We have news!

Hi, Terry Grant here. I am so happy to let you know that we have self-published a book documenting our Colorplay Project!



If you've been following along with us, you'll remember that our journey started in 2007 with our Theme Series—a little online challenge that turned out so well that it became a book, published in 2011. In 2009 we took on our second challenge project and called it "Colorplay". Every two months we each created a 12 inch square art quilt using the color scheme proposed for that round, by one of us. Two years later we had created 144 little Colorplay quilts. We found that project challenging in a whole new way—the Theme project was all about stories and had a strong narrative component. Colorplay was all about the color and it's visual impact! When we exhibited both sets at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, I think we realized how stunning this group of quilts really was.




We decided among ourselves that our first book had told our story and another book of its kind wasn't in the cards, but a smaller book of the Colorplay quilts would be something we could do on our own. I agreed to put it all together. Without deadlines and an editor to push, the project languished, but later, rather than sooner, it finally came to be and is out there! All 144 quilts are included along with the artists' comments.






The book was published using CreateSpace, Amazon's Print on Demand division and can be ordered through Amazon.

We hope you will enjoy it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Fiber 5K to Fight Cancer!

No need to actually lace up your tennis shoes for this virtual race. 

It's as easy as donating directly to the ACS through Fiberart For A Cause
beginning January 15, 2014 at 10 a.m. Central
For each $1 you donate, we will be 1 meter closer to the finish line.
$5000 donated = We all reach the 5K Finish Line

Donate here.
Fantastic prizes from our very generous sponsors as we reach 1K ($1000 raised), 2K ($2000 raised), etc. with a Grand Prize Package when we reach our 5K goal.

12x12 artist Deborah Boschert is included in the 4K level of prizes. She's donated a copy of the Twelve by Twelve book and a copy of her dvd Contemporary Fabric Collage.

At the Art Gallery

As part of our Saturday walkabout, we popped into the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. Karen and Ted returned a couple of days later and look what they discovered in the gallery book store!

Our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge is available from a range of suppliers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Check out your favourite store.

Book Sales at Australasian Quilt Convention 2013

Kirsty and I are packing our bags for the Colourplay exhibition at the Australasian Quilt Convention that opens on Thursday 18 April and continues until Sunday 21 April.   We don't have room in our suitcases to pack any books but our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge is available at the show from Can Do Books (Stand 71).

Kirsty and I are happy to sign your copy.  Come along to our daily floor talk at 1.30pm!

Signing books!

I'm still amazed when someone wants me to sign their copy of our book! It's such an honor. We gladly signed tons of books during our time in Houston.

I loved seeing our books in Cathy's Quilting Books Unlimited booth!

Terri, Kristin and I especially enjoyed chatting with this 8-year-old who was a HUGE fan of our project! She saw the exhibit and came all the way over to the vendor floor area to see us. When she arrived she recited the names of several of her favorite quilts, especially Terri's quilts including kitties!

I love this shot of all our signatures. (Oh, I see Karen's signature is missing. Bummer.) We are eager to hear from someone who is able to get all TWELVE signatures in a copy of our book.

We're looking forward to seeing YOU!

As you know, the Twelve by Twelve Theme Series and the ColorPlay Series will both be on special exhibit at the International Quilt Festival in Houston! Nine of us are going to be there. We'll all be spending lots of time in the exhibit area. Remember, most of us haven't seen the quilts in person -- so after four years of studying images on our blog and website, we're eager to experience the art quilts "in the cloth." Plus, I know we'll spend lots of time chatting, laughing and getting to know each other "live and in person."

So, please stop by and say hello! Let us know you've been reading the blog. Tell us which theme is your favorite. Check out the collection of postcards we've created from the ColorPlay series. Enjoy the exhibit!

Karen (and, hopefully, later Brenda) will be at Preview Night on Wednesday, November 2 from 5 to 10 pm.

Thursday, November 3
10 am to noon: Brenda and Diane
Noon to 2 pm: Kristin and Brenda
2 pm to 4 pm: Deborah and Diane
4 pm to 6 pm: Gerrie and Karen
6 pm to 6:30 pm: Karen and Terri
6:30 pm to 7 pm: EVERYONE!

Friday, November 4
10 am to noon: Karen and Terry
Noon to 2 pm: Nikki and Terri
2 pm to 4 pm: Gerrie and Kristin
4 pm to 6 pm: Deborah and Brenda
6 pm to 6:30 pm: Nikki and Kristin
6:30 pm to 7 pm: EVERYONE!

Saturday, November 5
10 am to noon: Deborah and Nikki
Noon to 2 pm: Kristin and Brenda
2 pm to 4 pm: Gerrie and Terry
4 pm to 6 pm: Karen and Diane
6 pm to 6:30 pm: Kristin and Terri
6:30 pm to 7 pm: EVERYONE!

Sunday, November 6
10 am to noon: Brenda and Diane
Noon to 2 pm: Deborah and Brenda
2 pm to 4 pm: Gerrie and Brenda

PLUS! All nine of us will be in the exhibit area from 6:30 to 7 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you'd like us to sign your book, this will be a great time to see all of us at once. (Except Helen, Kirsty and Françoise -- so sad!)

FYI: Our special exhibit will also be on display during International Quilt Market which runs from October 29 to 31. This is a professional trade show and not is not open to the general public. But, I've heard buzz about lots of art quilters and others who will be there. I hope you'll get a chance to see our quilts.

 See you soon!

Talking about 12x12

I had the great pleasure of talking about the 12x12 project to the Quilters Guild of Dallas last month.

I signed books!

I shared my ColorPlay quilts!

I stood in the dark while showing slides of several of our 12x12 quilts!

I really can't even begin to express how exciting it is to hear people say things like "I'm so inspired!" "I've never seen anything quite like this." "I love hearing about how a group of women created this amazing body of work."

Whenever someone says, "Thank you so much for sharing your project," I just want to say, "Thank YOU for showing such support an enthusiasm!"

By the way, in the center picture above, you can see the black felt panels on which all our quilts will be displayed in Houston. Terry and Gerrie rigged up this great system and sent me three panels to use in Dallas. They worked great!

Come and meet us at festival of Quilts!!

We are excited to be bringing all 144 Theme series quilts to Festival of Quilts at the NEC this year from 11-14 August.

Come and meet Diane Hock, Francoise Jamart and Helen Conway on Stand A60

We are taking turns on the stand (assisted by Helen's Best Quilting Buddy Lesley Hagon and Best Quilting Husband Dennis Woodcock) to enable us to shop and take classes and shop and see the quilts and, um...shop!

We will be selling copies of our book and would be delighted to sign your purchase for you.

Want to meet one of us in particular?

Our schedules on the stalls are as follow:

Diane Hock

Thursday 10 - 1 and 2.30 - 3.30

Friday 11.30 - 2

Saturday  3 - 5.30

Sunday 10 - 11.30

Francoise Jamart

Thursday 10 - 1 and 2.30 - 5.30

Friday 10 - 1

Helen Conway

Thursday 1 - 2.30

Friday 10 - 11.30 and 1 - 2

Saturday 12.30 - 1.30

Sunday 10 - 11

Twelve by Twelve: Australian Book Vendors

For readers wishing to purchase the book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge in Australia, here is a selection of suppliers that have the book in store and online for A$24.99 or less:

• Dymocks - this photo was snapped at the George Street store in Sydney this weekend;
• Abbeys Bookshop; and
• Can Do Books (Hawthorn, Melbourne) selling at the Craft & Quilt Fairs throughout Australia in 2011 with a book signing with Brenda at the Canberra show at 1pm this Sunday, 14 August.

In addition, Kirsty sells the book at her fabulous Townsville craft studio and shop Pompom Rouge and Brenda will have copies available at the Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc market day at Burwood RSL, on Saturday, 20 August 2011.

Melbourne Book Signing: 1.30pm Thursday

If you are attending the Melbourne Craft & Quilt Fair on Thursday, 28 July (in Australia!), you are invited to join Brenda for a book signing at Can Do Books (Stand E01) at 1.30pm.  The book is for sale for a very reasonable A$22.95, I've packed my favourite autograph pen and smiles are free!

Book Signing at the Sydney Quilt Show

Here in Australia, I've yet to sight our book Twelve by Twelve:The International Art Quilt Challenge in a  real live bookstore but that will all change this week at the Sydney Quilt Show in conjunction with the Craft & Quilt Fair (22 -26 June) at Darling Harbour.

Specialist book vendor Can Do Books (Stand H21) will be selling our book and we are celebrating with a book signing at 1pm on Wednesday, 22 June.  I hope you can join us.  (I'm practising my autograph! and hope to also share some quilts.)

Book Give- Away

I hope you had a chance to read the profiles of each of the 12x12 artists over the past month on Crescendoh. Even after all this time, I am still learning new things about each of them! (And continued to be so inspired and thankful for our friendship.)



To wrap up this special feature, Lark has offered to give-away TWEVLE copies of our book!Just go to Jenny Doh's blog and leave a comment before Saturday, May 21st, by 5PM (PST). You'll need to have a US or Canada address. I am thrilled that twelve more people will get their hands on a copy of the book! We are eager to spread creativity and inspiration about this project.

Crescendoh Spotlight: Week 3

The Crescendoh 4-week special feature continues about the authors of Twelve by Twelve:The International Art Quilt Challenge.  This week the spotlight is on Terri, Gerrie and Brenda.

Crescendoh: Week 2

Nikki, Terry and Diane are spotlighted on the 12x12 feature on Crescendoh this week! Be sure to check out their inspiring essays and beautiful images of art quilts!

Australian Supplier of Twelve by Twelve Book

A major shipment of the book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge has arrived in Australia - at last!  Kirsty and Brenda are prepared for in-person sales but, when it comes to mail order, we leave it to the experts at Can Do Books in Hawthorn, Melbourne. They have the book in stock and, if you order from the Can Do Books Website before noon, they ship the same business day.

Can Do Books also sell at the Craft and Quilt Fairs throughout Australia including the Tasmanian show that is on this weekend. Pop into Stand D14 at the Superdome in Launceston and take a look at the book!

Crescendoh Spotlight

I am thrilled to announce that Crescendoh is hosting a four-week special feature about us and our book! Crescendoh is Jenny Doh's amazing website dedicated to "creative passion, authentic community and focused compassion." I think our 12x12 group fits this poignant description perfectly, and we are honored that Jenny was eager to share our project with her readers.

Each Monday (starting yesterday), three of the "twelves" will be featured on the Crescendoh home page. Just scroll down until you see the image of our book cover, then three of our smiling faces. You can read the first few words of an essay written by each artist, then click on the ... ellipses and that will take to you to a page with her full essay and some bonus pictures of her artwork.

Karen, Kristin and Helen are the featured artists this week. Be sure to check Crescendoh over the next three Mondays to read more thoughts about art and community from each of us.

Aside from checking out our spotlight, be sure to peruse all Crescendoh has to offer. It's an astounding collection of ideas and inspiration about art, plus classes, book reviews, stories and even a shop filled with arty goodies. Whenever I have a few minutes and I'm looking for insight or inspiration, I always scroll through the Crescendoh archives for beautiful essays about living a creative life.

Look what Mr B has...

Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights is an independent book shop in Bath. Last year it won the prize for the best Independent Bookshop in the South West and in 2008 it was the best Independent Bookshop fullstop as voted for at the British Book Industry Awards. It is a beauiful place to browse wth leather chairs to read in by a fire, and free coffee and staff who know more about books than you thought it was possible to know.

And look what is in the window. Can you see it?

No? Shall I go closer for you?

There is our book - prime place right by the door. No missing it :)

Twelve by Twelve Art & Soul Radio Podcast

Four of the Twelves, Deborah, Diane, Nikki and Kristin are interviewed by Lesley Riley on Art and Soul Radio about our project and the book.

Download the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge podcast (18.3MB).

Book signing for Clark County Quilters Show, Vancouver, WA

Do these two women look like famous authors?? That's what we felt like!

Yesterday Gerrie and I went to the Clark County Quilt show in Vancouver, WA. We were invited to come and bring the Twelve by Twelve book to sell and sign. We decided to take along our Colorplay quilts (the current round of Twelve by Twelve challenges) too. We arrived about 11:30 and met Vonda, the show chair, with whom we had been communicating about the event. She is an energetic, upbeat woman, brimming with Texas charm, and she was ready for us. Before we sat down to sign books, we got to see the show and were treated to lunch. Another member, Sharry, who Gerrie and I both know from Columbia FiberArts was our hostess and helper for the day. I had brought the big poster that the book publisher sent me to use and we were set up at the front of the show in comfy chairs and a small table to spread books and quilts on.

We had lots of people stop by our table. We sold a few books and signed a few that people had already purchased. Mostly we just had a great time visiting with people, who were really interested in our book and the quilts and what "Twelve by Twelve" is all about.


You can see in the top photo that Gerrie and I are both wearing what sort of look like corsages. They are little doll pins, made by Vonda and the always amazing Elinor Peace Bailey, who is a member of the guild. Gerrie's has red hair, mine has white. They are quite wonderful and such a thoughtful surprise. I love mine.

The day was such fun and a bonus was sunshine and clear blue sky for a beautiful drive. Many thanks to the Clark County quilters and especially Vonda and Sharry. I think I now know what getting "the royal treatment" means.

Book Signing in Vancouver Washington

Terry and Gerrie will be at the Clark County Quilter's show in Vancouver, WA, Friday, April 8th from Noon to 4 pm. We will have books to purchase and will sign books if you already have one. We are bringing our colorplay quilts with us for a little show and tell. If you are in the area, please come and say "Hi!"

Gerrie, who missed a trip to Japan, is very excited to be going across the river to another state!