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We've all made it to Boulder for taping our next series of shows. Its always a wonderful, fun, and challenging time. I know many of you can't be here - but you can play with us anyway. So here we go...

Twas the night before taping and....

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It's been a crazy summer and I have tons of cool quilting things under my belt including: Quilt Colorado in Estes Park, my Super Quilt Seminar in Rocklin, CA, a visit to Bernina in Chicago, teaching at Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Oregon and a La Veta Quilt Retreat! Nonetheless, two weeks ago I finally got Big Bear hauled out to Autumn Rock and Justin and I got the poles raised for Big Bear. Now the mystery should be solved - even if it's still not complete. I finally got a short video edited to share with you. Hope you will enjoy the progress.

Thanks Susan for reading the instruction manual and video taping our feeble attempts to construct this massive (24' across, over 30' tall) teepee.

The music is Drum Circle from my CD - Sacred Age

 

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This week I had a student at retreat who was working on a quilt that I thought could benefit from a particular technique - a la Libby Lehman. However, she wasn't "seeing it." So, I spent some early morning time before class creating a small sample. I liked the sample enough to quilt and finish it. After seeing this, the student "got" it and loved pursuing her project in a similar manner.

Sometimes doing something small and quick can be a real shot in the "creative" arm. There's a couple of technical things I wish were different, but the fact is - I had fun - and I like it. I'm open to a better title if you have suggestions.

Do you ever side step from a big project just to do something small and fun - to break the monotony? If not, maybe today is a good day to do just that!

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The July 2010 installment of my La Veta Quilt Retreat is underway. The students are each exploring their creative vision and trying new techniques. The week is designed to be a week of inner reflection and outward expression. If you are ever interested in attending, all the information is on my website - here. Be sure to get on the advance notification list. Each retreat is limited to 10 students.

It's always fun to see what others are doing and one of the students this week - Kathy Steigleder, screen name Kathyst2, made last years BOM and brought it for us to enjoy. It was so spectacular I had to share it with you too! If you like it the way her BOM turned out, give her a shout in the comment section.

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I took some time to make a small art-type quilt (whoo-hoo!) and thought I would share the result with you.

Lifelines II was totally improvised and utilizes my "Quilting Caveman Style" method which means there were no rulers, no quarter-inch seams, no measuring, and no templates! Of course, the fabrics are hand-dyed in the bright colors I love so much. It is quilted with Rainbow thread by Superior, in particular the one called Carnival.

This quilt is about 40" x 30" and it now belongs to one of my best friends (Susan) in my hometown of Wichita Falls, TX. See a detail of this quilt here.

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Nancy Brown portrays Alex and myself greeting you each day from inside your laptop!

The next TQS episode posts tomorrow featuring Nancy Brown and her amazing animal-themed quilts. However, in addition to her talent as a quilter, she is also a water color and caricature artist. She painted two of the above images and gave one to each Alex and myself. She also did a series of watercolors 10 years ago following my quadruple heart bypass surgery. They are a riot! See those on my website here.

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We had a wonderful Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar in Rocklin, California with about 650 attending making it our second largest super quilt seminar ever! Whoo-hoo! Many thanks to the Foothills Quilters guild who enlisted volunteers and to Colleen Voet who started this ball rolling in 2006 and stuck with us for four years.

Everyone who attends the seminars attend all the sessions. There is no sewing, no class selection, just intense learning and a LOT of fun.

Thank you Bernina of America for the support and hat’s off to Meissner’s Sewing Center for providing a beautiful 830 for the stage.

Find upcoming seminars and information here.

Watch the video.

Read what others are saying. Check out these blogs from those who attended the Rocklin seminar.

Redefined – Whoo-hoo – by Sandi G

Quilt With Us – Rosalie Hughes

Pointless Quilter – Barbara

 

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While I was running hither and yon at Quilt Colorado (teaching and purchasing a new red Featherweight) I was able to snap a couple of photos of the top quilts. Best of Show went to Sharon L. Shlotzhauer's quilt, Really 'Wild' Flowers. The quilt also won first place in Art/Innovative sponsored by Ricky Tims. Inc.

You saw a glimpse of Ann L. Peterson's quilt (Spring In My Step) in yesterday's blog. Her quilt won a second prize in the Pieced-Large category (sponsored by The Quilt Show.com), but also took the Best Color and Design award. I really enjoyed looking at the wonderful designs of these quilts, but take a closer look at the quilting. Way to go! These quilts are an inspiration.

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This weekend at Quilt Colorado I saw my good buddy Delbert Godsey with Calico Cupboard. He collects, refurbishes, and sells Singer Featherweights. He also has a toy sewing machine museum located in Mountain View, Missouri featuring over 400 toy sewing machines.

This is the second Featherweight that I've purchased from him. The previous was a centennial model I got about 10 years ago. Some of the machines he finds are so far gone that he opts to repaint them - sometimes in very cool colors. Then he gets them in perfect working order.

This little red machine saw me and begged to come live in La Veta. I couldn't resist the pleading puppy dog eyes so I said yes. Wouldn't you? Now I have a little red toy piano AND a red Featherweight. What color would you want yours to be?

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Every two years a wonderful opportunity comes along for quilters. The Colorado Quilt Council presents Quilt Colorado. The beautiful resort setting in Estes Park, the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, is breathtaking and inspirational. The event features a judged quilt show, a vendor mall, and a variety of national quilt instructors. My first visit to Quilt Colorado was in 1998 and I've been thrilled to go back several more times since then. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Mark your calender for June 2012 and consider putting Quilt Colorado on your wish list of quilt events.