Quilting Arts Magazine October/November 2018
I love this time of year for so many reasons. My kitchen garden is nearly done providing its bounty, so there is time to pursue activities other than weeding, canning, and harvesting. The colorful splendor of maples and oaks in autumn is at its peak. Spiced cider is the preferred refreshment at every family gathering (plus doughnuts, if I’m being perfectly honest). The air is crisp and clear, yet still filled with occasional birdsong. Each of the five senses is satisfied as colors, smells, sounds, tastes, and textures all mingle and remind me of my favorite place to be: home.
Yes, I’m a homebody and prefer my own backyard to venturing out more often than not. Although I love to travel and experience foreign cultures, the very thought of being away from home for more than a week or two is overwhelming. Home, to me, symbolizes safety, security, love, family, and friendship. It is where I am most comfortable and find solace. I am thankful to have the privilege of sharing my home with my family. Having a place to call “home” is vital for every human being. I’ve been thinking about the concept of “home” as this issue has evolved from the spark of an idea to a nearly completed magazine. Many of the articles, galleries, and techniques reference this concept, either directly or indirectly, but none so profoundly as Jamie Fingal’s article about her “giving back” project, Heart of the Home. The story behind these quilts and how they honor families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing is inspiring.
When Jamie came to me with the idea of sharing this project with our readers, I knew art quilters from every corner of the world would be inspired by her story. Quilters are some of the kindest and most caring people I know. Plus, I hoped that inspiration would spark creativity and a sense of generosity: why not create an opportunity for Quilting Arts readers to contribute wall quilts to the Heart of the Home Project? We’re asking quilt artists to open their hearts and celebrate their love of “home” by making— and donating—reader challenge quilts with a home theme. They will first be published in Quilting Arts April/May 2019, then distributed by Furnishing Hope to families who move into their forever homes.
With a spirit of thankfulness for our shared love of home, the whole Quilting Arts Editorial team is planning on creating house quilts to pass on—won’t you join us? Because, as Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”
Best,
Vivika Hansen DeNegre, Editor
Table of Contents
Departments
• Editor’s Note
• It’s Your Turn
• About our Contributors
• Studio Style
• Call for submissions
• Reader Challenge Announcement – Artists Give Back: Heart of the Home
• Marketplace
• The Last Word
Design & Stitch
• Inspiration vs. Emulation – Finding inspiration in existing works of art
• Artists Give Back – The Heart of the Home Project
• Carve, Print, Repeat – Make your mark with linoleum prints
• Narrative Embroidery
• Head, Heart and Hands: Adding Meaning to Art Quilts with Personal Symbols – Developing meaning and exploring shapes
• What Makes a House a Home…Quilt – Make a mini quilt for charity
• Preserving Autumn in Fiber – Print and stitch a forest of leaves
• Overcoming Artist’s Block
• Patchwork Collage Mandalas
In Profile & Gallery
• Artist Profile: Mary Ann Nailos
• Open Studio: Margarita Korioth
• Gallery: Form, Not Function – Quilt Art at the Carnegie
• Birth of the Art Quilt Movement – 1959–1979
• Mystery Creates Wonder
• Results from our ‘3-2-1-Blastoff !’ Reader Challenge
• Artist Q&A: A Conversation with Elisabeth Nacenta de la Croix
Featured image: (left to right) Jamie Fingal delivering a selection of quilts to Furnishing Home, photo courtesy of the artist; “Joyful Noise” (detail)by Mary Ann Nailos, photo by Matt Graves; and linoleum prints and materials, photo by HornickRivlin.com.
