Quilting Arts Magazine

Since its premier in 2001, Quilting Arts Magazine has been dedicated to promoting creative quilting by highlighting the amazing artistry achievable only with fabric and thread. The influence of Quilting Arts is enormous: novice art quilters to professionals will learn new techniques, explore trends, and take a deep dive into the fascinating stories behind the quilts.

editor’s note

Quilting Arts Magazine

it’s your turn

about our contributors

Cindy Grisdela • Reston, Virginia

Add a SPARK of Color • Colorful quilts with a ‘wow’ factor

The power of sight: The art of seeing • from dreams to vistas, anatomical studies to optical illusions, “Vision 2020” explores the theme of vision from different angles. Eye imagery dominates and many works highlight the importance of eye health and vision care. I embrace this focus—90% of blindness or vision impairment is preventable or treatable. Prioritizing eye health brings profound creative, social, and economic benefits, and 2020 brings extra resonance to this theme.

Carol Soderlund artist profile • RENO, NEVADA

No Math MANDALAS • let’s add some Zen to free-motion quilting by creating wholecloth mandalas. While these mandalas may look complicated, this technique simplifies the design process using freezer paper templates. Combining a few simple petal shapes, modifications, and filler motifs adds lots of design impact. Watch the mandala bloom as you add layers of texture and color!

TIPS & TRICKS FOR Social Media • Marketing yourself in the digital world

RAD Ombrés • Gravity is the key to fabric dyeing

artist Q&A • A conversation with Dörte Bach with Gül Laporte

FIX MY Fabric! • i’ve been printing my own fabric for over a decade now. On more than one occasion I’ve looked at the results and thought, “Yep, this needs to be buried in the backyard. Hideous!” At least that’s how I used to view ‘flop fabric.’

studio style • Add these items to your quilter’s tool kit, stash, or library

Classic Concepts, MODERN COLOR • is classic color theory relevant to modern quilting, where originality is prized and rules—if they even exist—are meant to be broken? After years of teaching about color, it’s clear to me that color-theory concepts are just as applicable to modern quilt design as to more traditional or art quilt making. Color theory is more accessible than you may think. And, guess what: Being ‘good with color’ is more about practice than talent.

Mixed GREENS • INTRODUCING OUR NEW READER CHALLENGE

Altered State • RESULTS FROM THE ‘COLOR TO THE RESCUE’ READER CHALLENGE

A STORY Retold • Create altered books from children’s classics

Deadly Dyes and Colorful Curves • if you’ve dyed fabric yourself (or watched a tutorial on dyeing fabric), you know you need to follow some basic safety precautions. Wear a mask to prevent inhaling powdered dye. Wear gloves to prevent staining or any irritation to your skin. And sometimes you’re encouraged to wear eye protection against strong fumes or a sputtering dye pot.

ART YOUR HERE • at QUILTING ARTS, we celebrate contemporary art quilting, surface design, mixed media, fiber art trends, and more. We are always looking for new techniques, innovative processes, and creative approaches to the art of quilting. We’d love to hear from you!

the last word.