Ana Paula Rímoli is the creative mind behind Amigurumi World and Amigurumi Two! Read on to see how she comes up with these quirky, adorable toys.

When you were growing up in Montevideo, Uruguay, your neighbor Marta taught you to crochet. How old were you and what was the first thing you made?

I was about six or seven years old. A lot of us kids were always playing outside in the summer, and Marta was always crocheting, so we asked her to teach us! The first things I made were a scarf and a teeny blanket for my dolls.

(more…)

We’re excited to bring you this entertaining interview with Debby Kratovil, the author of Quilter’s Block-a-Day Calendar and its companion CD, as well as the recently released Supersize ’Em!

How were you first introduced to quilting?

I’ve always had a love for sewing, and when my daughters were very young I took notice of quilts (early 1980s). Since we didn’t have much money, purchasing one was out of the question. I knew how to sew and began to make small projects using simple patterns in magazines and books. (more…)

This month we have a fascinating interview with Kathleen Tracy to share with you! As quilters everywhere know, she’s the author of American Doll Quilts, Prairie Children and Their Quilts, and her newest book, Remembering Adelia.

Your first two books, American Doll Quilts and Prairie Children and Their Quilts, have been very well received. How did you first become interested in antique quilts?

I became interested in quilts in the ’80s, but didn’t actually start quilting until 2000. I came to appreciate small, primitive, antique quilts with their childlike charm, and I bought numerous small reproduction quilts for decorating purposes.

I’d always been interested in needlecrafts but didn’t begin quilting until after my daughter was born and I started making small quilts for her dolls. Doll quilts of the past inspired me with their simplicity and primitive scrap looks. They seemed easy enough for me to master. (more…)

Mary M. Covey is the author of the popular Follow-the-Line Quilting Designs, which is now in three volumes, soon to be four. She recently gave us an inspiring interview, including a great way to machine quilt with a three-year-old!

How did you first get the quilting bug?

I had always wanted to learn, because I love antique quilts. When my children went to school, I had more free time, so I took a quilting class and was just hooked! (more…)

Rose Hughes is the author of Dream Landscapes: Artful Quilts with Fast-Piece Appliqué, which was released in October 2008. She’s an accomplished quilt artist, teacher, writer, and curator. We took the time to talk with her the other day, and she gave us a delightful interview!

The quilts in your new book, Dream Landscapes, use your Fast-Piece Appliqué technique to capture the flowing, sensuous lines in nature. What is Fast-Piece Appliqué?

It’s a form of machine appliqué that makes it easy to sew curves, circles, and other shapes in our quilts. People are amazed when they take my class; they see curves and circles but are thrilled that there are no curved seams. Simple straight stitching makes it really easy. When students design their own pieces, at first they hold back and don’t use curves and spirals, but then they find out how easy these are to stitch.

Fast-Piece Appliqué is so easy, the sewing is the fastest part. Picking the fabric takes the longest, but it’s also a fun part of the design process. In Dream Landscapes, the instructions tell you what colors you need and give you a real guide, so the projects in the book go very fast. (more…)

Nine Patch Media and Martingale & Company have paired up to bring instructional quilting DVDs to your favorite quilt shop. Nine Patch Media, based out of Vancouver Island, Canada, will release 18 DVDs over the next 18 months in their “Quilters’ Schoolhouse” DVD series. The DVDs will make their debut at Quilt Market in Houston at the end of the month. The series includes DVDs from authors like Sharon Pederson, Carol Doak, and Karla Alexander.

Look for these high-quality DVDs at your local independent quilt shop soon!

Gigi Knits…and Purls author Karen Thalacker is in the news, talking about the process of writing Gigi, and the world of knitting. Check out the article, and learn more about Karen and Gigi, at the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.

Learn more about Gigi Knits…and Purls:

Martingale & Company authors are a busy lot, and when they’re not writing books they can be found teaching, lecturing on cruises, writing articles for magazines, or appearing in local newspapers.

Our authors have been especially busy writing articles and designing projects for the new crop of fall magazines issues. Mixed media artist and paper stitcher Catherine Matthews-Scanlon has article in the September issue of The Quilter Magazine. The article reviews several brands of inkjet-printable fabric sheets. Catherine tested four leading products, and details her procedure and results in this enlightening article. Catherine recently published Art from the Heart: Mixed-Media Collage, a gorgeous book perfect for anyone interested in paper and altered arts, assemblage, and collage.

Learn more about Art from the Heart. Look for both Art from the Heart and Love of Quilting at your favorite independent quilt, fabric, or art supply retailer.

Also featured in the same issue of The Quilter Magazine is  longtime Martingale & Company author Carol Doak. The queen of paper-piecing herself, Carol’s best-selling book Easy, Reversible Vests has been updated with new block patterns and new fabrics. The brand-new, revised edition of this favorite will be available in September.

The project Carol designed for September’s The Quilter, “At the Shore,” is the perfect late summer project.

Learn more about Easy, Reversible Vests. You can find The Quilter Magazine at your favorite independent quilt or fabric retailer, and look for Easy, Reversible Vests in September!

Martingale & Company authors are a busy lot, and when they’re not writing books they can be found teaching, lecturing on cruises, writing articles for magazines, or appearing in local newspapers.

This month, two of our authors have hit newsstands. Graphic Designer and quilt designer Cyndi Walker has a new quilt in the July/August issue of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting. “Glory Days” is a patriotic-themed quilt that’s perfect for summer. Cyndi recently published Spotlight on Scraps, a gorgeous book filled with colorful, fun quilts that are also perfect projects for warm days.

Learn more about Spotlight on Scraps. You can find both Spotlight on Scraps and Love of Quilting at your favorite local quilt or fabric retailer.

Rose Hughes is a teacher and fiber artist. Her upcoming book, Dream Landscapes, will be released in October and Rose has a feature article in the June/July issue of Quilting Arts Magazine. Rose’s quilts are striking examples of quilt art with bold colors, embellishment, and graphic lines.

Learn more about Dream Landscapes. You can find both Dream Landscapes and Quilting Arts Magazine at your favorite local quilt or fabric retailer.

Retta Warehime
On-Point Quilts

You’ve been the author of several quilt books since 1995! Where did you get the inspiration for your book On-Point Quilts?

You know, it was going to be a dessert book! My inspiration comes from my love of working on-point. On-point settings are just more interesting and can change the whole look of a quilt.

What motivated you to become a quilter?

I worked at the Quilting Bee, where I taught classes. It was there that I met Debbie Mumm. We worked together, she encouraged me to publish, and we always got booths across from each other at Quilt Market. In fact, 21 years ago at Quilt Market was when I first met Nancy Martin, who asked me to write a book.

(more…)