I feel just like you do annesthreads after seeing all the beauties at a really inspiring quilt show. All that inspiration can either trigger a stream of new ideas for me, or it can be quite daunting and freeze my creativity in its tracks for little while.

But really, unless quilting completely from a kit, aren't most quilts a combination of both art and craft? And clearly some folks take your breath away with their artistic gifts and/or crafting skills, but aren't we all a mix of both: crafter and artist?

I am more concerned about keeping my SCRAP quilts from moving into CRAP quilts.

I think I agree. This afternoon I was watching myself as I planned a quilt: I started by looking at the fabrics I'd bought , and an idea gradually came as to what sort of block I'd like to make with these colours. Then I browsed Quilters Cache and found a block that reflected my thoughts, and spent some time playing with paper and coloured pencils, working out how the blocks would look when joined together, and how to use my colours to best effect. Next is the craft bit - paper-piecing the blocks. But I was using creativity this afternoon - noticing my response to the colours and the sort of shapes I was thinking
about as I looked at them, then trying out different placements of the colours to produce a pleasing effect.
I think the list that was posted of the differences between art and craft was a bit harsh on craft. You're right - we need both. The balance between them will vary from person to person, and I'm beginning to feel challenged to find ways of bringing something more original to what I do, but to get to that point, I've had to become competent in the techniques I need to use.

Love your avatar. Where did you get the pattern?

I found this to be true for me. Several years ago I saw a challenge sponsored by Quilters Newsletter for some gorgeous reproduction toile fabric collection, Season of Toiles, made by P&B Textiles.
http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/A_...of_Toiles.html

I dreamed about one of the fabrics, a medallion border print covered with circles. I even dreamed designs for the fabric.

I decided to try to make my dream a reality. I bought yards of the medallion fabric and cut it up into hundreds of little squares and sewed them back together again, just like I saw them in my dream. They made sort of a Love Ring design.

I liked the result. t was very much like I had envisioned. So I took photos and entered the contest.

Much to my surprise, my quilt won the challenge! It was exhibited at the Allentown Museum. And the prize was $1,000. I bought our daughter's wedding gown with it!

My husband took my photo in front of my quilt at the museum. If I look a bit shell shocked, well, I sure was!

So I will surely second the motion-- challenge yourself. Surprise yourself. Stretch. Grow. Learn. See what develops. I bet you surprise yourself too!

Have fun playing :thumbup: We all need playtime :D

I'll second entering a challenge. I did that for the Isis quilt (see the avatar) and it was a fantastic experience creatively. I learned a huge amount.

Well..... My "high" comes from viewing your creative and wonderful quilts.. Some of your art moves me almost to tears, and I'm grateful for the artists conception that so many of you produce..

If I have any artistic talent, it is that I can appreciate your works of art, and I consider that a blessing...

Thankyou! It's Hidden Wells, and I found it at

http://www.reocities.com/quiltfrenzy...aterworld.html

though there are plenty of other instructions on the Web. It's quite easy to make as long as you're accurate.

Congratulations! That's a beautiful quilt.