Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles

Of beeps and cats, slipcovers and courtesy

2012-01-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

Oh dear God, save me from beeping things! Have you seen that commercial on TV? I think it is about a car battery or a car, but it shows a guy on a ladder caught between beeping smoke alarms. Well, that was my night. I awoke about 1 a.m. to a kind of weak beeping noise (does that sound like the old lady in Christmas Vacation 'What's that squeaking sound?'). Could it be the door alarm?

Winner Announced for the latest Rayna Gillman book

2012-01-16T14:58:00.001-05:00

I'm pleased to announce that Beth Mastin of Rumney, New Hampshire has won a copy of Rayna Gillman's latest book, "Create Your Own Free-form Quilts" When she heard about her good luck, Beth responded, "Wow! What a great surprise!!! I've really been wanting to get this book, especially after one of my friends brought it to our last Fiber Divas meeting! Can't wait to tell them that I actually own

"Quilts in the Attic" by Karen S. Musgrave --flaws and all

2012-01-10T14:24:00.000-05:00

A beautifully made book arrived at my house today. It is a complimentary copy of Karen. S. Musgrave's "Quilts in the Attic." This collection of 30 stories of great quilt discoveries includes the story of my fish and baskets quilt. When I first saw Karen's call for stories, I submitted mine. I've written several times about this quilt myself and sent her a copy of one of my articles. I was

Rayna and Ellen Anne fill their new books with innovative, creative spirit

2011-12-29T20:15:00.002-05:00

Rayna Gillman's 'Scapes' quilt from her new book People who love fabric seem to understand that we are all threads in this universal tapestry. We are all connected, some more tightly woven together than others. In the quilting community we are a tight-knit group with quilts as our common thread. Learn to make beautiful flowers like this one featured in Ellen Anne Eddy's quilt It has been my

Subversive Stitchers Challenge for the Quilts and Dreams Challenge

2011-10-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

A 1600 Quilt (photo from Heirloom Creations blog site). Seems like a symptom of 'subversive' people is that we march to our own drum, are often loners, not joiners, and like to do things in our own time, following our own way. So I don't organize things or urge you to join in projects. BUT I have just received an interesting book from American Quilter's Society (AQS) that has finally

Quilt Exhibit and Sales Support ALS Research

2011-10-04T19:40:00.000-04:00

Handmade Quilts For Sale to support ALS research through a FREE quilt exhibit sponsored by Hopes and Dreams Quilts 4 a Cure! The quilt exhibit is held in conjunction with the JT Walk and Beach Party to raise funds for Hopes & Dream Quilts 4 a Cure. Kathy Thompson, CEO of Quilters Dream Batting, knows the heartbreak and frustration of the ALS disease. Her son Josh was cut down in the prime of

Quilt Wars

2011-09-27T14:32:00.001-04:00

Viewer's Choice: Innocence by Hollis Chatelain of Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA For seventy-two minutes, give or take, I watched "Stitched: the film" which is advertised as a fun-filled documentary following three quilt artists as they prepare their entries in Houston's International Quilt Festival. It was good to see Hollis Chatelain and Caryl Bryer Fallert again, to watch them at

Think before You Quote – Even in Comments

2011-09-23T09:54:00.001-04:00

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Pat Irwin (permission granted to repost). If you create content – or even post comments in blogs – and include quotes from someone else – be ware. Although this particular company may well be on its last legs, there may be others out there. It’s an ugly 18-month saga that, fortunately, seems to be coming to a close. The players: Righthaven LLC, a Las

Ignorance Message Quilts

2011-09-19T10:42:00.001-04:00

You can be sincere and still be stupid. --Charles F. Kettering It all began with the radio this morning. My husband loves oldies music and has found one radio station in all of the world that plays it the way he likes it. So we awaken to this station every morning. The problem is that there is this DJ who fashions himself an expert on politics. He is not. HE IS NOT! Today, this disk spinner

Little Projects Carry Big Impact

2011-09-17T20:47:00.000-04:00

Several pillows I have made plus the blue ribbon embroidery pillow that I dream of making, Note the angel pillow in the foreground. It is the prototype using Linda Goodmon Emery's design. It seemed that my family, even extended family, was complete before I was born. I came late, born four years after my cousins; seven years after my brother. An after thought always trying to catch up.

Urban Art: Graffiti Quilts and Fabric

2011-02-12T16:31:00.011-05:00

Summer in the City by Hilary Gooding I recently watched via Netflix, part of a documentary, "Exit Through the Gift Shop," about street art. It fascinated me. The art as well as the lifestyle and the attitudes that drive these artists to create on public walls, signs, sidewalks, trucks, trains.... And they are so good with spray paint. If Susan Shie hadn't found fabric, she might be a Street

We Have a Winner!

2011-02-03T07:10:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all who entered and for frequenting Subversive Stitchers blog and Facebook pages. We have a winner!!! Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles and Dragon Threads Publishing are pleased to announce that we have a winner. Stacy West of South Florida is the lucky winner of Noriko Endo's "Confetti Landscapes" book. To get better acquainted with Stacy, visit her lovely website

Melanie Needs Some Subversive Stitcher Attitude!

2011-01-24T20:18:00.001-05:00

Everyone has a burden to bear, whether it is divorce, weird relatives, budgets that won't balance or as in Mellie Testa's case -- the Big C! She's such a giver and such a gifted artist that I just must point you to her blog. Her dear friend is speaking for her as she tries to wrap her head around the latest chapter in her life. If you feel moved to help Mellie through this minefield she faces

My View: A Few Books To Pique Your Creativity and a Giveaway!

2011-01-11T13:08:00.000-05:00

It is not even the Ides of January and I'm feeling the overload! How about you? Hopefully your overload is in creativity and inspiration. I'm afraid my good intentions evaporated before the mists of that first January morning dissipated. It seems that I am slogging through this new year watching British mysteries and period pieces and spouting words like 'slogging' and 'bloody hell.' I'm even

Missing in Action

2010-12-24T10:40:00.000-05:00

Confetti Cats inspired by Teri Stegmiller's cats quilt I owe you all an apology for being so slow to post this year and especially this past month. As many of you know Mom died on Dec. 3. Although she was 98 and had been 'herself' through every inch of her life, it was so hard to let her go, especially since I hadn't been able to be with her these past six years. We always thought we'd be

Good Advice from a Real Professional Artist: Susan Lenz

2010-11-06T01:43:00.001-04:00

Above: In Box LXXV. Unframed 15" x 11"; framed 19 1/4" x 15 1/4". By Susan Lenz Not long ago I emailed Susan Lenz with the subject line: How Much!? I wrote: Hi Susan, I want to own a piece of your art. I saw your post about your boxes series and wondered what price range and sizes for pieces in hat series. You know I adore everything you make and I want a piece of your

My View: Quilted Symphony by Gloria Loughman

2010-10-24T10:02:00.001-04:00

Kimberley Mistique quilt by Gloria Loughman of Australia There once was a time when I thought life progressed in a linear fashion. Birth was of course the starting point, ending with the inevitable death. Between those points, life threaded its way through major passages -- turning sixteen, 21, love, marriage, baby carriage... That's as far as I could see or wanted to see my timeline

Something Special: Ellen Lindner and love

2010-10-16T09:58:00.000-04:00

It may have been via Facebook that I first saw Ellen Lindner's art quilt: Reconciliation. She has given me permission to post it here and I'll include a link to her website as well. It was unexpected and what I needed at that exact moment. It brought tears to my eyes. She has other quilts made using a similar technique with the sillouette borders that are equally strong and emotional. I do hope

Lynn Krawczyk's Fabric Making Freedom Song

2010-10-11T09:30:00.005-04:00

Detail of Virginia Spiegel's Then and Now art quilt using thermofax technique Virginia Spiegel first introduced me to the concept of thermofax printing. Other than the difficulty of finding a thermofax machine and its high cost, I fell immediately in love with the technique and freedom and versatility of printing one's own fabric. Virginia has done a great deal of experimenting with

FYI: Early American and African American exhibits open in October

2010-10-03T16:26:00.004-04:00

Early American Quilts Exhibition at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts A traveling exhibit of the world’s finest collections of early American quilts will come to rest at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts from October 9, 2010, through January 2 of 2011. The exhibit originates from the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, famed for its period room settings featuring the remarkable collection of furniture,

Fish n Baskets Quilt: A family story

2010-10-01T13:31:00.000-04:00

I've been away from blogging for too long and today -- the first day of a new month -- my marriage month -- seems the perfect time to jump back in. I need to stay focused on the beautiful art of quilts and fabric and find a respite from the fears and uncertainty of daily life. As many of you know my husband has ALS -- an incurable, untreatable, degenerative disease where 100 percent of the

Step into Ellen Anne Eddy's World

2010-07-31T17:32:00.000-04:00

Ever since my first glimpse of Ellen Anne Eddy's world, I've wished I could simply step into her art and become a part of it. There's something so pure and inviting -- magical. She creates a stress-free and other worldly place. And yet, she tells us -- not really so far away. Please welcome a dear sweet friend, although we've never met, I have felt her caring and compassion and smile so I call

Wendy Mamattah sees beauty even in oil spills!

2010-07-18T08:08:00.001-04:00

I saw one of Wendy's newest pieces at the height of the oil spill anger and frustration and fell in love with her depiction of this horrific event. She reminded me that in nature, everything has beauty, even ugly oil spills at some molecular or magnified level has its own beauty. Now whether the one covering the beaches and Gulf of Mexico has such beauty, I don't know, but through Wendy

Sampler Quilts are learning tools that turn into heirlooms!

2010-07-14T14:17:00.000-04:00

I am in a sampler kind of mood! If you are like me the word 'sampler' conjurs up images of 12-inch blocks, each one a different star or pattern. They march across the quilt in straight rows and down the quilt in straight columns with a simple strips dividing them and a plain border boxing them in. They were all the rage when women (and men) found quilting again in the 1960s-70s. Everyone

Everything old is new again in Mary Kerr's world

2010-06-26T09:44:00.005-04:00

Vintage to some are those musty stained remnants of another era. A reminder of grandma's handiwork that is relegated to a cedar chest. We stand clueless as to how to rejuvenate them or integrate them into our current art, quilts or lives. But for Mary Kerr vintage is the vision for something new and exciting. She challenged several friends and colleagues to use vintage and this lead photo

Susan Shie's Insightful "Philadelphia Freedom"

2010-06-12T18:06:00.001-04:00

On first glance the background looks like a machine quilter gone mad with stippling. But on first glance you should also know that this is a Susan Shie. Her distinctive style is easily recognized. Every inch of this quilt is covered with words. Meaningful words that may meander across the cloth like stippling. But they are powerful, couched in emotion -- thoughtful rhetoric and carefully placed.

Divorce Quilts: Share your stories and your 'therapy' projects....

2010-06-10T21:09:00.000-04:00

Fabric artists and quilters stitch up alot more than fabric with their needles and thread. In the article featuring Judy Coates Perez, Kathy York, and Katharine Brainard that I wrote for HandEye Magazine, these women made quilts as a form of therapy to get them through one of the most traumatic of times -- divorce. I know these three women are members of an army of women and men who have used

Disappearing Nine Patch for ALS Challenge

2010-06-06T08:58:00.001-04:00

I've been lax lately and apologize for not getting you fun and frivolous or exquisite and breathtaking or informative and awe inspiring blogs lately. My brain has been in a fog and as you all know I've become a caretaker. My husband, a longsuffering patient man is heading for saint hood. No, he isn't dying! At the moment he has regained most of his strength and has returned to work so now I'm

News Around the Quilting Frame: Judith Baker Montano's book wins award; AAQI gets new supporters

2010-06-03T11:36:00.001-04:00

Raise those needles high in tribute to a fine woman whose work resulted in an award winning book. Congratulations Judith Baker Montano and Dragon Threads for winning this prestigious award. Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles recently reviewed Judith's book and featured Judith's guest blog. Below I've posted most of the press release from Dragon Threads publisher Linda Teufel. -- Dawn

Wrapping the war wounded in a big quilt hug: Quilts of Valor Tink Linhart's story

2010-05-30T08:09:00.001-04:00

When her son was deployed to Iraq, Tink and other parents of her son's United States Marine Corp group got together and made quilts -- 74 of them! Amazing dedication! And that's BEFORE she got involved in Quilts of Valor. Shown here is one of the 74 quilts the parents pieced and quilted. Note the second photo shows the grid key for quilt square placement. The third photo features a Marine Star

Judy Niemeyer's signature design: Paper Pieced Points

2010-05-20T06:14:00.000-04:00

One look and you know who designed this quilt. And anyone familiar with the designer knows this is a challenge for the paper piecer. Traditional in origin, but using today's techniques, technology and equipment to create a project in perfection, Judy Niemeyer brings us yet another year of her luscious, intricate and oh so beautiful paper piecing designs. And now she's joined us at Subversive

My Finds: A couple techniques you might want to try

2010-05-16T18:43:00.002-04:00

I've been on the hunt for the new, unusual, or useful. You may or may not already enjoy the projects I discovered today and what I began working on. Both topics made me smile and made my fingers itch to get started. I hope you'll join in and share some of the projects you're working on along these lines. First up is plarn. Love the word. Love the concept. It is, if I understand correctly, yarn

Pitch Me Your Best

2010-05-15T11:54:00.000-04:00

I'm a freelance writer as well as manager of the Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles blog. I've been freelancing and writing since 1981. (Yes, I'm getting old). Some of my work is available online or through my other blog. I've written for Quilters World Magazine, Quilt, Country Quilts, etc. And national general interest markets such as The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor,

My View: AQS Quilt Art Calendar

2010-05-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

The 2011 Calendars are available from American Quilters Society! As usual they are a quilt lovers collection of beautiful prizewinning quilts from around the United States. Klaudeen Hansen researched and selected the featured quilts. The front cover is of Sylvia Gegaregian's "In Full Bloom" which won Best Use of Embellishment at Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, CA.

Karen McTavish featured in The Quilter Magazine

2010-05-06T07:26:00.000-04:00

Just a little blatant self promotion here. The article I wrote about Karen McTavish machine quilter extrordinaire is available now in The Quilter Magazine. It is in the July issue. She is one of the most talented and giving people I've had the opportunity to interview. She does not censor her responses and totally trusts the interviewer to get it right. I certainly hope I did! And that the

Question of the Day: Stash Confessions

2010-05-04T07:44:00.000-04:00

Let's talk stash! We all talk about our need to amass fabric. So please confess your dirty little pleasures for fabric purchases or aquisition. Do you plan your purchases for each project? Do you buy on impulse? Do you wait for a sale? Where is your favorite place to shop? What's your best bargain or purchase that still makes you smile whenever you think about it? Tell us -- how many

Finished: Conversation with a Fairy by Beth Wheeler

2010-05-02T08:52:00.000-04:00

Dang! I'm a day late and a dollar short! It was the perfect post for May Day when the fairies are rustling in the hedge rows and sprucing up their world for the Fairy Queen's visit! Please forgive me my tardiness -- fairies and subversive stitchers alike. Beth Wheeler sent me photos of the great reveal of her Conversation with a Fairy piece which was the subject of her recent guest blog:

My View: Fibreart Montage by Judith Baker Montano

2010-05-01T23:54:00.002-04:00

As you can see by a recent guest blog by Judith, she's an interesting woman, talented Canadian fiber artist, photographer and dedicated preservationist. She travels the globe spreading good will, and sharing her techniques and talent. Not to mention that she loves her home town, family, students and fabric art community. That sweet smile and can-do nature has made her a valuable spokesperson

Strolling Down the Paper Piecing Path with Carol Doak

2010-04-28T20:50:00.000-04:00

I became a fan of Carol's when I watched her on The Quilt Show online and saw her dedication to accuracy and simplifying the process. Her book Simply Sensational 9-Patch Stars turned my pathetic attempts to piece a quilt into a startling success when I followed her thorough and easy to follow step-by-step directions. For someone whose points never came out pointy or whose seams never aligned

Preserving the Past -- the Alta Vida La Veta Project -- by Judith Baker Montano

2010-04-24T07:54:00.002-04:00

Judith Baker Montano -- a colorful fabric artist in more ways than one -- shares her life, her loves, her home and most of all her art and techniques with us. Generous hardly describes how much she is willing to share in information, time, and techniques. Simpy looking at her creations, such as this block from her exquisite celebration of her home town not only inspires our own creativity but

I WANT ONE: LEITFADEN

2010-04-20T12:29:00.001-04:00

I just saw an innovative new design in sewing machine that not only sews, it dyes the thread to match the fabric. Want me to repeat that? Sounds like a dream come true? Maybe it is! And look at the design. No problem getting the fabric where you want it, bunching it up against the trunk of the machine. The sewing surface is wide open. I am not endorsing this machine, not having used it.

Evolution of a Fantasy: Beth Wheeler

2010-04-06T08:04:00.000-04:00

Beth Wheeler is so generous and humble and I am pleased that she is sharing her work and her creative process with us here at Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed With Needles! In 2007, according to her bio, she was released her 45th book. I admit that I sat with my mouth hanging open after reading that tidbit. I can't begin to come up with enough to fill half that many books. One would be good! And

Question of the Day:

2010-04-02T23:29:00.000-04:00

It's been suggested that Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles is the perfect spot for a cyber quilt show. Not having ever undertaken such a project I'm looking for suggestions and advice. I like the idea of a juried show. And I like the idea of the art being for sale, so you can come and browse and find something at a price fellow artists can afford. What size art? Techniques? As

My View: 100 Sweet Treats by and for Quilters by Ann Hazelwood

2010-03-25T19:15:00.001-04:00

It's a cute idea for a series. Books that feature '100.' Such as 100 Things You Need to Know If You Own a Quilt or 100 Things to Enjoy in Historic Paducah or as the one I received as a review sample from American Quilters Society: 100 Sweet Treats by and for Quilters by Ann Hazelwood. The book size, 6x4.5-inches, as well as the price $12.95, make this a great gift idea for a quilter who cooks

Eleanor Levie does it all!

2010-03-19T10:11:00.002-04:00

Eleanor Levie has a gift for laughter as well as the skill of a fine 'needler.' She fits right in with Subversive Stitchers everywhere. She has been a part of the quilting community for so long she made a Timeline quilt to document it -- oh, that's the history of quilting.... Check out her website for more fascinating details concerning this fun and imaginative quilt! She also writes books and

Susan Lenz needs our help!

2010-03-17T08:41:00.001-04:00

Susan Lenz needs our help -- and fast! She has a solo exhibition fast approaching (Sept. 10-October) at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park in Charleston. It will spotlight her Decision Portrait Series during the MOJA 2010 Festival. Susan's work was selected not because it "fits the theme" but because it is contemporary, thought provoking, and incorporates all people. (The word "moja" means "

Jeanne Beck travels through the fascinating world of artistry

2010-03-16T00:09:00.002-04:00

Jeanne Beck's imagination and creativity take me in new directions, open possibilities and make me ask questions. Not why so much as why not! I hope you'll enjoy and be inspired by her journey to find her art. Note the photo is of her Seeds of Compassion which was accepted into Fiberart International 2010. Jeanne describes the piece, made in 2008, as a "42" x 50", silk, cotton backing and

Whos Who of Subversive Stitchers at Art Quilt Elements!

2010-03-14T12:30:00.009-04:00

It is thrilling to announce that so many guest bloggers and members of Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles will have their work included in the Art Quilt Elements exhibit from April 17 through May 19 at the Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA. Jurors who made the difficult choices for this exhibit are highly respected and strike fear in the hearts of fabric artists. OK, more like AWE in the

My View: Books I Admire; Books That Inspire; Books I Must Acquire

2010-03-10T18:27:00.001-05:00

Is there really a need for more sewing, quilting, crafting, how-to and inspiration books? Don't we have something in our own libraries that we have amassed over the years to meet the need? The answer is NO! An artist, a quilter, a crafter, is always looking to the new and different. Even when using traditional patterns that our grandmothers and great grans loved, we like to introduce new

A visit to Mesa Art Center by Jean Judd and her art quilt Scribble #2

2010-03-06T07:59:00.006-05:00