Inspiring Quilting: Elly's blog to boost your creative IQ

Happy Earth Day! To those who made comments on the posts of April 12 and 20: YOU’VE ALL WON a FREE copy of my book, UNFORGETTABLE TOTE BAGS! Email me–ELevie@comcast.net with your name and mailing address. If you do not live in the contiguous United States, we’ll “talk.”

I’m so proud to share designs by this amazing collection of quilting celebrities. And I know YOU’ll be so proud of yourself and the bag you’ll make using the ideas and inspiration in this book. This is one bag you won’t forget when you go shopping, ‘cause it’ll be, well, unforgettable!

Let me tell you, I’ve had books published by AQS, Martingale, Harry Abrams, Workman Press, Rodale, and more. But in keeping with the green theme of this book, I just had to self-publish it, choosing a top-quality green printer in the US that used recycled paper and non-toxic inks. I’m really glad I did it my way, the green way.

I gotta confess, though, I had to dip deep into my savings to do it.  It was hard, and I don’t expect to come close to breaking even. Soooo I hope you don’t mind my suggesting some ways you might thank me for this gift— only if you like it, of course!

•    Write a review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Tote-Bags-Celebrity-Quilters/product-reviews/0615317502/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

•    Ask your local or regional quilt guilds and quilt shops to check out my presentations:https://www.eleanorlevie.com/speaker-topics.php
and workshops: https://www.eleanorlevie.com/speaker-topics.php
and invite me in for an unforgettable program. I’ll work with neighboring groups to schedule trips that keep the travel expenses affordable for everybody.

•     Buy this book—and other books-—from my website. Good prices, great gifts, and personally autographed for you or the person at the receiving end of your gift. If you’re a sewing, quilting, or art teacher, why not teach a tote bag class—or series of classes!? Contact me for incredible prices on books in multiple for all your students.

•     Stay in touch! Keep me–and all of us–green, smart, and on-trend or ahead of the curve!  Share your news and views. Bookmark my quilting blog, “like” my Facebook page, Inspiring Quilting. And watch for my next book, Quilt Blocks Go Wild!, coming out in August.

With all the best from me and Mother Earth!

Grabbing another chance to share some of the highlights of Fiber Philadelphia 2012–still going on in many venues. Just in time for Earth Day on Sunday, I’m shining light on a few innovative works by artists who celebrate nature with wit and innovation.

And you, dear reader, get to grab another chance at my giveaway: On Earth Day, April 22, I’ll be giving away 22 of my make-it-green collection of Unforgettable Tote Bags: 20 designs too cool to leave in the car. With designs by Virginia Avery, Karen Eckmeier, Kaffe Fassett and Liza Lucy, Diane Gaudynski,  Judy Hooworth, Jean Ray Laury,  Lonni Rossi,  Jane Sassaman, Susan Shie, and me, you’ll be getting a lot of ways to avoid paper, plastic, or those made-in-China mystery-fiber reusable grocery bags. Me, I invariably carry a hand-made tote bag that doubles as purse and carry-all. To check it out, click here. To get in on the deal, leave a comment on this blog!

On to eco-friendly fiberart. First up, friendly fauna in diminutive crochet, by Carol Eckert. These delightful pieces in cotton over wire are on view at the Wexler Gallery in Philly; Silent Invocations and Snakes for Fish:

From fauna to flora, get a load of “Leaf Fall, Fragments var. 3” by Barbara J. Schneider—photo transfer on fabric. It’s a stunner among the Art Quilts Elements master works at the Wayne Art Center:

You want flowers? Joan Dreyer, whose work was on view at the Crane, made the light and lyrical Still Life/Daisies. Look closely and guess what those petals are made from…

Were you able to sink your teeth into that challenge? They are dental X-rays, darlings!

Finally, above, a word to live by. This is “Chance Encounter,” by Gyongy Laky, part of the instructors’ exhibit at the Crane. Fiber was never as expansively defined—or as exciting—as it was at this venue.  You want more recognizable  forms of fiber—something closer to quilting? Enter the giveaway and get inspired to make an Unforgettable Tote Bag. Just leave a comment here: What do you think of these pieces? How are you going green in your creative expression?