{book it} Art in Felt and Stitch

Moy Mackay’s work is breathtaking and includes still-lifes, animals and landscapes inspired by the dramatic scenery of the Scottish Borders where she lives and works.

In her new book, Art in Felt and Stitch, Moy takes readers through every step of the process, including the materials and tools needed, the feltmaking process itself (which is easier than you might imagine), and how to put together four fabulous felt paintings. There is guidance on stitching, including both hand- and machine-stitching, as well as how to use color and introduce texture in the form of different fibers and threads.

Available from Search Press USA.

{in the know} Get “Quilts of Valor” on Your TV

“Quilts of Valor,” a 73-minute documentary starring national quilters Eleanor Burns, Alex Anderson, and Mark Lipinski and hosted by Marianne Fons, has just been made available to all public television stations nationwide by its producer, Iowa Public Television. To make sure this unique and compelling program is aired on your local station, contact your station’s programming department and ask it to schedule the show.

For help in finding your local station, go to http://www.pbs.org. Contact your station via email, phone message, or personal note to let them know you want to watch “Quilts of Valor.” It will be available May 22, 2012.

{promo} Bag it for Mother’s Day

Are you hosting any special Mother’s Day promotions or events? It’s a great holiday for handmade gifts–what mother doesn’t love something made just for her?!

Here are a few of our favorites, both new and not-so-new, in the purse and handbag category. Whether your customers are looking to make wallets or clutches or over-the-shoulder bags, independent designers have the patterns just for them.

PATTERNS: 1. Cash and Carry Wallet from Atkinson Design 2. Cancun Clutch from Pink Sand Beach Designs 3. The Classic Minaudiere from Ellen Medlock Studio.

4. Urban Tote from Indygo Junction 5. Carolina Carryall from StudioKat Designs
6. Abby Bag from V and Co.

BOOKS: Released in 2011, Bags: the Modern Classics (Stash Books/C&T Publishing) by Sue Kim includes how-to and patterns for 19 projects with plenty of tips for making each project unique. Lisa Lam‘s The Bag Making Bible, published in 2010, is considered by many to be the resource for bag construction, whether you are making a small wallet, a market tote, a handbag or a Weekender.

{look-out} The Fuzzy Duckling from Quilting Treasures

Using images from the classic Little Golden Book, The Fuzzy Duckling, Quilting Treasures has created a new fabric collection with eleven prints and a large panel.
The fabric is available from Quilting Treasures for shipping in mid-November. Look out for their Poky Little Puppy and Little Golden Book Classics fabrics, as well.

{look-out} Marmalade by Bonnie & Camille

photo via Simplify/Camille Roskelley