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The quilting world considers YVONNE PORCELLA to be the Godmother of Art Quilting and for good reason. Yvonne's books and teaching have reached worldwide. Her quilts are in major museums and collections. Thousands of quilters name her as an influence and inspiration. She has studied, collected and celebrated fiber arts through history and from around the world while she herself moved from designing and sewing unique wearables to making art quilts. Her quilts reflect her celebration of ethnic fiber arts, her love of color, her sense of humor and her upbeat view of life. Along the way she saw a need for a forum for professional development and advocacy for recognition of art quilting as contemporary fine art and for a resource hub. That vision led to the founding of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) in 1989.

Yvonne Porcella is also a member of that club no one asks to join—that of cancer survivor. Right now she hopes to stay in the club. You've sent wonderful cards, you've made beautiful quilts which have been so appreciated as they have soothed the soul, buoyed the spirit, warmed the heart and given her support. Yvonne's glowing strength also emanates from her beliefs. So we, a group of her friends wondered if we could get the word out so that there would be a blaring chorus of voices all asking for the same miracle. A massive worldwide candle-lighting with the same prayer for the miracle Yvonne needs now—remission. 

We asked Yvonne to pick the day for this blaze of light. She chose September 23, 2013 and explained that it is the feast day of St. Pius of Pietrelcina, aka Padre Pio who is known for his holiness and miracles.

Will you join us in lighting a candle for Yvonne on that day? Please also spread the word as far and wide as you can—invite your friends to participate and to also spread the word. Let's see if we can get this message to go viral so there will truly be a massive day of light and prayer for remission for Yvonne. 

Click here for the Facebook event.

Yvonne was our TQS Legend in 2010.  Click here to watch her show.

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My Bernina Accessories - here's what it can do:

Download the app today!

• Download the iOS version for iPhone® from the Apple app store
• Download the iOSversion for iPad® from the Apple app store
• Download the Android version from the Google Play® store (coming soon)

If you have a question about the app, contact Bernina by email at appsupport@berninausa.com

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Quilted In Honor (QIH), led by Island Batik, is a fund raising initiative for Operation Homefront, one of the top military fund raising organizations, and is intended to harness the collective power of the quilting industry to give back to the ones that need it most. Individually, each organization could donate something, but if we all worked together to support this outstanding organization – what could we really achieve?

The project has three areas of participation, however the over arching goal is for the quilting industry to come together as a whole to support our returning veterans and their families. Operation Homefront was chosen to be the beneficiary of the Quilted In Honor project because of their programs, their top rank among military charities in the United States, and because of the need they have expressed for quilts and quilted projects.

Island Batik is leading a team of Industry Partners, Celebrity Quilters and Sponsors in an 24-month program that launched in Portland, Oregon at Quilt Market in the spring of 2013.

Industry Partners

The flagship for the Quilted In Honor project is the Quilted In Honor fabric line by Island Batik. Based on the fabric line and Celebrity quilting projects, Industry Partners have developed integrated retail products for the project with a percentage of retail sales donated to Operation Homefront.

Celebrity Quilters

Celebrity Quilters, including Alex and Ricky, have lent their names to the Quilted In Honor project and donated patterns for various initiatives.

Sponsors

Sponsors have joined the Quilted In Honor project to provide donations of goods and services to help promote the program and leverage the costs of promotion.

There is a lot you can do to participate!

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Studying examples of fine needlework is a surefire way to gather inspiration for patterns, color combinations, and themes for your quilts and other stitching projects.

If you're in the area this fall, you'll want to plan a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for their upcoming exhibit, Interwoven Globe: The Worldwide Textile Trade. The exhibit runs from September 16, 2013 through January 5, 2014, and features textiles from around the world, including stunning examples created and traded for spices and other exotic goods from the sixteenth century onward.

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It's that time of year.  Time for one of our favorite sales, the Online Summer Sizzler Blowout Sale from C&T Publishing.  Over 150 titles are priced from $1 to $10 and it's this weekend only. Start making room on your bookshelf, this is one you don't want to miss!

Save big this weekend on your favorite how-to books!

Starting Friday 8/30 at 8 pm PST and going to midnight on Monday 9/2 you can save up to 75% on dozens of titles.

During the sale dates, you'll see a link on the left sidebar leading you to the sale webpage.  If you don't see the link, you are either too early or too late.

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Let us know in your comments any "Quilt Party" ideas that you have to share.

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Despite wartime hardships and shortages, American women (and men) continued to make quilts throughout the Civil War. If you're in the area, you won't want to miss the exhibit of historic, Civil War-era quilts from the Arlan & Pat Christ collection on display at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY, through October 30. It's like stepping back in time to a critical period in our nation's history.

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She's back by popular demand! In a brand-new class, Lauren Vlcek (Episode 1206) will be sharing her technique for drawing the whimsical faces on fabric that you saw in her faces quilt on the show set. This fun, four-lesson class is a great jumping-off point for your next mixed-media project. The first session airs on July 30. 

Want to be prepared when the first class begins?  Get the downloadable pdf supply list for the class here . If you're not able to find the colored pencils on the supply list, Lauren has pencil kits available here.

This class is FREE for all Star members.

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The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative has raised more than $916,000 for Alzheimer's research since January 2006! They are trying to make $1,000,000 by the end of the year.

2013 is their eighth year fighting Alzheimer's. 

So far this year the AAQI has earned approximately $33,567.14 in profit. All profit is used to fund Alzheimer's research.

Note: They will be at Houston for the last time this year.  October 29 - November 3, 2013.

Please note: 2013 is their last year of fundraising. Read more here.

This quilt is the first of the 11, 295 Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts sold so far.  Here's the 411:

Ami Simms & Beebe Moss
Flint, MI USA

Width: 9" Height: 10.75"
Materials/techniques: Hand dye-stamped cotton; machine appliqued; machine quilted.

"My Mom stamped the horse on white fabric and then painted a yellow background around it. (This was when her Alzheimer's was in the early stages) I cut the horse away from the original background and machine appliqued it to the purple fabric using a blanket stitch. The purple fabric is similarly appliqued to the brown border. The machine quilted hearts in the purple fabric." 

PS: Astute readers will no doubt notice that the name of this quilt changed overnight from "It's A Horse, Of Course" to "Of Course It's A Horse." My bad. When I signed the quilt very late on January 1, I forgot what I called it! They say confession is good for the soul, so there you go. Perhaps, like stamps and coins with "misprints" it will increase the value of the quilt. :)

This quilt raised $80 for Alzheimer's research.

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Join in the fun, meet new friends and learn some cool quilting tricks when you attend the first of five all-inclusive weekend getaways hosted by the Modern Quil Guild in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Sept. 6-8, 2013). 

SewDown Philadelphia is being held in downtown Philadelphia at the beautiful luxury Loew’s Hotel. This weekend all-inclusive escape will be a provide attendees a place to meet great new friends, attend amazing workshops, and hear inspirational lectures, with all meals and accommodations included.

• The three-day will offer you a unique sewing experience while learning from Alexia Abegg, Liesel Gibson, Elizabeth Hartman and Lizzy House.

• Each instructor will be teaching a different technique with a focus on modern quilting.

• Class sizes are kept small for the instructors to have the ability to work closely with their students and make sure that everyone comes away feeling creatively renewed and inspired.