Explore the art-quilt design process through journaling, technique experiments, and making small projects using a variety of mixed-media, fiber-art, and surface-design techniques. Inspired to Quilt helps art quilters translate a concept to finished product by delving into new and innovative ideas while coaching them to find their own unique voice. Advanced beginner art quilters and fiber and mixed-media artists will enjoy learning the inventive processes for designing art quilts-from keeping a mixed-media journal to documenting inspirations to playing with fiber and surface design methods to discover personal style. Melanie offers a variety of hands-on creative and practical exercises to jump-start the process, shown step by step with beautiful photography: fabric printing, fabric manipulation, stamping, resists, layering, fabric painting, dyeing, stitching, applique, collage, machine embroidery, beading, and more. Through these techniques, readers explore creating art-quilt imagery and motifs that become the focal point of a quilt. In addition, Melanie shares useful finishing techniques that put the final touches on an art quilt, plus make unique bindings and creative fixes. Also included in Inspired to Quilt is a chapter on constructing small projects such as fabric postcards, artist trading cards, and more as ways of exploring new ideas and techniques. Helpful insider tips and tricks for making the most of time and resources are found throughout the book.

Author Biography

Melanie Testa is an accomplished textile and quilt artist. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in Textile/Surface Design and has taken many courses from well-known quilt and surface-design artists including Natasha Kemper-Cullens, Ann Johnston, Carol Soderlund, and Jane Dunnewold. She exhibits her fiber art at various galleries and quilt shows around the country and currently teaches fiber arts at Coconino Community College. Her articles have appeared in Quilting Arts Magazine and the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Journal. She lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.