Quilting Arts Magazine February/March 2019

WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS AS YOU WORK TOWARD REACHING YOUR PERSONAL AND ARTISTIC GOALS? Often, a new year is greeted with resolutions, words of affirmation, and plans for self-improvement. Sometimes, those good intentions lead to new opportunities and expanding personal horizons. That is the hope for my personal practice in the studio this year: to make art that is fresh and personally satisfying and is shown in at least one national quilt show. To do this, I must be true to my muse. I’ll have to start each day with the perspective of an artist. And I’ll also need to commit to my goals just as I do in my professional career. Those are lofty ideals that seem attainable as I write them knowing I have a whole year ahead…

Dear Readers, We have been blown away by the generosity of our readers in creating quilts for the ‘Heart of the Home’ Reader Challenge. Thank you for your amazing donations! We are so pleased to provide these beautiful quilts to deserving families through the House Quilt Project. —The Editorial Team DEAR QUILTING ARTS, The two quilts I created for the ‘Heart of the Home’ Reader Challenge are two of only three quilts I have ever completed. I have been collecting techniques, ideas, and supplies since then to do more. The mission of the House Quilt Project inspired me. I hope the recipients enjoy each quilt as much as I enjoyed making them and I wish them much happiness. With warm regards, Rebecca Clinton • Sioux Falls, South Dakota DEAR QA, Love, love this magazine—so many creative ideas! I…

Judi H. Bastion is a lifelong learner, pursuing her education and building her design, quilting, and photography skills. She earned her Bachelors in Theatre, with a minor in French and an Masters in Arts Administration. Her work has appeared in the National Quilt Museum, the New England Quilt Museum, and Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Judi is a life member of Maine Quilts, current President of Gate City Quilt Guild, and member of PAQA-South and SAQA. She is now retired and works in her studio full time. judibastion@gmail.com Sue Bleiweiss is an award-winning fiber artist recognized for her whimsical imagery and bold, saturated quilts. In her new book, Modern Art Quilts: Design, Fuse & Quilt-As-You-Go, she demonstrates how to create dynamic modern art quilts with no piecing required. Sue lives in Massachusetts. suebleiweiss.com Deborah Boschert…

Big changes have also been driven by technology: the use of computers to speed up design, including image transfers from computer to fabric; and the use of computer-driven machines, especially longarm sewing machines.—Martha Sielman What changes have propelled the Art Quilt Movement in the 21 century? Martha Sielman, Executive Director of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), explains, “The greatest change has been how connected we all are globally through the Internet: by email, through websites, and postings on social media. SAQA has 3,500 members in 39 countries—that could never have happened without the Internet. The other big changes have also been driven by technology: the use of computers to speed up design, including image transfers from computer to fabric; and the use of computer-driven machines, especially longarm sewing machines. While there…

no one likes to work in the dark, especially art quilters. The desire to move out of a basement studio prompted artist Heidi Proffetty to create a light-filled space, perfect for making her unique mosaic art quilts. Her new studio is on the main level of her home, and part of a recent addition that also included a family room. Heidi’s fresh and sunlit studio space measures 14' x 24', generous by many standards, and includes designated areas for every step of her process. Making award-winning art quilts and teaching her mosaic quilt techniques requires multitasking in the studio, so Heidi’s space includes an office area, room for sewing and longarm machines, and a place for flat storage for her quilts. She also installed a five-foot square worktable in the center…

MATERIALS • Silk roving, both natural and a selection of colors• Recycled silk thread• Angelina® fibers• Textile medium (I used Jo Sonja’s® textile medium.)• 2 Fiberglass screens (Available at your local hardware store.)• Plastic cup• Dawn® dish soap• Paintbrush• Plastic drop cloth• Towels for cleanup• Teflon® pressing sheet or parchment paper• Dryer sheet i discovered silk fusion when I was searching for new and interesting textiles to use in my art quilts. My world all but exploded after discovering it! Silk fusion is a fabric made from silk fibers. It is vibrant, bright, and luscious to stitch. It offers a rich, luxurious shine and intense colors while preserving a soft, supple tactile experience. As an artist, working with a fabric you created from raw fibers is incredibly rewarding. Silk fusion can be used…