With the demise of so many sewing and craft programs on television, it's nice to stumble across one that's fresh and entertaining. I've pretty much given up watching HGTV (it's turned into a home decorating\how to sell your house network) and DIY Network plays the same programming over and over again - seriously, how many times can you run the same 10 episodes of From Junky to Funky before someone notices they are re-runs? Instead, I've turned to watching PBS - our local station has quite a few crafting and sewing programs including Sewing with Nancy, Martha's Sewing Room, and Quilting Arts. Typically, I've had to miss most of the Quilting Arts shows because the time it airs is the same as when I'm picking up Taylor from school, but I was recently sent a copy of the Season One DVDs and have been catching up with all the shows I haven't seen.

The thing I've enjoyed most about this program is that it isn't your 'standard' quilting show - they aren't just creating a quilt (or a quilted project), but a work of art. Each show teaches you a variety of techniques such as fabric printing\painting, adding dimension to your projects with embellishments, using tools to make unusual effects, or mixing media to create interest and texture. Even though these are designed for the quilter, all of these techniques can easily be applied to the garment\home dec.\stuffie sewer as well - in fact a lot of the shows have inspired me to think outside the box for some upcoming projects! You can also visit the Quilting Arts TV website (you'll need to register before you can view much of it's content) for free projects, shop the store for season one and two DVDs or Quilting Arts magazines, or watch you local PBS station for upcoming shows.