eQuilter Blog

Japan Tsunami aid and relief: How you can help –

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/11/tsunami-aid-and-relief-how-you-can-help/?hpt=T1

The world is already mobilizing to help victims of Friday's 8.9-magnitude earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami on Japan.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies accepts donations via text message.

http://www.ifrc.org/en/

Text "redcross" to 90999, and you can make a $10 donation to the organization. It will show up on your next mobile phone bill.

One of the questions I get often from quilters, when I am visiting shows around the country, is about how to use large scale prints in traditional patchwork quilts.

For a fresh contemporary look, the answer is…just cut it up and put it in a block!

However many quilters have gone through introductory classes where they were taught to only use small and medium scale designs, when cutting up small pieces to go into a pieced block.

Here is one section of a quilt from the Tokyo Quilt Festival, which illustrates the creative use of large scale colorful prints in a patchwork quilt. In this case Kimie Yanagisawa has used many different designs and colors of Kaffe Fassett floral prints, in this beautifully colored quilt design that she calls "Start Again".

This is representative of a much larger trend in design – where segments and fragments of images are cut up and then put back together in a collage, which mimics web pages where fragments of many images are grabbed randomly and arranged into a larger overall image that represents all the options on that website. This is going on in web design, graphic design, home dec, fashion, and quilt design too!

So all of those old rules of patchwork design are being tossed in the air like so many fabric scraps over Eleanor Burns' shoulder…and when we see these randomly cut geometric shapes with a portion of the original floral design for instance…it has a unique and sometimes whimsical look… elevating the quilt design above all those old (*yawn*) rules invented decades ago by the Quilt Police.

This is where the *ART* comes into patchwork quilting. We choose our block design, our colors, we cut up our fabrics in unexpected ways, we play around with our block layout to create secondary shapes that we didn't anticipate when we started the process (unless we laid it out in EQ7 first!)- and Voila! – we've created something fresh and inviting, with a nod to the past, but a definite warping of creaky old rules that just don't apply to modern design.

Analogous-colored fabric designs work really well for this type of color experimentation. This means instead of using solid, tonal, or multi-color fabrics, we choose fabrics that have 3 or 4 colors clustered together on the color wheel.

Examples:
Blue, Turquoise, Jade, and Pear Green

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=253

Violet, Plum, Magenta, and Orchid Pink

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=130

Red, Coral, Tangerine and Mango

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=254

In Kimie's colorful quilt, notice how she has used large scale analogous florals as a focal point in each block. She has grouped similar analogous colors together in larger groups of several blocks, and contrasted them with Cream ground florals to give a light and bright contrast of Floral Colors and Cream.

Go to my photo page where I have uploaded several other closeup shots of this colorful quilt, illustrating several ways that one can play with analogous color in a patchwork quilt.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/

For those of you who love to shop our Annual Birthday Sale, I've added some more bolt ends to the sale categories.

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=40

We still have 800 products in 10 categories, from 30% to 70% off, plus a Screamin' Closeout Deal on 3-lb Scrap Packets.

Be sure to throw them in your shopping cart and check out quickly for best selection!

Gosh it is scary how fast 12 years flies by. For my 40th birthday I convinced Paul to finish the basement so I could have a nice big studio. I had taken about 20 quilting classes, and was toying with the idea of getting a longarm machine. In the meantime Paul was managing a local business and I had 2 and 9 year old boys running around the house.

After leaving my career as an import fashion designer – moving from New York City to Boulder – and starting a family – I was anxious to start a new business that involved fabric, color and design. Right after I turned 40 when the basement was finished, I got this hairbrained idea about Paul designing a website for us, and then I would sell fabric out of our basement as a part-time job while I stayed home with the kids.

Well as you know, the rest is history. We went to the bank with a 32 page business plan, got a 2nd mortgage, and opened up our online shop on March 10, 1999. Within 60 days we had exceeded our 3 year business plan. I remember about a month after we opened, I was downstairs at 1 am, cutting and wrapping packages. Paul came down, watched me silently for awhile, then said "I think it is ok to hire employees now."

By October we had moved into a 4500 sq ft warehouse, a year and a half later we moved into another 11,000 sq ft warehouse, and a year and a half later we expanded to 15,000 sq ft including my new studio on the 2nd floor over the eQuilter warehouse. We felt like we had a tiger by the tail, and all we could do was just hang on and see how far this ride would take us.

Today we have customers all over the world, and an amazing staff of 38 people who answer your questions in Customer Service up front, order the hottest collections through the Buying Department, pull and cut your orders in the warehouse, and ship out thousands of packages every month. We are all very proud of our position in the industry, and we know that we maintain that position by working hard to keep you happy, year-round.

Most importantly, we are a family business, and we believe in sharing our success by giving back to those in need. Together with your support, we have raised and donated $864,000 so far, and it is very exciting to see that big goal of $1 million dollars coming into focus for 2012.

We know that you put love into every stitch when you use our fabrics to make quilts, sew garments, and craft gifts for your loved ones. As you know, we put a little eQuilter love in every package that goes out, so when you open your package, you know there is a team of 40 people on this end (including Paul and myself) who truly appreciate the opportunity to serve you, and share our mutual love of beautiful fabrics.

Thanks for coming along on the ride with us!

One of my Facebook friends Heike posted this on Sunday from her friend in Christchurch, New Zealand:

"Our house is beyond repair – it is on a lean and has many cracks in every room. We have to walk uphill to get to the kitchen. On Tuesday we had a river running through the lounge and now have removed all the wet carpet and put most of the furniture back. We need to try and keep things as 'normal' as possible. We still have no power, water or sewerage and have been told it will be 1- 2 months before we get power. We are very lucky as we are all alive and well."

If you feel compelled to help the earthquake victims of New Zealand, I'd like to share several links with you, sent in by customers and friends.

How to donate to Christchurch quake appeals
donate-christchurch-quake-appeals-4038581

Donations and Information for Christchurch Earthquake Appeal
donations-and-information-christchurch-earthquake-appeal

Want to help those in Christchurch? Here's how to donate

http://www.3news.co.nz/Christchurch-earthquake-The-basics-you-need-to-know/tabid/423/articleID/199425/Default.aspx

Red Cross New Zealand

http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate

Canterbury Earthquake Appeal

http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/about-this-website/

Salvation Army – Earthquake Appeal

http://salvationarmy.org.nz/giving-back/donate-online/disaster-appeals/canterbury-earthquake-appeal/

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I would say that those affected by the earthquake need money to rebuild their lives and repair their homes, but here is an additional way to send your healing thoughts to those affected:

Hello from New Zealand!
We are asking for Hearts for the thousands of Christchurch earthquake victims. Not the usual hearts, but "Hanging Hearts". Two pieces of fabric, heartshaped, sewn together, lightly stuffed, and with a hanging loop of ribbon. These can be any size, any fabric, any style! I have made some by sandwiching batting and fabric and cutting around the outside with pinking shears.
We will be arranging a venue where they can all be hung and people can come and take whichever one they like. If you would like to take part could you please send yours hearts to:

Dorothy Smith
PO Box 357
Stratford 4352, New Zealand

Evie Harris
523 Main North Road
Bay View, Napier 4104, New Zealand

******
In addition, a portion of eQuilter sales from our New Zealand Import collection will be donated to the New Zealand Red Cross for earthquake victims. (In addition to our usual 2% of sales donated to charity.)

I belong to many online quilt lists, because I like to keep my finger on the pulse of the quilting world. One of the lists (dedicated to fiber art and quilt art) has regularly, over the years, trotted out that old debate of " What is Art" and "Is quilting a craft or an art?".

Predictably, every time those old warhorses are led out of the barn, we all heave a collective sigh while the newbies flog a repeatedly-resurrected-dead-horse.

However, if you study the work of the great art masters over the centuries, you will find that they took the development of their craft very seriously. Great painters and sculptors spend years and decades developing their craft, so that they can eventually create great art. The two go hand in hand – they are not mutually exclusive.

On the other hand, I have seen modestly presented works of textile art, sold in artsy tourist shops around the world, that have such exquisitely rendered works of embroidery, applique & beadwork, that it transcends much of what we like to call Fiber Art. It is the mastery of textile CRAFT, and an individual expression of textile ART at the same time. If you frame it and hang it on the wall, it becomes Art!

I've seen quilters so anxious to be an artist, that they don't take time to learn their craft. In this age when everyone wants to do everything fast, and we all want immediate gratification, there is something to be said for learning your craft first, so you can later express your creative ideas effortlessly. It is like a musician studying their scales and etudes, so they can play Beethoven later, or even learn to compose music or improvise in a jazz style.

In this world that has become so polarized, perhaps we can choose to participate in a creative expression that embraces, respects and admires ART and CRAFT in the same breath. We can learn traditional techniques and then break the rules to make our own unique version of a traditional artform. We can create beautiful works of art, BECAUSE we have studied and practiced the craftsmanship that we admire in textile museum exhibits.

And…as in the art world…it is ok for us to be inspired by the Art and Craft that has come before us…without being accused of copying. All great artists have been inspired by someone who has gone before them, then growing into their own unique expression of that original inspiration.

**********
Our thoughts and prayers are with the community of Christchurch in New Zealand. This week we'll send a portion of sales from our New Zealand Import collection to help earthquake victims.

http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate

My neighbor's daughter is doing a semester abroad in Christchurch now, and we were relieved to hear that she is safe. We'll pass on some other NZ disaster-relief organizations in our Tuesday Creative Nudge newsletter.

As you may have guessed by now, I have a treasure trove of images from the Tokyo Quilt Festival, and I am enjoying picking out images to match my Creative Nudge topic of the week!

This feisty 167 x 161 cm quilt full of Dinosaurs and Elephants, was the 3rd place winner in the Junior category, by Kaito and Reon Iizuka. (I was just tickled to see one of my Southwest fabric designs in the 2nd place Junior winner!)

Elephants made with Dots and Plaids tooting flowers out of their trunks? A dinosaur with a 3-D ruffled spinal ridge, with a gold lame face and a big smile? Hey why not? Her blue egg just hatched!

As we all know, we are born creative, but growing up often squeezes all the juice out of us. Kids are just oozing wild No-Rules Creativity that explodes out in messy and brilliant expressions of playfulness …but as we get older that joyful explosion is often met with "tsk tsk…"

I would really love to see more quilt exhibits with a Junior category, like the one in Tokyo. The kids section is just as big, and just as beloved as the other parts of the show! These kids are not just copying patchwork quilts – they are making one-of-a-kind WORKS OF ART.

Today I visited with an administrator at a local middle school, and we tossed around a few ideas about starting a sewing club at the school, or at a local center for low-income and minority families. As we read in the news every day about schools budgets being cut, you and I know that is going to include art classes and other creative activities.

Home Economics and sewing classes are long gone from the vast majority of school systems, so it is up to all of us to find ways to pass on our knowledge and love of sewing and quilting to the next generation. Whether it is stepping up to offer classes at your local fabric or quilt shop, mentoring your neighbors' kids, volunteering some time with a 4-H club or Girl Scout sewing badge meeting, donating an older basic machine still in good working condition, or just giving fabric to excited youngsters, it is really up to all of us to bring kids and young adults into our Wonderful World of Color and Fabrics!

So I would like to CHALLENGE my readers to make a commitment to sharing their passion for sewing with some young people this year! Come on! You know you want to!

Please post your ideas here for all of us to share!

If you are already working on a project like this, we'd really LOVE to hear your experience on what works, and what doesn't.

As an artist, I am always wide open to see and hear stories of creative inspiration. Today I heard a story on our Colorado Public Radio that got me kind of choked up – in a good way.

It was the story of how Ryan Speedo Green went from being a high school football player, to a Bass-Baritone advancing to the semi-finals Young Artist competition at the Metropolitan Opera in New York this March.

http://www.instantencore.com/buzz/item.aspx?FeedEntryId=124471

His high school football coach told him to take an easy elective to bring up his GPA. Art was full already (full of other football players!) so 2nd choice for an easy elective was Choir. One the first day of choir class the kids were messing around singing in their pretend "opera voices" and the new choir teacher walked in, and pulled Ryan aside.

http://www.operacolorado.org/education/artists/

To make a long story short, the kid had an amazing voice, a series of voice teachers and mentors appeared to guide him on his path, and the first time he heard an opera live in person it just hit him – that this amazing art form was what he wanted to do. One of his teachers told him at age 15 that one day he would sing at the Met. In March he will sing in the semi-finals in New York.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/auditions/national/

So what does a 24 year old African-American football player-turned-opera-singer have to do with quilting, you are wondering? (besides the fact I am betting he has a relative who quilts?!) It is just a reminder that all of us have hidden, undiscovered talents. All it takes is a serendipitous event, a magical moment, a twist of fate ….AND our ability to grasp the opportunity…to embrace the kismet that a newly discovered creative passion can bring to our lives.

That's how I discovered quilting. I had left the fashion design industry in New York, and moved back to Colorado. I was burnt out on the garment industry but still had a deep love for fabric, color and design. One day I saw a quilt magazine on the rack at the local grocery store, and when I opened up the magazine my hair stood on end. I just knew in that moment that this was IT.

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/about_family.html

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with quilting, sewing or crafting? Do you remember the moment when you realized – This is IT! – and the joy that filled your heart?

Every time I work with color, fabric, design and sewing in my studio…. I feel that same joy.

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=166

I hope that eQuilter inspires and supports you in feeling that same kind of passion and joy!

* COURAGE *

That's what it took to create this original quilt which was shown at the
Tokyo Quilt Festival.

She may not know it, but it took a lot of guts to dream up, and then execute such a bold and original piece.

It's an eye-catcher, with its sassy use of color and value. Boston Terriers are a "trendy" dog right now, and I am guessing that the artist might have been working from photos of her own dog. I only know this is a Boston Terrier because Sam's sax teacher has one! I've seen these dogs in licensed artwork lately, which is why I say it is a trendy dog. They are awful cute!

There is no way you can miss this quilt when you walk by. Everything about it screams "Look at me!" and everyone who stops to look…. smiles and giggles.

So I think this brave and witty quilt artist succeeded in her goal with this piece.

Whether we are expressing subtle elegance, or witty zingers – the colors, the value (light to dark) and the design tell a story in our work.

What are you inspired to create today?

*****

I am actually writing to you from my hotel room in Las Vegas tonight, after spending the day at trend seminars, and walking the big fashion trade show. No, I am not going to post all that I learned today, because I was previewing Spring/Summer 2012 trends, and this is how I stay ahead of my competition! *smile* I get a kick out of the fact that most of the larger over-arching trends are things we've already discussed at the Color Marketing Group conferences. It is good to see how they play out over time.

It is very interesting to go to these vast trade shows, and see how various trends are evolving. Some of them just continue to mutate from year to year, season to season. I am looking out for color and print trends, but they are folded into the larger fashion trends such as Boho, Military/Safari, Retro/Shabby Chic, Country (Little House on the Prairie), etc.

One trend I love, and watch closely, is the Mad Men trend. They are predicting it will expand into a Vintage Hollywood / Glamourous Cinema trend in 2012 which I love. My original interest in sewing and fabric came from watching the old movies as a girl. Edith Head was my hero! (…or would that be … heroine?)

I must admit, I have never seen so many tall skinny girls in super high heels, as I see here. They have them modeling everything from evening gowns to swimsuits. It is funny to watch people's expressions as they walk by and see these girls. My reaction is – my feet hurt when I look at their shoes! I am happy to have my comfy black Keens to walk the show.

Speaking of shoes, you wouldn't believe how many variations of Ugg knock-offs I've seen. The one that made me laugh today came in either snowball white or cotton candy pink, with silver metallic zebra stripes, long hairy-fluffy trim on top, and sparkly stuff dangling from unusable laces. Hard to explain – sorry they don't allow photos here. Just use your fertile imagination!

Valentines is a favorite holiday for quilters and fabric lovers. Why? Because we love to make things, for the people we love. Our creativity is inspired by love throughout the year though, because we love to put all of our good wishes into our stitches, and then share that gift of love with another.

I am very lucky that I get to see my Valentine every day when I go to work. We are also very lucky that we were able to lure Paul away from the other company he was running, to design our website and manage eQuilter as it grew and evolved over the years. If you've enjoyed the photos I've shared from my travels, you can thank Paul for taking care of the house, kids, pets and eQuilter while I have been traveling over the years.

You might be interested to know that Paul and I met through the personal ads in the Boulder Daily Camera (before online dating sites!) and within 2 weeks we knew we were going to get married and have a family. We both had 50 responses to our ads, but when we met, it was all over.

Paul is happy to stay out of the public spotlight, but he is the Big Brain behind our super-fast website, exclusive eQuilter techie-toys like the Color Finder, and our custom-designed software.

He never complains or gets jealous when I travel, he supports me being an artist and designer, and he fixes my computer glitches in the blink of an eye. What more could a creative gal ask for?

So Happy Valentines to my sweetie, and I hope all of you have or find a Valentine just as wonderful!

This week I am popping over to Las Vegas for one day at a big fashion trade show, to check out trends in textiles, colors and cotton sourcing. Then I am going to sneak out for a "Rat Pack" dinner show so I can listen to those great old Sinatra and Dean Martin songs…

If you haven't yet visited my Facebook page or my photo page

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/

http://www.facebook.com/luana.rubin

this week, you might want to have a quick peek at the first batch of photos posted from the Tokyo quilt fest. It is a continuation of what I wrote about Tuesday in my Creative Nudge – seeing the show through the Japanese quilters' eyes.

New photos from Tokyo Quilt Festival at http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/