Spring Market in Portland was amazing! No, really! Market is always a big ol’ love-fest because this is where we connect with the q-niverse…shop owners, designers, manufacturers, readers, friends (not to mention our far-flung staff). Coming to a meet-up like this twice a year is such a great shot of energy and inspiration for all we do with the mag and our other quilty work. And we’ll try to share the wealth in the next few days, with pictures and comments about the coolness we saw and the people we talked with. I’m first up, but keep an eye here and on our Facebook, where we’ll be sharing more.

First off, I loved the Crossroads Denim solids coming out by Amy Barickman with James Thompson. And I really don’t like sewing with denim. But I would make an exception with this stuff. So soft and supple to the touch, I can see it sewing up like a dream. The Indygo Junction peeps had some wonderful clothes and quilts sewn up from the stuff and they were scrumptious.

 Lavishea Lotion Bars are next on my list of cool stuff. I walked by and almost kept walking, but somehow they lured me in (probably with candy…there’s lots of candy at Market) and then they noticed how bad my cuticles were and said I needed to try this stuff. It was really great. My hands loved it, and it didn’t leave a greasy residue, something I hate when I am working with fabric. Great item for all sewists and quilters. And there were many, many scents available.

Rana of  Sewn into the fabric… had the cutest little pincushion patterns. My favorite was this little owl! She also has whales, snails, acorns and pineapples to name a few.

 Kenzie Mac & Co. had this really, really cool burlap strap stuff that they were using in these totes. I found out that it is everyday upholstery webbing. And Nancy and Lauren are doing a whole lot more with this stuff. In fact I can really see this burlap “tape” combined with the Crossroads Denim into some awesome projects!!

And one of the last things I found that I just thought was adorable was this little Queen Bee tape measure.  It’s just one of those little plastic tape measures you can get anywhere, but it has a Bee crocheted around it.  They are from Lantern Moon a Portland, Oregon based company that works with and helps support women in Vietnam. They also have these tape measures in the “shapes” of  dogs, owls, chickens, bunnies, pigs, etc.

And this list doesn’t even begin to speak to all of the cool new fabric lines and products coming out in the future.  We definitely have a bright and colorful horizon on the stash-building horizon, fellow Q-bies. Definitely.

Stay tuned for more Market reports in the coming days.  As my journo bosses on GenQ say, “more tk!”

Portland, here we come!

If we don’t have it packed by now, well, we’re pretty sure we can buy it in Portland. We’re all on our way for the 2013 Spring Quilt Market. It’s open to the trade only, but we still see a fair crush of the most intimate q-niverse, and can we just say how excited we get for these meet-and-greet orgies?

We’ll be away for a few days, so things might be quiet on the blog here, but tune into our Facebook page, where we’ll be posting pics and thoughts.

(Oh, and look who else thinks he’s coming….We’re pretty sure Horace has packed an umbrella, but what we really hope he brought is a list of vegan and wheat-free restaurants  and wine bars to try.  We’re major foodies here at GenQ and won’t be denied our necessities!)

Catch ya’ll later!

UPDATED!

Whew! By profession, we’re all aces at keeping secrets, but we always get such a rush when we get to share one…like who’s on the cover of our brand-new June-July 2013 issue. Thanks, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, for being our cover girl! (And no, that quilt doesn’t make your butt look big, you svelte thing, you!)

There’s TONS of great reading inside, including a fun story on Victoria and collector/historian Bill Volckening, who both collect polyester double knit quilts. Oh, and Melody Miller gives us a tour of her newly remodeled Atlanta home. And we’ve got a recipe for popsicles that’ll give your next sew-day an extra kick. And what felt like a gazillion great projects (during the editing phase, at least). Not to be missed, people!

The ink is just barely dry on this new issue, so we won’t be shipping out copies to our partnering shops and subscribers until we get home from Spring Quilt Market, but we could NOT wait any longer to share! We’ll have a scant few issues to wave around at Market, though, if you’ll be there and want a peek.

Speaking of Market, if you’ll be treading the aisles in the Oregon Convention Center next weekend, do stop by! Generation Q will be in Booth 1102, and rumor has it there will be Chinese fortune cookies with quilty fortunes inside. (Collect all five!) We’d love to meet you, sign you up to carry GenQ in your shop, or get you set up with a subscription. All shopowners who sign up to stock GenQ will receive a free gift, a GenQ-exclusive embroidery pattern of A Q-bie’s Brain, hot off the design screen.

And it is soooo worth your time to stop by the booth during Spring Market, because get an eyeful (above) of all the fabri-loot that GenQ community editor Scott Hansen has rounded up for prize giveaways, both during our Schoolhouse Seminar (more on that in a sec) and later at the booth. We’ve got books and fabric from Martingale, In the Beginning Fabrics, Westminster, Moda, Michael Miller, Clothworks, Windham, Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Blue Nickel Studios.

Now, about that Schoolhouse seminar….our session–Seducing the Modern Quilter & Sewist: Tips & Tricks From the Retail Trenches–is Thursday at 5:30 p.m. (For the uninitiated, Schoolhouse is a day full of seminars on new products, books, fabric and other helpful stuff for shopowners.) We’ll share proven ideas from modern shops around the country, as well as information from our 2012 Addicted Stitcher Survey. Come for the info…stay for the fun and prizes!

Now, things might be a tad quiet here on the blog while we’re away, but keep an eye on our Facebook page. We’ll be posting pics and shout-outs to keep you tuned in to the action. Look for a proper Market report once we’ve gotten back to the ‘hood.

Later!

I have a friend who swears she could be blindfolded as she’s driven across the New Mexico-Texas state line, and she will still know the exact instant she begins to breathe the air of the Motherland. She’s Texas-born and bred, and although she’s in the Land of Enchantment now, any ol’ part of the Lone Star State is a heckuva lot more enchanting, in her estimation, than NM soil.  (I probably don’t need to mention that burnt orange is her fave color.)

Enough about her.  I, too, can honestly lay claim to a little Lone Star DNA. My dad was born in Paris, Texas, and spent a lotta years where the piney woods spill over the border between East Texas and Arkansas. And my aunt was a gracious Texas gal who ruled her world with charm, determination and more than a little grit, depending on the occasion. And I’ve got cousins sprinkled all over the sprawling state.

So when I cracked open my review copy of Marie Bostwick’s newest release in her Cobbled Court series, Between Heaven and Texas, I instantly identified with the  strong characterizations and detailed sense of place. I know people like Mary Dell Templeton, the central character whose personality is as colorful as the quilts she creates.  And I could almost feel the sunburn on my neck as I read her descriptions of Too Much, Texas, the town where Mary Dell and her family live on a ranch.  (Catch our new June-July 2013 issue for a full review of Marie’s book.)

And Marie’s detailed descriptions have me thinking about quintessential Texas images, like bluebonnets and big highway signs trumpeting “Don’t Mess With Texas!” And conversations including phrases like “fixin’ to get ready” and “might could.” And green beans cooked (almost to mush) with bacon and lots of black pepper. And there are a ton more! We all have a different vision of Texas, I guess, depending on our souls. What images or sounds or tastes say “Texas” to you?

(And while you’re musing  on that, look for Marie’s new book. Even if you’re not up to speed on the whole Cobbled Court series, this new release is a great standalone read.)

And Now For Our Star

Marie’s blog tour elf asked us to create a star block in honor of the Between Heaven and Texas  debut, so we’re offering up a version of our Generation Q logo, which is a colorful wonky star. We chose the wonkified star because it’s quintessential “us”: a lot of color, a few straight lines and just quirky enough to be interesting. Our Jake Finch designed the wonky star tutorial, which you can find here.

Okay, Freebie Time

Yes, sweet pea, you can win a copy of Marie’s book with the mere, painless act of commenting. Just give us a shout here on the blog, telling us 1) your fave thing about Texas  OR 2) your fave book in Marie’s Cobbled Court series.  The giveaway will be open until midnight on May 12, and we’ll post the winner on our Facebook page the next morning. Best of luck to you! (Note: Winner must be in either the United States or Canada.)

And there’s an extra prize opportunity…Complete a quilt top using all the blocks on the Between Heaven and Texas tour and upload a photo to the official Flickr group by Sept. 1, and you’ll be eligible to win an audio version of the book. (Audio version will be released sometime in September.)

Hey! The Tour Isn’t Over Yet!

There are still two stops on this star-struck, whistle-stop tour of Marie’s new book! And check out the  bloggers who posted earlier in the tour. There’s no time limit on artistry and fun, people!

Monday, April 29 - Marie’s Block 
Tuesday, April 30 – Michele - Quilting Gallery
Wednesday, May 1 – Bonnie - Quiltville
Thursday, May 2 – Pat - Pat Sloan
Thursday, May 2 – Kim - Persimon Dreams
Friday, May 3 – Melissa - Happy Quilting
Saturday, May 4 – Jo - Jo’s Country Junction
Sunday, May 5 – Wendy - Ivory Spring
Monday, May 6 – Victoria - Bumble Beans Inc.
Tuesday, May 7 – Vicki - Quilting Lodge
Wednesday, May 8 – Melissa/Jake - Generation Q Magazine
Thursday, May 9 – Jennifer - Sew Hooked
Friday, May 10 – Jackie - Canton Village Quilt Works

In a recent reader poll, we asked whether you’d ever studied art history, or were interested in learning about the development of art in the past few centuries. And we’ll share those results in our upcoming June-July 2013 issue, but we really loved the lively commentary on the follow-up question for those of you who had studied art history. We askedhow that art history knowledge has informed your quilting. (Now here’s where the real info emerges!)

Many of you responded that your art history background gave you a great foundation for understanding color and linear theory, as well as different forms and styles of art. And there’s the overall appreciation of art in general, regardless of whether you really liked a certain art movement or not. Whether general or specific, many of you spoke eloquently about a strong connection between your knowledge of art and your fulfillment in quilting.

Says one respondent: “I think its greatest influence is in allowing me to embrace the idea that while I may not like a certain artwork (or a quilt), I can recognize why someone else might like it, or at least recognize how the technique, meaning and other attributes allow it to contribute to the narrative of quilting, art, culture, society, etc. (That is, just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value.)”

And some of you found absolutely no crossover at all between your past art studies and your present quilting passion.

“It was part of the classes that I had to take to get my college degree. I doubt that this has really influenced my quilting… my taste is still the same as it was before and who cares about what others have done anyway? Are we copyists or artists?” asks one survey respondent.

As you contemplate the parallels between art and quilting–and there are a ton–we thought you’d enjoy hearing what more of your fellow Q-bies have to say on the subject.

Tell us how knowing a little something about art history has informed your quilting:

“Not a bit! Took it as a required course in college and let’s just say I was more of a math girl. That actually has helped me more in quilting.”

“Gawd… where do I start? Understanding our history is a key to seeing our future. Quilting has gone through as many different movements as fine art, not always in the same order or at the same time, but its all there too.”

“Looking at thousands of slides in art history class really trained my eye towards seeing the importance of design elements, color combinations and how the whole composition works together. All of which is invaluable now as a quilter!”

“Art history classes were what kept me sane in college, just like quilting is what keeps me sane(-ish) today! Color, inspiration, artistry, perspective, history and storytelling, sending a message through art–it’s all part of what attracted me to art from the time I was a fingerpainter and eventually what led me to quilting as an adult.”

“It has TOTALLY informed it–like developing the part of my brain that notices motifs and ornamentation. Like being able to express thoughts and emotions visually.”

“Hasn’t, actually. I have not gotten up the nerve to try to recreate Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in fabric…”

“I had limited studies of art history in college (was an accounting major), and loved all of it! The use of color, texture, subject matter- it’s all so intriguing! I love to see different themes revisited in quilting–from Greek key style quilting patterns to different uses of light in fabric gradation to the theme of the quilt. Is it folksy, romantic, minimalist, leaning to impressionistic? I love it all!”

“I have really enjoyed researching the visual parallels between modern quilting and modern art. Since art movements often “move,” I am excited to see how the definition of “modern” quilting develops and changes over the coming years!”

“Knowing the different styles and palettes through the ages helps ground your work, but also helps you know when it’s already been done to death.”

Let’s keep the convo going…tell us whether your knowledge of art and art history has made a difference in your quilting work.

Every once in awhile someone in the blogosphere will put up one of those tremendous posts that truly lights up the world and makes us all shout out a hearty “that’s the best post ever”…… at least for the week.   I ran across one of those this week and I just wanted to share it with all of you.

It is on the subject of labeling.  I know sometimes it just seems like too much work to add a label when you are so very tired of working on that quilt for days (or years), but in the long run it is important for many reasons. Some historical, some just for security. (How many countless quilts have been lost because they didn’t have a label indicating to whom they belonged?)

When I first started quilting, I was adamant about putting labels on everything I made, and I took great care to create extremely detailed labels. In the last few years, though, I have been creating quilts at much higher rate, and I just don’t have the time for that.  (Okay, this is what I tell myself, at least.) But when you think about it, after all that time spent on the actual quilt, what more would it take to label it, Lazy Bones? (A little self-talk here, of course!)

So, Katy Jones of I’m A Ginger Monkey wrote this incredible post with a WHOLE lot of links to various OTHER blog posts discussing labels and a Flickr page and some Pinterest collections entirely devoted to impressively creative labels.

One of Katy's incredibly beautiful labels. Photo courtesy of Katy Jones

Katy shares  many ideas and links to inspire us to label everything, easily and creatively.  Spoonflower alone is probably the best thing to come along for those of us who want to label everything in sight.  And if you don’t feel creative enough to design your own, a whole lot of designers have jumped on board the Spoonflower  train to sell you their label designs. Buy a yard and you are set for the next 20 to 40 quilts.  That should last you awhile.

I think I will go design me up a whole sheet of labels soon. Right after all these projects for Quilt Market. And cleaning my studio. And then writing up some directions.  And then if I ever actually do get to those labels, hopefully I won’t lose them in the studio. Oh, wait a sec, I would have just cleaned the studio, so they would be easy to find, right? Of course, right. 

In some industries, the old snarky adage, “those who can’t, teach,” might hold true. But not in quilting and sewing. In our q-niverse, the better we get, the more we have to offer to others and many of us relish those opportunities to share our stitching bliss.

There are so many opportunities for good teachers to make a living in our biz. From lecturing at guilds to teaching weeklong retreat classes and everything in between, there are many wonderful ways we can pass on our love of the needle and bring in some green along the way.

Still, teaching is not easy. The best way to get started is by taking classes yourself, at your LQS and at area shows. Really study how teachers manage a class and take notes (not in front of them) on the good, the bad and the ugly you encounter in class. Watch how your classmates respond to the teachers and what the general attitude of the class is. As a teacher, you want students who are excited, enthusiastic and who appreciate a sense of humor, because nothing will be 100 percent perfect in a class.

Once you feel you’ve had a good reconnaissance,  pull together some incredible class projects, whip up your most amazing samples (because samples totally sell a class to a student) and ask your local quilt shop or adult school about teaching a class. Most shop owners are only too happy to have you teach and there is no better way to jump into this than through a shop with a single class. A savvy shop owner will help you with class ideas and tips about how to approach teaching. After all, it’s the shop owner who knows his or her customer the best, so  enlist their support and expertise.

Beyond your own desire, there are other telltale signs of your blooming educator prowess. Read on:

1. You have something fresh and different to offer students. You’ve broken away from the ho-hum patterns for a while now and love experimenting with other techniques and projects. You’re not afraid to make mistakes and because of this, have sharpened your powers of  inventiveness.

2. You’ve actively sought to improve your skills and have achieved a level of mastery and comfort with at least a few techniques. When you teach, you need to have skills that exceed the average student in your class. That doesn’t mean you need to be a master quilter. And it also doesn’t mean that you won’t learn from your students. (If you’re not learning something from them, there’s something wrong.) But you do need to have the confidence and knowledge to field problems with machines, stitching styles, patterns and design.

3. You love sharing your knowledge,YOU ARE PATIENT and you can adapt your explanations to make yourself clear to most learners. Most of us are familiar enough with various learning styles, and  that information is really going to come in handy here. By understanding how people learn, you’ll teach more effectively.  Visual learners have to be shown. Audial learners often do better working through written instructions. And some  people just have to do each step before it clicks. Honor their process. If one  approach for a new technique doesn’t work, try it from a different direction or even a different method.  Show your students the best method for accomplishing their goals.

4. You’re organized and can maintain a clear agenda for conducting classes. The classes that move the smoothest have a clear beginning, middle and end. As a teacher,  be willing to adjust your class as needed. But you also need to know what has to be taught and how long each step will take. Have a back up plan for anything unforeseen—power outages, a wide range of skill sets or forgotten materials. I will often pair up very skilled students with those who have a steeper learning curve, especially if my skilled student is showing signs of boredom and you can’t move the rest of the class ahead fast enough. But, do ask the student privately if s/he would be willing.

5. You’re a leader. A leader  intentionally strives to bring out the best in those around them. You have a great deal of emotional influence in a class and this is humbling! For many adults, learning something new is frightening. We’re so used to being competent in our routine activities that we become vulnerable in a class setting, especially with something like quilting or sewing where our work is visible to others. As a teacher, your responsibility and obligation is to encourage your students and never let them feel incapable of learning. Create an atmosphere where mistakes are part of the process, a sense of humor is always present and even the smallest triumphs matter. If you can do this, you will become a great teacher and  find much satisfaction in the process.

Exciting things are afoot over at BERNINA Headquarters in Aurora, Illinois, these days! Are you ready to get your sewing and quilting on? I was lucky enough to get a tour of the company’s new 4,500-square-foot Creative Center that is right next door to its U.S. headquarters. This lovely three-room facility has room for 50 attendees–and  sewing machines!–for classes, workshops and training sessions. BERNINA plans to use the space for both public education and dealer training to help both sewists and BERNINA dealers advance their sewing, quilting and embroidery skills.

BERNINA technicians using the company's new Creative Center in Aurora, Illinois, to learn repairs.

The hallway that leads to the classrooms is lined with all of the drool-worthy products that you could want, including a display featuring the latest Bernina sewing machines.The classrooms are spacious and have plenty of tables, comfy chairs and lots of outlets for plugging in machines.

BERNINA of America opened its new Creative Center in Aurora on Friday with a class on presser feet attended by 36 sewing enthusiasts.

Although the Creative Center officially opened only a couple of days ago, its classrooms have already been busy. Its first public education session was April 18, and spaces sold out fast. Next up is a BERNINA Software Extravaganza on May 17.  In this class, students will be guided by BERNINA educators as they learn to navigate the embroidery software and explore the creative fill functions in BERNINA Embroidery Software 6.  The class also includes hands-on time with the company’s new DesignWorks Software Suite. (The suite includes Cutwork, for cutting shapes, patterns and designs from multiple layers of fabric; PaintWork for applying pen drawings; and CrystalWork for creating crystal appliqué patterns.)

Online registration and information for any Creative Center class is available at http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Whats-New-2/In-Store-Events.

And, if you live in Illinois, there could be an added bonus for your charity sewing project. Depending on space available and class scheduling, BERNINA is considering allowing the sewing community to use the Creative Center facility for charity sewing events.

 We’re delighted to be a stop on the blog tour for Modern Baby, a smokin’ new release from Martingale that’s packed with  creative, inspiring baby quilts by well-known and up-and-coming modern designers.

Our own Jake Finch, publisher and co-founder of Generation Q Magazine, contributed to Modern Baby, with Marbles, a whimsical design combining embroidery and applique for a fun quilt that can work up fast for either a wee boy or girl.

Now, the theme of the Modern Baby tour is loosely organized around the theme of Modern Baby Shower, which invites all kinds of stories about baby showers with funny (0r not-so-fun) games, gooey cake and pastel decorations. And I’m very much in this nostalgic mode because my baby, Catherine Marie, turns 21 in just three days.  I was not a quilter then (Yeah, I know… I came late to this party), but I have sewn since I was 7, so you still can’t throw me out of the sew-rority.

Jake's contribution to the Modern Baby book. Those embroidered hands? They're based on the very hands of Samantha Finch, Jake's daughter.

My friend, Lourdes, hosted a shower for us just a few days after Catherine was born, and part of the decorations included tiny hand-made wax diapers, complete with pin and baby bracelet. (See photo above. Do these count as “vintage” now? Just kidding, Catherine!) Lourdes was a gracious hostess, and although I don’t remember too many of the gifts, one I do remember was a blanket-cum-quilt made by my sister, Beth. It stood out from the sea of pink because of its bright colors, and I particularly loved the satin ribbon edging.

Catherine's baby quilt. Made by Beth Rhodes in 1992.

So, is it any wonder that I love the bright colors and whimsical touches in the quilts  in Modern  Baby?  Like our love for our kids, no matter their age, some things never change!

And Now A Giveaway…

Comment on this post, maybe telling us about YOUR baby shower or a beloved baby gift you gave or received. We’ll randomly pick a winner for a free e-book version of Modern Baby. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 8, at the conclusion of the Modern Baby launch tour. (Pssst! All the other stops on the tour are also giving away free e-book versions, so you literally have 14 chances to win.

Here’s the itinerary for the entire Modern Baby blog tour.  Don’t miss the fun that’s already been posted, or the fun that’s yet to come!

Friday, April 19: Shea Henderson at Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio
Monday, April 22: Jake Finch at Generation Q Magazine
Tuesday, April 23: Audrie Bidwell at Blue Is Bleu
Wednesday, April 24: Carolyn Friedlander at Carolyn Friedlander
Thursday, April 25: Melissa Corry at Happy Quilting
Friday, April 26: Jen Eskridge at ReannaLily Designs
Monday, April 29: Sarah Flynn at Fairy Face Designs
Tuesday, April 30: Dana Bolyard at Old Red Barn Co.
Wednesday, May 1: Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter
Thursday, May 2: Carrie Bloomston at Such Designs
Friday, May 3: Victoria Findlay Wolfe at Bumble Beans Inc.
Monday, May 6: Lindsey Rhodes at LR Stitched
Tuesday, May 7: Pippa Eccles Armbrester at Pippa Quilts

Q-spiration for your next round of fabric play can come from the most unlikely place….such as that napkin you’re dabbing your sweet pout with right now!

And recognizing that, the Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild recently shared results of its Napkin Challenge with us.

Here’s how the game was played: Participating members were instructed to find a printed napkin of any size, color or print. Then they were to use it in some way to inspire an original quilt block of variable size.

Six members stepped up.  Most were inspired by the total design, but some riffed off specific shapes.  And more than a few tried new techniques in completing the challenge.  Here’s a gallery of the napkin-inspired work. Moral of this quilty story: Next time you’re stuck for ideas, go to the party store! (And if your mini-group or guild tackle an unusual or interesting challenge, share a few pictures with us. We love seeing what our Q-bies are up to!)

Dots by Linda Hamlin

Party Bow by Teresa Pierce

Mackenzie-Childs Redux by Missey Dobbin

Martini Time by Lois Warwick

Springtime Owl by Suzanne Kelly

Autumn Leaves by Lois Warwick

Untitled by Debbie Rogulich