Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Cover Girl

I've never been a cover girl before and I guess technically I'm still not, but can I fudge it a little now that my quilt is on the cover of the December/January issue of Quilting Arts Magazine?


See. There are my little twinkle circles.
A couple of months ago the editor, Pokey Bolton, contacted me and asked me if I had any ideas for articles. The first thing that came to mind was to write about the process I use to make my twinkle circles. I've had a lot of folks ask me about this and it's a technique that I've turned to off and on for several years, but recently I've used it a lot on commercial fabric. The technique itself is not new or exclusive to me, but I felt like I had a perspective on it that I wanted to share.


I wrote about the process and included a few examples of finished work. I even got to include some of my process shots. For some strange reason I really liked these photos. Not because they're particularly good images, but rather because they were taken in my dye studio. When I first saw the pictures I called one of my girls over to look at the pictures. "Look,"I said,"in the background you can see our door and, way over in the corner, almost out of the frame, you can make out the handle of that broom we never seem to throw out." No one else in my family got a kick out of these pictures, but I did.
One of the best parts of writing this article was the writing itself. I was frankly taken aback by how much I enjoyed putting pen to paper or more accurately digit to keyboard. I was also a little surprised that I could put together coherent sentences. Having spent the better part of 17 years speaking primarily to children I'm shocked that I didn't describe at least one thing as "so cool" or pepper my text with the word "freaking".
Another amazing highlight was finding out that my quilt was going to be on the cover. When I went to quilt festival in Houston, I stopped by the Quilting Arts booth. I knew I would get a chance to see a copy of Stitch and I thought I might have an opportunity to meet some of the folks who worked on the magazine. Thankfully they were all wearing name tags, so I approached Pokey Bolton, introduced myself and was very warmly greeted. Then she told me the big news. I was floored. It has taken the most amazing amount of willpower not to talk about it, but once my copies came in the mail I knew that the magazine would be on the newsstands very soon.


I won't deny that I'm prone to hyperbole but this is...so freaking cool!

61 comments:

Cheryl said...

Congrats to you. I'd be thrilled to the bone too! Your work is beautiful and so original. Sounds like this may be a sign of great things to come for you.

thistledowns wool & cotton said...

everything is always so beautiful here! congratulations to you!

Anonymous said...

Wow!!!
That really is freaking cool!!!

Congratulations for the article and for the cover!
I love the pictures you showed here. they are so bright.

Michaela said...

Malka,
congratulation!!! It is freaking cool!!!
I love your work and you definately deserve all of this.
I can't wait to hold my own copy of the Quilting Arts.

Funky Kim said...

That is AWESOME!!!!

Monika said...

Congratulations! So well deserved. Your stuff is awesome!!!

Kristin L said...

That is SO freaking cool! (And I was even going to say that before I finished reading and saw that you already said it)! Congratulations!

becca.elpy said...

You're definitely a cover girl! How exciting. I love seeing your work on Flickr. It's so colorful and pretty! Congratulations!

Lauren The Artist said...

Congrats! That is awesome. I'll have to buy a copy. I'd love to learn about the circle-dying process.

waldorfmama said...

a huge congratulations to you, malka! your work is so very beautiful i'm not surprised at all. :) and i totally get it about the pictures. how exciting it must be to see your work not only IN the book...but on the cover! cover girl, indeed. :)

Lorie McCown said...

Well done! I can't wait to get me a copy!! Your work is wonderful, and very recognizable. yeah!

Paula said...

Congrats! The cover is gorgeous! Certainly something to be proud of.

Kim said...

My copy came yesterday and I was totally excited about the beautiful cover. Just had to stop by and say congrats! Keep up the good work, and I can't way to try your techniques.

Anonymous said...

What fabulous news. Well done. (But of course the magazine folk would've been mad NOT to put you on the front cover!!)

Andi said...

Congratulations Cover Girl!!
A very gorgeous quilt.

syko kajsa said...

So freaking cool it is! And you deserve it!!! Enjoy!

Unknown said...

very deserving!! your quilt is amazing!

Ayala Levinger said...

oh wow, congratulations!
I love your work and your blog so I am sure I would like your article...
Can't wait to recive my copy!

Dale Anne Potter said...

FABULOUS news and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Can't wait to get my copy.....

Anonymous said...

I have to say "it is freaking cool" again! Truly phenomenal. I collect this magazine and I will sure pick up this issue because your work is amazing. Congrats!

Joanna said...

Yay for you! Your work is so beautiful! I'll be on the lookout for that mag. Congrats! :)

Anonymous said...

Very cool and very exciting! Congratulations!

Libby said...

Amazing! Congrats...

Sarah said...

Wow you have hit the bigtime! The cover of Quilting Arts is the ultimate- outside of a BOOK of course. Congratulations on all your recent successes. They are well deserved.
Sarah

Unknown said...

Great job Malka! You rock dude! I've long ago stopped subscribing to this magazine, but will make a point to buy this one!

Kay Koeper Sorensen said...

I was so excited for you when my copy arrived yesterday.
You ARE a real cover girl now.
The article is extremely well written.
K

house on hill road said...

it is so freaking cool!!!! congrats!

Kate said...

I saw my mom's copy in the back of her car today and said, "wait a minute! I know that quilt!". It's funny how you start to feel like you know someone from reading their blog, but I was so proud and happy for you, congrats!

PatchworkPottery said...

Oh my Gosh! That is too exciting! I am so thrilled for you and I'll be picking up a copy for sure!

Big Hugs,
Laurraine

Kathy - Pink Chalk Studio said...

I got my issue in the mail yesterday. I immediately recognized your work on the cover, yipppeee! Congrats on a super article. The process photos were fabulous. Enjoy! xo Kathy

Elizabeth Armstrong said...

I am so so thrilled for you!
I hope you get many really cool opportunities in the coming months!

Really looking forward to my copy
now!

jacquie said...

freaking cool is right!!!! i want a copy...i need a copy...i'd love a copy....i'm heading out to buy a copy!

Diane said...

Well done and well deserved! I always enjoy seeing your work on the Flickr Doll Quilt Pool. That green wall of yours really shows off your quilts.

Amber said...

Cool indeed! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Congrats!

Anonymous said...

good for you, Malka!. There is a quiting shop closeby and i can buy a copy there. i am very happy for you and interested to read it. Love, Marijke

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS TO YOU!

Anonymous said...

Well done you!!! I'm new to your blog but everything is so crisp and clear and inspiring that I am now a regular. A huge thank you. Is Quilting Arts available in the UK?

Amy said...

I completely agree - it is extremely freaking cool.

Julia Wood said...

Wow! I'd been wondering how you do those circle, and then my Quilting Arts mag came in the mail! I so enjoyed the article!

molly jean said...

How exciting and indeed cool! I just found your quilts recently and have enjoyed seeing them on flickr. I need to go get that magazine!

Victoria said...

Ya darn tootin' it's freakin' cool!
I saw it today at the newsstand and knew right away that it was your wonderful work! I look forward to reading the article! Congrats, congrats, congrats!

Unknown said...

Hi. Now that I have found your blog I plan to be a regular visitor. You are doing some lovely, lovely work. Congratulations on making it into not one but TWO current magazines.

Amanda Jean said...

congrats! that is very freaking cool. good for you!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations from New Jersey I just went to Barnes and Noble , picked the magazine as always and to my surprize there was the blog I always visit !!!

sugarcreekstuff said...

Quilting Arts is my favorite magazine ever! The cover! My head is about to explode for you.

Isha Whynott said...

Wow, congratulations, that's so cool! I look forward to getting my issue in the mail!

Cindra said...

I am not surprised that you are a cover girl because you are so "freaking cool" and so is everything you do.

Alix said...

You, and your work, totally deserve the recognition. Thinking back to your washed-out craft fair a while ago, it so good to see you reaping the highs too. I salute you with a nice glass of red wine. I've wanted to buy some of your work since I first saw your esty shop, when you hadn't even made a sale! This month I got a new job, and when I clear my debts I look forward to buying a piece of your art work. Though I worry that by then you'll be all sold out as the most desirable quilter in town. Which would make me happy too. SO.. I win either way.

Helen said...

Congratulations! Its very freaking cool! Well done! :)

Anonymous said...

hey Malka, today i was able to buy the copy of the quilt magazin with your work on the cover. Congratulations, and the article was well written and totally instructive. funny, in the same issue was an article of and about Jude Hill whom i also admire a lot and whose blog i found through your blog. we are living in a small world, it sometimes seems. The bigbig twinkle quilt is so gorgeous. Hope you will show it when the quilting is done.
All the best, Marijke

Lauri said...

Congratulations! You should have been a cover girl a long time ago! Now I gotta run out and get a copy...

jude said...

congratulations....i think it is one of the best covers i have ever seen. i love your work it is outstanding.

Anonymous said...

congratulations!! That IS so freakin cool!

Unknown said...

I just finished a quilt for my new neice using your technique! I found your old post with instructions a while back and started it. I just love it! As soon as I'm able to put up pictures I'll send you my link, it may be next week because I don't have access to my own computer to upload my pictures. Anyway, I just want to thank you for your inspiration and for teaching me something new. Next, dying.
Rita

KateKwiltz said...

Bought a copy yesterday -- loved the article! Good pics, too, of the process. It made me want to go out and buy materials!
Congratulations!

Ayala Levinger said...

Hey covergirl,
I have recieved my issue yesterday! Thank you for this wonderful article. very inspiring. maybe I will try this myself!
And your work on the cover is beautiful and fits perfectly the whole theme of the issue this time.
I love colors very much.
Thanks

Cynthia said...

i don't think any of us is surprised at your success. way to go...your work always inspries me to try something new.

Leah said...

congratulations! your writing, by the way, as evidenced in this post, IS fresh and hilarious and you should definitely write. I'd buy it.

Our Hands For Hope said...

COVER ART!!! You go girl! Sew cool! And to a year of many more!
Terisa

איילת said...

where can I find a tutorial for the mini quilting stuff. it's wonderful, I love the colours.

JB Tucker said...

Great job, Malka! Cool stuff and very inspiring to me, a I'm a fiber and mixed media artist. Thanks for sharing.