Today a member of the SAQA list posted a message about an article in the current issue of  "Professional Artist, formerly art calendar".
I didn't know the magazine, but there was an article about art critiquing, interesting for my quilt judge course, so I've bought the PDF (I love PDF magazines, they are cheap and available in seconds on pc).

So I've seen that this magazine is about visual arts, painting more than everything, but I think that the current issue could be interesting for quilters too.
beside the critiquing article there are articles like " How to Be a Better Workshop Instructor", "Communication Skills for Art Teachers", "The Benefits of Teaching One-Day Workshops" and an useful column "The Photo Guy: A Case of Extreme Sidelighting for Texture" that give hints about how to put the lights to enhance the surface texture in photograph.

I liked this magazine a lot, so I suggest you to purchase the current issue, it's well worth the $3.95 price.
You can visit the site and purchase the PDF HERE

(no affiliation, just liked the magazine issue)

Months ago I discovered Sandra's blog and since then I'm her follower. Sandra's passion is hand applique, she sew wonderful blocks whit a naturalistic feeling... flowers, birds and so on.
Her applique style is realistic and she select the fabrics so that the applique seems a painting.
In her blog she show work in progress and give hints and tutorials about applique.

I was astonished by the sharpness of her applique points so I've decided to buy her book, just to know how she do the points. Yes I've bought a book only for half page :p
But the book is entirely interesting :)
Her points method is simple but brilliant and I've never seen it neither online nor in demos or workshops. Usually I've seen cut the seam allowance in front of the point, she do different, leaving that seaming allowance and saying it is important.

I've made a try of her technique, yesterday, and uess what, sharp point at first attempt! WOW!

Moreover her book is full of tips, it has some simple but nice patterns and she explain how to embellish an applique with embroidery.

I suggest you to visit her blog , and if you like her style give the book a try. I really liked it.

(no affiliation, just a satisfied quilter)

Sometimes you want to create but you experience an overwhelming resistence, so you procrastinate because you feel fear, self sabotage, indecision...

To help writers and artists to kill the resistence Steven Pressfield wrote "do the work".

It's an interesting book, it could be very useful, and moreover it's downloadable for FREE on Amazon, in its kindle version (till May 20th)

To download it click HERE
If you don't own a kindle you  can download the software HERE

In order you have to:
- Register on Amazon
- Download and install kindle software
- Open the kindle software and insert your Amazon registration details
- Download the book through the box in the right sidebar 

Happy reading and creating :)

Here you can see the cover of the book "Art+Quilt" by Lyric Kinard.

It 's a book that I wanted since a while because I think that discuss fundamental arguments in a very practical way. It explain design principles applied to quilts and for every principle there are practical exercises.

Since childhood I've had a certain fondness for art, and since my grandma was (also) a painter I learned the principles of light and shadow, perspective, balance and composition.
But due to this every time I try to find new or more detailed information on the subject I can't find nothing but what I already know.

But this is a different book, done right for the quilters. A book that I have thought of taking over and over again, but then always left behind.

And here comes my husband's motto and rule of life, "everything comes to those who wait" ... two weeks ago Lyric, from her blog, offered a free copy of the book to one lucky reader drawn by the commenter of that blog-post.
I commented.

And guess what ... I was drawn out!
So I've won a copy of the book that I wanted so much.
Needless to say I'm happy and now I look forward to the book arrival :)

Thanks Lyric!

If you want to buy Lyric's book click HERE
If you want to visit Lyric's site click HERE

One of the great Lyric's dreams is to come in Italy to teach... I hope this will become reality