July has arrived and so has the busy summer season. Between family events and the Oliso travel and adventure, I still work hard to set aside some precious creative time just for myself, and you can too! This month we'll feature a designer we love, an NYC textile fiber gallery, and a new online maker community you just might love. Happy July!

P.S. The Tula Pink x M3Pro is back in stock!

Michele

Director of content and community

A Designer We Love

Helen Castillo began her fashion journey at age 13 at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and went on to earn a BFA in Special Occasion Design/Couture Studies. She interned with top fashion houses including Vera Wang and Vivienne Westwood, and gained national recognition as a finalist on Runway Season 12 and Project Runway All Stars Seasons 4 and 6.

Helen's designs have been featured as seen above on the hit series Project Runway, on the Grammy red carpet, and in a design collab with the Blue Man Group. She was recruited by Zac Posen to join his design team. In 2016 she opened her atelier in New York City's garment district establishing Helen Castillo Design. Dressing red carpet and private clients for bridal and evening gowns with a focus on couture practices and corset foundations, her brand continues to grow and expand internationally. As a professor in fashion design, a designer, and a mentor for the next generation, the limits for Helen are endless for future projects and collections.

Fiber Iterations: A Celebration of Contemporary Textile Art

"Medicine Ball for These Times" by Felice Caivano

Textile Art Gallery NYC presents Fiber Iterations, a juried exhibition showcasing the extraordinary diversity and creativity of contemporary textile art.

Founded by a collective of textile artists from across North America, Textile Art Gallery NYC is an artist-run gallery in Chelsea dedicated to showcasing the breadth, innovation, and creative possibilities of textile-based art.

Fiber Iterations brings together selected artists whose work explores the many ways fiber, cloth, stitch, and mixed media can become compelling works of contemporary art. From innovative approaches to traditional techniques to entirely new ways of thinking about textile practice, the exhibition reflects the energy, experimentation, and imagination shaping the field today.

The exhibition is on view August 3–28, 2026, with an opening reception on August 6 from 4–6 pm at Textile Art Gallery NYC.

On Point Creative Community

The On Point Creative Community with Michelle Oliveto and Madison Moyer is a place for quilters and makers to connect, share projects, join a free book club, find resources, and attend guest speaker events. Want more? Unlock the Maker's Membership with exclusive patterns, classes, guest speakers, and inspiration—all for the cost of a cuppa joe.

Book Club is included with the free On Point Creative Community membership. Join us August 1, 2026.

Whether you're an avid reader or it's been a while, we'd love to have you join us. The more voices in the conversation, the richer the experience! Together, we'll read, reflect, and share our thoughts in a welcoming community of makers and readers.

BOOK CLUB - On August 1st we're diving into The Women by Kristin Hannah, a powerful and unforgettable story of courage, friendship, and the extraordinary women who served during the Vietnam War. Together, we'll read, reflect, and share our thoughts in a welcoming community of makers and readers.

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show!

Above (left) Leslie Tucker Jenison chats with show attendees about her special feature of quilts at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, and above (right) you see the quilts put up by local fire crews at 7a.m. on the side of the iconic Stitchin' Post. And below you see our beautiful Oliso products on display (left) and 2 happy students (sisters) and their work from one of my workshops with Leslie Tucker Jenison.

Our friend Brandy, a.k.a. the Quilter on Fire, spent some time with us at Quilter's Affair in Sisters, Oregon. Here's her take on attending this bucket list event for the first time:

Back in stock!

With Tula Pink's creative touch and Oliso's commitment to precision and performance, the result is a stylish and functional iron that promises to elevate your quilting and sewing experience.

Tula Pink is an illustrator, a fabric designer, a quilter, an author, a maker, and a generally good person. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates on Tula Pink, her studio, and projects.

The Tula Pink design is hand-applied to the iron, making each slightly different and unique.