One, small
"Dove
Descending"
quilt is for sale!
This stained-glass quilt
is made
with Rinda's
special applique technique
and
is hand-quilted
with gold thread.
Click on the quilt
graphic
above right
to see this mini quilt
in progress.
To inquire about
this piece (photos will be sent) or to
commission Rinda's fabric art,
e-mail: rindambyers@hotmail.com
Well
Scribed Words |
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QUOTES: Children and
Books Writing Creativity
CRAFT LINKS FOR FABRIC
ARTS:
Stained
Glass/Stained Glass Quilt Links:
Chantal's Websites: Probably the most extensive list of
free, small, stained glass patterns on the Internet. These work well
for quilts. See her excellent drawing tutorials and pattern
resizing hints (also useful for designing your own quilt
patterns). Also a special, stained glass Google search!
Vintage
Stained Glass: Many photographs of vintage stained glass
pieces.
Chartres Cathedral: See the photo gallery.
Medieval stained glass in this cathedral inspires my own stained
glass quilts, although I have never seen the cathedral in
person. Official site in French, with focus on
restoration work, and some nice window closeups (loads
slowly).
Vector Pattern-Making: Excellent tutorial.Teaches
you how to use the basics of a vector drawing program to make
patterns for stained glass or stained glass quilts. Here is a
vector drawing freeware.
Stained Glass Quilt Tutorial: The "traditional"
technique!
(I invented my own stained-glass quilting technique
and do not use this method.) Other tutorials are here and here.
Quilting Links:
About.com:
Extensive quilting site, a good place to start for the
beginner. Run by Janet Wickell. Friendly forum where you can
ask questions, share information. Full of free patterns, techniques,
and links to other quilting resources. Loads somewhat slowly,
commercialized, but still very useful.
Block
Central: Extensive directory of useful quilting links with
a heavy emphasis on free block patterns and free quilt projects. You
can even write reviews of your favorites! Takes a bit of extra
clicking to get to the actual patterns.
SoftExpressions: Run by Sharla Hicks. Start
educating yourself about quilts and computers here! Demo and free
quilting software downloads. Ratings and reviews, a dense site, but
a true "Bible" of what's new in quilting tools, books, software,
and quilt-related merchandise.Online store. Newsletter,
FAQ's. Somewhat confusing interface. Go to site
map, first.
Bubble Jet:
A product used for inexpensive inkjet fabric printing. Makes great
fabric photos! Extensive help in using this product for quilting
projects is here, at quilter Carol Bryer
Fallert's site-- also worth a visit for its many quilt design
tips.
American Quilt
Society: Inexpensive to join. Drool over their contest winners!
Publishes top-quality quilting book. Useful links to the websites of
many professional quilters/quilting teachers.
International
Quilt Association: The best of the best quilts today! Includes
photos of top winners in the International Quilt Festival, their
commercial affiliate. Find out how to enter their shows and
contests.
Quilters Newsletter Magazine: My favorite quilting
magazine. Highlights art quilts, with an extensive "Ultimate
Products Showcase" of quilt-related products and some pattern and
technique freebies. The source for three other magazines for new and
intermediate quilters, with additional free, online features.
Helen Kelley: I enjoy Helen Kelley's
"Loose Threads" column. Her book, "Scarlet Ribbons," is still the definitive work for
Native American ribbon patchwork. A master quilter--very
original! (My maternal grandmother is part Chickasaw.)
Native American Star Quilts: Short historical
article. A short list of Native American, star quilt makers here. Many links in both sites.
Tibetian
Applique: The unusual, and little-known to Western
quilters, method of applique used for Tibetan silk thangkas. Lovely
details on the intricate technique. This site influenced the
development of my own, unique applique method that I use for
my stained-glass quilts. (Note: My father traveled through
Tibet and down through Burma in 1948 and 1949.)
Kaffe Fassett: No free patterns here but site contains
photos of quilts and fabrics showing this designer's incredible
color abilities. Showcases his books and fabrics (obtain books
easily through your local library). Note that some of his fabric
designs are produced by a free-trade weaving cooperative in India.
His work has influenced my own stained-glass quilting
techniques.
General
Links:
Lacis: The top place to go for reprints of antique
needlework books! Vast collection, rich resource. Irish crochet
resources. Other hard-to-find, needleworking supplies sold
here.
Rag
Rugs: Includes techniques for all types of simple rag rugs
and floor cloths. How to make a darling "Nettie" doll! Extensive
free information.
Lace Fairy: Portal site, with
extensive links and much free information about all sorts
of laces--even wire lace! Very educational.
Thai Ethnic Textiles: Commercial site with antique
textiles (sadly) for sale. However, you can view larger photos of
textiles made by and for Thai ethnic groups such as the Mien (many
of whom now live near my home town, Chiang Kham, in northern
Thailand, by the Laotian border). Includes items made with applique,
embroidery, and weaving. You can see the influence of these
intricate textiles on my own stained-glass quilting style. View
the small photo gallery on Laos and Thailand (see bottom of page).
Also, the site includes photos of many gorgeous textiles from
other countries.
Underground Railroad Quilts: Find out the facts about
the big, Underground Railroad "Quilt Code" controversy and why such
quilts probably never existed! Extensive resource, with many links
and articles, pro and con.
African-American Quilts: The quilts of Gee's Bend, with
a small selection of quilt photos. Read all about these unusually
creative and fascinating quilts!
Doug's Woodworking: View Doug's one-of-a-kind
woodworking projects, many containing unusual woods. He takes
commissions!
Textile Museums/Collectors:
The Textile Museum of Canada: Unusually generous in its
online exhibition photos. Offers a mix of modern and traditional
textile arts. Photos load quickly.
Lacis Museum:
Generous photos of online exhibits, though slow loading. I
love hand-made laces, though most are far to expensive for me to
collect.
SCA:
The Society for Creative Anachronism. Dedicated to
"researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th century
Europe." Members' websites are rich in free information on textiles,
laces, sewing, and embroidery of this period--with a lot of
clicking! One of the best is here.
The Costumer's Manifesto: Portal site, huge list
of links, fascinating. Includes many nice textile links. Great
resource for writers of historical fiction!
Directory of Quilt Museums: A small
but rich list. Main site contains historical information that is not
always accurate. Good quilt history site overall but evaluate site
material carefully on your own.
CRAFT LINKS FOR
CHILDREN, FAMILIES, CLASSROOMS:
Making
Friends: Commercial site for children's crafts, with an
online store, but contains a luxurious amount of free
patterns, free printables, free how-to's, etc. I love
their pony bead patterns! Crafts for Bible
classes, also. Crafts from recycled materials. Be aware
that craft supplies are a bit over-priced in their online
store.
Chadis Crafts: Somewhat confusing
interface here but tons of free craft techniques and patterns
for children. Jewish and Bible class crafts. Funky, fun. Great
for summer camp ideas!
Bolek's. The ONLY place to
by pony beads online as well as other inexpensive craft
supplies in bulk. Online catalog loads slowly. I prefer to
order their free catalog by snail mail for enjoyable,
leisurely perusal!
Craftbits: Commercial site but
contains a huge list of free craft ideas for children, many
very inexpensive to do and some from recycled materials.
About.com Family Crafts: With a lot of
advertising, somewhat slow-loading, but lists many clever,
inexpensive craft ideas. A large number of paper crafts.
A lovely "trash to treasures" list of craft
ideas made from recycled materials.
Plastic Bottle Whirligig: A few more
wacky ideas for crafts made from recycled "junk." Irresitable!
Some need adult supervision.
Imagination
Factory: Try the Trash Matcher, specific crafts matched to
specific, throw-away materials. I love non-profit sites
like this!
Children's Craft Directory: Portal
site. Convenient and huge list of sites with free craft ideas
for children. Evaluate each site carefully. Not all
sites respect copyrights, especially copyrights of child
creators.
Toymaker: Free printable toys to cut
and fold! Cute, sweet designs.
Jan Brett:
Over 3,000 crafts and activities from this artist alone!
Most are paper crafts that tie in with this talented artist's
picture books, but all are beautifully designed. Teachers LOVE
this site! Rare, rich site from a picture book creator. Few
author/illustrators of picture books offer this kind of
no-cost wealth online!
Making Books: Excellent introduction
for children to the art of hand-made books. Small list of
simple, free, book ideas and instructions. Links,
also.
Paper Bag Book: How to make a book out
of a paper bag! Lots of fun.
Stretch Fabric Book Cover: Easy sewing
project for teens. Try with stretch velvet or glitter
fabric--gorgeous!
No-Sew Fur Book Cover: Especially fun
for teens. Easy! Try also denim, velvet, vinyls, and
lightweight upholstery fabric. Then add glue-on plastic
jewels, etc. Use Aleene's inexpensive, nontoxic
glues, highly recommended (her site also contains free
embellishment projects).
Artists Helping Children: Portal site.
Huge number of craft links-- wonderful! Origami and paper
folding links. Many free, home-made craft recipes.
PaperSnowflakes: Confusing interface,
with lots of advertising, intermingling commercial and
non-profit site links, but with many free printables and
interesting links. Evaluate links carefully. However, site
contains very clear instructions for cutting paper
snowflakes!
Sculpy: This commercial site has free,
detailed instructions for use of their polymer clays (or try
home-made clay recipes) with "differently-abled children."
Also contains excellent tutorials for teens and adults for
working with polymer
clays.
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