Post Subject:
two excellent beginners quilting books are: Start Quilting with Alex Anderson: Six Projects for First Time Quilters; and Quilter's Complete Guide, by Marianne Fons and Liz Porter.
Posted by homuncula on 2005-09-17 21:48:40
Post Subject:
Thanks to everyone who has posted links so far. I am in awe of the art quilts! I think Angela Moll's "secret diary" quilts are my favorite yet. This is so inspiring. Now I just need to find some quilters in my area to meet up with...!
Posted by tigrrrl on 2005-02-11 18:52:03
Post Subject:
I'm 31 and a quilter (what's six years to most quilters?) I'm thrilled that it's being revived or at least rejuvenated. I've seen enough taupe-on-taupe quilts with blocks of printed grandchildren pictures, though I do have a lot of respect for many of the traditional blocks.
Posted by rratstarr on 2004-12-12 21:44:15
Post Subject: Donate it!
I couldn't find this link when I first saw your post, but there is an organization called Making Memories (http://www.makingmemories.org/babc.html) that sells donated wedding gowns (and sets of bridesmaid dresses, etc.) to raise money for fulfilling wishes for metastatic breast cancer patients.
Gowns that are damaged in some way can be donated for a quilt project, in which volunteer quilters make the gowns into quilts to be sold for the same purpose as the gowns.
Posted by Schmatta on 2005-09-06 16:19:26
Post Subject:
I'm a quilter. Non-trad. Artsy. Mostly straight line piecing on the machine rather than curves by hand. Prefer hand quilting stitches, although I'm far from expert. Yes, Mary Ellen Hopkins' books are good. Yoshiko's work is beyond belief. Lovely but not very useful to those of us in our first/second/third reincarnations as quilters. I mean, she's from some other galaxy far far away.
I'll be glad to answer any ?? from beginners, and if I were smart enough, I'd post photos of my work so you could see if you even wanted to ask me anything.
Posted by shawneemonkey on 2005-09-14 11:53:35
Post Subject:
i'm a quilter! i've posted a couple of my quilts in my blog here:
http://getcrafty.com/blogs.php?user=shawneemonkey&entry=4971
http://getcrafty.com/blogs.php?user=shawneemonkey&entry=3678
shows like Quilt Visions (http://www.quiltvisions.org/) and Quilt National (http://www.quiltnational.com/) always have some interesting pieces AND they put out books with images of the quilts as well, in case you can't get to the shows. i've been to one of the Quilt Visions shows and it's just INCREDIBLE to see the quilts up close. very inspiring.
i also like Nancy Crow's work (http://www.nancycrow.com/) and the quilts of Gee's Bend (http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quilts/) and of course, Denyse Schmidt. oh, and there are loads and loads of other quilters, too many to mention!
Posted by smudgy_cat on 2005-12-02 20:15:05
Post Subject:
I was just about to post on the same topic, except I'm contemplating a $700 brother quilting machine. Anyone used brother machines?
For an easy, entry level machine, I'd probably pick one up at costco. They have some for $200 or under, and they have everything you seem to be looking for.
You can also find used models on craigslist or sewing machine shops, but it can be frustrating to have a machine with funky, vintage quirks. I have 4 old machines, and they've served me well with sewing halloween costumes and some projects, but they frustrate me now because everything is breaking and repairs are difficult because they are so old.
Janome gem is supposed to be really nice; a few women in the quilt shop got them for their daughters, and they passed the workhorse test from one of the quilters. Husquevarna (sp?) is also a good brand. My friend is coveting a bernina or an elna; I forget which.
the brother I'm looking at is comparable to an elna that's twice it's price at the shop, and they've told me it's sturdy.
Posted by Carolyn Himango on 2006-12-04 12:15:13
Post Subject: Brother Sewing Machine from Costco
I have a Brother sewing machine from Costco and it is allright for some simple sewing but mine will not do for quilting. It just can't take all that sewing. You would have to get a Janome for that. I would suggest spending a little more money and buying a Bernani.
I was just about to post on the same topic, except I'm coplating a $700 brother quilting machine. Anyone used brother machines?
For an easy, entry level machine, I'd probably pick one up at costco. They have some for $200 or under, and they have everything you seem to be looking for.
You can also find used models on craigslist or sewing machine shops, but it can be frustrating to have a machine with funky, vintage quirks. I have 4 old machines, and they've served me well with sewing halloween costumes and some projects, but they frustrate me now because everything is breaking and repairs are difficult because they are so old.
Janome gem is supposed to be really nice; a few women in the quilt shop got them for their daughters, and they passed the workhorse test from one of the quilters. Husquevarna (sp?) is also a good brand. My friend is coveting a bernina or an elna; I forget which.
the brother I'm looking at is comparable to an elna that's twice it's price at the shop, and they've told me it's sturdy.
Posted by sjkmaurice on 2005-02-09 12:01:13
Post Subject:
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. It's not a prequel to DaVinci Code, but it is an earlier book. I really liked it.
See How They Run and Cradle and All by James Patterson. I enjoy the Alex Cross series, so I just assumed I would like these two as well, and I was wrong.
A Superior Death by Nevada Barr. This was one of those books I started and wouldn't let myself not finish just in case the ending was worth it. It wasn't.
Kill and Tell by Linda Howard. I didn't like this one, either.
Gone For Good by Harlan Coben. Not bad.
Quilters Complete Guide by Fons and Porter. Great information.
I had a stack of books given to me by the lady upstairs and I wanted to make room on my shelves. That's why last month was filled with junk reading.
Posted by lizzymahoney on 2004-08-22 09:11:26
Post Subject:
SS, they are almost always quilters who own them. They buy them from other quilters or make it, but the fabric can be one cut of a two faced coordinating prequilted fabric. Quilters sometimes have that tunnel vision where they can't perceive the whole thing, just the minute parts that work together. So from ten feet away we think it's ugly shit, but all their quilting friends ooh and aah up close at the bold use of color and repeating motif.
Posted by karikazo on 2004-07-08 10:53:23
Post Subject:
I always vote for quilting, since I'm obsessed with it....but overall, I'd say I'd be most motivated to watch a show that demonstrates the "new twist" that others here have mentioned. I'd really like to see shows featuring hip, sassy, innovative, and WELL-DESIGNED quilts (and other crafts, both needlearts and paint, ceramics, whatever). There's plenty of country-themed stuff out there. I'd love to see very basic stuff showing exactly how you cut the fabric and run the machine, but also about design--inspiration, developing designs, etc.
I'd love to see some of the super art or artsy quilters and quilt designers out there (Ruth McDowell, Jane Sassaman, the Fun Quilts people, Denyse Schmidt) get featured so they can really talk about their work, and show how they actually construct their pieces.
While we're at it, I think a show featuring thrift store finds being repurposed would be cool.
Posted by rubyfan on 2006-04-29 12:12:49
Post Subject: been spring cleaning forever it feels like
Hi. I am new to this site. So nice to see other people who have clutter because of crafting! I have been ruthless (for me) and cleaning out for the last two months. Still a long way to go but my "studio" is shaping up nicely. Donating to Goodwill, local charities, a youth center, quilters in need, and now a local high school! Still have way too much STUFF.
Has anyone read the book "Where Women Create"? A friend let me borrow hers and I can't go a day without sitting down to read it! So now I am filled with creative solutions/ideas to having a more functional home while still being able to create.
Still have a long way to go though to get each room to GREAT shape but closing in on GOOD shape so I am open to any tidbits/suggestions. And once I reach GOOD shape I have to go empty out that storage unit I keep paying money for each month! Just think what I could buy with that money!!! More STUFF! lol...
Posted by lizzymahoney on 2004-08-22 09:28:41
Post Subject:
soapandwater, I just checked Vera Bradley's site and her bags are very much like the ones quilters make. Except they usually do more piecing of reverse prints, like straps that go all the way around the bag, and maybe a contrasting outside pocket with a zipper. But generally two coordinating prints with heavy emphasis on quilting.
Posted by sallysunshine on 2004-11-15 11:07:37
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As a kid, I made scrapbooks of big events: I have a Bat Mitzvah scrapbook and a scrapbook for a play I was in when I was 9. But I never really thought of them as crafts. They were a way to preserve stuff, and the emphasis was on the stuff rather than the layouts. They were kind of like photo albums with things other than photos. I'm a little baffled by the "scrapbooking" phenomenon, although I could sort of see myself getting into it if I had any aptitude for it. I went to Japan recently, and I think it would be kind of cool to use washi paper and other Japanese textiles for backgrounds, rather than just slapping my pictures in an album.
I am in awe of quilters, but I don't have the patience or organizational skills. My mom is a quilter, and this is evidence that I don't get my ADD from her.
Posted by sallysunshine on 2004-12-15 17:29:00
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Do you mean that women have a sense of solidarity, despite their different ideology, in crafting?
Not really.
To me, feminism is not just a set of beliefs: it's a movement, and the idea is to change things. And in order to change things, we're going to have to enlist the help of people who don't currently consider themselves feminists. Some of them already are feminists according to my understanding of feminism, but they may shy away from the term, in part because there's been a pretty effective anti-feminist smear campaing. They think that being a feminist means hating men or forgoing makeup or not pursuing fun hobbies or whatever. They think that feminism is about limiting their choices, rather than expanding them.
I think that we might be able to use our shared interest in traditionally-feminine crafts to reach out to some of those women. I've seen that with my mother. I think my mom is a feminist, but she's always rejected the label, because she thought (wrongly, I think) that feminists would judge and reject her life choices. But she's a quilter, and through meeting feminist and womanist quilters, she's begun to change her ideas about feminism.
So it's clear to me that my crafty sensibility is a bit different from your average scrapbooker's, although it's not so different from my mom's. But I still wonder if we could find common ground with non-feminist crafters and maybe put a human face on feminism for women who haven't seen feminists as their allies. I'm thinking that instead of concentrating on how to convince people that we're not like those other crafty types, in fact we might concentrate on convincing crafty types that in some ways we are like them. And in other ways, maybe we can bring them to believe that they might want to be more like us.
