Taking great photos is the first step for these quilters. Barbara Yates Beasley shows how she creates patterns from photographs for pet portrait quilts. Helen Parsons explains how she photographs her subjects for her art quilts, with tips on layout, lighting, and composition.

Travel can have an enormous influence on the work of any artist. Luana Rubin shares some of the great quilts she saw at Quilt Canada 2022. Valerie Goodwin uses the map as a jumping off place for her art and explains how she creates map-themed art with a sense of place.

Mastering new techniques takes time and practice. This episode features Carolina Asmussen's machine quilting, which pairs raw-edge applique with floral free-motion for a contemporary look. In addition, learn from Denise Labadie how mixing applique styles can create realistic stone textures.

Art quilters explore many ways of applying color to fabric. Helen Parson's "paints" are actually finely cut strips of fabric that she stitches with thread. Artist Valerie White showcases basic techniques for transferring images using disperse dyes.

Pattern your own cloth with surface design! Valerie White creates texture with oil paints in a solid stick form to create texture and visual interest. Denise Labadie makes the stone fabrics in her work using paints and resists.

There are many ways to apply imagery to a piece of quilted art. Lea McComas teaches her method for re-sizing human figures within a composition, so each appears in correct proportion. Heidi Zielinski uses paint to stamp imagery onto fabric or directly onto quilt tops to incorporate motifs without drawing.

Color is a big part of every artist's work. Denise Labadie's landscapes and skies are made with free-form strip piecing that create what she calls "color complexity." Heidi Zielinski makes small collages that revolve around one color on the color wheel, and adds blending or contrasting stitching and beadwork.

Today's guests demonstrate their expertise while using innovative materials and creating incredible quilted artwork. Kestrel Michaud shows how she stiffens applique fabrics before cutting and stitching to achieve award-winning results. Diana S. Fox creates 3-dimensional floral elements for her quilts using innovative textiles that are shaped with heat and pressure. Innovation is the name of the game on this episode of QUILTING ARTS.

Technology and practice play a role for today's guests as they explore the beauty and artistry that can be achieved with machine quilting. First, Barbara Yates Beasley demonstrates the flexibility of flame stitch quilting and how it enhances a composition with tight movement. Next, modern quilter Satomi Hoar explores even more filler designs that can be stitched with incredible results. Practice makes perfect on today's QUILTING ARTS.

Many of the skills art quilters use every day can be traced back to the basics. Kestrel Michaud shares drawing techniques she learned in art school that will help every quilter hone their skills of observation and explore their options when designing a quilt. Next, Lisa Thorpe uses stamped and colorized designs in repeating patterns to create focal points, borders, and even printed yardage. Creativity abounds in this episode of QUILTING ARTS.