Meet Convergence……part of my Paintbox Series. I’m really pleased with the rich, elegant look of this piece.

I’ve used my usual varied mix of fabric….hand-dyed cotton, commercial cotton, Burmese silk, dupioni silk, hand-painted fabric, and pieces of sheer curtain from my local Ben Franklin store….which is an absolute wealth of unexpected fabric treasures! In the focal point area, I’ve topped it off with a few heavy looking beads and a couple of funky buttons.

Which reminds me of an interesting change in my point of view. I used to call my self a Pure Cotton Snob. If it wasn’t the finest cotton fabric from  a favorite quilt store, I wouldn’t use it. Gone are those days. Now…..I’ll put anything in my quilts. If it holds together like fabric and looks good, I’ll stitch it in.  It’s been very freeing…..and much more exciting. In other words, when it comes to fabric, anything goes in my collage quilts.

That’s the fun thing about collage style quilts….anything works. Just cut out a piece, put it in place and sew it down. If I decide it doesn’t work, I just put another piece over it. Easy…..and fun.  If you haven’t used some of these mysterious fabrics,  you might think about giving them a try. They can add an exciting, unpredictable quality to your work…..and the hunt for them is great fun.

Here’s a detail look at Convergence……hopefully you can see some of those jazzy fabrics.

Wow….I can’t believe it’s been a year since I told you about the last color of the year! Nothing like an annual event, as obscure as it may be to many people, to show me how fast time marches by.

But on to the point. Pantone, the folks who create the uniform color chips that have become the language spoken by designers, graphics people etc,  each year announces their pick for Color of the Year for 2009. This year it’s Mimosa….what they describe as a “warm, engaging yellow.”

To see the color, check out their website at

http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20634&ca=10

There are definitely trends in color as well as other things. In the fabric business, they say that the dominant colors we see in home dec and clothing will be seen in actual fabric (as in quilting and home sewing) the next year or two. Interesting, huh.

Since I design fabric, I carefully scrutinize my favorite trendy catalogs  in both those categories. What I’m seeing right now is a lot of orange….but I’m still studying. Maybe that’s a kind of Mimosa……!

I don’t plan to rush out and buy lots of mimosa-colored stuff, but it’s fun to know what’s hot!

SO…are you into New Year’s resolutions? You know, those things you vow you’re going to do or not going to do in the next year….loose weight, read more good fiction, visit the neighbors, walk every day, join a worthy cause. I’ve had lots of them over the years.

Even though I have perfect intentions, I’m not so  good at keeping those resolutions  after about, oh, January 15….but one thing that works for me is writing down my goals for the year. Sounds kind of lofty, huh.  They aren’t really. Just a way for me to focus on the things I want to accomplish this year.

Focus is always an issue for me. Because I do so many things in the textile world….art quilts, teaching, designing fabric, writing how-to books for quilters, etc. etc…….plus my family activities…..if I don’t write them down, prioritize them, and put them into a time frame, I always feel like I have soo many things to do that I can’t possibly get them done.

Just putting them on paper is kind of a stress reliever for me. I even break them down into months as best I can. I realize this may sound a little anal or neurotic….but it seems to help.  If you haven’t tried writing down your year’s goals, give it a try. See if it doesn’t make you feel like you just have it together a little better.

Of course there’s a balancing act in there between the things I need to do and the things I want to try or experiment with.

I won’t bore you with all the details (the list is long and some are small goals)…but I am planning to work a little smaller this year with my art quilts. I’ve decided to devote this year to “thinking small” and see where that leads me. Small to me is anything under, oh, say about 20″ square. I do like working large with my collage style….but I’m going to change my focus a little although it might by simply a yearly diversion.

I’m also going to experiment with making bags. Not just plain ol’ bags….but lovely bags. It’s one of the things I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and if I don’t get those things down on my goal list, I don’t get to it. I’ll keep you posted on my work in both.

Maybe next year I’ll be ready for one of my other “always-wanted-to-do” things…..knitting. I love looking at the gorgeous yarns and fibers and dream of having the time to do it just for me. It’s not going to be this year, but maybe next. I think it’s important to set some goals that you’ve just wanted to do…..not just have to get done. This one is purely personal…..and that’s a luxurious goal for me!

How about you….any goals for the new year? Write them down….oh yeah, post them somewhere where you can’t help but seem them. Mine are right here on the bulletin board by my desk. I check them regularly to make sure I’m on task!

Happy New Year!