Today I am writing to you from Taipei, where the Taiwan Quilt Festival will open in 2 days. I am here as a featured artist and speaker.
This year in Houston, Taiwanese quilt artists had a huge presence, so I’d like to start his week by featuring one of those quilts:
Dance of the Silken Weaving By Hsu Mei Hua Machine applique, Original design.
Inspired by the blooming iris, the image uses layers of fabric and smooth delicate lines to depict the dancing of flowers in the breeze.
I’ll be returning on Thanksgiving Eve, and bringing you quilt photos and stories from this trip!
Sharing our passion for fabric… Luana & Paul
Subscribe to my artist website and blog! www.luanarubin.com
Travel/Lecture Dates: Nov 17-26 – Taiwan Quilt Festival – Taipei – Feature Artist & Speaker Dec 10 – Canadian Quilt Association – Zoom Lecture – Intl Quilt Trends Feb 2 – SAQA Europe/Middle East – Zoom Lecture Feb 18-21 – QuiltCon – Raleigh NC
This exclusive eQuilter design is one of our all time favorites, with the Arctic Blue and White color story. Make something unique for your upcoming holiday celebrations!
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
This week I have been preparing to travel to the Taiwan Quilt Festival next week. I have made a special Chinese-themed quilt just for this event, where I will be a featured artist and speaker next weekend.
This weekend is the quilt festival in Yokohama Japan, which is currently the largest quilt show in that country. If you are on social media you might see photos being posted from that event. We all miss the Tokyo Quilt Festival (I attended the very last one in January 2020) but there is a lot of energy in Asia now, between Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. I’ll be flying home on Thanksgiving Eve, and will share more photos and stories at that time.
I used to travel to Taiwan in the late 1980s when I was in the fashion industry. I would go for a month at a time, developing a collection while working with the sample department in a factory. So I am anxious to return to Taipei after all these years.
There were so many quilts from Taiwanese quilters, at the Houston Quilt Festival last month! Clearly there is something going on there, and I am going to go find out …what is the story?! I am sure my friend Danny Amazonas has something to do with this.
Also I am looking forward to having authentic Chinese food on this trip. I have always wondered about Americans who are desperately looking for burgers and pizza when traveling in Asia. There is just nothing like having authentic cuisine made from scratch with local fresh ingredients. As a vegetarian, I am absolutely in heaven when traveling anywhere in Asia. When my son Mason and I traveled to China in 2003 to adopt Sophie Quinn, we would both just scratch our heads when the other families would go out of their way to find fake “American” food. The best vegetarian food when traveling in Asia, is at a Buddhist restaurant. Yum, I am salivating just thinking about it. You can follow me on my personal Facebook page for daily updates during this trip!
Travel/Lecture Dates: Nov 17 -26 – Taiwan Quilt Festival – Taipei – Feature Artist & Speaker Dec 10 – Canadian Quilt Association – Zoom Lecture – Intl Quilt Trends Feb 2 – SAQA Europe/Middle East – Zoom Lecture Feb 18-21 – QuiltCon – Raleigh NC
Use the Coupon Code: MALLARD on the checkout page to receive $10 off your purchase of $50 or more, through November 18th only! (This gift coupon cannot be combined with other Promotions or Gift Certificates.)
To make this 71″ x 55″ quilt design, you will start with the stunning magnificent mallard panel, surrounded by intricate swirls and feathers. Then piece the borders using our Feathered Scroll in green and jade against a graphic white tonal, and surround with a deep jade outer border.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Last week I attended Art Quilt Tahoe, and then Sacred Threads. Having just come home from the latter, I’d like to share one of the soulful quilts with one of my favorite themes: Trees.
On the left we see a vertical banner quilt made by Patricia Caldwell.
Connections 17″ x 35.5″
Artist Statement: “If we could stand tall like a tree and listen to the wind blowing through the branches and leaves, maybe we could feel a little peace and joy. If we could be part of the tree’s root system, we might be able to work together with love and unity. We are all connected. If just one of us took the time to step back and promote Joy, Love, Peace and Unity, maybe it would spread. This is my hope and my inspiration.”
To the right of the quilt image, I’ve paired it with our Tree of Life panel. Trees can represent family, wisdom, history, resilience, and the changing seasons of life. When I travel to the Birmingham Festival of Quilts each summer, I always add in a couple days in the English countryside…and I seek out the ancient trees that stand sentinel over battlefields, castles, and village greens. I like to sit under these trees and listen to them speak to my soul. A tree that has seen 500 years of history, has a lot to say, for those who know how to listen.
Like trees, our quilts are likely to go on in our own family trees, after we are gone. When we document our family history today, we are speaking to future descendants. When we document current events, we are speaking to future historians. I continue to encourage all of you to document current events in your quilts, because they too will become part of history.
The tree’s roots represent the past, and the branches that reach to the sun represent the future. I have taken up my mother’s genealogy work on the family tree, and it is a fascinating exploration of our human story. Genealogy and Quilting are 2 hobbies that go together very well!
Sharing our passion for fabric… Luana & Paul
Subscribe to my artist website and blog! www.luanarubin.com
Travel/Lecture Dates: Nov 17-26 – Taiwan Quilt Festival – Taipei – Feature Artist & Speaker Dec 10 – Canadian Quilt Association – Zoom Lecture – Intl Quilt Trends Feb 2 – SAQA Europe/Middle East – Zoom Lecture Feb 18-21 – QuiltCon – Raleigh NC
Tonight’s Free eQuilter Pattern features our exclusive Moonlit Clydesdale Stallion panel, featuring a majestic horse glowing in the moonlight.
To make this 53″ x 65″ quilt design, start with our Moonlit Clydesdale panel, border with our natural hardwood print, then piece the blocks and borders with three hand dyes.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
After 20 years, I returned to Art Quilt Tahoe this week. It is at a beautiful waterfront Presbyterian retreat center, and they take such good care of everyone. Many thanks to Judy and the crew for a wonderful experience. It was so healing to have a view of the water, surrounded by forest, for those few days. We even had a big bear stroll past the front door of our building one night. (While we were asleep.)
Now I am writing to you before I head to the airport again Saturday, hoping the current flight cutbacks will not affect my 2nd of 3 trips this month. Crossing my fingers and toes, and sending a prayer to the travel gods and goddesses….I have a carry-on piece of luggage for flexibility.
In Houston and at Art Quilt Tahoe, I am meeting more of our customers who are making fabulous art-to-wear with our exclusive Rubin Design Studio art panels. The most spectacular are made with the One Block Wonder technique…so gorgeous! But just using one panel for the back of a jacket is a quick and easy way to create a one-of-a-kind garment. It is so fun to see what you do with our creative art panels!
I hope to see many of you at Sacred Threads this weekend. This important exhibit has a new team and a new location. For many years it was held in a Washington DC suburb, but it is now held for the first time in Indianapolis. This is the main event, with workshops given by Valerie Poitier. A subset of the quilts are traveling around the country for 3 years, including my quilt, “The Children of War“. I am honored to know it is the ‘signature’ piece of the exhibit. I really poured my heart and soul into that piece.
Please come to my talk on Sunday if you are there. It is always an honor to share my lecture on Art and Activism….so important these days.
On November 1st the Camouflage exhibit opened at the Detroit Zoo! My butterfly quilt “Uncompahgre Fritillary” is traveling in this SAQA show. Take your kids or grandkids to the zoo, and then go check out this beautiful group of art quilts…open through Feb 15, 2026.
Tomorrow is the 2 year anniversary since I lost my beloved mother. She is still with me in spirit, and I still feel so fortunate to have had a mom who always supported me as a creative person. I identified as an artist when I was 5 years old, and she always encouraged and celebrated my unique journey.
Travel/Lecture Dates: Nov 8-10 – Sacred Threads – Indianapolis – Art & Activism lecture Nov 17 -26 – Taiwan Quilt Festival – Taipei – Feature Artist & Speaker Dec 10 – Canadian Quilt Association – Zoom Lecture – Intl Quilt Trends Feb 2 – SAQA Europe/Middle East – Zoom Lecture Feb 18-21 – QuiltCon – Raleigh NC
Tonight’s Free eQuilter pattern features the calm underwater world of Sea Turtles. This tranquil design displays our beautifully illustrated Sea Turtles illustrated in rich jewel-tones.
To make this 66″ x 66″ quilt design, you will start with the main turtle blocks panel … shimmering with beautiful digital-printed colors & detail. Combine with our coordinating sea turtle stripe, allover sea turtles, and ocean-blue tonals to create the borders. This is a quick and easy quilt design that will delight anyone who loves and protects these endangered creatures.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Tonight’s Free eQuilter Pattern features our new Wild Stallions prints. We are madly in love with the horse artwork in this collection, featuring the wild energy of gorgeous galloping horses.
To make this 74″ x 64″ quilt design, you will start with the 35″ x 44″ panel. Then piece the borders with our exclusive coordinating Horse Lightning Pillow Panel and Allover design, all set against a solid black background.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
For those of you in the US on Daylight Savings Time, tonight you can turn back your clock when you go to bed, and get an extra hour of sleep. Yay!
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is this weekend. Today I am flying to Reno, to spend an evening with an elderly aunt, my cousin, and her family. We will undoubtedly be remembering those we have loved who have passed to the other side. If you are not familiar with this holiday that follows Halloween, watch the animated movie “Coco”. However I know many of you are very familiar with this holiday, based on the belief that at this time, the veil between the mortal and immortal worlds thins, allowing deceased spirits to cross over to the living world to be with loved ones. We sure have sold a lot of Day of the Dead fabrics over the last 26 years. If you have these fabrics, particularly the Alexander Henry designs, these are collector pieces! I have been enjoying the videos of Day of the Dead costumes and parades in Mexico, that are popping up on my Instagram feed.
Sunday I’ll be taking the shuttle from Reno to Lake Tahoe, to attend Art Quilt Tahoe. It has been 20 years since I’ve gone to this retreat. Those first few years I met so many quilting luminaries, who were teaching there. This year has another stellar lineup of teachers. Sadly, I have to leave one day early to get to Sacred Threads. A busy week.
One year I was on the shuttle with Terrie Mangat and 4 other people, when we got caught in a snowstorm going over the pass. Our shuttle slid off the road into a snow bank, and the only food we had during those hours we were stranded, was my emergency chocolate bar in my purse. We shared the chocolate bar, and that was how my friendship with Terrie started. A few hours later they rescued us and we drove down to a warm fire at the lodge. Good times!
This year I am in Independent Study. You may recall I have also been in Indie Study at Alegre Retreat the last 2 years. I need to have a flexible schedule and maybe get some extra sleep because my travel schedule this month is rather intense. I am planning to finish the Goddess Bear piece that I started at Alegre!
I hope to also see many of you at Sacred Threads next weekend. Please come to my talk on Sunday. It is always an honor to share my lecture on Art and Activism….so important these days.
Travel/Lecture Dates: Nov 2-6 – Art Quilt Tahoe – Independent Study Nov 7-10 – Sacred Threads – Indianapolis – Art & Activism lecture Nov 21-23 – Taiwan Quilt Festival – Taipei – Feature Artist & Speaker Dec 10 – Canadian Quilt Association – Zoom Lecture – Intl Quilt Trends Feb 2 – SAQA Europe/Middle East – Zoom Lecture Feb 18-21 – QuiltCon – Raleigh NC
