UPdates From Mel’s Studio…
Delighted to chat about Creativitiy on Episode 4 of the Creative Crossroads podcast hosted by Ellyn Zinsmeister and Catherine Dutton of Mod Maker Zone. We chat about rolling the dice as part of 100-day projects, creative influences as a child as well as current day, quilt challenges, studio set up, and so much more.
Each episode focuses on creativity with guest artists in different mediums. It’s a great topic and format. Enjoy!
I am truly honored to have Emerald Gardens juried into Quilt Visions 2024 on display at Visions Museum of Textile Art through December 28, 2024.
Pinch me! I won the Quilts Japan award sponsored by Japan Handicrafts Instructors’ Association and Nihon Vogue Co which includes a paid trip to travel and teach in Japan!
Plus, the red dot next to my piece means it was purchased. Much to my delight, one of the Visions’ board members purchased it and will be donating it to the museum’s permanent collection!
The Quilt Visions 2024 exhibition is a must-see exhibition and will be on display through December 28 for those visiting the San Diego area. Visit their website to view the artwork and award winners, meet the jurors, order a catalog, and see upcoming events.
Delighted to join several of my fellow fabulous Bay Area quilters for episode 3509 of The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims.
TQS members can watch the episode here. Not a TQS member? Sign up for a 7-day Free Trial to access the entire website!
Enjoy this sneak peek of the range of techniques Lynn Koolish, Sujata Shah, Pati Fried, and I will each be demonstrating in this colorful and fun episode featuring the diverse cross-section of quilting styles and techniques here in the Bay Area!
Join the creative fun during my monthly 1-hour creative playdates. Each session is $10 to register and includes a themed presentation with lots of visuals, downloadable handout, playful games/exercises, chance to connect with other creatives, ask questions, and surprises! These sessions will be recorded with 1-week access for registered participants to watch/rewatch…although it will be SEW much more fun to attend live to win that month’s prize drawing.
Mark your calendars to register for these upcoming Creative Playdates in 2025 starting at 3 PM PST:
January 6th: Goal Setting: Kick off the new year with Goal Setting to make 2025 your best year of quilting yet! I'll provide encouragement for you to choose goals that will stretch your creativity along with tips for achieving those goals. There will be time to ask me questions, connect with other creatives, and be entered into the live prize drawing.
February 10th: Entering Your Quilts
March 10th: Oh My Stars!
Join me for a boost of online quilting fun & inspiration during QuiltFest Virtual Schoolhouse #10 as I’ll be teaching these workshops:
Warning! Modern, Improv Curves Ahead! on Thursday, January 23rd from 12-6pm EST / 9am-3pm PST
Exploring Evolon in Your Fiber Art on Saturday, January 25th from 12-6pm EST / 9am-3pm PST
Here’s a short video preview of the fun we’ll have in both workshops.
Registration is now open!
Register for a boost of quilting confidence and fun in one or more of these online workshops with open enrollment:
2/1 & 2/2 - Intriguing Interleaves: Unlock the fun and intrigue of constructing an Interleave quilt. All the secrets of creating the illusion of curves and transparency using only straight-line stitching will be revealed.
2/12 - Design by Dice Online: Bring your lucky dice and some fast-making art supplies (fabric scraps, papers, glue stick) to play along with a few dice-inspired prompts to get your creative juices flowing! The 2 hours will fly by quickly as you pick up lots of inspiration for incorporating dice into your creative process!
2/15 & 2/16 - Modern Free Motion Fillers & FUN!: Beginners and experienced quilters alike will learn mark-free, modern quilting motifs involving C-curves, loop de loops, zig zags, and door beads. You’ll leave with new design ideas, tips and tricks for free motion quilting success, and the confidence to add beautiful, modern quilted texture to your modern quilt tops!
2/23 - Block Print & Play!: Learn how to design, carve, and print your own original block printed patterns. Be forewarned that block printing is super fun and addicting!
"HECK YEAH!" was my immediate response to Sam Hunter's invitation to record an episode for her new and fabulous The Rev Craft Biz Podcast!
What an absolute delight and honor to chat with Sam about starting a teaching business, maintaining a daily creative practice, comedy improv classes, and the importance of saying NO to protect your energy/time.
You follow Sam's podcast in your favorite podcast app or listen to the episode here.
Extra! Extra! You can read all about my Block-Printed and Stitched series of wholecloth quilts on pages 56-60 in the Spring 2024 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine. The article covers the materials and processes I use to transform Evolon CR non-woven fabric through faux dyeing, block printing, and stitching! I hope you will be inspired to incorporate Evolon and Block Printing into your art quilting journey!
This issue is packed with art quilting inspiration from so many incredible fiber artists. Watch your mailbox for this new issue which will hit newsstands on March 19th. You can order a digital copy now or hard copy on/after 3/19 while supplies last.
Need a creative boost with your quilting goals? You can watch my QUILT 2024 "Let's Get Rolling on Your 2024 Quilting Resolutions" presentation for just $9! It is one of several individual workshops available for purchase to watch as many times for 30 days. Of course you can purchase a VIP pass and watch all 30 QUILT 2024 programs and bonus content through January 15, 2025!
Extra! Extra! You can read an interview with Canvas Rebel where I dish on my creative journey, goals, teaching, and online presence. Happy reading!
Listen into the episode 105 of the Quilter on Fire Podcast, featuring an interview with yours truly! Brandy Maslowski is an absolutely delightful podcast host. We had a lovely chat about my creative journey, design inspiration, sense of play, taking creative risks, and love of quilt challenges!
Extra! Extra! Read all about how I approach risk and risk taking in my art, along with some fun along the way! Thanks to Shoutout Colorado for the lovely introduction!
Order a copy of Prism Play: A Full Spectrum of Art Quilts featuring 60+ monochromatic art quilts made by members of the Northern California/Northern Nevada region of Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc.
*I am delighted to have my “WIN-WIN Wind Energy” quilt included in this gorgeous exhibit and book (including a slice on the front cover!)
Honored to be spotlighted by Create Whimsy. What fun to reflect on my creative journey as part of the interview. And I love how they captured my creative journey in their opening paragrph: "Mel Beach’s next quilt could emerge from a simple roll of the dice. But not just any dice. The quilt artist, teacher and lecturer applies creative instructions to the sides of her dice to prompt her to stretch her artist’s wings. A huge advocate of making short and long term goals and then creating daily, Mel keeps her creativity flowing by constantly challenging herself, making art and sharing what she learns with her students."-Create Whimsy
Check it out and see what inspiration you can take back into your own creative journey...
Delighted to be an Artist in Residence on episode 19 of the Quilting Arts Podcast. What an absolute pleasure to chat about art and creativity with co-hosts Vivika Hansen DeNegre and Susan Brubaker Knapp. Some of the fun topics that come up include 100 day projects, mixing it up with dice, taking creative risks, comedy improv, and SAQA. I invite you to listen as I hope it inspires you to create and play today!
I am super excited to be featured on The Quilt Show, Episode 2808. This fun episode aired April 11th and showcases top-stitched curves, ways to jump start your creativity through playful 100-Day Projects involving dice, and tips for mark-free free-motion quiltiing!
Watch the episode (available for TQS subscribers—TQS Subscriptions are available for 1-month, 6-months, and 12-months)
Read my blog post sharing some more behind-the-scenes about each segment and the quilts featured
Watch the trailer video for Episode 2808
Go behind the scenes on the set with Mel Beach
Learn more about The Quilt Show editing process with TQS Editor Rick Mahal as he edits my promo video!
Need a Creative Reset? Check out my “Creating Daily with Dice” article included in the latest issue of Curated Quilts: Creativity in the Midst of Covid. This is an absolutely gorgeous magazine packed with beatiful photos and inspirational stories about staying creative during Covid.
Subscribe to Curated Quilts
Super excited to see my article "Roll the Dice: Up Your Game and Take a Chance" included on pages 92-96 in the latest Spring 2021 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine!! I hope it inspires you to roll the dice as part of your creative process.
Here is a preview of all the awesome content packed into the Spring 2021 issue. You can order your own digital copy using this link. Happy reading!
Delighted to share my experiences with the Craft Industry Alliance community by writing “Building Confidence and Learn to Think on Your Feet with Comedy Improv Classes”: An article about the value of taking comedy improv classes and the positive impact they have had on my quilting & teaching business! Happy Reading!!
Quilting Arts TV Series 2600 will be airing on Public Access channels around the country over the next few weeks. Check your local listings for airtimes. The series is packed with 16 artists sharing a large variety of art quilting tips and techniques. In episode 2608, I share a modern approach to free motion with pebble quilting. We’ll turn common Pebble Woes into Whoas!! Download the free eBook HERE.
If you enjoy art quilting and want to see more contemporary quilting techniques and inspiring guests, a digital video download of the entire Quilting Arts TV Series 2600 is available for purchase HERE or receive both series 2600 and a subscription to Quilting Arts magazine for $49.99 available HERE.
Honored to tape three segments for Quilting Arts TV series 2500 and 2600!! You can watch previews of Season 2500, packed with an amazing line up of artists, art quilting techniques, and inspiration.
Hint-Hint: Episodes 2502 and 2510 look especially fun! Visit each episode page to download instructions for each project featured.
Be sure to check your local TV listings and PBS channels for when these episodes will air.
Watch me share my love of quilt challenges, Slice of Improv, Mod Molas & Comedy Improv on The Quilt Show, episode 2112.
Watch the teaser video for the episode
Read the episode description of what fun projects and quilting inspiration will be covered