Episode 139 In Which I Interview Author Valerie Goodwin (and a giveaway!) 12-22-13

I've been so excited about this episode for so long! C&T Publishing gave me the opportunity to review the book Art Quilt Maps, by Valerie Goodwin, and connected me with her for an interview as well. Have fun listening to our conversation! The usual announcements start things off, but then we'll get right into the interview--I'll then give my own review of the book and talk about working on my own art quilt map after, plus the usual Sandy Update and listener feedback.

Check out Valerie's website at www.quiltsbyvalerie.com, or "like" her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ArtQuiltMapsETC.

And now for the giveaway!

I have read this book several times now (as you'll hear in the episode), and am thankful to C&T for making a copy available for me to share with a lucky listener!

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter your name for this giveaway--note you can increase your chances by leaving a comment on the blog and tweeting the giveaway as well! (If you leave a comment in the blog, use the Rafflecopter widget to let me know that. Simply leaving a comment without also using the widget won't cue me that you've entered.)

A winner with a U.S. mailing address will receive a print copy of the book; if the winner has an international mailing address, s/he will receive an ebook version. '

The giveaway closes on Saturday, January 4th, at midnight (Eastern).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Episode 127 In Which I Talk with Jane Dunnewold 6-18-13

Get ready to go deep with this one! In this episode I talk with fiber artist, author, and teacher Jane Dunnewold. Jane's Craftsy class, The Art of Cloth Dyeing, got me seriously hooked on a whole new way of expressing myself with fiber. It was the things that Jane shared about herself and her outlook as she taught that class, however, that made me explore her blog and learn a little bit more about her--and I knew I had to have a conversation. (Thanks so much to Melissa at Craftsy for making the connections that made this conversation possible!) Jane and I talk about definitions of art and surface design, how surface design techniques can inform quilters of all genres, and how we express ourselves--and learn about ourselves--through what we create.

Jane's Craftsy class is at this link: The Art of Cloth Dyeing.  

Jane's website is www.artclothstudios.com. Her Existential Neighborhood blog can be found at http://existentialneighborhood.blogspot.com/. 

Episode 126 In Which I Talk with Wendy Butler Berns 6-2-13

In this episode, I have a conversation with quilt teacher, designer, and author Wendy Butler Berns about definitions of "art quilt,"  how to find your artistic voice, connections between quilt genres, and what Wendy's guiding word might be.

I had been aware of Wendy's work for some time, but the first opportunity I had to take a class with her was through Craftsy.com--in fact, she was my first Craftsy class (and we all know the ending to that story--20-some-odd-classes and counting!). In addition to her obvious talent as a quilt artist, I find Wendy thoughtful, encouraging, and an excellent mentor as we proceed on our own artistic journeys. I know you'll enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it!

Wendy's website is http://www.wendybutlerberns.com/, or you can follow her on Facebook.

Episode 124 In Which I Talk with Kimberly Einmo 5-8-13

Kimberly Einmo and me in Paducah, April 2013

Welcome to episode 124, in which I talk with quilt designer, author, and teacher Kimberly Einmo.

Kimberly is the author of ​Quilt a Travel Souvenir, Jelly Roll Quilts & More, Jelly Roll Quilt Magic, and Precut Bonanza! 200 Pieced Blocks from Cut Strips & Shapes.

Kimberly also has a set of specialty rulers available: The Simpli-EZ Jelly Roll Ruler, EZ Flying Geese Ruler, Easy Pineapple Log Cabin Ruler, and the Easy Hearts Cut Tool.

Her books and rulers are available on her website at www.kimberlyeinmo.com (click on "store"), and you may want to check out her blog while you're there!​

​In addition to teaching face-to-face in the real world, Kimberly also has two classes on Craftsy: "Magical Jelly Roll Quilts," and "Chain of Stars Mystery Quilt."  If you're a listener, you may recall me talking about having done two versions of Chain of Stars myself. It's a beautiful design, but no spoilers here!

I'm thrilled to be able to announce that Craftsy is sponsoring a giveaway. One lucky person will win one of Kimberly Einmo's classes on Craftsy--whichever one the winner chooses--for free. Woot woot!

To enter the giveaway, use this link: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/QFTROU_Giveaway

If you already have a Craftsy account, use your existing login information to be entered. If you don't have a Craftsy account, you will be prompted to set one up (for free) to enter. You will need a Craftsy account in order to take the Kimberly Einmo class of your choice, if you win!

If you have trouble seeing the giveaway page, using Firefox should help. One entry per person.

This giveaway will close on ​Wednesday, May 22nd.

Once again: You must use the link above to enter the giveaway. Comments left on the show notes to this episode (below) will not enter you in the giveaway...but will be greatly enjoyed and appreciated!​​ So please talk to me after you've entered the giveaway!

When the giveaway ends, Craftsy will let me know how many people entered, I'll choose a number at random, and they'll let me know who the winner is. I'll then notify that person and they'll drop the Kimberly Einmo class of the winner's choice directly into the winner's Craftsy account. How easy is that?​

If you (like me!) already own both of Kimberly's classes in Craftsy, please please please be sure you spread the word to your friends, family members, in your guilds, and beyond that this giveaway is available. If you enjoyed Kimberly's class, think how much your BQF (best quilty friend) will enjoy it!​​

Not familiar with Craftsy? If you've been listening any time at all you know I'm a huge Craftsy fan--have been since I took my first class with them over a year ago. It's a great platform for learning. You need to give it a try. And what better way than by winning a free class?​

So, use the link above to enter the giveaway, and then leave a comment below to be part of the conversation that is "Quilting...for the Rest of Us." Thanks for listening!​