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SEW ON THE NET

"If you have any doubt that quilting can be fun, you need look no further than www.thequiltshow.com..." 

By Alex McDowell

Never before has quilting taken such a fun turn as it has on The Quilt Show!  The website gives access to all sorts of things, such as forums, blog posts from the show's hosts, articles about quilting and gallaries where members have posted photos of their finished work.

Once signed in, members have access to all of the forums and can post, reply and chat within the site.  Membership is free but the option is also given to upgrade membership for a yearly fee.  Membership grants access to the episodes, although there is also a link where you can purchase DVDs, for those who would rahter keep their memberships free.

Any member can submit quilts to the gallery and can also enter competitions and challenges.  The gallery is filled with submissions from members - some are a feast for the eyes while others are...well, beauty in the eye of the beholder, but they're all great in their own right.

Patterns are avilable, either free or to purchase for a small fee in The Quilt Show Shoppe.  There are also plenty of free, educational how-to quilt videos, which have been provided by the sponsors.  It's a great site for content but beware - it's easy to lose yourself on the site and forget about your current project!

(The Quilt Show website is bright and colourful, with lots of useful information.)

(Once signed in, members have access to all the forums and can post and chat.  Membership is free but the option is given to upgrade.)

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This month, designer Sue Garman has you continuing to make Stars for the inner Star border of your "Stars for a New Day" quilt. These blocks will make a beautiful addition to your quilt, so keep up the good work!  To view quilt blocks finished and posted by TQS members, be sure to visit Show and Tell here. You're sure to be inspired to "stay on task" after seeing what others have been creating.

To learn more about the "Stars for a New Day" Block of the Month and designer Sue Garman, click here. Be sure to watch the corresponding instructional video by clicking here. As always, the BOM and video lessons are free to all current TQS Star members.  It's not to late to start on the 2009 BOM, so click here to become a TQS Star Member and join in on the fun!

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John and I are off on another quiltie adventure. We were invited to visit a "certain" country and FINALLY could work out the details - Although there is one "work" day - there are going to be plenty of play days - Care to Guess Where? HINT: We will have NO cell or internet service.

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In our TQS BOM for June, Sue Garman takes the mystery out of calculating width and length for creating 'floater' strips. What are floater strips? It's those narrow borders inserted into your quilts to assist in making odd size borders fit. It's a perennial problem, and even if you aren't making the 2009 BOM (and you should), this lesson will help you in many of your own projects. The 2009 BOM and Sue Garman's video classroom are free to Star Members! The excitement for June's block begins tomorrow.

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We come to the end of another La Veta Quilt Retreat today. Talk about inspiration! Wow! I'm always amazed at the diversity of work that comes from these events. You would think after having done so many that I would become jaded, but no, I'm still inthralled with all the spectacular works that evolve over the week.

My retreats are intended to foster your vision and my personal goal is to get you further down the road on your personal journey. Because of this, there is no set curriculum. Having said that, there is plenty of learning going on. It's not a come-work-on-your-own-thing-without-any-guidance retreat. I'm very involved in each person's project and offer as much help as they need/want.

Sharon had taken photos of old abandoned cars and trucks. We worked using a technique I call scribble applique. We used her original photo of the truck, flipped and superimposed it on an old gas station photo, then enlarged it to the proper size for her project. Pretty cool don't you think?

However, the surprise for most folks is the depth of soul searching that goes on. Each morning starts with talks and journal writing. This group was excellent at sharing their thoughts and insights on creativity as well as life. At each retreat the parting is bittersweet. I hope you will put a retreat on your calendar.

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Part 2 is Working!  Sorry for the delay. 

It's time for Part 2!  It is also not too late to start with Part 1.  Both parts will be available through June 5, 2009 for you to enjoy.  So, get out your quilting, click on the picture below and get to work.  Time will just fly by. 

Click on the picture to pick your sample to hear

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Yes this is a quilt and yes this is going to be an entry into IQA Houston.  If you are a regular you know who the artist is and how the colorations are achieved.  Guess Whooooo?

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Marti Michell is one of our star teachers in Series 5 and is also one of our favorite people. 

If you'll be in or near Cedarburg, Wisconsin Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts is presenting their 4th Annual "Quilts & Fiber Arts University." 

On Friday, Marti Michell will give a luncheon talk called "It Started with a Patchwork Prairie Dress".   On Saturday, Stacy Michell will explain "How a Georgia Peach Became a Hawaiian Quilter". You can see some of Marti and Stacy's quilts at the Museum through July 19.

http://www.wiquiltmuseum.com/

http://www.shadestextiles.com/

http://www.frommarti.com/

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It's been a long time coming, but I've finished my butterfly and aster quilt. The image began as a photograph I took out at Autumn Rock last September. It was then altered in photoshop and digitally printed full size (44" x 36"). Kudos to Beth Wheeler (episode 211) for getting me jump started with digital quilts. I had wanted to for such a long time and now I'm hooked.

I stitched when I had a window of opportuntiy and experienced many doubts about this project along the way. However, once it was done - and flat - and BOUND - I was finally happy with the result. I'm looking for a really great name. So far my students have suggested At Play in the Fileds of the Lord and A Light Lunch. I kinda liked Alight Lunch, and also Little Miss Muffet. Chime in please!

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Kailin Yong

Beth Quist  photo by Pete Saloutos

Many of you know that in La Veta we get some fantastic house concerts. Our closest neighbors David and Annie are in the music business creating electronics for musicians. Annie is a fantastic wood artist and she is the one who completely restored my toy piano. Throughout the summer they have a variety of house concerts featuring all sorts of very talented musicians. These are always exceptional - some are unforgettable - such as the concert last night.

I cannot begin to describe the evening other than I would have paid $60-$100 a ticket to hear it in a major city. Then, I would want to buy another ticket and see the show all over again. We enjoyed this fantastic concert in a small space with about 50 in attendance.

Here is a description of two of the players just to let you grasp a bit of the caliber of their talent.

Kailin Yong (violin, percussion, vocal) is a classically trained violinist from Singapore who's world travels and diverse studies have influenced a unique / neo-acoustic playing style. Kailin’s music is rooted in his exploration of the different cultures of the world, bringing charming melodies from many lands home to share. A graduate of the Vienna Academy of Music, the Singapore native came to the United States in 1999. In his musical travels, Kailin has played everywhere from the streets of San Francisco to the hallowed symphony halls of Europe, in tiny cafés and at open-air festivals, with youth orchestras and Middle Eastern ensembles. I encourage you to check out Kailin's music on iTunes (search Kailin Yong) or listen to samples of his music here. In particular listen to "Tambourin Chinois." Sample of his CD, "Bowing with the Flow" can be heard on CD Baby.

Beth Quist's (vocal, guitar, piano, percussion, hammer dulcimer) music combines influences from the Balkans, the Middle East, and India with her Western upbringing. She has an amazing four octave vocal range and her resume includes touring extensively with Bobby McFerrin and Cirque du Soleil's KA. Visit Beth's website and listen to her music. She is also on iTunes.

Last night was the foursome's second time playing together in concert so they do not yet have a CD - however, each of them have recorded projects in the past and I bought all they had to offer! Here's to some great new music to quilt by.