Dear Friends--

Show of hands: how many noticed there was no December issue? Hmmm.

I didn't have time to write it, and probably many of you didn't have time to read it. Because my life is so hectic with deadline pressure from three quilt magazines and serving as president of the nonprofit Alliance for American Quilts, I'm making some changes. I love writing this newsletter and won't quit, but I'm altering the focus so it actually gets out each month.

I'm dropping the Cox Quilt Shop Index, which I enjoyed doing. But it was time-consuming badgering all the shops for numbers every month and I think we can agree the retail economy has finally turned up, however slowly. If you want to read business reporting and analysis about quilting, you should subscribe to the Fab Shop News, which prints my Trade Talk column (you don't need to be a quilt shop or a member to get the magazine).

I'm going to make this e-news more personal, pithy and opinionated. Expect breaking news about the quilt world and reviews of quilt shows, books, tools, personalities and websites that excite me. I'll continue to share news about my own activities.

PINCH ME: MY FIRST QUILT SHOW

It's not false modesty for me to say that I'm a pretty ordinary quilter. I quilt for joy not prizes and never, ever expected someone to mount a show of my quilts.

But there it is: the Princeton Public Library has just hung an art show on the second floor that includes nine of my quilts alongside paintings by local artist Pamela Kogen. We both prefer very bright colors, so it's a perfect winter show. My dreams of making a bunch of new quilts didn't fully pan out, but I did manage to finish a photo quilt about Princeton, both the town and campus. The photos include some I took in 2001, when the historic Battle of Princeton -- George Washington's vital victory against the Brits -- was re-enacted where it occurred.

If you are anywhere near Princeton, I hope you'll stop by and see the show, which will be hanging until April. There will be a reception/lecture featuring me and Pamela on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.

2010 QUILT CONTEST FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN QUILTS

When board members of the nonprofit Alliance found out what we're awarding as the grand prize for this year's quilt contest, some asked if they couldn't, please, just go off the board for a spell. You see, board members can't win prizes and all of us lust after this one: the HQ Sixteen sit-down quilting machine from Handi Quilter Inc. This awesome mid-arm sells for about $5,000 and is beloved by art quilters. It's a perfect choice for active quiltmakers who want to finish their own quilts beautifully and promptly but don't want to start a finishing business.

But any of you are eligible to win, and I hope you'll try. The theme of the 2010 contest is "New From Old," which can be interpreted any way you want. All you have to do is make a small quilt, 16 inches square, and send it by May 31. All of the quilts will be displayed on the AAQ website and tour to major national shows. There are many other awesome prizes, which will get awarded based on votes from Alliance members (and members also get a big discount in entry fees). For all the rules and prizes, go to AllianceForAmericanQuilts.org.

This is the top fundraiser for the organization each year, so we really need you. All quilts are auctioned off on eBay in the fall. Help the Alliance continue to document, preserve and share the stories of quilts and their makers -- including YOU. (I say that because all contest quilts are permanently archived on our site.)

Want some inspiration? Mary Stori, the celebrated bead guru, has already finished her quilt for the New From Old contest. You can see it on her blog.

GOT SCOOPS?

I am still writing my gossipy news column for Quilter's Home magazine, called Megabites. My second column appears in the just-published Feb-March issue and I'm sorry to say there's no nudity in this one. Pick it up anyway. Better yet, send me a hot scoop for the next issue, due March 1. I'm searching for news about quilt hotshots, new quilt shows, surprising quilts or fabric lines or anything that's fresh and unexpected.

UNUSUAL TEXTILE ADVENTURE ABROAD

I know that most quilters are not monogamous when it comes to crafts. They flirt with many, and why not? For those who love weaving and crave exotic travel, there is a fantastic Guatemalan Weaving trip being offered in July. This 10-day trip includes five days of instruction in traditional weaving followed by four days of touring to textile markets and museums, as well as visits with Mayan weavers in their home villages. Go to MayanHands.org for details.

NAVAL AVIATION QUILT CONTEST

I love to see that in 21st century America, organizations with major anniversaries to celebrate still feel like quilts are the way to go. Case in point: to celebrate 100 years of naval aviation, the Navy tapped Kelly Gallagher-Abbot, who ran the Hoffman Challenge for years, to create a massive national quilt contest.

Called Thread Tails and Vapor Trails, this challenge calls for quilts that are 40 inches square and related to naval aviation. The deadline is October 1. The quilts will travel to museums and military bases from coast to coast and the donated quilts will be auctioned off at a black tie gala in Washington, D.C.

There is a website where you can learn about this contest and special anniversary, NavyQuilts.com.

MY FAVORITE QUILT BOOK RIGHT NOW

The market is flooded with books about how to make art quilts, especially all the trendy techniques of surface embellishment. While the quilts are almost always luscious, I often find that only a few techniques are covered and at a rather advanced level.

That's why I'm so high on the new book Fabric Embellishing: The Basics & Beyond, because it covers more than 50 techniques with simple exercises and small projects. It takes four authors to pull this off: Ruth Chandler, Liz Kettle, Heather Thomas and Lauren Vlcek, each with different areas of expertise. Naturally you will find tutorials on stadards like crazy quilting, beading, hand embroidery, 3-D applique and printing photos on fabric. But what's cool is the inclusion of up-to-the-minute techniques like rusting fabric and using new products like Transfer Artist Paper.

There are many ways to use this resource. Just pick a few exercises and try them. Or form a small art quilt group and meet monthly for a group workshop. The authors suggest that you try one technique a week and create a special fabric workbook: the projects are all designed to make an 8 to 10 inch "journal quilt," so this can be easily done however many "pages" you complete.

BONUS: BEST NON-QUILT BOOK TO BUY FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Every Monday morning for several years, I have found a gorgeous photogaph of a heart in my e-mail inbox. I never know what the heart will be constructed from: flowers, vegetables, toys, metal shavings, a pile of corks, even yellow Peeps. All are made by Page Hodel, a hip dance club DJ in San Francisco who made them initially for the love of her life, Madalene Rodriguez. After Madalene died of ovarian cancer in 2006, Page kept making and photographing these weekly hearts in tribute.

I share this story because I can now share the hearts. Just in time for Valentine's Day, a gift book has been published with 100 of the most stunning Page-made hearts. It's called Monday Hearts for Madalene and I think quilters will find it inspiring. Every time I get one of these hearts, it makes me think how even the most ordinary, familiar shape -- like a heart -- can be made new and thrilling by a creative person with passion.

Go see the hearts at Page's website, www.mondayheartsformadalene.com, where you can also sign up for the Monday e-mails.

That's enough for this month. As late as it is, I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for the February issue, which will include an update on the comings and goings of Mark Lipinski (if you aren't confused, you're not paying attention), plus a rundown on the latest books, tools, fabrics and news in Quiltlandia.

Quilt on!
love, Meg