Sewing Machine

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Submitted by Dianne McD. I follow Frances Arnold’s blog at Frances Quilts; and a few weeks ago, she found a YouTube video demonstrating how our sewing machines work.  I found it very interesting.   Mostly because when I sit down to my machine, I expect it to work like sewing machines have worked all my life.  I never think about WHAT makes it work. This 19-minute video shows a little history of sewing, how sewing machines came to be, and the remarkable breakthroughs that make our machines what they are today.  After watching this video, I appreciate my machine even more and plan to treat itRead More →

Pink Pumpkins

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Once a month, we will try to showcase a quilt from one of our MPS members.  Whether we’ve been quilting for decades or are just beginning our quilting journey, we are a talented bunch; and we inspire each other regularly with the many wonderful quilts that are created.  So it seems fitting that we showcase a quilt in hopes it will inspire others.  (You can click on any of the images to see a larger view.) Pink Pumpkin Patch Show of hands—how many of you, upon opening a package filled with pink, peach, and green fabrics, would immediately think, “Aha! I’ll make a Pink PumpkinRead More →

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Once a month, we will try to showcase a quilt from one of our MPS members.  Whether we’ve been quilting for decades or are just beginning our quilting journey, we are a talented bunch; and we inspire each other regularly with the many wonderful quilts that are created.  So it seems fitting that we showcase a quilt in hopes it will inspire others.  (You can click on any of the images to see a larger view.) A Village in the Woods Sometimes quilts take us on journeys that are bigger than fabric, thread, and time at the sewing machine. For Dianne, her quilt A VillageRead More →

Creativity Flow

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As the seasons are preparing to change and the plants that we have lovingly cared for since last Spring are on their last gasp of color, our thoughts are turning towards our quilting studios and the time we get to spend there as fall approaches.  But do you find yourself in need of a creative spark to get you started? Carolina Oneto is a modern quilter living in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  In August, she posted a blog with ideas for daily routines to fire up our creativity.  It’s a good article with many great suggestions that seem easy to implement. You can read it by clickingRead More →

Crazy Quilt

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Have you heard the name, Shelly Zegart?  She is responsible for linking quilts to the American experience and culture while elevating quilting to an art.  She connected quilts with art collectors and historians. In 2011, she produced and hosted a PBS documentary series called, “Why Quilts Matter: Art, History, and Politics.” You can watch the series at Folkstreams.net, and it is worth a look.  My own small group watched it and each episode produced some lively discussion between us.  I have provided a link to Folkstreams below. She was also a founder of the Alliance for American Quilts, which is now called Quilt Alliance.  AndRead More →