friends – Cheryl Sleboda – Textiles. Technology. Texture. Teacher.

Quilting ISN’T Funny… It’s Hilarious

Dec 27, 2013 Muppin Comments Off

Megan Dougherty (a.k.a. the Bitchy Stitcher) interviewed me WAAAY way back in July of 2011 on Light Up Quilting for a new little website called Generation Q. But before that she was the humor columnist for Quilter’s Home, you know, the magazine that had an issue come polybagged and that a major store refused to carry? Megan’s sense of humor, and this style of guerrilla quilt reporting appealed to my sensibilities. THESE WERE MY KIND OF PEOPLE.

If you have ever tried to explain to a non-quilter that your hobby/profession/passion is “quilting” (“No, really, I’m a ‘quilter'”) then you know the kind of comedy that can ensue.

Megan has written a great book full of her humor pieces from magazines and a few new ones too. It’s really great. I laughed out loud, and got that look from my husband of “what the hell are you reading, I hope it’s not smut again”. It’s like she wrote this just for me, with quilt guild minutes that seem like she was in the room during my quilt guild presidency, and how quilting will be essential during the upcoming zombie apocalypse. She takes the stuffiness I have all too often run into in quilting and turned it on it’s head. I loved it.

In honor of Megan’s fabulous book, WHICH YOU SHOULD GO BUY RIGHT THIS INSTANT, I am giving away a Red DELUXE LED Sewing Kit. And then you can flip to page 132 and make your very own Black Sabbath quilt that lights up. Or you know, just make the zombie version in the kit. Your choice.

To win, here’s the rules:
1. Think hard about going and buying Megan’s book. Really it’s great and you won’t regret it. Go HERE.
2.Please only enter one time. Multiple entries will be disqualified. (Comments are moderated, so you won’t see your entry online right away)
3. You must leave me a way to contact you, so please leave your valid email address when leaving a comment.
4. The drawing will be open until Dec 26th at 5:00 PM CST.
5. The winner will be chosen randomly the evening of Dec 26th. Check back to see if you are the winner!

Now go check out the rest of the blog tour too!

The winner has been selected, CLICK HERE to see who won!

Chicago Quilt Festival Recap!

Jun 29, 2013 Muppin Comments Off

I had a fabulous time at the International Quilt Festival in Rosemont (outside of Chicago). I had one heck of a packed schedule, and I got to meet so many new people and see lots of my good friends.
First off, I had great fun at the Open Studios. This is where you get to stop by and see what quilt artists are up to and what they are making. It started last year in Houston, and I loved it, so I was totally game for it again this year. I showed off three different techniques: Cartooning for Quilters, Heirloom Sewing, and of course, Light Up Your Quilts! I was asked so many times “Do you teach?” The answer is YES, YES, YES!
I also got an opportunity to teach Light Up Artist Trading Cards at Create on the Spot! This is similar to the old “Make It University” (which is coming back to Houston this year– YAY!).
The students in my light up class had a great time, and I had lots of kids in my class! Everyone’s project lit up! I thought the class was a great value and I hope everyone liked their project.
There have been a few places I’ve popped up since, like over on Pokey’s Blog, and on Generation Q’s blog, which is also nice.
It’s always great to have a quilt in the show, and my quilt “Schwerkraft (Gravity)” was part of the Naperville Modern Quilt Guild’s Log Cabin Modern Quilt Showcase. It was great fun to see it hanging.
There was also a great Modern Meet Up that Catherine and I co-hosted with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, and we got to see our friends and have a few drinks to wind down the day.
Again I demoed the Conductive Thread and lights from Superior Threads, who were super great to work with! They have the best threads. In all, it was a great weekend. I can’t wait until Houston! I already have my flight and hotel!

Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop!

Apr 15, 2013 Muppin Comments Off

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I wasn’t concerned with keeping my studio clean while I was making my samples for Quilting Arts TV and my other secret projects. As you can see in these “before” pictures, I really needed to clean up. So I organized some friends on Facebook to motivate me to clean up my act!

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After the taping, I had two free weekends to get my studio back into shape. I even vacuumed the floor!

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What is the state of your studio or workspace right now? Join the rest of the Spring Clean Your Studio Blog Hop by checking out these bloggers below!
Amy Wright Weaver http://theweavershand.blogspot.com/
Judi Hurwitt http://approachable-art.blogspot.com
Jim Parrillo http://thinkjimcreative.tumblr.com
Lisa Chin http://somethingcleveraboutnothing.blogspot.com/
Barb Forrister http://www.barbforrister.com/category/blog
Frieda Anderson http://www.friestyle.com/
Lynn Krawczyk http://fibraartysta.blogspot.com/
Cheryl Sleboda https://muppin.com/blog/

Fiber Art Divas Show October 22 to 30, 2011

Mar 27, 2013 Muppin Comments Off

My work will be in the annual Fiber Art Divas show which will be held October 22 through 30 at the Naperville Fine Art Center and Gallery, 508 North Center St., Naperville, IL. The show will feature one-of-a-kind art incorporating techniques such as art quilting, wool felting, knitting, mixed fiber, silk painting, and more. Items on display will include wall art, fiber sculpture, jewelry, and art-to wear. Several items from various artists will be available for purchase.

The show represents the work of the Fiber Art Divas, a local group of fiber art enthusiasts who meet monthly to share ideas and explore new techniques. Several of the group’s members are award-winning or published artists. Theme challenges from the past year will be featured along with other work by the artists.

An artists’ reception, open to the public, will be held Sunday, October 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. Demonstrations of various fiber art methods will be held Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and during the Sunday reception.

Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m., Monday 7 to 9 p.m., closed Tuesday, Wednesday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Thankful

Apr 15, 2011 Muppin Comments Off

Now that the taping is over for Quilting Arts, I would like to take a moment to say THANKS to the many people who have helped me get to this point in my (albeit minor) art career.

First of all, I’d like to thank my husband, Joe, for his unwavering support. When I doubt myself the most, he is there to pick me back up. I love you, Muppin.

Second, this is all Melly Testa‘s fault. No really.

She’s THE reason I was even introduced to Pokey from QA in the first place. Melly befriended me during the IQF Chicago show in 2009. She thought I would be a good candidate for the new Quilting Arts forums as a moderator and introduced me to Pokey. Things really took off from there. She’s been my inspiration for so much, and that’s led to a Best Amateur Entry Prize for PNQE 2009, to being an Open Studios artist in 2010, to my article in Quilting Arts in Dec 2010, to the TV taping in 2011. Thank you, Melly Mells, for everything you inspire me to do.

Thanks to Pokey Bolton, not only for her amazing dedication to the Quilting world and the role of the art quilt in it, but for her belief enough in that world to base magazines and TV shows on it. Pokey has given so many artists their start, and I am just one of the many who can be counted to say that I got my start in the pages of her magazine. Thank you Pokey, for ALL that you do and also for believing in my work!!!

Thanks to Judy Coates Perez and Belinda Spiwak who gave me such good advice on what to do with both my article and the TV appearance. They are fabulous artists who also make you feel included as one of the “in crowd”.

There’s a group of my comic book friends who have been so fabulously supportive, so thanks to my friends Nance Romer from work (at Diamond Comic Distributors), Chris “CP” Powell from Lone Star Comics, and Jud Myers from Earth-2 Comics. Thanks for the numerous times each of you inquired about what I was up to quilt-wise.

Thanks also to Stephanie and Catherine and the entire Riverwalk Quilter’s Guild, and Amanda, Toni, and Amy and the Baltimore Heritage Quilt Guild!

Thanks to all of the artists I have met along the way.

Thanks to my family for listening to me doubt myself and telling me my work is great.

Thanks to each and every reader of this blog and especially to those who comment often, because you encourage me to want to continue to share my work with the world.

Thanks to everyone, for whatever small part you played in my success.

I appreciate it.