Please check out the next Wednesday Night Live webcast with my fellow C&T authors who are teaching at the Empty Spools Seminars this Spring. I'll be on the webcast talking about my class, Translating Ideas into Fabric. This wonderful conference is held at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California.

You'll be able to meet all 9 authors and ask them questions about their classes at Empty Spools. With a computer and a high-speed internet connection you watch the show and type in the chat room. Just click here to enter the Digital Lounge at show time. Hope to see you on Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 pm PST   (7:00pm MT;  8:00pm CT;  9:00pm ET)!

Simply Art Chicago

 Coleen's Calling Birds #13

If you are in the Evanston, IL area in March, please check out an exhibit at Simply Chicago Art Gallery by the Fiber Arts Coalition. Fiber Arts Coalition members are from the upper mid-west region of the US and are also professional artist members of the the non-profit organization, Studio Art Quilt Associates, SAQA.

My quilt, Coleen's Calling Birds #13, is part of the Blackbirds exhibit and based upon a stanza in the poem, 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird from Wallace Stevens' first book of poetry, Harmonium, published in 1917. The line I chose from his poem is:
XII: It was evening all afternoon. It was snowing. And it was going to snow. The blackbird sat In the cedar-limbs.

Clearly, Stevens had been to Illinois in winter.

Thread-u-cation Thursdays: Total Hoopless

 

Weezie's Wildflowers #13

 Just a quick note to those seasoned embroiderers out there who use a hoop when stitching their quilt tops. When stitching a fused art quilt, you must go hoopless.

Why, you ask, must I not hoop my work? Fused art quilts are made up of lots of small elements fused or glued to the surface of the fabric. If you place a hoop on the elements, the hoop will stretch and abrade the design element. The little piece of fabric may fray or even lift off the fabric. So for the best results, you must be totally hoopless.

Is it just me or is this boat rocking?
Last week I returned from a teaching cruise to the Caribbean. There is something about the warm breeze off the ocean and a slowly rocking boat that made it impossible for me to concentrate on anything but how to get to the dining hall. Late in the cruise I did manage to teach 2 classes to a great group of quilters. And I look forward to next February's cruise to Hawaii. Maybe by then I'll have my land legs back.

How To Tuesday: 12 Step Rejection Recovery Program

Several years ago I made a list of how to deal with rejection when entering quilt shows. And to this day I still get the dreaded rejection letter. REJECTED  I tell you! But do I feel rejected?  No!  I am as happy as a little bird hoisting a juicy watermelon out of the garden.  How do I get this optimistic point of view?   I follow this 12 -Step Rejection Recovery Program:

1. Burn the rejection notice.  Rip it up into tiny little pieces and light a match.  As the bad news goes up in flames chant, “There are no bad quilts, just bad eyesight.” 

 2. Have a day of mourning.  Drape the quilt in black ribbons and remember the good times: cutting the fabric, sewing the little pieces together, and binding the quilt while watching soap operas.  Those were the days.

 3.  Have a good cry.  Use newly purchased fabric from your local quilt shop to dry your tears.

 4. Get a tattoo.  My friend Frieda’s tattoo says, “I love my quilts!”  Make sure to get large type so you can still read it at age 90.

 5.  Document the entry fees as charitable donations on your tax forms.  Consider yourself a patron of the arts and get a refund as well.

 6.  Write a tune of lament like my song “Everybody Gets Rejected Sometime”.  I like a song you can dance to or at least shake you fists.

 7.  Eat chocolate.  The smell of baking brownies always calms me down.  Once I eat a pan-full of gooey chocolate goodies, my memory is completely erased.

 8.  Complain to your friends.  There is nothing like a good rant to cheer you up.  Make audacious claims of incompetence in the quilt judging system, the crazier the better.

 9.  Consider a new occupation.  I, for instance, pursued my dream to be a rocket scientist.  Then I realized I was on the wrong trajectory and returned to earth.

 10.  Buy the quilt show.  If you own the quilt show you can have your quilts on display any time.  Award yourself prizes.

 11.  Hang the rejected quilt in a prominent spot in your home. Kiss it every morning, pat it on the binding, and tell it how pretty it is.

 12.  Make a new quilt.  Make something cheerful and colorful like this Optimistic Bluebird. And just like a little bird in flight, you too will be happy.

Digital Sketchbook Page 2

 Here's another attempt to learn the how to use Art Studio for the Ipad. It's so much fun doodling and playing with the many tools available. My favorite part of using this program is that you can do no wrong. If you don't like something, you simply erase or start over. It's like playing with paints and crayons all over again!

Book Has Arrived!

Oh Happy Day!
At last my new book, Fanciful Stitches, etc., has arrived. I shall begin shipment as fast as my little hands can punch in the addresses of all of you wonderful people who have pre-ordered. But first, I must autograph them all and pack up a free sample of thread for each book order.
Thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy the book!

Thread-u-cation Thursdays: Cross Stitch Video

Here we have another how to stitch video featuring the Cross Stitch. Again, another heart felt performance by our intrepid actress. Enjoy!



Cross Stitch from Laura Wasilowski on Vimeo.

Fist Full of Thread! Winner for Week 11 The Grand Finale!

Thank you for joining me for our final project from my new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts. I hope you enjoyed the preview of the house quilts as well as closeups of the hand embroidery. The winner of the final Fist Full of Thread is Deborah from Woolensails. Congratulations Deborah!

For all you faithful readers and those yearning for a warm cup of tea during these chilly days, here is my gift to you, the Tea Party pattern. This quilt is a perfect canvas for practicing all your hand embroidery stitches.
It's been 11 weeks for 11 projects from the book. So what's next on our agenda? Please tune in next Tuesday for How to Tuesdays. You'll receive lots of fusing, stitching, and art making tips. See you then!

Fanciful Stitches: The Gardener's Cottage

The Gardener's Cottage is the final project from my new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts. It is also my favorite project! Wouldn't it be wonderful to live here! Let's all move in together and form the Home for Old Quilter's.

The best part of making this quilt is using all those fun embroidery stitches to decorate the house and gardens surrounding this cozy cottage. The garden gate is open and the walkway clear so come on in!

Sadly, today is the final Fist Full of Threads give-away celebrating my new book. I wish everyone could have won. But alas, there is a limit to what a woman can dye. Please leave a comment on the blog today and I'll announce our final winner tomorrow!

Happy Valentine's Day!

May you have a lovely day as we celebrate this day of love and affection! And chocolate!

I shall be thinking of you today as I prepare to reveal the final project from Fanciful Stitches tomorrow. That and I shall be eating chocolate.

Please return tomorrow when I give away another Fist Full of Threads!

Inspired to Stamp in California

My little quilt, Stamping in the Sun, was part of a Quilting Arts article last year and then it flew off to California to join Debra Price-Agrum's quilt collection. Debra is a teacher, a marvelous teacher! Please check out her blog and see the wonderful pieces of art work her students have made under her tutelage. They combine both stamping and hand stitching. Wonderful!

Art Quilt Therapy

 If you are in need of art therapy and want a little fun in your life, please check out my up coming multiple-day workshops. You'll find me at peaceful Asilomar, CA in April 2011 at the Empty Spools Seminar. The beautiful Art Quilt Tahoe welcomes you in November 2011 to view the colors.

Want to work on a boat? Join me on a Hawaiian Quilt Cruise in February, 2012. Or greet Spring at my Hudson Valley Art Quilt Workshop in April 2012. No matter where you live in the world, I'd love to have you join me!

Thread-u-cation Thursday: Pistil Stitch Video

Gardeners and cowgirls get your needles! We're makin' a Pistil Stitch today! This versatile stitch is related to the French Knot but has longer legs. (Note: No flowers or birds were injured in the making of this movie.)

Pistil Stitch from Laura Wasilowski on Vimeo.

Fist Full of Thread! Winner for Week 10

Thanks to everyone for celebrating another project from my new book Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts! Our lucky winner for a Fist Full of Thread this week is Gene. Congratulations Gene!

And for those of us who feel like we're in a little jam just before Valentine's Day and need a gift for our honey, here is my gift of a free pattern for you. Strawberry Jam is a sequel to another free pattern, Strawberry Basket. (As you may have guessed, I'm very fond of strawberries.)

And I'm fond of you too! So please join me next Tuesday when I reveal our final project from Fanciful Stitches and give away another Fist Full of Threads!

Fanciful Stitches: Farm House

As a farmer's daughter, I can attest to the fact that this is a typical Minnesotan farm. Except for the lack of tractor tracks and any sign of cows, it is very authentic. Farm House is another of the projects you'll find in my new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts (arriving sometime this month!).

All the necessary templates and stitch instructions are found in the book so your farm will not lack for crops or out buildings. Here you see the aptly named Sheaf Stitch in the back forty. Other fields are made with Running Stitches, Cross Stitches and of course, the other aptly named,  Scattered Seed Stitch.

If you are also aptly named and would like to win a Fist Full of Threads, please leave a comment here today on the blog. I'll announce the aptly named winner tomorrow!

Fanciful Stitches Give Away on Tuesday!

Soon I shall be on the road with my companion (seen above) and traveling the world spreading......
the word that you too can be a fuser.
But first, I wish to warn you that there is a Fist Full of Threads give-away tomorrow when I introduce another project from my new book Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts.
Meanwhile, back on the ranch, I prepare my ......donkey.... for travel.

Guest Artist: Inspired by Color

 Here is a beautiful stole designed and created by Vivika DeNegre for her pastor. The predominantly green color is used most during the liturgical year but I love how she has interspersed hits of orange, yellow, and purple in the design. When I look closely at the stole, I recognize many of my hand dyed fabrics. Vivika says I am one of her favorite dyers! What a sweet thing to say! And how wonderful to be part of this beautiful piece of work. Thank you, Vivika, for sharing with us.

Filming with Nancy

On the coldest day in the world, Frieda and I traveled to Madison, WI to film 2 episodes of Sewing with Nancy. Our lovely hostess, Nancy Zieman and the laid back crew of Wisconsin Public Television, made us feel right at home. (Cause Frieda and I are really laid back.)

Here's Frieda rehearsing her project, a really wonderful barn quilt. What a great designer! My project was a little basket quilt that shall be revealed when the show premieres next September. Maybe I'll finally thaw out by then.

Digital Sketchbook Page 1

My new addiction is sketching using the ArtStudio app on my IPad. And by addiction, I mean I'm like a kid with a new toy. I can't put it down!
Having setting aside needle and thread and succumbing to the siren song of the IPad, I find time slipping away. It is like instant painting without the wait time or mess. Here we have an early attempt to learn the different tools.So much fun!

Thread-u-cation Thursday: Chicken Cocovan

Isn't this a lovely little hankie? It is a gift from my friend Frieda who knows I'm a push over for hand stitching as well as chickens. It is beautifully embroidered with very delicate, tiny stitches. Look closely and you'll see very fine stem, satin, and running embroidery stitches. The tatting on the hem is extraordinary!

And the image is so delightful! Don't you want to know the story about the wine glass and chicken? What could it mean?

Fist Full of Thread! Winner for Week 9

Thanks for commenting on yesterday's Nice Neighborhood project from Fanciful Stitches. Our lucky winner this week of a Fist Full of Threads (as determined by our Spanish diva from Desedamas above)  is: Suzanne. Congratulations Suzanne! May your fist be full of thread and your joyful hair stick out like our Spanish diva's.

And for those of you whose little fists are threadless, here is our free pattern this week: Country Cottage. Please stay tuned next Tuesday for the reveal of another project from Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts.

Fanciful Stitches: Nice Neighborhood

This nice quilt, Nice Neighborhood, was inspired by the lovely neighborhood where I live. Perhaps you are familiar with it? That's my house in the center. If you'd like to move in next door, I invite you to see the complete pattern and instructions for building the neighborhood in my new book, Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts. If we get enough quilters on the block, we can form a neighborhood watch and call it, The Quilt Police.

Like any well groomed neighborhood, our flowers are made with Lazy Daisy and Ermine Stitches, French Knots and Cross Stitches fill up the grass, and a Couched sun glimmers in the sky. We are the envy of every city in the western hemisphere! (The eastern hemisphere already having beautiful neighborhoods.)

If you would like to live in our neighborhood and would like to win a Fist Full of Thread! to stitch your house down, please leave a comment here today. Tomorrow I'll announce the lucky winner so please stay tuned!