Daily Blog

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Join Alex and Ricky, in Episode 701: Animal Magnetism, as they meet quilt artist Nancy S. Brown on location in the Oak Barrel room at Northern California’s Wente Vineyards. Nancy, best known for her amazing, award-winning, hand-appliquéd animal portraits, explains how childhood outings to the zoo inspired her choice of subject matter, and reveals a surprising secret about her wedding dress. She also shares the thought process that goes into each design, the various techniques she employs to translate the design to fabric, and some of her favorite hand-appliqué tips... and wait ‘til you see the gifts exchanged between guest and hosts!  

WATCH THIS EPISODE FREE UNTIL 12/31/2012!

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

TQS says "aloha" to Hawaii-based quilt artist, author, designer, teacher, and former Quilt Central host Cindy Walter in this "colorful" episode taped at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM.

Following a show and tell of her quilts, Cindy discusses the pluses of painting on fabric, reviews the properties of various paints, talks about tools, troubleshoots with easy solutions for potential glitches, and engages both Ricky and Alex in hands-on demos to show how simple and versatile the process can be. All this, plus a mini-lesson from Alex on traditional English paper piecing, too!

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Meet TQS Member - DebbyWeighsIn

Just in time for the holidays, TQS has added a new player to the team. Knowing that quilters LOVE food, and that many quilters also struggle with weight issues, we have invited a nutrition enthusiast (and TQS member!) to give us all a bit of encouragement and advice from time to time.

Debby Schnabel is a quilt artist and a blogger who spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about good food and nutrition and cooking… and quilts. Seven years ago, shortly after her 50th birthday, she undertook the battle of a lifetime - to lose the weight once and for all. Over a period of two years, she lost a hundred pounds, and gained a ton of knowledge on weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

Recently retired from her 25 year career as a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse, she writes about food from a food lover's perspective, while the science-based mind keeps things in perspective.

Debby lives in a small cabin in the Sierra Foothills with her four dogs, where she now works on her art quilts full time.  You can read more about Debby's musings on "living a whole and healthy life" on her blog Debby Weighs In. She occasionally blogs about her quilting on her quilting blog, Debby Quilts. 

Debby will be sharing her healthy living advice and recipes with the TQS family right here on The Daily Blog. We have also set up a new FORUM category so that our members can discuss their own issues on food and health. It's called THE HEALTHY QUILTER and you can find it under the Scrap Bag section in the Forum.

Give a big TQS welcome to Debby Schnabel and watch for her first posting this weekend!

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Last week, Superstorm Sandy devastated many neighborhoods on the East Coast, and some of those same areas were hit again in the past few days by a nor'easter and unseasonably early snowstorm. Victoria Findlay Wolfe (a future TQS guest) has a received a call from Basic Housing, Inc.

The message: Quilts and blankets are needed ASAP and we know our TQS members can help!

Here's the info from Basic Housing, Inc.

What They Need:

QUILTS AND BLANKETS are needed ASAP.
Home-made or Store Bought QUILTS AND BLANKETS: ANY SIZE.
Quilts will be accepted, and handed out as quickly as they come in.

Give Selflessly.
Thank you cards will not be sent out due to the urgency of the events of SANDY.

REAL THANKS:
LABEL YOUR QUILTS, Name, address and email.
The person who receives your quilt may want to thank you themselves.

Send Quilts & Blankets to:
Basic Housing, Inc.
Attn: Robert Gonzalez / H.SANDY
540 East 180th Street, Bronx, NY 10457

PLEASE Include INSIDE THE BOX CLEARLY WRITTEN
your name, email & address & Phone

please ship them with delivery confirmation.
Any questions, Please email:
Lane Falcon
lfalcon@acacianetwork.org
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe
bumblebeansinc.com

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It's that time again.  The annual Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative celebrity showdown of fabulous quilts made by twelve of the industry's most talented quilt artists for auction with all profits to fund Alzheimer's research. To make things even easier, this year's auction will be held on line.  Don't miss this fabulous opportunity to own a piece of work by one of your favorite artists, many of whom have been featured on TQS. 

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Click image to enter to WIN a Gammill Sit Down by suggesting a name!

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

We return to the home of Betsy and Richard Ehrenberg in Santa Fe to welcome self-described "late bloomer" -AKA fiber artist, teacher, and author - Karen Eckmeier, who demonstrates how she uses overlapping and topstitched fabric strips to create her delightful "accidental landscape" quilts.

In addition, Karen shares ideas for adapting her versatile technique for use on garments, and Lilo and Elena model some of Karen's wearable creations. (You'll need to watch to discover why you'll always find a "lucky lizard" stitched into Karen's show quilts.)

The episode concludes with a tour of the Ehrenberg home, Casa de Vidrio (House of Glass), which houses the couple's amazing collection of contemporary art glass.

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This year's winner of the Pacific International Quilt Festival - Yuko Watanabe Best of Show is Karlyn Bue Lohrenz and her quilt, The Hues of Amber.  Karlyn used Caryl Bryer Fallert's gradation fabrics to explore amber from deep burgundy/brown to butterscotch.  The fabrics helped to showcase the shades she envisioned with depth and value.  In her studio, Karlyn said the design seemed to 'spin' on her wall. You can learn more about Karlyn in her TQS Member Spotlight.

Congratulations Karlyn!

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It is not often that TQS Producer, Shelly Heesacker, takes her place front and center.  But, this outstanding producer has been selected as a Peace Maker Spotlight by the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation.

Sometimes, the individuals or organizations we celebrate in our Spotlight feature are interviewed, and a page is created piecing together responses that tell their peace stories to readers. And sometimes, an individual or organization is so excited about the Spotlight recognition that we receive a letter abundant with enthusiasm and details. This month’s Peace Maker, Shelly Heesacker, is in that latter category.

"Shelly was selected for the Peace Maker Spotlight, in part, because of her “above and beyond” response to our Foundation’s “Make Peace the News” Summer 2012 Campaign. We invited people around the world to take 3 seconds a day, every day for about 3 weeks, to share 3 simple words — “Peace is Possible” — and in doing, set the tone for peace for countless people around the globe. Every single day, from June 22 (Mattie’s anniversary) to July 17 (Mattie’s birthday), Shelly creatively shared in word and photo that “Peace is Possible.” She shared on Facebook, and in e-mails, and in everyday conversations at home and at work.

When she was notified that she had been selected for the Peace Maker Spotlight, she sent a letter filled with wonderful information and inspiration as her responses to our standard queries. Those responses are below. Thank you, Shelly, for making this Spotlight page such an easy one to create. And thank you, Shelly, for truly exemplifying Mattie’s vision of a peacemaker — one who chooses to make peace a habit in thought, word, and deed through daily interactions at home, at school, and work — for our world."

Learn more about the foundation here.

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Join us in Episode 1108 as the stunning Santa Fe home of Betsy and Richard Ehrenberg provides the backdrop for this "must-see" episode. Alex leads off by demonstrating a terrific product that will save you time and effort with your paper-based appliqué.

Then the TQS gang welcomes quilt artists, pattern designers - and sisters! - Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover. Mary, a former quilt-shop owner, shares the many creative possibilities of designing with strata sewn from colorful fabric strips.

Then Barbara, a professional longarm quilter, author, and popular TQS Classroom host (Listen to Your Quilt), teaches four simple steps for designing an effective quilting plan, and Mary "ties it up with a bow" by sharing a clever ribbon-like quilting pattern.