I started going to the library and grabbing the OLDEST, dustiest quilt books they had, and paging through them. I love the traditional quilts!

Kathy (Quilts With Convicts) I have never heard of Quilter's Home. That sounds just what I have been looking for. I found seven (!!7!!) boxes of quilting magazines and misc. things. I am planning on listing them for sale - cheap on here - but of course I have to go through them first for me.

I agree with the comment about designs that are for a specific fabric line. When I cruise through I look at the picture of their finished project, but always go directly to the layout that shows the blocks and layout. I might not find a lot of 'new' patterns, but block combinations, colors and secondary patterns that come out. And I always love when the show the same pattern in an alternatve color scheme. Some are really surprising.

I am going to start another thread about my recent find. Don't want to hijack this thread.

I totally agree. I very seldom buy any new magazines or books. Most of mine are bought second hand. Its all about the fabric. Like many on this board I can't afford those fabrics.

You are growing as a quilter and as an artist. You are not satisfied anymore with someone telling you which fabrics to buy and what to do with it. I guess most of us get to that point, and the important part is that you recognize it. Many people get there but they don't realize it and continue to buy magazines and patterns because is what they have always done. Is now time to look at your stash and based on what you see, identify your style. There is always something new out there that will get your attention, but you decided that you liked it, you were not told by an editor that this is what you should like.

I like some fabrics lines, but I never get more than one or two fabrics. In my opinion, fabric lines are not contrasting enough. They are making them more and more way too similar and the pattern gets lost in the fabric print. All your hard work doesn't show. If I get busy fabrics, because some are real pretty, I tend to combine them with solids. I have become the fan #1 of black. It makes my quilts look finished and elegant regardless of how much fun the other fabrics are. Yes, lady bugs wearing hats and purses can make a real elegant quilt if combined with some black.

Is great to see quilters making their own choices. Still the patterns need to stay in business, but use them only as guidance. Use the pattern and select your own fabrics.

I have a copy of Quiltmania that I found today at a Newsagents I don't normally go to - no plastic bag, not with two other crappy mags I don't want and lovely stuff.
Will post a link when I get it back off my GF!

I buy much less frequently than I used to and have let subscriptions run out. Too many little projects like cell phone holders, etc.

I look thru the mags at the store and more often than not, I don't buy because there's nothing in them that interests me. To me a panel with a border can be a cute quick quilt, but once you've seen that idea, you don't need to see it again and again and again.

You are right on with the comment about fast and easy .... I have had my fill of all the "fast and easy" . How about they put a breath taking , show stopping quilt on the cover?!!! And oh yeah ... give the pattern and directions. I 'll buy it if for nothing else than the thought of "someday". I beleive a magazine issue is truley successful when I just could never part with it, or there are holes in my copy because I have cut and pinned to my inspiration board.

I agree, the magazines seem to cycle through project types. I have let all of mine lapse since I have more projects planned than I will every possible get done.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I hadn't given serious thought to any of the EQ software until now. Maybe it's time. And I agree about crayons and graph paper. They are a must.

it didn't take me long as a new quilter to get over the "quick & easy" stage....I have quilts that I have been working on for years that are going to be heirlooms when I get them done and I will get them done. I just finished a complete hand pieced, hand quilted throw that I just love. It just means so much more when finally done...