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Alex's 4-in-1 Essential Sewing Tool from C&T Publishing has been a staple in many quilter's tool belts. If you haven't gotten one yet, now is the best time ever. Sunday and Monday get 30% off in the TQS Shop on this great tool. Use the following code and place it in the coupon box at checkout. You will find the tool in "Alex's/ Ricky's Products".                 

Enter this code:                      AlexTool30

(Note: We also just got another shipment of the Apliquick tools in from Spain.)

Here is the original introduction video:

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Do you take care of your sewing machine? A little bit of preventative maintenance, like that shown in this video for the BERNINA 750, will keep you stitching on the right path. These types of videos are easy to find, just head over to YouTube and type in sewing machine maintenance in the search box, you'll find all kinds of information, just make sure it applies to your machine.

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A beautiful Carolina Lily block adorns this red and white stunner by Amy McClellan. The polka dot swag border adds a great graphic touch to this "traditional" quilt.

Star Members can see more from Amy in Show 2004: Into the Woods We Go - Embroidery with Whimsy in Stitches.

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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The title of this exhibit at Road to California 2017 says it all, "Put a Bird on It." It's quite interesting how the idea was carried out in each of these quilts.

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If you make two of these practical pincushions, one for each wrist, you can become Wonder Woman (they just might not be able to repel bullets). Daniela Gutierrez-Diaz at WeAllSew.com has a pincushion wristband tutorial so you can do just that.

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Is it just me, or have some of you found that the active life and quilting do not co-exist peacefully? 

I want to be an art quilter. That takes time. It requires long periods of sitting, thinking, dreaming, sketching, and finally sewing. Moving from the sewing machine to the ironing board is not mentioned on the American Heart Association's list of recommended exercise. And after a while, sitting for long periods of time is actually not very comfortable. 

On the other hand, I want to be healthy. Regular exercise is a very important part of good health. And exercise takes time too! Somehow I've got to figure out how to intermingle these two disparate parts of my life into one healthy balanced life.

Here are a few things that have worked for me in the past few months.

Functional exercise! Gardening and quilting seem to go together quite often. If you have a lot of work to do in the garden, not only will it nourish your soul and your creativity, quite often it will give you a very good workout for the day. 

When I am working consistently on a single quilt project, many times I will come to a point where I no longer even like it! Or, I will just be stumped as to which way to go next. That's the time to grab the dog and head out for a short walk. Oftentimes, I will walk back into the house and see my work with fresh eyes, and know exactly what the next step is.

If I've had a good day of quilting, sometimes I am ready to quit for the day by 2pm. That's when I head down to the gym for some work on the weight machines, the bike, or a swim in the pool.  

Another thing I have been doing (to increase my aerobic workout and also to decrease my total exercise time,) is HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training.) Basically, I walk as fast as I can for 100 paces, and then walk normally for 20 steps. I repeat this 8 to 10 times, and end my walk with a nice stroll. There is a lot of evidence that this type of exercise can raise your metabolic rate and give you a more effective workout in a shorter period of time (more time to quilt!!)

What if you are injured? Or old? Or out of shape? Check, check, and check. Been there, done that. I wrote about it here--You Can Always Do Something!

Exercise is going to take time. There's no two ways about it. But changing my intention and attitude about it will go far in helping me to incorporate it into my life without resenting the time it takes. And eventually, I came to realize that I did love exercise.

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I don't know about you, but if there is one fabric manufacturer that always hits it out of the park with prints that are like art, it is Alexander Henry. I saw this bolt at the Stitchin' Post and it was a WOW moment. Sometimes you just stand there with the 'ol brain in overdrive trying to decide if you need a dress instead of a quilt made out of the fabric. Has anyone else succumbed to this bolt of fabric??? And, what did you create?

Due to inclement weather...you know...those big white things that fall out of the sky and bury half a car...I was not able to attend the First Friday Quilt Gallery Show at QuiltWorks in Bend. But Marilyn, the owner, keeps the show up for a full month and so when the sun came out and the snow receded I headed over and took in the show. I wanted to share the Featured Quilter's exhibit. This month's featured quilter is a long standing quilter, teacher, and artist in Central Oregon, Jackie Erickson. She has taught at the Quilter's Affair in Sisters for several years. About three years ago I took her Wonky Log Cabin class and it was nothing but a great time! She has a way when it comes to deciding how to put her blocks together to create a one of kind design. Enjoy the show, and if you make it to the Quilter's Affair in Sisters, consider taking a class with Jackie!

Click here to visit Anna's blog.

Click here to visit Anna's YouTube channel.