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For the very first time since this collection made its public debut in 1990 at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, visitors will experience ALL 82 historic masterworks of American quilt making selected from the world renowned Esprit Collection of Amish quilts.

These superb works, acknowledged masterpieces of design and needlework, were made between 1880 and 1950 by the Amish women in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

 See the original setting at Esprit Headquarters:  Click Here

Don't Miss ART OF THE QUILT - open NOW through Sunday March 18

So come to the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum. Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9am to 7pm, and Sunday Noon to 5pm.
Admission $10
37North Market Street, Lancaster

Daily Tours of the Collection with Esprit Curator, Julie Silber

Tickets available online at www.artofthequilt.eventbrite.com, or by reservation at the door.
Tour Fee $15

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Two-patch quilts are a boon for today's busy quilters like Pat Yamin (Episode 1005).  With only two pattern pieces and a creative imagination, the possibilities are endless. Increase your chances for success by following Pat Yamin's tips for quilting from her newest book Two Patch Scrap Quilts.

• Cut the largest or longest pieces such as sashings and borders first.
   
  
• When cutting block elements from strips of fabric never share a previous cut.  To avoid inconsistencies move the template 1/8" down the fabric strip, allowing each cut to be new.

• Have a "ready-to-go" bag packed with a hand sewing project.  You can get a lot accomplished in several small minutes of time.

• Before basting your quilt, lightly press the top on the wrong side first, then the right side, to prevent seam allowance pleats. 

• Always buy more fabric that you need and the best quality.

• When you piecing make sure to clips the loose threads off all of the tails, so they don't get caught in the seams later

• To mark your seam allowances if your sewing by hand, use mechanical pencils that will give you a fine line to stitch on.

• Keep your patterns, and extra fabric in a zip lock bag in case you need to make a repair later

• Always attach a label to the back of the quilt, including the date. I once knew a lady who made a quilt for her son, she signed it May 1st 98....Her daughter in law thought it was 1898....the century is important too.
  

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The 9-part series Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics has been an instant hit in the quilting community. Now, you can own a DVD copy of the complete series for 20% OFF the regular price of $39.95!

The DVD includes all 9 episodes in the series PLUS bonus features that you can't see anywhere else. Bonus features include topics such as "A Young Collector", "Dancing Quilts", "Antique Shows: The Back Side", and much more.

Simply CLICK the button below to take advantage of the 20% OFF when you order your copy of Why Quilts Matter.

This offer is only available to viewers of TheQuiltShow.com, and expires March 31, 2012. This is the perfect time to pick up a copy for your library, and a few copies to use as gifts for your quilting friends.

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This month you will make the first of 3 paper pieced star blocks. There are 3 copies of this block in the quilt. If you are using the Buttons and Blooms fabrics to make your quilt, you will see that the fabrics used for the star points have a stripe on them. The instructions for this month (and the video too!) show you how to align the stripe so that it is centered through the star points.

Be sure to also watch the companion instructional video here.

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Proper hoop tension is vital to thread painting success.  Nancy Prince (Episode 1004) shares her tried and true hooping method for off the quilt thread painting designs AND other helpful tips.

• Choose thread at least 2 shades darker than what you think you need, as thread stitches in lighter than the color you see on the spool.

• For convenience and ease of use, organize the selected thread for a particular design right beside your machine.  If the thread is lined up in stitching order, when you repeat the same stiching order again, you don't have to figure out the lineup.  Having the threads organized makes changing colors a breeze and is a huge time saver when working with a multiple thread colors on a design.

• Don't waste time and money by buying an inexpensive plastic hoop.  Nancy says that a 6" wooden machine embroidery hoop with 1/4" sides is strong, stable, lasts forever and offers great stability.

• If you don't like the thread color you stitched simply stitch over it with another color.  The effect of mixing the colors just might give a design the spark it needs.

• If threads keep breaking you may be moving the hoop too fast in relation to the machine speed.  Perhaps the thread is too old or the fabric is not taut in the hoop.

• Always make test samples before diving right into a project.  Test samples give confidence that a new design or concept can be successfully mastered.  They also help to make sure that the stabilization is correct.

Find more tips, ideas and thread painting projects in Nancy's books Thread Painting with Style and Quilt Savvy:  Simple Thread Painting.

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The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative just completed its 6th year of existence.  In that time they raised more than $690,000 for Alzheimer's research and they are only a few hundred quilts away from receiving their 10,000 Priority Quilt.

How about it TQS members? Why don't you submit a prioirity quilt and see if it can be the 10,000 quilt!

The rules are pretty basic:  It can be no larger than 9" x 12" and must be a "quilt."  Of course, there are a few more rules, you can see them by clicking on the button.

You can contribute a number of other ways as well by participating in the monthly auction or buying a quilt off the site directly. To learn more, click here.

(quilt: Leaves from Gida Lorre, Sao Paulo, Brazil, $45)

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Creating stunning spiral quilts that you saw in Episode 1003 can be child's play with the aid of RaNae's super helpful tips. RaNae has done all of the hard work for you in her book Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts.  She has even included a CD with print-out templates.

1. Begin with color-Select three or four colors that play nicely together, but then add a "kicker" -one that does doesn't mix quite with all the rest.  A small amount of kick adds excitement.

2. Blend and Separate-To make each spiral unit hold together you need fabrics that blend.  To define different spokes, you need fabrics that separate.

3. Pay attention to pattern-  Solid colors, monochrome textures or tone on tone create solid spokes with clearly defined edges.  Small to medium size patterns that are fairly dense are the best.  In most cases you will be cutting fabric in narrow triangles, so you want the pattern to be seen as much as possible.

4. Accuracy Counts- Pencil and pen widths vary widely, so use the same pencil or pen consistently throughout the drawing process to keep the lines and measurements accurate. 

5. Keep it Consistent- When photocopying be sure to make all the copies from the same original on the same machine at the same time, since different machines can have different reduction/distortion rates.

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Capt. John has been surrounded by so much love with the recent wedding that he needs some creative ideas on what to give Alex for Valentine's Day.

The ideas do not need to be expensive, but creative.  Also, we want to know what was the best Valentine gift you received?

Three winners will be selected at random to receive one of those Super Goodie bags from a recent studio taping. 

Send an email with "Valentine for Alex" in the subject line.  The contest ends on February 13,2012.  The winners will be announced in the eNewsletter on February 14, 2012.

Just submit an email to SharetheLove@thequiltshow.com and type "Valentine for Alex" in the subject line.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I love you more...by TQS divaquilts

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February 3, 2012 is National Wear Red Day® created by the American Heart Association (AHA). Go Red for Women was created to dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women. It is a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

According to their website, the goal of Go Red for Women is:

Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead a heart healthy life.

Click here to learn more about local events, how to fundraise/donate, resources, and items you can buy to support the movement.

Since 2004, through its fundraising efforts, Go Red For Women has contributed almost $44 million to women-focused research and has provided additional funds to life-saving educational programs and tools for physicians.

Take care of yourself ladies, click here to learn the Women's Signs of a Heart Attack and click here to discover how to stay Heart Healthy at Any Age.

And remember, Go Red for Women!