An a cappella group at Northern Illinois University arranged a new song inspired by the Pick Museum of Anthropology’s exhibit “Quilts and Human Rights.” Read more to see their premier performance of the song surrounded by the quilts on display, and hear more about the moving exhibit closing celebration. You don’t want to miss this performance - there was not a dry eye in the room!

Quilt pals! I struggle to update this blog lately. Sometimes life gets busy, and that's happened to me this year. My time has been full of nearly constant work and travel - all for exciting reasons - but it means that my quilting time and my blog time is limited. That should change soon. I'm getting back to a special quilt project next month and I can't wait to spend some time with my sewing machine! But for now I long for some uninterrupted quilting time. Enjoy these songs, and I hope they help you with your quilting or writing!

Quilts and quitmakers changed my life. It sounds sappy, but it's true. In my wildest dreams I never imagined the inspiration and friendship that exists in our community. The story that brought me to quilting was painful and traumatic, but the joy I've found in quilting and studying quilt history is unmatched. That's why events like QuiltCon matter so much to me. Four whole days each year of nothing but learning about quilts, looking at quilts, and spending time with friends who quilt?! I'm down. And today I'm sharing my top 25, heart eye emoji, favorite quilts of QuiltCon 2018!

I was thrilled when Daylight Company sent me a beautiful Slimline LED Table Lamp to review! I first saw this lamp at QuiltCon 2017 and thought it would be an incredible addition to my sewing space. I thought this extra task lighting would help me out, but it made an even bigger difference than I expected! Take a look at some pictures of the exact same space with the lamp off vs. on. 

December is one of my favorite times of the year. I love decorating the house, having time to spend with family, and most of all, listening to way too much Christmas music! Take a listen to the wonderful holidays songs that I've been playing in my sewing room all month. 

Read about the inspiration for my newest music inspired quilt "Dance Music," inspired by the song from the 2005 album "The Sunset Tree." 

Listen to some of the songs I've been playing on heavy rotation in October! 

I love music. I listen to it all the time while I work and while I quilt. One of the best things about finding great music is sharing it with your friends! So last month, I started a series that I'm hoping to do every month where I'll share some songs that are on heavy rotation in my sewing studio. My hope is that you will find some new musicians to fall in love with and start quilting along to some of my favorite jams!

I've had the idea for a while to post mini mix tapes once a month on my blog, and my conversation on the Crafty Planner podcast was the perfect motivation to get one ready! From now on, I'll post a few songs that are in heavy rotation while I'm quilting so you can get a little glimpse into what I'm sewing to in my quilt room, singing along with on my commute, or blasting in my headphones at work. The August mix is full of high energy songs that are helping me while I'm doing the physical work of installing an exhibit at work and keeping up with lots of deadlines in my professional and personal lives. Enjoy! I hope you'll find a new musician you like! 

This quilt is about harmonies, collaborations, and the incredible things that can happen when talented women work together and learn from one another. Inspired by the Americana/bluegrass group I'm With Her and what their harmonies look like in my mind, this quilt delves deep into collaboration, women's work, and why I love making quilts.