A new year is a’coming and we are planning some very exciting things!
From our start we’ve wanted Generation Q to be a community of like-minded creatives coming together to enjoy what we do best: make things and play with each other. In the late spring/early summer we will debut the premier issue of Generation Q Magazine, the print/digital publication for us modern and contemporary quilters. We are very excited and right now we feel very much like we’re in the first trimester of a shared pregnancy. (Well, Melissa, Megan and Jake do. Scott just keeps running the Saltines back and forth for us!)
We want your input. (We’re punchy enough at this point to ask if you’d be our Baby Daddies, but that might be too much.) We know there are many other magazines on the newsstands that you can plunk your bucks down for. We want to be different. And we know we have the skills to do this. But we also believe that you, as our readers, have wonderful thoughts on what YOU would like to see in our pages. So we’re asking for your input, right from the start, (‘cuz next week is Planning Week for us four and if we’re going to work something different into our mix, this will be when it needs to happen).
Your mission, if you accept it, (and no, your screen won’t self-destruct in five minutes whether you play or not) is to tell us what you want to read/see/experience in a quilt magazine that will speak to you. Please remember that we are a lifestyle publication; patterns are included, but that’s only one of many things we offer. Put your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. We really do read each and every one of them.
The author of the BEST suggestion, as determined by the four of us (Melissa, Megan, Jake and Scott) will receive this GORGEOUS tower of 15 fat quarters just in from Dear Stella, the awesome new fabric line designed for us modern and contemporary quilters. The collection we dangle in front of your drooling mouths today is called Yard Sale, and it works a happy tangerine, lime and fuchsia combo of joy-filled garden prints to create some really interesting and stunning patterns. Trust us. You want these. Deadline for posting comments here is January 3.
But bribery aside, this challenge is really about giving birth to a new form of media that speaks to you, and us. Just in case you’re not completely done with the birth analogies, consider yourselves godparents for GenQ and see what that does for us all.
So get to work. Think about what grabs you, what doesn’t and what you’d include if you were Mom or Dad. And remember: We are about our lifestyle–what we do and why we do it. And, we will never, ever deliver content dryly. Last, we are all about fun. If our quilting and sewing are not fun, there’s really no reason to spend time doing it, much less reading and writing about it.
And hey, thank you for supporting us. We still can’t believe how lucky we are!
COMMENT #1
Oh well done to you all for taking the plunge!
ideas –
upcoming sales page 😀 £ advertising for you and a heads up for everyone else.
Seasonal trends articles, not just fabric but actual crafts that trend
Inspirational photography because frankly I like eye candy!
Keep it fun like this site.
COMMENT #2
Thinking of themes: dimensional projects in fabric and paper; using fabric like paper and vice-versa ; up-cycling projects that are not just T-shirts and ties; ideas for us seniors living in smaller apartments to brighten up our living areas; edgy designs for quilting, embroidery and clothing; a year-long series of projects using the color of the year (Tangerine Orange in 2012);
Of course……..there has to be healthy FOOD recipes.
If I think of anything else, I’ll be back. 🙂
COMMENT #3
I am no longer a young mother but I still like to have ideas to save time and energy keeping house and home in order to expend more (time and energy) on my quilting. I enjoy reading and seeing how others set up their sewing/crafting areas to be efficient and organized thus saving time and energy when actually able to be in those spaces. Sew for me the articles I go to first are: above all well written patterns with a modern twist; new techniques, tools and tricks of the the trade; room set up, storage ideas and stash organization. I never tire of looking at others sewing areas and gleaning hints of what I could use in my space. I also like to have reviews (including pros and cons) of available sewing/quilting machines, irons lighting etc. …. AND… seeing others finished projects.
I enjoy your style of presenting the material (would I be here otherwise) but have been turned off writing that obviously tries too hard at humor or cuteness (not here) personality and honesty go along way to selling the written word.
Thanks for the opportunity to get on my soap box
COMMENT #4
I ask myself what would make me spend my money on your magazine instead of , say fabric? (set the bar high 🙂
What can I get from your magazine that I can’t get from just going to blogs or joining the quilting club which is free.
For me, an avid quilter for 30 years, I want to join a local quilt guild to have friends with the same quilty interests but work full time and simply don’t have the time to go to the evening meetings even though it’s only once a month. So an online quilting guild would inteest me. What to have? Show and tell for sure, classes, maybe a yearly quilt show with prizes ect – what I really want is the interaction with others into quilting. Quilters are nice people! I follow a blog and podcaster called quilting for the rest of us and I follow her on twitter. On black Friday she gave a shout out to join her for #ABFSI (anti black Friday sew in). About 10 of us were also home sewing and quilting and every once in awhile would tweet what our progress was or just basically chatted while we quilted. It was so much fun she organized one for boxing day (#BDSI) and over 20 quilter’s joined in at different times of the day. It was a blast! She had giveaways thru the day, you would answer a question and randomly a name would be drawn. Questions like who or what are you ignoring to participate in bdsi? People posted pics of everything from messy houses to bored husbands. Any way, this is just an example of how to create a community. On bdsi I met and now follow a lot of new twitter friends and continue to communicate with them.
Couple of other things – I am a member of quilter’s club which sort of has a lot of the same things but can’t use my I pad to post anything so really don’t use it as much as I would like. More and more folks are using I pads so much these days, I think you need to be I pad compatible. Also would think it would make sense to offer the first month free to get us hooked then we pay a monthly fee.
COMMENT #5
The main thing I look for in a magazine lately is ORIGINALITY!!! So many feature the same quilts and projects, with just a change of fabrics or embellishments. That’s frankly boring. Look for that spark of “different and unusual” and then help us create it for ourselves. Give us exciting new color ideas, and not just the same colors everyone else is touting as “new”. But also give us fresh ideas for using those colors schemes that we already love… blue & white; black with brights; autumn fires; etc.
Thanks for the chance to share! I look forward to seeing all the responses.
COMMENT #6
I’d like a piece on the 411 on Threads, types, varieties, reasons, weights, wraps, uses, mixing, what for, and how it all works.
COMMENT #7
Off the top of my head, this is what I’d like to see:
Interviews with less-than-famous quilters (i.e. “just like us”)
Visits with quilting bees
Info on what people are doing at retreats – interesting locations, fun activities, door prizes, classes
Reviews of new products
How to make time for quilting AND family (or at least feel less guilty about not being with them while quilting)
I’ve enjoyed reading the site so far! it’s definitely been interesting and far from “the norm”.
COMMENT #8
I like to read guest posts (or editor posts) about how to do specific things. I’d love to see more fabric design tutorials, really specific ones rather than general ones. I’d also like to see posts about trends in quilting. Are batiks still hot or have they proved a fad? Is everyone making quilts with circles in them? Etc. I like this ‘zine a lot, but I do admit I skim it most of the time rather than read it and wish it had more pictures. My fave post from last year was the one where you had all the different quilters talk about their quilting bucket lists. I loved that post! It was so interesting to see what the goals of different levels of quilters were and how similar some of their aspirations were to my own.
COMMENT #9
When it comes to patterns I’m looking for modern, intermediate/advanced quilting patterns. I’m tired of seeing the same patterns over and over — if I see one more square-in-square pattern… As an internet-savvy quilter I can easily find hundreds and hundreds of patterns available for free and for sale online — I want patterns that are different from those. Also, there are already myriad magazines offering myriad beginner patterns or “make it in a week-end” patterns so I definitely don’t want to see more of those. Unless you have some new technique that is totally going to rock my world or something. Yes, there are a lot of beginner quilters out there but there are also a lot of resources already for those quilters and almost nothing for modern quilters who have moved beyond that stage. Finally, I am really tired of seeing patterns for a particular single line of fabric. I have approximately 17 million items on my to do list and by the time I get to yours the chances are good that that fabric is going to be out of print. Not to mention that my stash has enough fabric in it to last me a lifetime — I would like to use those fabrics. Patterns that are designed for (and shown in) different fabrics would be awesome.
When it comes to articles I want to read about things that I haven’t already seen on 20 (or more) different quilting blogs. Reviewing a book that has been out for months that has been blogged to death is not useful. Writing about a fabric line that everyone knows is coming is boring. Writing an article about a technique for which there are hundreds of tutorials out there online is lame (again, unless your version is going to rock my world.) I would love to read about modern quilters but profiling someone whose blog I read everyday is probably not going to tell me anything new. And for the love of Cthulhu please don’t write articles about how to use the internet (like how to use Flickr or subscribe to blogs.) Obviously I know how to use the internet if I am savvy enough to subscribe to a digital magazine.
If I had to write just one suggestion I would say it is to make your magazine a resource for modern/contemporary quilters who have moved beyond the beginner stage to the intermediate/advanced level. We don’t need hand-holding but we do need articles and patterns that challenge us and teach us the next-level techniques.
COMMENT #10
I am not one to follow directions. I’ll see a beautiful (or just pretty) quilt in a magazine, and not even look for a pattern, ’cause I’m pretty darn sure I can figure it out on my own. It makes for some interesting discoveries, let me tell you.
How do other people turn those inspirations into quilts? How do they find the time, between a job and small-ish child(ren)? How do I use non-traditional material in quilting (I have 2 yards of beautiful purple silk that is DYING to be made into something…)? I know you’re not supposed to mix materials, but what will really happen if I use cotton, flannel, and polyester in the same quilt? When is Megan’s 2013 QSMASB calendar coming out?
COMMENT #11
Two things I love to see- Process articles & technology-centric articles. PLEASE! I want to see how others come up with their designs, whether it be fabric designs or quilt patterns. Go from inspiration, to sketches, to digitization, to manufacturing & finished product! Everyone loves to go behind the scenes! & as for technology, most quilt magazines act as if they have no clue computers exist. Give us tips on taking designs from the digital world to the real world. Tips for printing on freezer paper or fusible or whatever. Tips for using e-patterns. How to integrate digital photography into your quilts by doctoring it up in adobe, instead of just printing boring panels. How to take great photos of your quilts & how to edit them into gorgeous blog worthy photos. I could go on & on!!
COMMENT #12
Thanks for giving us the chance to participate! One thing I’d like to see are environmentally conscious ideas on quilting and crafting. So many patterns require that you waste half of your fabric by cutting it away by the time the block is finished. Aerosol spray baste uses chemicals and creates a lot of waste. Fussycutting often results in more unusable scraps than usable pieces of print. I’m always a fan of suggestions on how to reduce waste, use your materials to their fullest, and reuse tiny scraps of fabrics and threads.
COMMENT #13
Hmm, okay, I’d like to see upcoming fabric lines before they hit the shops (I think the problem with paper magazines is that they work so far in advance, the ‘new’ things they feature are actually kind of last week’s news when they hit the stands)
I would also like to see how upcoming and perhaps newly released fabrics can be mixed and matched beyond the co-ordinating prints from one line.
I would like to see colour trends, and suggestions of where to get things
It would be good to see new toys (tools) that are available and how to actually use them
I would love to see alternative projects made from quilt fabric and patterns, such as cushions, bags etc as well as actual quilts
It would be great if you could feature different types of quilting patterns as well as piecing patterns – maybe one pattern per issue?
A reader’s gallery for your projects would be good
Interviews with people in various parts of the business would be an interesting series, from fabric designers to the companies actually making the fabric, to the pattern designers and distributors.
A shop highlight or two would be good from around the world – maybe one per continent?
Also upcoming big events from around the world would be good
A degree of levity would be good, some of those mags are awffy dry reading!
Sorry, haven’t read everyone else’s so hope I didn’t repeat anything!
COMMENT #14
Links! Dedicate one webpage to links for projects, manufacturers, sources, etc. “as seen in GenerationQ.”
It could be categories [recipes, patterns, shops, etc.] or chronological by issue, but it would be really really cool if there were tags/descriptive text to make it quickly searchable.
e.g.,
Free Patterns
http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/MMF/DownLoad.cfm?Gid=1280
Michael Miller patterns Tags: applique, pieced, Christmas, banner, stocking, fairy, pillowcase
[Month/year issue]
I picked a bad example for tags because there are so many free patterns on this page!! Now I have to go back and check them out. — Bert in Rice, WA
COMMENT #15
I agree that you should focus on stuff beyond the beginner. If I’ve got the basics and advanced basics down, what should I try next. I’m interested in the business side of quilting, but not just interviews with the latest designer shilling the fabric line that everyone has already seen pictures of. I had a subscription to Fat Quarterly that I won’t be renewing because I got so turned off by them shilling for the big companies. How do people make a living at quilting, or do they? Patterns and techniques that you can’t find for free with a google search.
COMMENT #16
Some ideas:
-An open letter section where readers can write in to vent their frustration on whatever particular quilting technique is driving them crazy or just not working. (Not venting at people or companies–just venting at the craft itself.) It would be funny to read and know that we aren’t alone in our particular quilting difficulty.
-I like the “complete this block” challenge and the other challenges (like using only certain fabrics) you’ve had on the blog, but the deadline is always too short for me. It would be cool if each magazine had a “challenge” to the readers, and then we could submit our photos to a contest and see who one the next issue or so.
-What about a classifieds/personals section in the back where people can seek out fabric swap buddies, block swaps, a particular fabric they’re missing, etc?
COMMENT #
Ooh, I had one more idea. A “Save this Quilt” feature where readers can send in photos of unfinished quilts or ugly quilts that they need help with and receive design suggestions or tips from other readers on how to save it.
I guess I feel like there is a lot of beautiful finished quilt photography documented in current magazines and online in blogs, but sometimes it’s fun to see quilting failures and bring things down to reality a bit! There’s not a lot about the process of quilting out there and how to learn from our mistakes, laugh and move on.
COMMENT #17
Hi guys I;d love to see minimal adverts ( even though I know they off set the cost) when a mag contains more pages of ads than info it;s time to walk away
I’d like to see a series of “quick” projects and stuff ranged out from simple to more technical.
International quilting and shows .
Some good advice for beginners and a where to get good quality essential kit as it is so easy to get it wrong.
Proper advice on basting…sewn or sprayed or pinned
Alist of great websites that offer ideas and further technical info projects etc.
Please please can we avoid the old style magazine layouts where we are lectured like naughty children on piecing by people wear hideous “jackets” made in patchwork!
Maybe a page for people who want to block swap or work on community/linus/chairty quilts and who to contact in area.
YOu will sadly never please everyone but( having just given up my subscr to a couple of magazines~) I would like to see “Fresh and Mod & Funky ” in layout and attitude.
Mens quilting… is that enough ??
COMMENT #18
A how-to section on useful quilt-related items —- How to make a fabric/quilt display ladder.
How to make a design wall.
How to organize pre-cuts.
Ideas for organizing your tools & templates.
How to choose the right thread and the right needle for my project.
Batting choices/alternatives — for warm/hot climates, for the lightest of quilts.
How to visualize a modern quilt beyond that old-fashioned pattern.
Pre-wash: Always? Sometimes? Never?
How to mix traditional and modern fabrics.
What sunlight can do to a quilt.
COMMENT #
Yes, how to take great photos of your quilts!
COMMENT #19
So okay, I’m a sucker for bribes! I’d like to see quilt patterns with a modern edge with different color options, crafty projects (like the darling felt mushroom needle cases you featured last month), ideas for making things for boys (love my grandson!), items to make for the home, your ratings of quilting tools and gadgets, and some humor! I do like seeing the new fabric lines coming out, but hopefully your advertisers will take care of that! Helpful hints and techniques would also be nice.
COMMENT #20
I would like to see quilters homes, not just their studio space but how they combine quilts with their other décor. It would be nice to highlight up & coming quilters rather that the already famous ones. I would also like tutorials on techniques. Then I could decide if I wanted to use this technique in my quilt. I prefer inspiration rather that a pattern which produces a quilt exactly like the one in the book. Not every column needs to appear in every issue. This way you can cover more information without it getting routine and stale. Thanks for asking for our wishes. I’m looking forward to seeing your first issue!
COMMENT #21
The same pattern recolored in more than one style (traditional, contemporary, nursery, inverted dark/light) so I can get an idea on how different it could look in my own fabric choices.
Features on interesting people and places in textiles/quilting – but articles that aren’t just sales & marketing bullshit. What makes them different? How did they get where they are? What did they screw up?
Tips & tricks – those dumb things that make you wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Tools that you may not have considered (did you SEE what she’s using an eggbeater for???).
A regular feature on fast projects – not necessarily quilting, but something sewing-related and immediately gratifying: gifty kind of ideas you may make a hundred of, like Kleenex pouches, card carriers, headphone keepers, mug rugs, etc.
COMMENT #22
The BEST thing you could offer me as a reader of your new magazine is a regular column/article in each issue featuring a quick (OR not super complicated) gifty type project that I could make from scraps and/or FQs so that come the holiday season I’d have a stack of nice stuff to pass out to my friends AND I’d have used up scraps AND I wouldn’t spend the holiday season going nuts trying to finish a bunch of things for friends and relatives.
COMMENT #23
I’d love to see inside other modern quilter’s sewing rooms, what their stash looks like, where they work, and hear about how they are inspired to create.
I’d also love a Show & Tell area or forum, maybe like an online virtual Modern Quilt Guild meeting, where everyone can post and even meet online on a certain day/time and maybe have a chat function so people can comment on the quilts they see. Or even a simple photo gallery where people can upload images of their modern quilts and talk about them, what inspired them, etc.
And challenges would be great too! I would love something like an online fabric vendor sponsored challenge where they put together a kit- like an FQ bundle or even just some scraps or offcuts, and readers could buy them in advance to participate in the challenge then everyone can see what others make with the same fabrics.
Swaps, mystery quilts, quilting bees are great too! Member spotlights or features, links (that work!) to fabric/supplier sites that are supportive of the modern style, designers, fabric designers, colour inspiration/challenges (like Design Seeds or Colour Lovers).
COMMENT #24
I love seeing and learning how colors go together–I’m still slightly apprenhensive about trying bold colors together or totally different colours together–so a page or two on different/intriguing color combinations would be awesome to see 🙂
COMMENT #25
I love you attitude , style and sense of humor…so keep that up! I would love to have the publication very iPad, zinio, computer savvy. I cannot have anymore paper magazines in my studio! They take up too much space and frankly it is becoming a fire hazard. But I think some digital publications miss the mark on availing themselves to the medium. I’m no programming whiz, but there has got to be someway to fully utilize the fact I am reading this on my iPad, I hate having to cut and paste web addresses from a digital format, for example. And being a visual learner, why can’t I watch a video of that technique? Cus I’m never gonna figure it out otherwise!
I would also echo the others in a plea to not be a replication of things we can find online for free…I am going broke for my art, I am a competent googler and would just as soon get my info gratis, so what you want me to pay for has to be
origional (or at least hard for me to find for free…lol)
I like inspiration rather than patterns, so features on artists even non quilty ones, beautiful places etc would be nice.
I like reading about other quilters, their process, inspiration etc, but tire of hearing from the same old group…up and coming and just the quilter next door would be interesting.
I love show and tell…a curated show and tell section would be awesome!
Useful, honest book reviews-I will do them if you need the help. I hate book reviews where the reviewer has not made anything from the book, I get said book only to find out the directions are CRAP! Or the materials are only available in a Japanese specialty shop in the Ukraine. Ugh!
Cocktail recipes, always good. Beefy guys, also good. Maybe beefy guys mixing cocktails? Oh I can dream!
A few ideas- good luck to you guys!
COMMENT #
I was excited while writing this….blinded by the bribery! All the errors in the above post are a result of that….not an actual lack of writing skill. That and autocorrect! Damn autocorrect.
COMMENT #26
When I first started quilting, I bought (literally) every quilt magazine I could find, every month. Within a year, I stopped buying them because they weren’t giving me what I want/needed.
I wanted step by step instructions on new /new to me techniques that save time, with big, clear photographs and an inviting tone.
I wanted to see features about regular quilters – not the famous bloggers you see everywhere anyway, but people who were like me – part-time quilters, doing it for the love of it, who were making beautiful things of their own design who were just “ordinary” quilters.
I know fabric companies pay the advertising dollars, but the MAIN reason I stopped buying quilting magazines was that I was so sick of having fabric lines pushed at me, and quilts made entirely out of one made-to-order fabric line.
I wanted to see DIFFERENT patterns – if I saw one more square-on-square, square-in-square,- square-adjacent to another square themed quilt, I was going to scream. And not every quilter makes quilts from blocks – so it would be nice to see a magazine that featured both quilts from blocks, quilts that were free form, and art quilts as well . Is it too much to ask that they all be in the same magazine? 😉
But perhaps my tastes are too particular. 😀 Either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what the GenQ team produces!
COMMENT #27
I have followed you both from quilters home to now! I really miss the old magazine and the only thing I hated was that it was only every other month!!!! Oh, the wait! I read it from front to back in one day and after awhile I forced myself to pace myself so I could make it last longer than one day of joy!
One thing I thought would be great is if there could be some projects created that were all levels in one. Our group of quilting friends(guild is too stuffy) are a variety of levels of expertise. Such as a a beginner quilt if you did these instructions and if you were intermediate this next set of instructions could be carried out and an advanced sewer could Add the next step of difficulty.
I also think as quilters we do need to have more fun and try small out of the ordinary projects just to switch it up once in awhile challenging ourselves to think outside the box such as your mojo dolls. I participated in at one as was so impressed with the results of the other participants it made me want to up the anti in my own creativity. You inspired me!
There are always ten ways to do the same the task. Maybe the question of the month could be how do you…….. And submit the top five ways to achieve that task such as easy flying geese or half squares or binding corner tricks,Ect
Notions a always a hit! I have found myself to be ahead of the game. I have found cool things and given them to my friends to see them featured a couple of months later!
Possibly a continuing saga(story/novel) could be a section of the mag! Readers could put in ideas as to where or what the next road for the story to go helping writers and readers connect in a continuing soap box story(I would even be willing to try to whip something up even though I am no writer but do have an imagination). That could be interesting to see the fruition of melding minds and imaginations with all the input from facebook and blogs these days!
A trip or retreat feature could be offered in different locations organized as magazine follower incentives. Nothing like minded people coming together on amazing adventures and quilting opportunities to expand our horizons.
Ok I better stop. My quilting group are careful to brainstorm around me because if you suggest, I will make it happen. One day they said ‘We should go to quilt festival!’ and two weeks later I had them all booked to go to Chicago for 5days of fun!! The possibilities are endless if you just open your mind to adventure and fun!
Thanks for making me be creative again!
Christa Marcotte
COMMENT #28
I love to see multiple color choices done up even if just blocks. I also enjoy reading about peoples real working lives as quilters. The design process, piecing, kids loosing pieces or the dog eating them : ), with pics of where they work, even if its at the dinner table. I also like a range of different projects from simple to complex. Stay true to the modern color themes and prints that you have shown here. Thanks for giving us a chance to voice an opinion. Good luck!
COMMENT #29
Lol, I kept going, yes, yes, when looking at the other comments, so I’m afraid I will just be redundant, but still want to add that I look for smaller projects of all kinds, and that is where I end up spending my magazine money. I love looking at the modern quilts for inspiration, but do not have the patience to finish one, so I look for the smaller projects. There are quite a few publications with things like this out there, but most of them are too simple and poorly thought out, like they were thought up by a novice sewer. That doesn’t appeal to me; give me ideas for something I would be proud to carry around!
COMMENT #30
I like to see different colour possibilities for quilts; in a more traditional looking fabric print and then a modern one.
COMMENT #31
I’m really looking forward to the print/digital edition of GenerationQ! I’ve enjoyed reading these daily postings–looking forward to something more, and more indepth.
I’m always very drawn to stories of donation projects (aka charity quilts)–the quilter who is doing them, why she’s doing them, what impact the donations have on the recipients as well as the quilter herself. Often a quilter has a very personal connection with the organization and/or group of recipients that s/he is creating her/his project for–I find those stories meaningful. I particularly enjoy stories about donation projects that aren’t the “big name” organizations we hear about frequently–not that those aren’t important and good organizations, but I really love learning about others that are new to me, and maybe even getting new ideas for things I could be involved in myself to share the joy or spread the wealth or however else you might want to put it.
Thanks for listening!
COMMENT #32
I’m looking for new, fresh, modern designers. I would love to see some of my favorite bloggers featured – there are some phenomenal designers in the blogosphere that would be a perfect fit. I also would like to see suggestions for charity sewing and quilting – resources for that would be awesome. I think quilters are beyond generous and I, personally, am always looking for a way to give back to others through the craft I love so much. I also think it would be fun to focus on projects for nap time. I only get maybe an hour a day to sew when my toddler is sleeping. Which means one or two blocks tops. Quilted projects that I could do over the span of several nap times would be awesome for me and a lot of other mom’s out there. Another thought would be techniques. There are so many different ways to do things, I would love it if you did a special on say HSTs and then demonstrated multiple ways to do it – that would give me and others a chance to find a technique that truly works best for us. Thanks for being so open to suggestions!
COMMENT #33
I’m glad you’re making this lifestyle. I’d like lots of interviews w/ creative people, pictures of studio spaces, latest news, trends, etc. Most of all, I want TONS of photos of quilts. (Face it, for many modern quilts, no pattern exists or is neccessary- seeing is understanding.).
COMMENT #34
I’m so excited about a magazine! I mean a real, live paper magazine I can keep on my coffee table and peruse with my coffee in the morning. I sometimes get turned off by magazines that have florally or batiky fabrics in all the quilts. I’m sure that the patterns or designs themselves are fine and would be more my taste in solids or simple fabric but the look turns me off and I don’t shell out the money to buy. When in doubt …. go plain and let other imagine their fabric fabric.
Not so many simple patterns with exact cutting instructions and diagrams but methods to work on your own quilt design. Maybe interviews and tips from quilters who design their own quilts.
I love looks at real life hobby quilters and see how they manage the time and space and family patience with their paraphernalia.
How about a few history articles on quilts? They could highlight different styles and how they came about … Amish, Gees Bend, Mennonite, etc.
COMMENT #
Oh dear …. I must proofread before I hit submit! I meant …. go plain and let others imagine their favorite fabrics.
COMMENT #35
You mean, what would persuade me to pay money for your magazine when I may already get QNM, QA, FAN, and any other of the many fiber organizations’ journals?
Same thing QH had: a sense of humor, a snarky attitude, reviews of new products by real people willing to say something wasn’t amazing, the occasional interview with an interesting fiber artist who hadn’t already been interviewed a million times, and a decent project-appropriate cocktail. Write well, make it different and original and worth reading…I don’t care about patterns…I care about something that makes me laugh, hits on topics the others won’t touch, and might give a clue of what to get my mom for Xmas or how to use up my 700 pieces of randomly shaped batting scraps but isn’t an iPod cover. It’s a lot to ask.
COMMENT #36
OK, here is what I wish someone would provide! I would love to have a service that would look at a photo of my pieced quilt and suggest what quilt designs would work with it. These would be non-panto non-longarm design suggestions, otherwise I could just send it out to be done by a long-armer. I would rather do the quilting myself but I just can’t wrap my brain around the whole process. So, my pieced tops sit there, waiting for me to do something with them.
What you could do is ask subscribers to send good photos of their quilts and then pick maybe two per issue to suggest designs that would work for the average machine quilter – maybe you would offer design ideas on the same quilt for a beginning machine quilter, an intermediate one, an advanced one? or something like that. You might also include the best way to transfer the quilt design to the top for quilting.
I imagine this would be a popular mag feature with no end of quilt photos submitted. You could ask various accomplished machine quilters to contribute their thoughts on each piece. Would be an interesting and highly valued educational feature for the clueless like me!
I hope you will consider doing this. I think someone out there should offer a virtual longarm service wherein people would submit photos of their tops and would even pay for receiving a quilt design coordinated with their skill level in mind.
Bonnie Barber
Santa Ynez, CA
Webmaster: http://www.coastalquilters.org and http://www.roxannequilts.com
COMMENT #
I couldn’t agree more with Bonnie’s suggestions. The whole time I am reading this, I am thinking about the actual quilting aspect and not the patterns or the piecing of the quilt top. The other suggestions are all great as well but there are very few publications that teach us about the actual quilting. Would love to see a regular piece on this in the magazine.
COMMENT #37
Keep Meghan’s humour articles for sure!!! I’m with a lot of other commentators in that I am not at all interested in “simple/quick” types of patterns or overly flowery re-treads of old patterns. I have made some great appliqued wall hangings from magazines but never a quilt. I use magazines mostly for inspiration and keeping in touch with the quilty world in general. I loved the “posse” reports from your other magazine and have even scanned them into my computer for future reference and a laugh whenever I need one. SO not interested in recipes. Would love articles on retreats perhaps written by the people who organize them with comments from attendees telling what they like best about the retreat. Articles on photography, using your computer for design assistance, using rulers/products/embellishments in different ways. A little assistance in thinking outside the box.
Basically keep it interesting by having a variety of topics, keep it modernish, keep the writingto a high standard (nothing drives me spare more than bad editing for spelling and grammar), keep the humour ’cause too often the quilting world takes things entirely too seriously. This isn’t detante – it’s quilting. Thanks for asking for our input and good luck with your plans for 2012!
COMMENT #38
I’d like to see ideas for recycling items.
COMMENT #39
Oh wow, giving me a blank slate to post my wish list? Look out! First of all, let me compliment you on how fantastic GenQ is. I love every morsel.
What I like in a print/digi magazine? First of all – photos, and lots of them. Not the little postage stamp pics where you can’t really see what’s what, but large, colourful photos that really show the pattern, the quilting, and any embellishments the creator has used.
Secondly – humour. Can’t live without the wit and wisdom of your crew. Yes Meghan, I enjoy every one of your columns. 🙂
Third, I like to see articles that introduce me to a person in the quilt world that has devised something new. Either a new pattern, and new way of putting things together, a new way of smashing colours together, whatever. I like to see and read about what other quilters do, why, and just who they are.
Fourth, OMG – forget the recipes already . If I wanted a food magazine, I’d buy a food magazine. My hips (read butt) are big enough, I don’t need recipes in full, glistening colour that make me drool and head for the potato chips.
Fifth. Give me ideas on how to quilt certain patterns. Sometimes after carefully (or not) piecing a quilt top together, I am stumped as to how to quilt the darned thing. SITD and stippling are soooooo overdone! Help!
And sixth. Gadgets. Every quilter worth her salt has a gadget collection that would rival the Smithsonian. I love to see and read about new gadgets, even if it’s not something I’d buy, I just might want to giftie a quilting buddy~!
So, there you have it. My wish list. I’d have made it longer, but Santa told me it wasn’t nice to bring a wish list as long as I am tall – the nerve! I’m only 5’11”, that’s not that much in the grand scheme of things. Right?
COMMENT #40
I would like to see some technology type articles. New apps, how to design fabric/patterns/blocks with my computer (I have EQ7 and it feels so painful and antiquated to me I want to poke needles in my eyes by the time I’m done designing something), using tools like Evernote or others for organizing quilting, that type of thing.
I agree with another comment about going beyond quilts designed for specific fabric lines. I have an large stash and a small budget. I can’t run out and buy up every new line that comes out. Modern scrappy projects or projects that are adaptable – what about color wheel with each project so I can pull my own fabrics in similar colors or something?
I’m kind of tired of the idea that modern=solids too. I mean, I like to use solids, don’t get me wrong. But, I like to use tone-on-tone prints, and other fabrics that give an idea of texture too. And I think batiks, civil war repros and other fabrics can fit into a modern aesthetic. It doesn’t have to be a popular modern designer’s fabric or a solid to be “modern”.
Anyway… humor is good. If you can tell me how to sew with a toddler underfoot that would be excellent too. 😉
COMMENT #41
I love seeing quilts or blocks in an alternate color way. If I like a pattern but not the fabric I’d like the pattern to list fabrics such as…need 2 lights, 6 medium, and 3 dark fabrics. If they list the fabric line with their numbers, that doesn’t help me at all. I also like having some humor, but not long articles interviewing famous quilters. I’ve read way too many of them. I’d like to see art quilters describing how they do thread work, or how they do piecing (like Ruth McDowel’s style), where their inspiration comes from. I’d like to see a quilter to quilter exchange, where they can list ideas, answer questions, share hints, and maybe even have a way for them to trade or sell excess fabric, patterns, notions, etc. Have readers to send in tips or opinions on notions or fabrics (eg: quality, color stability). I also like the idea of having unbiased reviews on new sewing machines, or long arm machines. I want to get a long arm machine but would love to see a side by side compairison on them. Keep the magazine light and bright, easy reading, and fun.
COMMENT #42
I’d like to see other people’s creative spaces. Not just the “stars” of our creative world but real people, too. Some people have to work out of closets, bedrooms, dining rooms, garages, etc. This would be a great place for a center fold.
COMMENT #43
I dunno about content, but I will say, I would love to see you do free digital magazine access with purchase of print mag. Because I know your content is gonna be so great, I’m gonna want to have it wherever I go! (eg: ipad, iphone, android)
COMMENT #44
Some things I’d love to see:
1) Take 2 or 3 tops and have professional quilters suggest ways it could be quilted (finished!).
2) How about video tips/tricks on using EQ7; specifically, the more advanced options.
3) Have readers send in photos of swapped blocks and ask others for suggestions on setting them.
4) Retreat/sew-in ideas for fun; could be recipes, games, activities …
5) Healthy recipes, especially gluten-free recipes that are good for sharing with a group.
Thanks for asking!
COMMENT #45
Firstly, Congrats!
I would like to see in depth articles with quilters about their creative process. Just watched the documentary “This Might Get Loud” with Jimmy Page, The Edge from U2 and Jack White all talking about their influences- how they play, craft their music and why they do it in the first place. I’m not remotely musical but the film made me realize that there is a creative commonality with all art. I’d like to read about a quilt artist and maybe a particular work of theirs and find out how it was created from the beginning to finished piece. In terms of projects I’d like to see really challenging aspirational projects. Please no fast and easy. It all looks the same…
COMMENT #46
I love to see a lot of variety with a balance of traditional quilting (perhaps with contemporary tweaking) with art quilting that is rich and varied done with a range of technique from complex to simple; lots and lots of fabric, articles about creating fabrics to quilt, article for the creation of quilted garments for MEN and women from repurposed as well as new materials.
COMMENT #47
Here are a couple of things I’d love to read about in a quilting magazine:
• Meet new up-and-coming quilters. I’m not talking about the “big guys” in the quilting world. I’d love to read more about my favorite quilting bloggers – these ladies have talent! And the best part is that they are relatable. I can’t relate to the big name quilters, but I can connect to women (and even the few male quilters out there).
• Quilt-related charity events. There are so many lovely quilting events out there that benefit the needy in our communities. Example: this fall the DC Modern Quilt Guild hosted a 100 Quilts for Kids, a charity quilt drive that encouraged people around the country/world to make and donate a quilt to any local children’s charity. I heard about it on a blog I read and even though I don’t live in DC (I live in California), I was able to participate. I like the idea of reading about these kids of events in a magazine so I can find new, creative ways to help make a small impact in someone’s life through quilting.
• Real-life quilters’ studio spaces. I love seeing people’s studio spaces (real people, not just the folks with big bucks). Wouldn’t it be great to get organization and decorating tips from regular folks who have designed beautiful, functional spaces for themselves without breaking the bank?
• Good, useful tips for choosing colors/fabrics. As a relatively new quilter, sometimes I get stumped when it comes to picking fabrics. I’m getting better… but how about some good lessons (and even things we can cut out and use regularly like color wheels, etc.) on how to pick colors, what colors work well together, how to pick fabric prints that work together, etc.
• I don’t generally work from patterns, but I do like good tutorials on new techniques I want to try.
• Fiction book recommendations. I’m an avid reader and would love to read novels that have quilting in the story.
COMMENT #48
Goodness am I lazy. (Oh, I meant “busy.”) I’m so lazy it’s taken me all day to write this. (Er, sorry, so “busy”.) So I like it when other quilters can do my work for me, such as:
1. This Pattern + This Fat Quarter Stack = Looks Like This. Then, that same pattern + THIS fat quarter stack = This. And by “pattern” it could be an actual, super cool pattern from a super cool modern quilter. Or it could just be, “Who knew the ol’ Log Cabin could look so hip when done with a pack of super funky brights?”
2. Hard Stuff Made Easy (via compromises) – I love the Mariner’s Compass and million other quilts, but man, they look hard. And long. Who am I, Susan B. Anthony? But maybe there are ways to make something almost like that, but much quicker if you do ______. I’m not entering them to be judged in a competition. I’m willing to compromise some of the purity for something easier or quicker. Is that a crime?
3. Sacrilegious Shortcuts – Again – I’m lazy/busy. Seriously, is it a sin against quilting to machine bind? Maybe you have some tricks to make it look better. And is someone actually going to die if I use a sheet for the backing? Maybe you can just tell me which shortcuts you tried and liked, and which ones you tried and, dang it, they were a bust.
Love you guys!
COMMENT #49
I’m pretty new to quilting so my perspective is maybe not the most helpful. However, a few thoughts:
– There are a million places to find easy how-tos for beginners so I’d aim definitely higher and write for a more experienced quilter.
– Modern trends in quilting (I got into it because I started discovering all the amazing things people were doing with modern fabrics and designs) – round up of color schemes or new patterns that are popping up everywhere.
– Ideas for organizing your space and keeping on top of projects, quilters are a prolific group and seem to have multiple irons in the fire at all times
– Quilt patterns that aren’t specific to one fabric line. Those seem to pop up a lot in online tutorials but I’d rather not be constrained to buying a specific line to complete a pattern. Plus a demonstration of how the finished look of a pattern can vary wildly with different fabrics (it would be great if you could show images of a pattern in multiple fabrics/ color schemes!)
– I’d be interested in a quilting series that ties in with trends in decorating. Take a popular/ trendy decorating style and show quilt patterns that would work well, ie. mid-century modern inspired, eclectic/bohemian, minimalist. Maybe do interviews with interior designers and have them select quilts that would match their top ten trends/rooms.
– It would be fun to have a tiny “disaster area” feature where people could share what went wrong. I’m sure it’s not just beginners like me who sometimes go horribly wrong with their sewing machine adventures, its fun – and encouraging – to laugh about our mistakes with others!
– Also, have a bloggers corner where you could invite popular (or newcomer) bloggers to write an article. Its such a large part of media now, it would be smart to keep in touch with that aspect even when you’re working in a different form.
– One more (I got a bit carried away, huh?) – adventurous projects that use quilting techniques to make things other than quilts. From my christmas projects, I’m thinking of the car CD holder that I used binding on, or the quilted cushion top, or the zipper pouches that used paper piecing but I’m sure you could come up with much more exciting ideas. As a fairly new sewer, all of those techniques were ones I picked up looking through quilting sites to learn how-to quilt.
COMMENT #50
Congratulations! Looking forward to the first print! How about showcasing a different quilt blogger each issue. Not someone famous necessarily, but one of us every day reader folk?
COMMENT #51
The first time I saw a Gammill quilting machine, I was stunned. I don’t like the quilting step and when this machine could do this for me, it opened up my world and my stored-up quilting passion. Quilting grabbed me when I was young even though nobody I knew was a quilter. I was a fiber artist in high school (1970), had to put this aside to make a living and am now recently retired. I am bored to death with patterns, but would love a quilt design challenge now and then. I’m also a big fan of Heather Thomas and hope that you will feature her in your magazine. She raised a daughter solo on her quilting talents and it wasn’t easy! (www.wildheatherdesign.com). So there’s two ideas. I also find that I am a fabric-a-holic (no joke) and have a serious problem with not buying fabric. I made 30 quilts last year and plan to make more in 2012. Most are original designs. Still, I have no idea what to make of this modern quilting thing. There seems to be a serious generation gap between old and young quilters. Another idea–bridging this gap. I look forward to your magazine!!!
COMMENT #
30 quilts?! Lady, you are amazing. Can I be you when I grow up? Great ideas to bridge the gap and feature designers.
COMMENT #52
I’m so excited for ya’ll. I’m sure the offspring will be BEAUTIFUL! 🙂 I would love to see a magazine full of inspiring photos of people using their quilts in everyday ways. Maybe even everyday people. I imagine photos submitted by readers/subscribers…mama pushing her stroller in the spring with a colorful baby quilt over the baby….a picnic with the family, on a quilt… a quilt being hung on the line after a real washing…kids making a fort out of quilts…You get the “picture”:) Maybe there would be a contest each month. I dunno. Just throwing it out there!:) You guys are obviously feeding off of each other’s energy. I love it! I feel like I’m a bystander in a live recording of “Friends” with quilts.
COMMENT #53
My favorite things to read are generally about the design process. I don’t tend to follow patterns, but design most of my own quilts or toss them together after seeing something similar online that fires me up. Designing and how awesome people come up with what to do is just the bee’s knees to me! I can always learn something from a designer just talking about their process.
COMMENT #54
Let’s see…what would I like to see? Mixing of fabrics – not using only one line or one designer in a quilt. Reviews of books and notions that haven’t been sponsored all over quilt-land. Home dec objects and other things I will use. Quilt spaces, from the tiny corner up to the spare bedroom, with pieces found and scavenged instead of sponsored by a sewing studio company. Creative notions/storage solutions. Real quilts – no photoshop tricks. Full-on photos, not artful draping where I can’t see the blocks. Best new apps for my iphone/ipad. Actual printed paper. I don’t seem to connect to on-line mags in the same way. No recipies. If I want food I can find that elsewhere.
COMMENT #55
I really like seeing unique and spunky projects, fabric, blogs and guest postings, using cool materials and colors and patterns in projects, getting useful tips, and anything that saves time and money! I really liked your take on the quilting show and the guest posts you’ve had. I think you are on the right track. If it helps, what I don’t like as much (which I haven’t seen here, so good) are patterns all the time, seeing projects which are gorgeous but unattainable on my time and money budget, and anything Thimbleberries. Or Sunbonnet Sue, unless it was some sort of zombie quilt for Halloween.
COMMENT #56
I love to see traditional quilt patterns done in modern fabrics. I want to see quilts that make my jaw drop and then the instructions on how to make it myself. I’d also love to see home dec items, bags, and accessories ~ stuff that crafters can make for themselves and enjoy every day.
COMMENT #57
How exciting. I can’t wait to subscribe. Sign me up! I just a wrote a long comment but it disappeared so here goes again:
Here is what a crazy pattern designer/artist/seamster/mama/modern sewist wants:
Riffs on a theme. Each issue exploring linkages between the modern sewing/crafting movement and other related topics which naturally tie in together. For example: exploring the awesome Southern (Alabama) architecture of Rural Studio and relating it to the sewing from Alabama such as the Gee’s Bend artists. OR each issue you could pick one WORLD textile to explore and then relate to an inspiration in contemporary fabrics: a Wes African textile, a mirrored fabric from Bangladesh, a silk sari factory in India. OR you could gather experts such as psychologists and cultural anthropologists to map and explore the socio-emotional underpinnings of the modern craft movement. Why do we crave it now? Why is it so BACK? Has contemporary life become so fractured that we crave connection and community or is it something larger than that? Is it a collective self-soothing or just plain fun? OR what about exploring a particular icon in fabric design (toile, stripes, houndstooth, damask, polka dots) and track it back to the first versions of that motif, explore the history of that element and then show it in modern usage….
I could keep going on and on but I am afraid I am going to get kicked out by the comment box….hurrah for Gen Q! I believe in you!
COMMENT #58
I’m new to the whole “social media” thing….I had to join in the fun in order to keep up with my adult children (twenty something year olds)……I kind of know what a blog is….I see references for these things regarding many quilty pleasures….but really could use a “how-to” lesson to access these wonderful things. It would be wonderful if you could address just how you join an online quilting group…..or how do you find all those great blogs…..I think that would be perfect in a modern quilting magazine 🙂
COMMENT #59
First of all, I absolutely loved the magazine you all came here from. It was the only magazine I actually READ from cover to cover – all the articles, etc. Every other quilt magazine I buy just for the patterns.. So you were doing something right there!! I think your new e-zine should definitely have humor (hooray for Megan!) and great designs, but some other things I’d like to see are tips for good blog photography, and maybe something highlighting quilt stores in different towns so that when we travel we may already know a great place to stop off for a little fabric therapy! There’s lots of great ideas in everyone else’s comments, too…….
COMMENT #60
We design with solid brain research behind our colors and graphics that can stimulate brain synapse growth and intelligence. Surrounding young children in visually stimulating environments promotes curiosity, which can lengthen the child’s attention span.
Besides quilts, I like to make room decor with our lines which are suitable for babies through pre-teens as well as contemporary fabric lovers of all ages. Currently, I’m designing 3-D wall decor objects as well as lamp shades with our “Grammie & Mimi’s Baby Geniuses Speak Up!” line. My suggestion for you is to include projects aimed at providing parents and childcare givers ideas to increase their children’s brain synapses; more synapses formed in the first 5 years of life equal higher intelligence. Specific colors and graphics have been found to grab infants’ attention, and these should be used where the child spends a great deal of time, as well as wear on his/her person. Older kids desk and homework areas can be accessorized with our fabric covered pen/pencil holders, mouse pads, photo frames and organizer boxes. They also can lounge on their accessory pillows for chairs and beds. Cafe curtained windows and panel wall hangings can provide language experience springboards for primary school aged children, too.
Feel free to browse my blog for more brain enhancing clothing, accessories and quilting projects at: http://babygeniusesfabric.blogspot.com
Linda “Grammie” Carlson
COMMENT #61
Hi! I’m “Grammie,” co-designer of “Grammie & Mimi’s Baby Geniuses!” fabrics by Benartex. Love your new lifestyle concepts. Keep up the good work!
We design our “Grammie & Mimi’s Baby Geniuses!” fabric lines with solid brain research behind the chosen colors and graphics that have been shown to enhance brain synapse growth during the first 3 to 5 years, as well as non-juvenile motifs that appeal to pre-teens and contemporary fabric lovers alike. My suggestion is to provide articles and fabric projects for parents, teachers and caregivers to make or do with children that promote curiosity thereby increasing the child’s attention span, which can translate into higher intelligence. Saturate a child’s environment with visually stimulating room and accessory decor. Recently, my projects are 3-D wall art, cafe curtains, fabric covered lamps, wall panel quilts, accessory chair and bed pillows, desk items and organizing boxes. Pre-teens involved in 4-H, Girl and Boy Scout organizations are always ready to create useful items by hand or with a sewing machine with supervision. Feel free to browse my blog: http://babygeniusesfabric.blogspot.com for more ideas.
Linda “Grammie” Carlson
COMMENT #62
I would like to see seasonal trends, upcoming fabric lines, interviews with designers, and info or projects on fabric design.
COMMENT #63
O.K., here goes…How about some photos of modern sewing projects (not just quilts) along with ideas for Home Decor?
If you need patterns, why not more of this variety, quick projects we could easily do in a day or two and actually start using. (I’m thinking pot holders, kitchen towels, calendar art, wall coverings, couch ‘back’, (you know, the lap quilts that can live on the back of the couch until they’re needed, but add some color and pizazz), aprons, mug rugs, pillows.
Call me if you need/want some ideas.
After reading the list of comments=some great ones BTW-I have asuggestion. This might be ‘sacreligious’but, how about showing ‘designs/ in black and white and tones of grey? This way, no particular fabric ‘l0ne’ is shown for the design, but the pattern will come through in light/dark placement. Then, the readers that actually make the pattern could submit their photos.
Hugs,
Vicki
COMMENT #64
Flamingo…..not cute
Story of writing participants,,,,not interested
Pictures of your families…..keep to yourself
paying for is site…..not happening
COMMENT #65
I would really love to see hints, tips, or how-to’s on Color Theory for quilters. The color thing stumps me! How much is TOO much in regards to fabric pattern and color in a single quilt?
COMMENT #66
I always enjoy a funny story at the end of a magazine. It really makes me look forward to reading the entire thing as I don’t skip around.
COMMENT #67
Hooray for you! No matter how much time I spend online, gazing at fabric, reading blogs, sharing comments, being inspired, for me there is nothing that takes the place of sitting down with a magazine. It’s almost like sitting down with a friend, taking time together, considering a subject or an idea or a worry for as long as we like. Sometimes moving on to something else–a bit frillier or sillier, maybe–then winding our way back to a previous topic, like turning back the pages to look again at that rug that would be a great quilt pattern, or to read one more time the quote that made us reconsider our New Year’s resolutions.
I don’t have a concrete suggestion, a “Do this” or “Steer clear of that”. But I hope your magazine will have the feel of friends coming for a visit, noting that it’s not always about being absolutely comfortable but sometimes is also about saying, “Hey, have you thought of this?” or, “Guess what I just learned! Turns out not everyone agrees with us about…” (pre-washing fabric? gay marriage? mixed media art? Whatever. ). Come to me in a spirit of sharing and I’ll be happy to learn something new. It doesn’t have to be all Happy Talk like a morning chat show. We’re big girls (and guys) and can share real life stories. My dilemma is not, “How do I make time in my perfect life for one more source of unending happiness?”, it is more like, “I’m torn between responsibilities around the house and my deep-down longing to ignore them and be creative right this minute”. How do other quilters balance?
I would be happy to read about what it’s like to be a quilter in the UK, Germany, France, Japan, etc. Cost of fabric, availability of patterns, books, classes–I’m curious about all of those things. What are the trends, who are the stars, how do they view the U.S. quilting scene?
Okay, I’ve rattled on long enough. Thanks for asking for our input, which is very much in the spirit of my hopes for the Gen Q magazine. Now I’m going to read everyone else’s suggestions and be impressed with the community who gathers here.
I’d also love to see photos of beautiful fabric.
COMMENT #68
It would be interesting to read a review of the fabric trends and product releases of the next quilt market from a strictly GenQ perspective. Who is breaking out in the world of quilting (modern and contemporary) — for practical quilts that are used every day. Art quilts are nice yet I’m a practical person that wants beautiful quilts that are used, loved, and can be washed in a home washing machine. Thanks for listening.
COMMENT #69
You all have to keep doing what you are doing on this website in the magazine. We need a hip, bright, magazine that addresses the Modern Quilt movement. What are the pattern, fabric, thread, and book companies doing for this group? What are the trends in the Modern movement? Maybe even feature different quilt guilds who are advancing the modern movement. Let’s hear from the artists who are making these quilts! And please, please, keep up the humor. It is much more exciting to read a magazine by people who love what they are doing and add humor!
Thanks for you daily postings!
Deborah B.
Harrison Twp, MI
COMMENT #70
I like the idea of taking where you are and taking steps out from there; projects that provide various methodologies for advancement for beginners through advanced sewists, trends and new skills needed to try them. I am also a mother and tend to make things that are functional. That doesn’t mean I don’t want them to beautiful though. Also, I like projects that you can’t find ALL OVER THE INTERNET! It bothers me when magazines post patterns or projects that you can find all over the cyberworld for free.
COMMENT #71
How to get organized in a regular home, not a big fancy studio room. I have a spare room now, but only had a part of a bedroom/study in the past and before that a corner of the family room. The beds already have boxes under them and the closets are full. The room I have now has other things to store in it, so I don’t have the whole room. I bet lots of quilters have storage problems. I think if I can get organized I might feel like I could take time to quilt. Also how to find time to quilt. I have been thinking about the statement you all made ” that our quilting and sewing needs to be fun or there is no reason to do it”. I think I’m at the “not fun” but “just want to/need to” it stage right now (busy and messy right now). I think if I could quilt it would be fun! I like to sew, so I’m not giving it all up. I’ve got lots of projects started and I want to work on free-motion quilting, but I need some space to do it.
COMMENT #72
As a new quilter, I like simple, easy to read and understand instructions. I like to see colorful fabric, used in ways that spark your imagination. Close up pics are VERY helpful! Links to web pages for fabric and new gadgets are great too. Also, I want to be sure that the fabric you use is available for purchase, and not “coming soon”. That is very frustrating!
COMMENT #73
while the quilting porn is very important to us and what drives us to buy a magazine in the first place, many of us really do appreciate the articles! Most of the magazines are all patterns (not to mention patterns that we have seen before, just using different fabrics.) When we are not quilting and need to go to an appointment or to bed and need a bit of reading, let it be quilt-related! Add some humor and editorials and you have my attention! Best of luck – looking forward to it!