Soy Wax Article in Quilting Arts

I just received my quilt and fabrics that are featured in the latest issue of Quilting Arts Magazine. Here's the cover so you can pick out on the magazine shelf!

And here's some pictures of the fabric I made using an "innovative technique" that involves creating pattern with stitch, soy wax and dye!

You won't want to miss it! You can buy the February/March issue at:
http://www.quiltingdaily.com/blogs/quiltingarts/archive/2013/01/08/february-march-2013.aspx

Books on Sunday

About 5 years ago I was fortunate to take part in a two year textile design programme with Ruth Issett at the Gail Harker Creative Studies Centre. I was in the last group that Ruth taught and for me it was a life changing experience. Ruth is the author of a number of books, mostly focused on colour and fabric. This book, Glorious Papers, is more about techniques for applying colour to paper. I'm not sure why, but Batsford Books, the publisher, always manages to put out books that are so rich in colour and photographs, that they truly become a visual feast!

The book begins with "Paper, Materials and Equipment" and then explores chapters such as "Painting Papers", "Resists and Inks", Texture Gels", and "Metallic Effects" The final section focuses on what one can do with all the papers that are created..... collage, cutting, layering and more.
If you like using colour (who doesn't) and want to explore all that you can do with paint and paper, then this book is for you.
ISBN9780713486698

Books on Sunday

Since I've been working on soy wax resists lately and choosing designs I would like to use on my fabrics, I pulled out a favourite title to look through.
1000 Patterns - Design through the Centuries edited by Drusilla Cole has been in my library for a few years and has proven to be an excellent reference book.

Divided into two sections of pre-industrial and post-industrial, the book is then further divided into geographical regions such as Caspian, Japan, Celtic and such for the pre-industrial whereas the post-industrial section is divided by time periods and style.
Image content ranges from textiles, ceramic tiles and other decorative surfaces, every colour and combination imaginable is shown and further enhanced by historical and ethnographic explanations.
I would recommend this book for any serious designer or artist interested in pattern design.
ISBN 9780811839792

At the Seaside

Some students work from a recent class about painting of fabrics other than cotton. Students used evenweave linens and heavier fabrics and planned their stitching for further embellishment and emphasis.

Students worked from photos or other inspiration using Dyna-Flow paints and then played with threads, beads, fibres and such for the stichery part. Lots of fun and a great day with so many new friends.

New Pattern Released!

Northcott Fabrics has just introduced a new line of fabric called Little Darlings http://tinyurl.com/ycupo3r . It is a wonderful black and white line that has fabulous companion fabrics.  Although the fabric will not be in the stores until February, the patterns are available now.

I designed Softly Dreaming for this fabric collection. The pattern includes instructions for a quilt, 67" x 93" , a genrerous double size. Here is a sneak preview of this new pattern. It can be ordered from my pattern company: http://www.patchworkstudio.com/ I found it a lot of fun to design in just black and white...value and scale become so important!

If you'd like like to try further ideas in black and white, my friend Kay Capps Cross has patterns and books that are a great use of value. Have a look at: http://www.crosscutsquilting.com/