Warmest congratulations to Lynne Edwards, English quilter who has been awarded the highest citizen award in the Commonwealth: M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) for her contribution to the Arts through her quilting.
The award will be present by H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in July. Watch for Lynne’s new book “Cathedral Window Quilt” due out this summer. That’s me and Lynne on the right with the Bay of Fundy as a backdrop.

Magazines
Joe Lewis is a textile artist living Toronto and is passionate about promoting Canadian textile art. He’s developed a slick e-zine fibreQUARTERLY which includes an anthology in a downloadable PDF format. fQ explores and celebrates contemporary Canadian Textile and Fibre Art. Go into this web site and click on the “Popular artcraft” Link and see the work of Bettina Matzkuhn, British Columbia, also the “Art cloth Text” blog link.
fQ Volume 4 Issue 2 Spring 2008 is now on line. They’re always looking for preview/promotional material about up and coming exhibitions as well as reviews. If you have story ideas please feel free to get in touch with Joe. Subscribe and support Canadian textile arts.

Another Canadian magazine, this one on real paper, is called  A Needle Pulling Thread. It features Canadian textile arts and has lot of projects.

Crazy Quilts Magazine on-line. When I was at Quilt Festival, I had a lovely visit with Barbara Blankenship who writes for Crazy Quilt. It’s published quarterly and has lots of articles on stitching, embellishments and beading. Barbara kindly wrote a rather lovely article about me and my book, which  I’m pleased to say has gone into second printing and going strong.

African Threads
Isn’t this fabulous car? It’s and appliqué made by Dudu
who lives in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. This is one of the pieces I’ve recently brought in for my African Threads project. The people in the car are leaning out of the windows as a tortoise crosses the road. I love the exploding perspective. Please visit African Threads for charming embroideries and to support the Grandmother’s of Africa.

Art Design and Visual Thinking
Who’d have thought that you could take a Cornell University level course on Design? Well, here is a site so rich with information that you could take a year or two to work through it. What a fabulous resource! Cornell University lecturer Charlotte Jirousek covers: Language of Design: Form, Pattern, Line, Balance, rhythm, etc. There is also discussion of Creativity and the Design process. It’s an entry-level, introductory course, and no special skills or background is needed.

Paper Dolls
Lark Books has a new paper doll book on the shelf called Artful Paper Dolls. It’s an energetic hardcover with a brief history of Paper Dolls, featured artists and a gallery. Among the many inspiring artists included are Margi Hennen and Kathryn Beltzer – two talented and funny women whom I’m glad to call friends! You’ll enjoy the exceptional dolls these women make.

On-line Landscape Group
In November I started a new on-line group for anyone interested in landscape quilts, big and small. We have a really lovely group on-line with a fabulous Gallery of photos by members – and there’s a lot of talent and great sharing going on. You are most welcome to join in the discussion!

"Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality."
– The Dalai Lama

Till next time – happy Spring!