Daily Blog

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Meet Cindy Needham and Wendy Richardson. Cindy, a California girl, will be featured in Show 202 that posts tomorrow. She uses vintage linens to create some of the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen. I met up with her at Road to CA where she was the featured guest. Be sure to check out Episode 202 to see her fantastic quilts.

Wendy Richardson (Quilt Tapestry Studio) from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota, uses antique linens and texties too, but in a more contemporary way. Both artists feel as if they are giving new life to something that might have otherwise remained dormant.

I hope you are enjoying getting a glimpse into the Road to CA show and meeting various individuals in the industry. Is this something that you would like us to continue - when we can? Up next - more quilts!

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Good news! TQS member Elsie Campbell (LCCampbell), author, and teacher, has won the Judges Merit award at Road to Californina. Elsie has been known for her intricate hand work, but her new quilt features both machine applique and quilting! She states that she learned her machine applique skills from Sue Nickels, her machine quilting skills from Diane Gaudynsky, and her piping and binding techiniques from Susan Cleveland and myself.

Why not send her a congratulatory email. There is nothing more inspiational than beautiful quilts. Don't you agree? Take a look at this one and some of the other prize winners from Road to CA. Does anyone else have quilts at Road to CA? Strut your stuff by adding a comment!

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Ricky Tims vs. John Flynn - For years now quilters have been getting us confused. I hope this little tutorial will help many of you who might have had problems in the past.

I'm lucky to have a booth next door to John at the show so folks can compare us side by side. What other differences/similarities do you notice that are not mentioned?

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Come along to the quilt show with me! I'm currently in southern Californina attending one of the best quilt shows in the United States - Road to California. I can't wait to share with you some of the amazing quilts that are here. But first - going to a show can be like a family reunion - you get to see so many people that you don't get to see very often.

I ran into Gregory Case and his wife Elana. We're proud to have such an excellent photographer for TQS.

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Yeah baby! Alex has always been interested in quilting, red, and big hair as noted in this 1955 photo from her scrapbook. Proof that we never change. I want to thank Alex's mom and dad for providing this long-forgotten inspirational photo.

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You're looking good baby!!!

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I promised to follow up with a blog about Katie - she just celebrated her 5th birthday. However, the first year of her life must have been rough. She was found running wild, abandoned with evidence of abuse. The city had to use a trap to catch her - off to the pound she went.

Six weeks after Justin and I moved to La Veta there was a picture of her on the door of Charlie's Cash and Carry. It read, "time is running out". We'll, we went to collect her - to give her a chance, but we were honestly afraid that if we let her off a leash she would bolt and they would be using the trap again. We soon learned that she was sweetest and most loving dog. How could anyone abuse her? She has a scar on her back to this day. She was timid for a while, but now realizes that no one is out to hurt her and she loves to meet new people.

I sent this photo to the Page-a-day Calendar Contest in February of 2004. Lo and behold, she not only got into the best selling dog calendar in the US, but she won something extra. The caption told how she was almost put down and continued to say, "...this breathtaking scenery would be empty if the life of this beautiful dog had been lost. We're proud to name Katie Top Dog for 2005!"

We're lucky to have her. Shes a great dog.

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Ever wonder where I get most of my work done? We'll, since a lot of it is on the computer, I use my laptop. About 80% of all my computer projects are on the laptop (yes, an Apple, but I'm not an Apple snob). Moments before this photo was taken, I was editing video and reading blog comments. Wanda (left) and Raisin (right - they are sisters) think they should be in the chair with me. We'll, they DO need their lovin' and who could resist faces like these. So I take a break and let them crawl on up - I'm such a pushover. Editing video - watching football on TV - lovin' the dogs - and sipping some peach tea. Is this the calm before the storm?

I haven't forgotten Katie (the thrid dog) I'll save her story later.

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What are these ladies saying/thinking? (photo by Gregory Case, TQS Photo Man)

Because we like to have fun - we like to pick your brains - we think you are clever and brilliant - and mostly because we have a few extra Bernina totes with quilting goodies inside that we would love to give away - we are offering you the opportunity to win one. Caption this photo. There are three ladies on the front rown of the audience at a taping of TQS. Meet Mrs. Lepht, Mrs. Sinter, and Mrs. Wright. What do each of them have to say? Your answer must fit within 1000 typed characters allowed on the comments page.

How are the winners are picked? The four winners will be picked by Alex, Ricky, Justin, and John - ARJJ. We will pick our favorite answers. It's that simple. We can be bribed! NOT! But you can try. Give us your best shot at captioning this photo for a chance to win a goodie bag to celebrate the first TQS birthday. Deadline for submissions is January 7. Winners will be announced in January 8th newsletter.

Remember - we're looking for a conversation, thought -or comment from all three ladies. 

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My lunch today, a plate of black-eyed peas, ham and mashed potatos.

I've learned that not everyone knows how important black-eyed peas are to folks in the south. I've had them every New Year's day of my life. They are supposed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. It's soooo important to me that three years ago I had to travel to Victoria, BC, Canada to teach on New Year's Day. I actually had to ask the coordinator of the workshop to find some black-eyed peas for me - in Canada - on New Year's Day! She finally found a can of assorted salad beans with a few black-eyed peas mixed in. At the hotel I asked the desk clerk for a can opener, went outside and sat on the sidewalk and picked out the black-eyed peas.

Here's a link on the subject. Click here. Do you eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day? If so, tell us, and state where you are from (notice I didn't say live - rather FROM). If not, what do you do? Are there any other New Year's traditions out there for us to learn about?