Daily Blog

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It's almost time for International Quilting Days, coming March 20-22, 2015 to TQS.  This year's sponsors are contributing some great prizes, including the Grand Prize, a BERNINA 550 QE.

Along with BERNINA, our friends, Dr. Bob and Superior Threads, are giving out five - $100 gift certificates for Superior Threads merchandise. 

Keep your eyes open for more information and to learn about more prizes. Don't forget that TQS is the place to be March 20-22, 2015!

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Even seasoned quilters find inspiration in others.  Find out from whom Barbara would like to take a class.

Star Members can watch Barbara in Episode 1605: Contemporary Stitching Artistry.

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Alex opens this stimulating show with tips for quilting on Dupioni silk. This gorgeous fabric requires additional TLC, but the results can be stunning! Contemporary Fiber Artist Barbara Shapel then joins the show, to share her quilting odyssey. She too uses silk, spending as much time on piecing as she does on threadwork. Barbara works with themes of motherhood, nature and words, and her work reflects all of these elements.  She will:

• Show how she approaches her work.
• Offer tips to improve your quilting and threadwork.
• Demonstrate a dense, free-motion stitch she calls “Herky Jerky,” which blends thread colors.
• Discuss how to keep your quilt stable while at the same time keeping your shoulders healthy.
• Share how she creates an invisible sleeve, which she uses on her numerous two-sided quilts.

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TQS caught up with teacher, author, and blogger, Cheryl Arkison right after her class at QuiltCon 2015. Cheryl is the author of Sunday Morning Quilts and A Month of Sundays and shares her quilting journey on her blog Dining Room Empire.  This charming and very busy Canadian shares some insightful information about what new quilters might explore on their creative journey.

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Do you have a draft dodger at your house?  With the cold and snowy weather blowing about lately, this fast and easy project from WeAllSew just might fit the bill when it comes to taming a drafty house.

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TQS 2015 BOM My Country House by Lynette Anderson

"My crazy heart is filled with happiness as I dream of long lazy days. I lie on my back with the warm earth beneath me, the blue sky above, and the sounds and smells of the countryside surrounding me. My hexagon flowers represent the pretty scabious flowers—sometimes known as butterfly blue or pincushion flowers—that like to grow on sheepgrazed fields. English paper piecing is the perfect technique for making these simple flowers."

It's time to work on the March border of Hearts and Flowers.

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After reviewing hundreds of great comments regarding Lynn's show, Taking the Fear out of Math for Quilters, here are the eight we selected to win a Country Charmer pattern by Lynn Wilder (Episode 1604).

 1. peaceful "Great show. Math is no longer a 4 letter word. The way to adapt a quilt to change the size of the blocks always baffled me."

 2.BrendaGallik "The whole show was a WOW for me. After seeing how you make the math so easy for us I just love the road map. When you check each pc. that is sewn you will get the block perfect."

3. efrank "I loved the idea about using the colors in the center square to determine the other colors in the block. This will make choosing fabrics a lot easier for me."

4. franthequilter "As a quilting teacher, I love learning new techniques to share with my students. Lynn has really perfected
the idea of manageable units to design your own block and piece it with ease. I would love to make this quilt!"

5. materialbear "This was such a wonderful video. I loved the intricate piecing broken down and made into simple units."

6. patsyruth33 "So many bits of information to ensure accuracy. And most of all I will use the mapping to get my color placement just perfect in my eyes. Thank you so much for the tips. I'm not afraid anymore."

7. quiltingmatilda "I love the fact that Lynn is not afraid to mix straight and curvy designs. She mixes without fear wonderful colors that all go together. Such great creativity!"

8. quiltitPASSION "Wow - I love the traditional patchwork and the more pieces the better but the precision part has continued to elude me - until now!"

Thanks to all who entered our contest.  The winners will receive their pattern copy very soon! 

Be sure to check out Lynn's book Patchwork Math Using Quilting Design Components in the TQS Shop.

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As promised, here is Part 2 of  Modern Traditionalism, from QuiltCon 2015 in Austin. 

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This whimsical quilt, Zoo Holiday, was created by Nancy S. Brown and the Bulbs, a group of 11 appliquérs.  It was quilted by Laura Lee Fritz and completed in 2014.  If you are from the Bay Area, you'll really love this quilt.

Design basis: Original Design by Nancy S. Brown.
Artist statement: The San Francisco Zoo animals have decided to take a holiday and visit the many tourist attractions in San Francisco.

Zoo Holiday won Most Humorous Quilt at Road to California 2015.

Star Members can watch Nancy create her animal appliqué in Episode 701: Animal Magnetism.

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Alex opens this stimulating show with tips for quilting on Dupioni silk. This gorgeous fabric requires additional TLC, but the results can be stunning! Contemporary Fiber Artist Barbara Shapel then joins the show, to share her quilting odyssey. She too uses silk, spending as much time on piecing as she does on threadwork. Barbara works with themes of motherhood, nature and words, and her work reflects all of these elements.  She will share how she approaches her work, and will offer tips to improve your quilting and threadwork. She demonstrates a dense, free-motion stitch she calls “Herky Jerky,” which blends thread colors. While she discusses keeping your quilt stable and keeping your shoulders healthy, Ricky will show how Barbara creates an invisible sleeve, which she uses on her numerous two-sided quilts. To round out the show, Barbara discusses how her family’s stamp collection is like a miniature art gallery!

Barbara's Episode 1605: Contemporary Stitching Artistry debuts on Monday, March 2, 2015.