How to Sew Art

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie Bowser

How to Sew Art

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How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie Bowser
Did you ever think of yourself as an artist? Believe it or not, all of us can be textile artists—one step at a time—with Tammie Bowser’s stitched art techniques. Tammie is an award-winning, international quilter, and my recent guest on Sewing With NancyHow to Sew Art part one. 
How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Tammie Bowser
Often the first reaction to Tammie’s stitched art is, “That looks too difficult to make—I could never do that!” In the How to Sew Art TV showbook, and DVD, Tammie shares how starting with a great photo, choosing 9–12 fabrics, and then following her steps, you too can make fabric art projects that you’ll be proud to show.

In Sewing With NancyHow to Sew Art part one, you’ll learn:

  • Tips for choosing a great photo.

 How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie Bowser

  • How to make a pattern from the Stitch A Sketch Art Quilt Software or Quilted Photo Deluxe 2.0 Art Quilt Software, and how to download a free trial at Tammie’s web site, howtosewart.com.

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Tammie Bowser

 

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie Bowser

  • Print and tile the pattern pieces.

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie Bowser

  • Create a fusible foundation for an art quilt with parchment paper, Pellon Wonder-Web Fusible and 505 Spray and Fix Adhesive.

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie Bowser

  • How to choose 9–12 batik fabrics.

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman and Tammie BowserIn How to Sew Art Part One, Tammie also shares her techniques for preparing the pattern for cutting fabrics.
How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Tammie Bowser
Thank you to my guest Tammie Bowser for sharing How to Sew Art with fabric and photos. Tune in next week for part two—when fabrics are cut, positioned, and quilted into art.How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Tammie Bowser
Nancy’s Notions has assembled a How to Sew Art Starter Set that includes the book, DVD, Color Value Isolation Tool, 505 Spray and Fix Adhesive, and Wonder-Web Fusible.

How to Sew Art Quilts on Sewing With Nancy with Nancy Zieman

Watch How to Sew Art (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.

How to Sew Art by Tammie Bowser and Sewing With Nancy Zieman

 Bye for now,
Nancy Zieman The Blog

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89 Comments

  • susan718
    January 29, 2015

    I would love to learn how to sew such beautiful portraits. My subject for the first quilt would be my grandchildren, of course. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.

  • Robin Mundell
    January 29, 2015

    I have a lot of ideas in my head, but I am drawn to landscapes. Since I live in WY…The state with the first national park and the first national monument, I have a lot of inspiration. I would do one of Devils Tower, the first national monument because it rises above the prairie from seemingly nothing but flat ground. The color contrasts of the sky, the prairie, and the light play on the tower itself make for a great artistic playground.

  • Sue Anderson
    January 29, 2015

    I would love to learn to do this! My first subjects would be my grandsons and I would gift it to my daughter in law.

  • Trudy Rhoads
    January 29, 2015

    I have loved Tammie Bowser’s art for a long time! I have her Quilted Photo program and I love how easy it is to use. I have a favorite pic (it is my blog’s header), that shows my 6 grandkids, sitting on a couch in the middle of a grassy field. They are so animated in their conversation – and their personalities just shine though. I have always wanted to make a quilt of this pic & I think Tammie’s new software might make that so much easier.

  • Dawn
    January 29, 2015

    I would love to be able to learn to sew an art quilt! The first project I would make would be of my daughters dog. He has been her constant companion through many moves and life changes and is getting old (over 15 years) and is not in good health. I would love to make a remembrance quilt for her to have after he is gone.

  • Danita Courtney
    January 29, 2015

    The very last picture of my mother and me in a loving position of her head resting on my chest as she falls asleep. My head rests on hers and my arms surround her. We are as close as mother and daughter can be in that moment. It is priceless to me and I would attempt to make a work of art to pass to future generations because of that!

  • Kathleen Couch
    January 29, 2015

    I want to make an art quilt of a 1920’s era Indian motorcycle. My grandfather often repeated the story of how he traveled from Ohio to California on his Indian motorcycle.

  • Elaine
    January 29, 2015

    I have been wanting to do an art quilt forever, so this might be a great way to start! I would love to do a mixed medium of our first home, where my kids were raised, with hand embroidery around the outer edge of the quilted art.

  • Linda
    January 29, 2015

    I would do my grandchildren, ages 7 and 5. Both are redheads with impish grins, one with green eyes and one with snapping brown eyes. My grandson is a special needs child and I would love to do this as a special gift for my daughter, who is the main reason my grandson has progressed to the fantastic level he is at today.

  • Cindy Wienstroer
    January 29, 2015

    I guess my art quilt would be a landscape. My very first quilt had blocks of designs made from photos of our vacation to 4 corners area – Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, Monument Valley, Canyon de Shelly, and the road home. I need to do more of these – I had no idea what I was doing or the fabrics needed but I did get it done!

  • Linda Guenther
    January 29, 2015

    My first art quilt would be of my cat (who is turning 18 this year) . I have a picture of her when she was just a kitty playing in the garden. I think the batiks would make a colorful yet muted garden effect and make the kitty “pop”.

  • Marlyn
    January 29, 2015

    I would use a photograph of my sons. I’ve never tackled making a quilt with faces in it, that’s always seemed too difficult.

  • Diane Muska
    January 29, 2015

    I absolutely love all of Marie Bostwick’s Cobbled Court series and her other quilting books. Her characters are the best! I reread them last year while waiting for the new one to be released and they’re even better the second time! But I’m now reading The Christmas Quilt that I got at the holidays.

  • Rebecca
    January 29, 2015

    If I do a photo quilt I would do it of the trees in the backyard.
    Enjoyed reading the The Elm Creek books. I’ve read a lot of other novels that involve sewing and quilting. It’s fun to see what authors can incorporate into the novel.

  • Malika Walker
    January 29, 2015

    I would love to try a picture taken of my late husband as an Art quilt. I have been toying with the idea since I started quilting as a grief therapy 18 months ago.

  • Kay Carter Young
    January 29, 2015

    I have read all of Marie Bostwick’s Cobbled Coart Quilts series…loved them all!

  • Jean Foster
    January 29, 2015

    i have a special heart for Marie’s Cobbled Court series. My favorite so far is Between Heaven and Texas. Hands down my favorite.

  • Jane Weier
    January 29, 2015

    For my first art quilt try I’d like to create a wallhanging of my mom & dad taken back when they were dating or just married in the 1930s…in black, white, grey. I’d love to win Tammy’s newest DVD & instructions & program.

  • Debe
    January 29, 2015

    My grandparents. I miss them a lot.
    For the book I like the Elm Creek quilting series by Jennifer C.

  • Jane Weier
    January 29, 2015

    I’ve just discovered Marie Bostwick & am in the midst of reading her series set in New England (Cobbled Court quilts) & love it! Excited to hear about the new book(s) & would love to win it. Also like Jennifer Chiaverini, Francine Rivers, Nancy Moser, Beth Wiseman, Wanda Brunstetter…the list goes on and on

  • Sharon K
    January 29, 2015

    My granddaughter with her horse. Might be a bit challenging for a first project, but that seems to be what I do to myself. She would love it. She loves her horse.

  • Robin Cleveland
    January 29, 2015

    Wow! Tammie Bowser’s work is incredible! I would love to learn to do this! I would like choose a photo of either one of the flowers in my flower gardens or one of the beautiful landscapes I’ve taken over the years. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!

  • Carol M.
    January 29, 2015

    What a beautiful art piece. I’m thinking I could actually do it!
    Carol

  • MaryEllen
    January 29, 2015

    I just finished reading her novel “Threading the Needle”. The way she melds the characters, community life, issues that people have and using the quilting community as a means of patching problems in life made great reading. It inspires me to start another quilt.

  • Anne Schafroth
    January 29, 2015

    What a wonderful idea to preserve a memory.
    I love ANY book about quilting…

  • Joni
    January 29, 2015

    I enjoy All of Marie’s Cobbled series
    She is the best!!

  • MS Barb
    January 29, 2015

    I have enjoyed reading Jennifer Chiavarini’s books on quilts

  • Sue Wendt
    January 29, 2015

    I have been a Marie Bostwick fan from her first books (which were not about quilting) and even though I’ve loved other series such as Wisconsin’s Jennifer Chiaverini, I give top place honors to Cobbled Court for a heart warming read.

  • Patty
    January 29, 2015

    i am listening to “A Single Thread” by Marie. Its the first quilt novel I’ve ever read.

  • Cindy Schultz
    January 29, 2015

    I have enjoyed reading the Elm Creek quilting series. For an art quilt I would love to try one with of my son on his bike at the London Olympics. It was so exciting to see him compete in the Olympics. He worked so hard and sacrificed so much to be able to be an Olympian that I would love to have an art quilt to remind him of his hard work and dedication.

  • Jane Prestidge
    January 29, 2015

    The quilting novels I really enjoyed was by Earlene Fowlers and also Jennifer Cheverini. I loved the history and the friendships as well as the quilting!

  • Debbie Reeves
    January 29, 2015

    I have loved Marie Bostwick’s books. As a very beginner quilter her quilt series books get me excited to learn more!

  • Debbie
    January 29, 2015

    I LOVE Marie’s Cobble Court series and have even turned a non-quilting friend onto her books! I have also got a photo wall hanging all ready to be cut but then felt I was overly ambitious and seem to have lost my nerve! I keep looking at it and am trying to talk myself into giving it a go! but all those little pieces intimidate me!!!

  • Rebecca Eveland
    January 29, 2015

    I am so glad that you’ve introduced us to Tammie Bowser! At the time I attended my first quilt show in San Diego, I was really taken by the art quilts and spent much time studying and enjoying them more than the “regular” quilts. This might be because quilting had come to me rather late, when I was 62, and my family is full of artists. Having attended additional quilt shows, I’m always drawn to the art quilts, so think this is something I absolutely must do. This is an exciting opportunity and I really appreciate having two great teachers provide the basics. I’m excited to see if I can pull off an art quilt of my 16 month old granddaughter, with terrific smile, a few teeth and beautiful light auburn hair. Thank you Nancy and Tammy!

  • Mary
    January 29, 2015

    i have read all of Marie’s books and the Jennifer Chiavorini Quilting novels. I can’t wait to read her new one……..

  • Ursula M.
    January 29, 2015

    For years I have wanted to make a quilted wall hanging of The Nativity for my living room. I keep putting it off because I now realize that I am afraid to screw it up.

  • Donna
    January 29, 2015

    Got book #5 for Christmas (Ties that Bind), read it in 2 sittings! Realistic, hard to write about sad things that happen to people, but is certainly part of life. Faith does carry one through those times. (I now have all 5 but need to reread them all again, maybe next snowstorm!?)

  • Maryellen
    January 29, 2015

    I love Marie Bostwick’s Cobbled Court book series, and have also read Jennifer Chiaverine’s Elm Creek series, and the Somewhere Quilt series. It’s so much fun to read books that feature quilting as well as relationships.

  • Kathleen Swinkowski
    January 29, 2015

    I love Marie Bostwick ‘s books and also like Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek series.
    Also have followed Erlene Fowler series.
    Can’t wait for The Second Sister to come out.
    Thank you for all the work you do for the sewing and quilting community.

  • Sharon Thomsen
    January 29, 2015

    I am thrilled to have seen this episode featuring Tammy Bowser! The technique is so awesome and reminds me of an art class I took back in the 1970s. I have a wonderful photo of my adult children when they were young that would be perfect for this application. Thank you for the opportunity.

  • Linda M.
    January 29, 2015

    I have read Marie Bostwick’s Cobbled Court Quilt series books, and Debbie Macomber Blossom Street Quilt books, and all of Jennifer Chiaverini Elm Creek Quilt series. And I loved them all. Can’t wait for Second Sister to come out! I also recently started your book, Nancy, Seams Unlikely.

  • sandra pipitone
    January 29, 2015

    Have all of Maries books will be reading Nancy’s soon I’d like to make portrait of my folks

  • Louisa in BC
    January 29, 2015

    The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas is one of my favourite quilt-related books.

  • Margaret McCaskill
    January 29, 2015

    For a first sewn art project, I would love to stitch a portrait of my little Boston Terrier, Dewey!

  • Chrystal
    January 29, 2015

    I absolutely love Marie Bostwick’s Cobbled Court Quilt books, the friendships that form between all of the quilters is so heart warming! I’m just a beginning quilter but perhaps once I get more experienced I can try to make an art quilt 🙂

  • Shirley Robbins
    January 29, 2015

    I’ve read, and highly recommend, Marie’s Cobbled Court Series, Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Series, and Earlene Fowler’s books. Looking forward to Second Sister!

  • Nancy
    January 29, 2015

    I would love to do a portrait of my grandchildren… thanks for the giveaway !

  • Patrice Wiesner
    January 29, 2015

    I am waiting to read Marie Bostwick’s newest book, read all the others, I love Jennifer Chiarivini’s books, Nicholas Sparks, Richard Paul Evan and I just got Nancy Zieman’s book for Christmas! thank you for this offer Marie and Nancy, love you both!

  • Tammy W.
    January 29, 2015

    My first art quilt would be my 2 adopted Kitties Bubby and Sissy.

  • Gloria Pietruszka
    January 29, 2015

    I’ve read all the Cobbled Court books and The Elm Creek series too..

  • Ell
    January 29, 2015

    My art quilt would be based on my painting of a house on which we are doing a whole house remodel. It is the home originally built by my parents in 1958 and will have an art studio and sewing area, so it could be my first project.

  • Jane Vines
    January 29, 2015

    I would protray my grandma.

  • Jane Vines
    January 29, 2015

    I would portray my grandma.

  • Dana
    January 29, 2015

    I absolutely love Marie ‘ s books and was so upset when we couldn’t work out a stop on her upcoming book tour… I’ve read most of the other authors mentioned too as I seek out quilt/craft novels but I have another fun series to add that involves quilting a that is The Iris House B&B mysteries by Jean Hager.

  • Barbara
    January 29, 2015

    i’ve read all of the Elm Creek Quilters, and Marie’s Cobbled Court Quilters. I’m lucky enough to have two signed books from Marie’s series, one from a quilt guild show and another from a book presentation. I treasure them both.

  • Vickie Alexander
    January 29, 2015

    I love all quilting novels: I have read all of Marie’s -Single Thread Thread of truth etc, Alice’s Tulips, Persian Pickle Club, elm Creek quilts, Clare Odonohue, Arelene Sachitana, Emilie Richards just enjoy books about something I love doing. Thanks for the opportunity to win

  • Lynda McCoy
    January 29, 2015

    Had the pleasure of meeting Marie Bostwick at Road2CA. Told her how much I loved the Cobbled Court series. And then she told me who she is…..I was surprised to meet her in person! Totally made my day!

  • Theresa powers
    January 29, 2015

    I think I would like to make aone of my sister and my mom, both who passed away in the last few years.

  • Teri P
    January 29, 2015

    I love all of Marie’s books and I love the Elm Creek Quilt series. I also enjoyed Emilie Richards books with a quilt theme, and several other authors, I love going to quilt festival and looking at the quilt fiction books.

  • Becky Gesch
    January 29, 2015

    I would love to learn how to make a portrait of my Grandchildren.

  • Debbie
    January 29, 2015

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a How To Sew Art DVD with you and Tammie Bowser. I love how Tammie reassures us that we can do this technique, even though it looks like a lot of talent is required. I already have a photo picked out of my darling 9 mo. old grandson with a look on his face that tells a very long story. I have spent the past few weeks trying to decide on a technique and based on the episode with Tammie, I can tell this is the one for me!

  • Nancy Montani
    January 29, 2015

    My brother Jim. He died of leukemia years ago at 36 leaving a 3 yr old daughter. My niece wants to know about him and I would love to surprise her with a picture of him. I just hope I can choose fabrics that will capture the light in his eyes that made him such a special person.

  • Sherry Boyken
    January 30, 2015

    My favorite book about quilts is “Apart at the Seams”. I related to this book so well. It brought tears to my eyes and also made me laugh. I love to quilt and get antsy if I don’t have a quilt to work on.

  • Charlotte Massey
    January 30, 2015

    i watched Nancy’s show with Marie and Tammy yesterday. Tammy makes the process so easy to understand and makes me think I could even do it. I would probably do a picture of my grandkids.
    As for quilt-related novels, I love all of Marie’s books and Jennifer Chiaverini’s books. Will read anything that includes quilting or seeing ties. It just makes the novels more personal to me.

  • Carole
    January 30, 2015

    I’d love to do my daughter. I’ve had a fun picture of her with her very curly hair blowing about and she having a huge grin. I always thought this would make a great portrait quilt. I just don’t know how to get started and I’m definitely intimidated by the concept.

  • lenore
    January 30, 2015

    Earle ne fowler, Marie bostwick, Emilie Richards

  • Kelly Sasman
    January 30, 2015

    I so enjoy reading the The Elm Creek series books. Tammi’s work is amazing! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but i’d love to do an old black & white photo of me when I was 16 years old, sitting on a old bare tree branching out over lake Superior in MI. My dad took it of me when we were camping.

  • Martha Shores
    January 31, 2015

    So far, the only quilting series I’ve read are the books of Jennifer Chiavarini, about the Elm Creek quilters. I’ve enjoyed them thoroughly. I especially like to get them on CD so I can listen while I sew. I have Tammie Bowser’s previous programs, Quilted Photos and have a pattern of one of my granddaughters printed out, but haven’t done it yet. Now, I have 4 granddaughters! The earlier ones used squares. I’ve already picked out fabric, just have to push “Start.” This series is encouraging me to get back to it!

  • Kerry54521
    January 31, 2015

    I am a HUGE fan of Earlene Fowler, author of 15 Benni Harper quilt mysteries and three mainstream novels. I’m such a huge fan that I have all 18 books in hardcover and autographed (purchased from eBay and other book-selling websites. I wrote to tell Earlene about this, and she sent me an autographed copy of the book she wrote with quilter Margrit Hall, “Benni Harper’s Quilt Album,” so my collection is complete How cool is that? If you love quilts and you love a good mystery, you will LOVE Earlene Fowler too.

  • Beth T.
    January 31, 2015

    I love Marie’s books, and am really looking forward to reading this novel–the description is very inviting!

  • Beth T.
    January 31, 2015

    I have a very sweet photo of my mom and her older brother, taken on their farm when they were little. I’d love to make an art quilt of that photo. I had just added this dvd to my wish list and it would be great to win a copy.

  • Barbara
    January 31, 2015

    I have a photo of my children when they were young and a second picture of them in the same place when they were older. I would like to try this.

  • Barbara
    January 31, 2015

    My first photo quilt would be of my children. I have a photo of the two of them when they were young, and a second photo of them in the same setting now that they are older. I can’t wait to try this new technique.

  • Barbara
    January 31, 2015

    I am anxious to try this new idea on some pictures of my family. I have not been able to find the link for the 7-day free trial of the software. Is there an update link for this?

  • Jennifer Fried
    January 31, 2015

    Dear Nancy and Tammie, I would like to do an art quilt of my 2 sons when they were just little boys. My oldest is quite the artist. He can draw and paint. He is very talented. My other son taught me many lessons about life. Both have brought me so much joy and have been so inspirational to me.
    Tammie, you are so good at this type of art form, thank you for sharing. Jennifer

  • Carol Morris
    February 1, 2015

    At the top of my “Projects List” is a 4-panel landscape quilt wall hanging – one for each season. This seems like a perfect technique to use – I can’t wait to try it!

  • Debbie
    February 2, 2015

    Hi Nancy, I would love this program How to sew an art quilt. The subject I would like to use would be my husbands Mom, Nephew and Niece who live in Scotland and we live in Canada. I think they would be very surprised and happy to receive a quilt depicting them!

  • Kar
    February 2, 2015

    My first art quilt project is going to be of my grandsons. Can’t think of a better family heirloom. Can’t wait to pick a photo and get started!

  • Mary Cunningham
    February 5, 2015

    I would like to surprise my daughter-in-law with an art quilt that features her much loved cat. The process that you featured on “How to Sew Art” should make a very realistic and recognizable likeness. Then if I have good results, I would move on the people portraits.

  • Monica
    February 5, 2015

    My first project from the HOW TO SEW ART blog would be a picture of my husband and I. We have been married for over a year now and it would make an excellent anniversary gift to hang in our bedroom.

  • Diedre Leonard
    February 5, 2015

    My how to sew art would be a picture of my father. He died in May of 2014 and his birthday is in March. I would make the quilt and give it to my mother, that way he would always be there with her. She miss him so much after 56 years of marriage this would make her so happy.

  • Kay Coffin
    February 5, 2015

    I would love to try this technique! My first subject would be my husband who died suddenly in September.

  • SUSAN
    February 5, 2015

    I have 2 beautiful Rough Collies I would use as my first (trial run) ARTproject then move on to my Grandson. His parents would love it __well I hope they would__as he is so darn cute (under 1 yr old).

  • Suzie Ellis
    February 7, 2015

    I lost my best friend three years ago to cancer. She was a budding photographer and loved to take nature shots. I always dreamed of making some of her photos into art quilts, and the one I would love to tackle is a close-up of a cast angel statue that sat in her garden. It has such a sweet face. This would be so helpful to bring her art to life and honor her with something from my hands. Thank you!

  • Bonnie Schertz
    February 15, 2015

    I would love to create a picture of my father who died in 1981. I started quilting when I retired last year, I made a log cabin quilt and hand quilted it. I want To learn how to make something everyone in the family will appreciate.

  • Jan Daniels
    December 22, 2015

    How to Sew Art would be a super addition to my budding sewing stash. I am a senior – senior citizen and faced with making a living from home when my husband dies. He is home bound and 85 so it is a given. I can no longer work and will have to supplement my small social security income somehow. I have slowly gathered the sewing implements and a new machine and now am trying to gather “new and different” venues to offer for the public to purchase. It would enable me to “sew/paint” wolves and forest scenes with thread instead of oil paints. It would provide a usable item for sale that could be practical as well as beautiful. A wall painting is nice but only provides “eye candy”. The sew/painted quilt provides eye candy and practical warmth.

  • Rudi Stevenson
    January 15, 2016

    I have admired these works of art for some time. I’ve drawn, painted, sewn and crafted all my life. I can’t wait to learn how to combine two of my favorite things, sewing and art. The subject of my first quilt would be a photo of my oldest son holding his newborn brother and kissing him on the forehead. (they are 22 and 14 now!)

  • Cindy
    February 20, 2016

    My first picture would probably be of my mother. She is 101 years old and has been an inspiration and blessing to me. She taught me how to sew, knit, crochet and instilled in me a love of art and gardening. She even inspired me to quilt! Thanks, mom!

  • Linda
    June 30, 2016

    I bought Tammys program a few years ago. I make one for each of my grandchildren as a present when they graduate from high school. I just finished number five. They love their “face” quilts!!

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