1. Make art with a child. Let him or her direct the activity.

2. Trade your stash. Fill a bag with fat quarters, beads, found objects, or a mix, and exchange it for one from a friend.

3. Start sketching. Buy or make a sketchbook and a fine-point pen or soft pencil and carry them with you wherever you go. Sketch at the beach, the soccer game, on your lunch break (outside, if possible), in the library. You'll improve your drawing skills, your power of observation, and maybe even your mental health.

4. Go to an aquarium or zoo. Observe the fish and animals. How can you translate the sheen on a penguin or the pattern on a peacock to a quilt? Make notes and drawings in your sketchbook.

5. Take a walk. Leave your iPod at home. Let your mind wander and free-associate. You'll come home with at least one new idea and possibly some found objects, too.

6. Take advantage of the back-to-school sales and stock up like the cool kids on fine-point permanent markers, gel pens, air-drying clay--heck, splurge on a box of 96 Crayolas.

7. Read a poem and base a design on the imagery.

8. Impose a deadline. Sign up for a challenge, a trade, or a contest, such as the Quilting Arts 2010 Calendar Contest. Having a deadline and specific parameters to achieve can often get you into your studio and out of your rut.

9. Break your routine. If you normally create at night, try the morning. Draw with your non-dominate hand. Work in a different room. Try a new color palette.

10. Try a new technique. In the August/September issue of Quilting Arts Magazine® you'll find tips for dyeing with rust and indigo, ways to use digital imagery to create a design, step-by-step instructions for deconstructed screen printing, and a whole lot more!

See the Table of Contents and our Online Extra articles now.

Need more creative inspiration? Our second annual Quilting Arts Gifts issue will be bigger and better, with 148 pages full of fabulous projects to make for the holiday season, including home décor, decorations, and gifts designed and created by some of the world's best art quilters.

 

This super issue will feature:
* 35 seasonal projects for quilted gifts and home décor
* Sensational stocking stuffers: our editors' favorite tools, gadgets, and more
* 7 holiday patterns to celebrate the season

 

Quilting Arts Gifts will be on select newsstands September 16, but if you pre-order now, it will come right to your door and you'll save 10% off the newsstand price-subscribers save an additional 10% when ordering online. Flat-rate shipping applies.

 

 

If you live in the Pacific Northwest or western Canada, or plan to be traveling in that area next week, you'll want to be sure to catch Quiltfest 2008.

 

In Seattle, Washington, August 8, 9, and 10, The Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters will present its 8th biennial juried and judged exhibit of the finest quilts from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Northwest Territories, Oregon, Washington, and Yukon.

Spend three days viewing beautiful quilts and see the winners of $40,000 in cash and prize awards. Enjoy the Spice of Life fiber arts exhibit, the one-hour lectures by nationally known teachers, the vendor mall, and hands-on workshops by some of the best instructors from around the U.S. and Canada. At every turn you will be inspired and awed by the depth and diversity of the quilting talent in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.

One exciting feature of this year's show is the "It's A Wrap" exhibit, showcasing nearly 20 gorgeous shawls, stoles, ponchos, scarves, and wraps made by member of the Association. These unique pieces are beaded, quilted, sewn, stitched, and knit into garments that will be showcased and then auctioned on Saturday night at the Gala Banquet. All proceeds will benefit Quiltfest 2010.

"The Currency Exchange" is one of the five special exhibits featured at the show this year. This exhibit showcases quilters from three countries, the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand, with their fiber interpretation of a motif from a coin or bill from any country. The quilters were asked to use the motif as inspiration and employed many interesting techniques and interpretations.

Learn all the details about the show by visiting the APNQ web site.

 

Wrap by Candy Cox Blann. Quilt, "A Penny from Heaven," by Ginny Steller.