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Here's the information regarding a call for entries for Celebrating Yvonne Porcella from Pokey Bolton.

Click here for more information.

“Live Your BRIGHTEST Life: A Tribute to Yvonne Porcella” will be a featured art quilt exhibit hosted by Pokey Bolton at “Quilting in the Garden” at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, CA, September 23-26, 2016. With fabric and thread, this is your opportunity to celebrate an amazing icon in the quilt world, and convey what living a bright life means to you.

As part of this exhibit, they are asking quilt makers to include a written tribute to Yvonne and share how she has influenced your art or touched your life, whether or not you met her in person. These tributes will be placed in a book and given to Yvonne’s family.

Quilt Entry Specifics:

• Quilt Size: 18”(W) x 26 (H)” (You may submit up to two entries.)
• Must include a sleeve for hanging and your information on the back.
• 2 narratives: 1) Narrative explaining your quilt. 2) A tribute to Yvonne to be placed in a book for her family.
• Digital Images (72 DPI) and accompanying narratives due: August 6, 2016, emailed to info@craftingalifellc.com. Subject to read: YVONNE PORCELLA ENTRY
• You will be notified by August 12, 2016 regarding inclusion and given shipping instructions.
• The quilt must be received by September 9, 2016 in order to be included in this exhibit.

You are invited to offer your quilt for sale; all proceeds to go to Yvonne's founding organization, Studio Art Quilt Associates.

Want to be inspired by Yvonne?  Watch the video below.

A few years ago the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles had the exhibit, Yvonne Porcella: Bold Strokes.  Curated by Deborah Corsini, the exhibit featured 21 of Yvonne's quilts, spanning a 25-year time period. Included are three examples of her kimono-shaped quilts, as well as many of her graphic appliquéd quilts with their interesting cartoon-like characters. You'll also see an abundance of black & white checks, which add the signature touch to many of her designs.

Star Members can watch Episode 713: TQS Quilting Legend with Yvonne Porcella to learn much more about this wonderful lady.

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International Quilting Weekend Will Be Here Soon!

March 18-20, 2016

We'll be opening all of our shows from the first seventeen series -- shows 100-1713 -- for the entire weekend. This means that, for three special days, everyone will have the chance to view over 200 shows, featuring some of the quilting world’s leading artists, for FREE.  And of course, there will be prizes, including...

AccuQuilt -  GO! Fabric Cutter and the GO! Qube – 12” Mix & Match Block

The new GO! Fabric Cutter Starter Set saves you time cutting so you have more time to quilt!

• 90% faster than rotary cutters or scissors
• Accurately cut up to 6 layers of fabric at a time
• Safe, easy-to-use design helps reduce hand and arm strain
• Unlimited design options with wide range of quilting shapes

New GO! Qube Mix & Match 12" Blocks take cutting fabric pieces to a whole new dimension. Designed to save you time and money, each GO! Qube includes 8 GO! dies, 2 cutting mats, 13 block patterns, a Getting Started DVD, plus a self-contained storage system. Find out how easy it is to create 12" finished blocks using your GO! Fabric Cutter and GO! Qube … just add fabric! Most blocks take less than a half hour from cutting to sewing.

The GO! Qube Mix & Match 12" Block includes:

• Shape 1: GO! Square-6 1/2" (6" Finished)
• Shape 2: GO! Square-3 1/2" (3" Finished)
• Shape 3: GO! Half Square Triangle-6" Finished Square
• Shape 4: GO! Quarter Square Triangle-6" Finished Square
• Shape 5: GO! Half Square Triangle-3" Finished Square
• Shape 6: GO! Square on Point-4 3/4" (4 1/4" Finished)
• Shape 7: GO! Parallelogram 45º-3 11/16" x 4 15/16" Sides (3" x 4 1/4" Finished)
• Shape 8: GO! Rectangle-3 1/2" x 6 1/2" (3" x 6" Finished)
• GO! Cutting Mat-6" x 6" (55137)
• GO! Cutting Mat-10" x 10" (55111)
• Getting Started DVD
• Pattern Book
• Self-contained Storage System

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To help celebrate "National Quiting Day," or as we call it here at TQS, International Quilting Weekend, the Quilt Alliance has four free patterns available for you, created by Quilt Alliance Board Members Jody Davis and Michele Muska.

Download this pattern.

Download this pattern.

Download this pattern.

Download this pattern.

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Seldom seen together, QuiltCon West 2016 had an exhibit of the quilts of Molly Upton.

"Quilts of Molly Upton" highlights the work of Molly Upton, a pioneer in the early stages of the art quilt movement.  Molly was known for working with velvet, silks, corduroy, and polyester blends.  They range from huge to tiny, and demonstrate Molly's mastery of design.  Molly passed away at the very early age of 23, but left an amazing legacy of quilting for us to enjoy.

This amazing exhibit was curated by Pamela Weeks who is the Binney Family Curator of the New England Quilt Museum. She is a quilt historian and an expert traditional quilter and contemporary fiber artist and has been a member of the league of NH Craftsmen since 1993.

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For fun and learning sign up for

the TheQuiltShow.com newsletter

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This week's homework is to sort through your collection of patterns/projects.  Over time, patterns, like magazines, often sit forgotten and idle for years.  Now it's time to review your collection (whether packaged or pages from magazines) and decide which pieces still speak to you.  If so, set them a "keep" pile. Those that are no longer relevant, set in a "donate" or toss pile.

Once the sorting has been completed, decide which is the best way for you to keep patterns organized and within easy access.

(Photo from Chasing Cottons)

1. If your focus is to cut down on space to hold paper, scan patterns and store in files on your computer, or on a memory stick.

2. Label memory sticks by type of subject (Crafts, Quilts, Gifts, etc.).  They are relatively inexpensive and can continually be updated as needed.

If you prefer to file printed patterns, here are several ideas that might work for you.

(Pattern filing sytem by FabricTherapy)

1. Fabric Therapy opts to place patterns in clear sheet protectors and file by topic in a file cabinet.  

2. Place patterns in zip close clear sheet protectors and file by topic in a three ring binder.  The zip helps keep everything in place, even if the notebook is accidentally dropped.

3.Une touche de Piment uses manila envelopes with pattern image pasted to the outside as her sorting method.

4. Heather at The Sewing Loft stores her patterns in clear snap closuer envelopes. 

Click here for other TQS Organization blogs.

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As you all know, Superior Threads as been a wonderful sponsor to TQS over the years.

This year, for International Quilting Weekend, Dr. Bob, has donated FIVE $100 Superior Threads gift certificates

to give away to TQS members who enter the contest.

You can learn about about Thread from Bob by watching three of our Shows:

Show 602: Paper Piece Like a Pro (thread finishes)

Show 406: Following the Artist's Process (troubleshooting thread problems)

Show 310: Needlework at its Finest (demystifying machine needles)

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Laura at SewVeryEasy walks you through the steps of creating a hexagon quilt by assembling the pieces like standard quilt blocks.

Click here for the FREE pattern.

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Here are the QuiltCon West 2016 quilts from the "Use of Negative Space" competition.  It's amazing what you can see when there is "nothing" there.

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Alex spoke with Jodi Robinson, longarm quilter and author of "Modern Simplicity," at QuiltCon West 2016.  Jodi, who has been quilting for over twenty years,  talked about being re-energized by the Modern quilt movement, how difficult it is to transition between longarm quilting and domestic quilting, and what she teaches in her classes.

Click here for Jodi's book.