Daily Blog

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TQS presents the work of Diana Bryer.  Diana paints the people and rich history of Northern New Mexico from her studio in the Española Valley. Her works have visual charm and the universal power of myth and magic.  Join us for visit to her studio.

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Alex caught up with Andrea Brokenshire in Houston, Texas, where she showed off the new Sit Down Innova Longarm.  She also shared her work with Jamie Wallen's Mystical Series of Rulers and talked about two of her award-winning quilts, Portlandia on My Mind, and A Passion for Purple.

Star Members can watch Andrea in Show 1706: Textural Backgrounds, Applique on Silk & Straight-Line Quilting and watch Jamie in Show 1708: Jamie Wallen's Playground.

We apologize for the sound quality, but the Houston show floor can be noisy.

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Laura at SewVeryEasy shows you how simple it is to put together a large quilt using partial seams.  You'll never be afraid of that partial seam again.  

Want to try out your new knowlege?  Click here for the pattern.

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TQS caught Sue and Ashley Nickels on the set (while the crewman were still working to set up the show in the background) and discussed a possible collaboration and how Sue might quilt one of Ashley's quilts.

Watch mother and daughter in Show 1801: A Quilting Family from Vintage to Modern.

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Quilts and Masks inspired by Euphoria - selected for a Community-wide Read by the Deschutes County Library.  - Anna

Last weekend was one of those times that fills the quilting soul.  My longest running quilt group The Fabric Stalkers rented a house and spent five glorious days trying to tame the UFO dragon.  There was some very successful moments which you can see on www.wooliemammoth.blogspot.com.  I don't know about you but I always over estimate my abilities to complete the list I have set before me.  For me...quilt retreat is the one time I make the biggest leap with my quilt list. If you have not tried a quilt retreat I highly recommend it but I think there are a few guidelines for an enjoyable retreat.  First of all...you must quilt with a crazy group of quilters where both laughter and tears can mingle.  Second...chocolate is a requirement.  Third...only bring what you want to work on because it is supposed to be fun not quilter's boot camp.  Can you think of anything else to add to the list of Quilt Retreat musts???

I wanted to share one of the highlights of Central Oregon quilting.  Every year the Deschutes County Library chooses a book to highlight for a community wide read.  There are many events that surround the book and many book clubs choose the novel idea for their Spring read.  For a quilter the highlight is a quilt show in which anyone who is interested can read the book and create a work of heart that speaks to something in the book. This years book is Euphoria, which is a historical fiction based on Margaret Mead...dry subject matter you say...anything but!  Intriguing, romantic and best of all, it is a fiction that makes you want to read more about this amazing woman.  The Gallery at QuiltWorks in Bend, Oregon has a wonderful display of not only quilts but masks from various mediums.  I have created a slide show to share the display but truly it is worth the effort to visit and see it for yourself!!!

By next weeks blog G, Enzo and I will be on the road and will be sharing some of the sights and quilt shops that cross our path!!!  Have a great week and I hope you can get some stitching done in between gardening!!!

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"Arándano," by Marilyn Badger has been named Best of Show at 2016 AQS QuiltWeek Paducah.  The name is Spanish for blueberry and took Marilyn over a year-and-a-half to make.  Come back for more photos soon as TQS hits the road to Paducah.

(Photo: http://www.wpsdlocal6.com)

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(Photo by Gregory Case Photography)

Embellishing with beads or buttons is another way to add interest to a quilt or other sewing projects. So this week, we want you to take time to organize these often overlooked little gems that tend to get stuffed in corners, drawers and other random places. We are not including ribbons and trims as that is your homework for another week, so don't dive into those items just yet.

If your studio collections include beads, buttons, sequins and other small items, chances are they are not particularly well organized. It may not be from a lack of trying, since all of those little packages and containers have a way of becoming one jumbled mess. Finding what you want can sometimes be a monumental time wasting task. Keeping all the assorted shapes, sizes, colors and types organized shouldn't be a chore.  

Good news! Getting your buttons, beads and such organized is another one of those tasks that can be done while listening to some fun music or when watching a well-loved movie. 

1. Sort items by color, size and type in piles. 
2. If items are still in a bag or container, don't remove them just yet. 
3. Having items sorted will give you a better idea of how you might want to store them. 
4. Whether your budget is large or small, there are a number of ways to keep these small items sorted, organized and easily accessible.

Once again, you need to review your current quilting space (or what you are trying to achieve this year) and what that space and budget will allow:

1. Do you perfer a clean and visually clutter free space with tools, books, and fabric out of sight?
2. Do you like a visually stimulating space with areas for art, quilting tools and other items of interest?
3. Does your entire workspace allow for large amounts of horizontal or vertical storage?
4. Do you need a variety of specific rulers such as Longarm, cutting, drafting, etc.?

Whether your budget is small or large, we found a variety of options that just might be the perfect fit for you.

Option 1: 

If you perfer a clean and clutter free space, consider these options for storing your embellishment items. Each solution offers a close at hand and organized solution without being a visual distraction.

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1. The Scrappy Jedi keeps items in zip style bags (available in a range of sizes at the craft store) in labeled drawers. These stackable drawer units can be found in a "big box" or office supply store. Some units come with roller feet as well so they can be tucked away under a table or in a closet.

2. Paint the lids of small jars (remember baby food jars) for a clean cohesive look. Jars can be stored on a shelf or in a drawer. (Pinterest)

3. Use clear spice jars to hold items in drawers. (Better Homes & Gardens)

4. Lauren Vlcek (Show 1206) uses clear square containers to hold her beads, by color family, in drawers. Each drawer is labeled for easy reference. We found similar storage tubes here.

5. Mary at Serious Beader uses small clear round lidded containers (by Darice) for her collections. The clear tray has a lid to keep everything contained. Each tray is a slim 1-1/8" tall x 9-1/2" x 6-3/8", which means that they do not take up a great deal of room on a shelf.  

Option 2:

Do you prefer a visually stimulating space, or are you lacking in large areas of vertical and horizontal storage? These tabletop ideas might just be the perfect solution.

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1. Lisa at TheCraftyPickle uses a well known coffee pod storage rack with lidded condiment cups to hold her sequin collection.

2. A new or upcycled spinning spice rack holds a variety of beads, buttons and sequins. (Diyinspired.com)

3. The Scrappy Jedi uses a coffee mug holder to corrall small items in clear zip style bags by color. A metal ring holds each color group together. 

4.  BluKatKraft uses old spice jars to add a bit of color to her windowsill.  

If these ideas weren't enough, here are more tips for storing your collections. 
Happy Sorting!

Click here for links to other Organization articles.
              

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Did you know that you can make a sleeve for your quilt on your machine that requires almost no hand sewing?  Lee Heinrich shares this cool technique at WeAllSew.com.  You may never again add on a quilt sleeve the same way!

And Star Members, don't forget to check out Cynthia England's  cool tip for making a no hand sew sleeve for a wallhanging or small quilt in Show 1412: "I Can't Believe It's Pieced!"

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We recently wrote about The TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team - see more info below.

They have just put out a call for TQPM Kennel Quilts for the
Humane Society of Wicomico County in Maryland. They have rescued over 300 puppies from a bad situation.

Their address is:
Humane Society of Wicomico County
5130 Citation Drive
Salisbury, MD 21804

Contact Information: Nan Baker at TQPM (marketing@quiltpatternmagazine.com)
Address: TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team
PO Box 1055
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

TQPM: www.quiltpatternmagazine.com
TQPM Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TQPMKennelQuilts
Petfinder: www.petfinderfoundation.com

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The TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team was formed after Hurricane Sandy to help animal shelters affected by disasters. Started by TQPM (The Quilt Pattern Magazine - an international, digital-only publication), it is partnered with the Petfinder Foundation.

How It Works:
When disasters strike, TQPM checks with the Petfinder Foundation to see if there are shelters in need of assistance.

There are almost-500-members on TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team. On the team page is all the necessary information regarding the TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team.

There are: FREE Kennel Quilt Patterns, guidelines for making the quilts with animal safety in mind, current needs, the TQPM mailing form, mailing costs, videos, our partners, and pictures of Kennel Quilts that have been sent. There is a sign-up button to join the team, as well as a link to the Facebook page. Team members receive all the latest information regarding Kennel Quilt requests. TQPM sends an email whenever there is a request and posts to their Facebook.