This links page is not organized in any particular manner.  I add interesting URLs as I find them so check back often.

SINGING QUILTER
If you haven't discovered Cathy Miller's wonderful songs about quilting, I highly recommend you visit her site at www.singingquilter.com/swak.htm.  Any of her three CDs would make a great gift for yourself or a friend.

GORGEOUS HAND DYED FIBERS
Vicki Clayton dyes several different kinds of fibers; my favorite (which flows through my machine like water) is her hand dyed silk perle.  I not only do machine decorative stitching with it but her fibers make the most luxurious tassels.  You can visit her website at www.hand-dyedfibers.com.

Laura Wasilowski also dyes wonderful fibers; visit her site at www.artfabrik.com.  You might also want to check out her class listings.

E-CARDS:
Jacquie Lawson designs electronic cards you send over the Internet for a small annual fee.  Hers are definately a cut above the usual, with original graphics, wonderful accompanying music and you can personalize each card and tell them when to send it.  Visit her site at www.JacquieLawson.com and check out the cards.

MACHINE EMBROIDERY DESIGNS
The Ann the Gran site, www.annthegran.com, offers thousands of free embroidery designs that you can download.

Advanced Embroidery Designs, located at www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com, offers a free design each month and they are very well done!  They also have designs for sale including many cutwork designs and designs using Photo Stitch technique.

Of course, you should also check out Oklahoma Embroidery Sewing and Design at www.embroideryonline.com.

EUROPEAN CRAZY QUILT FESTIVAL
To see some truly innovative crazy piecing and quilts check out the European Crazy Quilt Festival's photos from the 2003 festival at www.eurocrazyquilt.com.  Not only are the quilts wonderful and inspiring, but the town of La Bourboule, France is like a picture postcard.....a town nestled in the mountains, full of flowers.

THREE DIMENSIONAL EMBELLISHMENTS:

For fabulous dimensional flowers, check out Cindy Oravecz's site at www.Quiltersfancy.com.  I've got several of her books and her flowered baskets are truly works of art.

POLYMER CLAY:

I just love polymer clay and especially like quilters jewelry and button made from it.  I have an all black vest where the only decoration is some buttons that look like they are stip pieced.  Visit  www.craftswomen.com/Dotty  by Dotty Calabrese to see her gorgeous buttons, needlecases and pins.

Every year when I attend the Minnesota Quilters Annual Show I make a point to visit Jennifer Patterson's booth and purchase at least one new polymer clay draped quilt pin.  I now have over a dozen of them.  You can view her work at www.quiltedinclay.com.

BEAUTIFUL QUILTERS NOTECARDS:

If you haven't discovered Rebecca Barker's notecards featuring quilts, be sure to visit her at www.barkerquiltscapes.com.  Not only are her designs lovely, but they are economical; you can order 10 different cards for $12.50 (and that includes shipping!). 

QUILTING POETRY

Now don't get your hopes up here. My favorite poet is Ogden Nash (you know, the guy who wrote "Marriage is the union of flotsam and jetsam, One who never remembers birthdays and the other who never forgetsam") so my poetry tends towards the humorous. Check back occasionally as I add new poems.

As with the rest of this website, you can use these copyrighted poems for your quilt guild newsletter provided you credit me by name and give the URL of this website.  I am serious here: I don't mind you using my poems if you credit me.  It really ticks me off to see one of my poems printed elsewhere with my name removed (this has happened more than once).

THE QUILTING TIMES ARE CHANGING
By Cindy Thury Smith, 1999

For our Great-Great Grandmothers, in quilting times past
A frugal quilter had to scrimp, make every scrap last
Today wasting fabric is not such a crime
Today what's scarce is a quilter's TIME.

Patterns used to travel with pioneers going west
Now we swap and share instantly on the Internet
Once templates were traced, fabric carefully scissored
Now we slice multiple layers, we're all Olfa wizards.

At one time a two fabric quilt was a sign of status
Now Watercolor quilts have hundreds of prints comin' at us
Quilters used to gather at small local quilting bees
Now we congregate at conferences, national teachers to see.

Like our Great-Great Grandmothers our lives are busy, we're stressed
But with the beauty of our quilts, we feel we are blessed
As with Great-Great Grandmother, our quilting serves many goals
To give us warmth, grace our homes, and feed our souls.