I'm specifically interested in finding out who among our Quilting Board Members are actively creating 'Art Quilts'? What mediums do you incorporate into your quilts besides fabric? Share with us how and when you started making art quilts. Definitely show us some of your work!

I will be following this thread, thanks for creating this thread.

I am also interested. I have tried a few small, very simple art quilts, but nothing complicated. My avatar is a picture my daughter took in Greece and I made it into a wall hanging. I really enjoyed making it, but made it up as I went along. It will be fun to look at others creations and get ideas for more detailed and interesting designs.

Hopefully others will post ideas and pictures!!

I love making art quilts. The first is one I made for our guild challenge entitled "American Women of Distinction". The second is one I made for this year's challenge "Anywhere I Hang My Quilt is Home".

The majority of what I make are Art Quilts - made to go on a wall not a bed. They range in size from 7" X 8.5" to 5' X 6', so far anyway. This last year I've joined a small group in my guild and we have a challenge for each month - so those quilts tend to be much smaller than others I've done.

My largest quilt was posted in Pictures with the title "Fireworks Quilt blocks pieced". That goes thru the process of fmq it. Towards the end are complete pics. of the whole thing as well as the individual colored star breaks.

I've only done a few simple pieces...none of which were very good. I recently pulled a piece I started probably 4 yrs ago. It's fused & I find I really don't like stiffness of it even tho I used the lightest fusible I could find so I'm taking it apart...we'll see what happens with it! I've been toying with the idea of doing Journal Quilts - a good way to try out techniques, fabrics, fibers, etc. not to mention getting your creativity going for larger projects!

Thanks for starting this thread...looking forward to learning!

I must apologize ladies for letting this Thread sort of fall to the wayside, especially considering there were immediate enthusiastic responses to the topic of Art Quilting. For those of you who replied, and anyone else catching this thread ~ throw in some ideas of what we could chat about. I got so caught up in making fund raiser quilts for non-profit organizations in 2011, this post fell off my radar. Art Quilting is everywhere now and I'd love for more of us to get connected online.

Laura3 I can't see an Avatar next to your name so can't see the art quilt of your daughter you made from a photo in Greece. Perhaps you could repost an image of your quilt. By the way, all of my art quilts are made "as I go along", and each step dictates the next through problem solving and innovation. Keep at it!

scowlkat, loved the the photos of your work. Very creative!

fireworkslover, I'm so glad you shared your post in Pictures. I read all 30 pages and feel the same as all your readers... a gorgeous prizewinner and you deserve the accolades. I learned about pyrotechnics too, so thank you for the additional info. you included in followup conversations. Would love to see what other work you do. More photos please.

texpat45, art quilts don't have to be complex to be wonderful. Everything we try adds to our 'toolbox' of skills. Some of my better pieces resulted from castoffs either I or someone gave me and it just took time to formulate an idea or redirect the one we had for a better outcome. I started 2011 with a goal of Journal quilting but got sidetracked. I'm trying again in 2012 - perhaps the art quilters reading this will do the same and we can all share our results here. Thanks all for your comments. Keep it going!

Please explain 'Journal Quilting' to me, it sounds interesting. I have just signed up at craftsy.com for a class in painting picture quilts. Painting is another love of mine and it will be fun if I can combine the two technics. I will be very interested in reading this thread.

Yes, I'm an art quilter. My avatar is a UFO that I need to FMQ. My art quilts are usually wall hanging size, I use traditional patterns for bed sized or baby quilts that are gifts.

I try to use a new technique on each quilt I make. It doesn't have to be the entire quilt, just one aspect needs to be new (to me).

The first time I even heard the term was at an outlet fabric store where the lady in line in front of me had a variety of materials including oranage tulle. We got to talking after I asked her what she was making which was an art quilt. She invited me to attend their art quilt group but I was in the process of moving. Have always regretted that lost opportunity.

The thing I remember the most (this was over 10 years ago) was her statement. "The only rule is there are no rules." There is a modern quilt guild in Portland, not too far from where I live. so lucky to have young women to inspire me and to keep my persceptive fresh.

I love the art quilts. They are always so awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures posted in reply to your thread.