Houston International Quilt Festival 2016

For quite some time now I've been devoting all my blogging energy to the Machine Quilting Unlimited blog. I've posted lots of tips, video tutorials, and loads of eye candy, so be sure to check it out! I also posted on the BERNINA WeAllSew blog about double needle free motion quilting. It's a fun technique, so be sure to hop over there at some point as well.

That said, I'm still here! I just returned from a fabulous trip to the Houston International Quilt Festival. I had three quilts there, two in the International Quilt Association judged show, and one in the Dinner at Eight special exhibit "Patterns". Without further ado, photos!

I'm very pleased and honored that I won two ribbons in the Digital Imagery catalog. Below you can see me with my quilt "Paint the Town Red", which won second place. I'm delighted that my quilt was hanging right next to that of my friend, Suzan Cloud Engler, who won first place with her wonderful quilt "GMO?". My quilt is the same size as hers, but the space available to stand in led to a little bit of a skewed perspective here. Thanks to Lisa Brehm Ellis who took the photo despite her very busy schedule. Lisa also had two wonderful quilts in the show that she made using a special technique she developed to make cathedral windows.

Me with "Paint the Town Red", Suzan Cloud Engler with her first place winner "GMO?" photo credit Lisa Brehm Ellis

I also won an honorable mention with "Winter's Tarnish". Yeah!

As always, the best part of Quilt Festival is seeing friends and meeting new people. My lovely friend Sarah Anne Smith was kind enough to take this photo of me doing my best Vanna White impression by "Blossoming", my Dinner at Eight quilt. Sarah had a quilt in the judged show as well as one in the Dinner at Eight exhibit, and both are stunning.

"Blossoming" by Diane Rusin Doran, photo credit Sarah Anne Smith

All three of these quilts, as well as every other quilt I've made, were sewn on domestic BERNINA machines. "Blossoming" is the first quilt I've completed on my new 770 QE and I loved using it!

All in all it was a wonderful adventure. I'm not sure how many photos from the show I'll post here, but I'll definitely posting some on the Machine Quilting Unlimited blog later this week. Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Hop and Giveaway Finale

The blog hop is now closed. Journi (New Journeys 2) is the winner of the DVD from my segment of the blog hop. wlstarn won the four fat quarters from her comment on Deborah Boschert's blog. Thanks to everyone for participating!!!

Thanks to everyone for joining us on the blog hop, and special thanks to my four talented friends for helping out! Candy, Sarah, Deborah, and Susan will be forwarding the emails of the first four DVD winners to me, and I'll contact the winners and mail the DVD's out as soon as I've received their addresses.

But wait, there's still 2 more chances to win! Leave a comment on today's post before Friday, January 31, for a final opportunity to win a copy of my new DVD, Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More. Let me know what type of project you'd like to create using fabric you've designed yourself. Also, be sure and leave a way for me to contact you if you win.

I will also select a winner of the four fat quarters of fabric on January 31. The winner will be selected from all the commenters on the hop, with the exception of the 5 DVD winners.

In the meantime, here are a few more examples of fabrics I've designed using the techniques in the DVD:

See how different these two fabrics look when all I changed was the colors?

I hope you've been inspired as we've traveled to my friends' blogs - whether it's from a technique that one of them uses, or to try some experimentation of your own with digital design. Stay tuned to find out who our winners are ...

Blog Hop & Giveaway Part 4

Welcome back to day 4 of our Blog Hop and Giveaway! My friends and I are giving away copies of my new Quilting Arts Workshop,  Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More, to celebrate its release (plus some fabric). 

Today's talented hop hostess is Susan Brubaker Knapp.  To say Susan is a very accomplished quilter and quilt teacher is an understatement. If you browse through her website and blog for just a few moments, you'll see her wide range of expertise. She teaches internationally, has written books and patterns, been on QATV numerous times, and has filmed four Quilting Arts workshops. Plus, look at this gallery of quilts! Here are just a few examples of her beautiful artwork:

Bonnie & Clyde © Susan Brubaker Knapp

Psychedelic Peacock ©  Susan Brubaker Knapp

Fall Color © Susan Brubaker Knapp

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Susan twice this past fall. As soon as you meet her it's easy to understand her popularity as a teacher - her generosity and depth of knowledge make a great combination.

Susan's newest, just released Quilting Arts Workshop

So, be sure to stop by Susan's blog both for a chance to win a copy of my new DVD, as well as to get a peek at her lovely work. 

Many thanks to my four friends who have helped me celebrate!

As a reminder, here's the whole Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/ - entries close January 28

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/ - entries close January 28

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop & Giveaway Part 3

Welcome back to day 3 of our Blog Hop and Giveaway! My friends and I are giving away copies of my new Quilting Arts Workshop,  Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More, to celebrate its release (plus some fabric). 

I'm delighted to introduce today's blog hostess, Deborah Boschert. I knew of Deborah for some time through her involvement with 12x12: The International Art Quilt Challenge. A few years ago I saw that she was moving to Maryland, and I eagerly emailed her to let her know about some of the art quilt groups here. Lucky for me, we ended up being in a critique group and SAQA together! I really miss her now that she's back in Texas.

It's been fascinating to see so many of Deborah's artworks in various stages of completion, from concept to finished quilt. She has a unique style, and is honestly quite fearless in her approach to using whatever will best produce her vision. Her technique of adding paint once a quilt is otherwise complete is particularly brave - and inspiring.

Tabletop Horizons © Deborah Boschert

Shelter and Stream © Deborah Boschert

In Light Of  © Deborah Boschert

Deborah also very effectively incorporates hand embroidery in her work, which can be seen in her three quilts above.  Be sure to look at more of her work on her website , and check out her online workshop as well as her Quilting Arts Workshop - Contemporary Fabric Collage: Design, Stitch, & Finish.

Don't forget to stop by her blog for a chance to win a copy of my new DVD!

And of course a *big* thank you to all the ladies who are joining me in the celebration.

As a reminder, here's the whole Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/ - entries close January 28

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/ - entries close January 28

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop and Giveaway - Day 2!

Welcome back to day 2 of our Blog Hop and Giveaway! My friends and I are giving away copies of my new Quilting Arts Workshop,  Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More, to celebrate its release (plus some fabric). 

Today's hostess is Sarah Ann Smith. Though I feel like I've known Sarah forever, we've only met in person a very few times. This past November I had the pleasure of enjoying a lovely dinner with her (and Deborah Boschert) in Houston during the International Quilt Festival. I'm fairly certain that I first encountered Sarah on the quiltart mailing list, probably at least ten years ago.

What has always impressed me about Sarah is not only her generosity, but her thirst for knowledge. Her hard work has paid off, as she's an expert on a variety of quilting techniques. Particularly impressive is her mastery of threads and thread painting/machine quilting. In fact, she recently filmed her own Quilting Arts Workshop on just that subject - Art Quilt Design From Photo to Threadwork.

And here are a few photos of some of her beautiful artwork:

Fields of Gold - one of my favorites!

A lovely lily with loads of gorgeous thread work

Sarah in Houston by her latest Dinner at 8 quilt - Listen to the Song in the Night

Thank you so much, Sarah, for helping me celebrate! Readers, hop on over to Sarah's blog for a chance to win a copy of my DVD, or potentially four fat quarters of fabric I designed using techniques from my workshop.

As a reminder, here's the whole Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Arlington QU

The last few days have been very busy in a good way. On Saturday I had the privilege of teaching a workshop at the Arlington chapter of Quilters Unlimited. Here's a photo of the lovely ladies just as class was coming to a close.

Look at those great smiles! We had lots of fun with feathers, fronds, and ferns.

And then Monday I went back to give a lecture. Thanks so much for being such a welcoming group!

In other news, today is the big day for Fiber to 5K! Don't miss out on the fun, not to mention amazing prizes and all for a great cause - fighting cancer. Donation go directly to the American Cancer Society.

Last but not least the DVD of my Quilting Arts Workshop is available today! Be sure to stop by Candy Glendening's blog for the ongoing Blog Hop and Giveaway with a chance to win a copy of my new Quilting Arts Workshop, or some fabric. Here's a reminder of the schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop and Giveaway

As you know, I'm very excited about the release of my new Quilting Arts TV Workshop - Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyedFabric Effects and More.

The digital download is already available, and the DVD will be released tomorrow, January 15. Lucky me, I have four talented friends who are helping me celebrate with a Blog Hop Giveaway! There will be 6 winners. Each blog hostess will randomly select a winner from the comments on her blog. That person wins a copy of my new DVD. One winner will be randomly selected from all the remaining entries to win four fat quarters of fabric that I designed using techniques from the workshop.

Does that sound like fun?

Let's get started with Candy Glendening.

Candy on the set at QATV filming a workshop

I first met Candy a few years back - coincidentally when we were on set for QATV and to film workshops. I was already familiar with her beautiful and fun designs.

A darling set of organizers that Candy designed

Candy is not only a frequent contributor to various Quilting Arts publications, but is also an expert dyer. Her enthusiasm for her work is contagious, and she is a great teacher - both through her own Quilting Arts Workshops, as well as her online classes (available on her web page). I love to visit her blog to see her colorful and clever ideas.

Samples from one of Candy's classes

More samples - love that texture!

So, stop by Candy's blog for the first chance at winning! Thank you so much Candy for helping me celebrate.

Here's the entire Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/