Amy’s new collection – LOVE – is a heady mix of a pretty florals and ethnic architectural designs – inspired by her recent adventures in Indonesia and England. The colours are rich, hot and tropical – with more dark colours – blacks and navys than we have seen with Amy’s collections before.

I have recently discovered and fallen for the simple creaminess of her solids collection which perfectly offsets her earlier suites of fabrics. I hope there is a solid range coming out to accompany LOVE.

Amy Butler is giving 3 whipup readers the chance to win a pattern pack with the Madison bag, Sweet Harmony bag and The Field Bag. Leave a comment here about what you have made with Amy Butler fabric.

You have 48 hours to enter. winners will be emailed – thanks for entering everyone!

Mairuru has listed her favourite online Japanese fabric shops – they look devine – the stores are in Japanese but if you are in Japan or know of someone who can order you some fabric direct then this would be perfect.

I couldn’t stop at just one post to give you a taste of the wonderfulness of the quilt market – after scouring the blogs there is so much more to tell.

pink chalk studio is posting about the quilt market: here is a pic from the Lucien booth. and check out her flickr for heaps more fab pics.

[oops... The top picture is actually the “Melly and Me” booth - designed by Melly and her sister Rosalie Quinlan, and Rosie has a new fabric collection out with Lecien called “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” which is the Leicen connection. - thanks claire]

Michael miller’s booth at quilt market looks totally cute – here is how they did it.

Moda home mom has a wrap up of the moda section : fabric family fun has lots of pics and an indepth overview of the new lines of fabrics : I love the new line from Paula Prass .

Amy Butler’s booth [image from flickr little girl pearl]

I have been following closely all the blogs – post fall quilt market – with their photos and updates from the market. I am terribly jealous – but maybe next year? Kim from Trueup had an amazing time and she is updating each day with a run down of all the new fabric lines and a whos who of the fabric world – gotta check in daily with her to see what else is new.

Here is a pic of Anna Maria Horner’s stand (from pink chalk studio) – sneak peak of new collection

Jonag also is updating extensively with lots of fabulous photos – here is a pic of heather bailey’s booth from jonag flickr stream.

Fat quarter shop also has a very extensive run-down – lots of great photos of booth and the people behind the fabric. – here is photo of Tula Pink’s quilt from her new collection with Moda – and check out new from Moda - sampler boxes (includes twelve packs of 40 – 2.5″ x 2.5″ assorted fabric squares. )

love this fabric washable snack bag - tutorial here

sew mama sew’s scrap buster contest – I love lolly chops fabric butterfly – tutorial here.

This month Sew,Mama,Sew are hosting scrap buster projects. There’s also a competition. Get on over and check it out. Link to Sew,Mama,Sew.

Bend the Rules with Fabric: Fun Sewing Projects with Stencils, Stamps, Dye, Photo Transfers, Silk Screening, and More By Amy Karol. Potter Craft (August 25, 2009).

Amy’s second book – continuing along the ‘Bend-the-Rules Sewing‘ theme – I love it. Testing the boundaries of traditional crafts – making use of all the very cool tools and products that are available now. Not just a sewing book – it also includes fabric printing, collage and mixed media. How to alter and design your own fabric and mix it up with heaps of cool ideas.

I love the techniques section which includes a section on color and design theory, a heap of tools and materials and products with really good explanations of what they all do. Amy has used photographs in this book rather than illustrations and it works.

The projects section starts off with ainting on fabric, which includes instructions on fabric stamping and carving your own stamps, drawing with paint and freezer paper stencils, projects in this section include a cute stamped fabric belt and a painted framed toile. Technology and transferring images by way of a printer and computer have their own section, with explanation on how to iron on transfers, ink jet print fabric and screen print (specific products are required for some of these techniques). Make your own stuffed fabric dolls and printed lunch bag (see project link).

The dyeing fabric section explains all sorts of different design ideas including painting with dye and using bleach pens, I love Amy’s whole cloth dye painted quilt. This book would not be complete without embellishing with fibers, such as drawing with thread and applique – projects include a stitched drawing book cover (using a cute kids drawing as inspiration) and custom baby patches.

The back section includes a whole bunch of templates and patterns to help you make the projects in this book. Congratulations Amy on a lovely second book. [ps check the lunch bag project from this book offered on the storque]

crafty tammie sent in this link to see katie sew quilted houses tutorial.

Sister D is in the house. Here she shares how to make stiffened fabric jewelry. Link to tutorial.