Daily Blog - TheQuiltShow.com

Time to Get Started

(Paige all loaded up at Wish Upon a Quilt in Raleigh)

Thanks for the many suggestions as to a first quilt project that Paige and I can do together. Of course, she is destined as a true girly-girl shopper because she wants to make everything she saw on the pattern wall. But we decided to start small. And by that I mean she has decided to make a small lap quilt that she can share with her dolls. We are going to follow the quilt idea Bunny used in Episode 212 TQS Road Trip Part One making fast and easy charity quilts. Keep checking back here in the Daily Blog on our progress. First step...Paige chooses her fabric for her project. Ruth

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Chat with Sally Dutko Tonight

Photo by Gregory Case

Join us for an hour of fun and learning when Sally Dutko (Episode 302) is our "Featured Guest" in the Chat Room tonight at 5:00pm Pacific/8:00pm Eastern/01:00 GMT (August 21, 2008). Sally shares tips for creating quilts that step "outside the box". Plan on an hour packed with ideas and inspiration sure to get your creative juices flowing.

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Quilts from East Africa

Story Submitted by: suzanne3499

There will be a exhibit of over 125 from Kenya, Zimbabwe,Tanzania,Rwanda and Niambia in the little village of Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada. This event has been over a year and a half in the making between the Kenyan Quilters Guild and Cotton-By-Post Quilt Shoppe. When this began both Kenya and Zimbabwe were hopeful that their elections would be the beginning of real change unfortunately things have gotten worse. We went to Kenya in Feburary to go over the final details for the show and Suzanne taught in Niarobi and Mombassa. Although the Canadian government issued a non essential travel warning, we had no problems at all travelling from the Rift Valley to the Indian ocean. The people we stayed with, and those we had the pleasure of meeting, were wonderful. We brought back quilts to share with the different guilds to give them a taste of what will be happening the week of October 20th to the 25th 2008. What makes this event so special is that through all the unrest in the area the quilters are working on quilts for this event and over 17 quilters will be coming here share their culture and to teach classes and do a lecture/slide show. We now have over 40 quilts in the shoppe and we are really looking forward to seeing all the rest of the quilts given the beauty of the quilts we have seen so far. This show will truly reflect what quilting means to all of us lucky enough to be a part of it including all the non quilters that will be lucky enough to view the quilts. As a last note we will finish off the week with a Taste of Africa Night on Saturday October the 25th , Auction of quilts for different charities, awards,music, food tasting and dance. The Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada will be attending as well as the Zimbabwe ambassator to Canada. If people wish to see some pictures from Africa please view www.cotton-by-post.com

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Preserving My Family's 1930's Quilt

Story Submitted by: altalynn

My name is Alta Rinaldi and I am from Mt. Holly, NC. I married an Italian, but am the 13th generation of my family, the Alwrans, who have many stories from the 1740's to present. I come from a long line of seamstresses and quilters from both sides of my family. I have made 9 quilts myself that are worth mentioning. I have just been given the family quilt (top only, never finished) made by my Great-Grandmother in the late 1930's. It is in 90% prefect condition. Interesting in itself, but there is a bit of history in each hand stitch. I have titled the top "Quilt of Many Nations". During WW II while several of her sons were at war my Great-Grandmother was at home. Just as today many companies offered deals to attract people to buy their product. With every carton of cigarettes purchased the company would give a 5 x 7" (approx.) patch. Each patch depicted the name and flag of a nation involved in the war. Great-Grandmother's boys send these patches to her from overseas. She decided to make a quilt using these patches to remember and share with the boys upon their return. I believe the patches to be 100% cotton. The quilt top has never been washed. Why she never completely finished the quilt I do not know. I have many questions myself. It has been in my Grandmother's cedar chest, folded and in a plastic bag for years!!!!! I have it now and would love to share a very unique piece of history with those who would love to know. Also I have a small budget in which to preserve this priceless piece of family history. I do not know where to begin? Please I need some advice and guidance. A Follow American Quilter, Alta Rinaldi

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The Wedding - NQR - video

So here was the best surprise of the evening - Joey and Shelly hired Daniel Boswell, a video artist, to document the day - towards the end of the reception, a big screen came down and guess what we saw!!!??? Talk about a 10 hankie moment - Want to see? Go HERE

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Three Sisters Chat Tonight

"Three Sisters" by Helen Godden, Annette Hendricks, Gail Thomas

After numerous e-mails that traveled back and forth around the world, we are pleased to announce that the "Three Sisters" will be our "Featured Guests" in the Chat Room today, Tuesday, August 19, 2008. All three will be joining us at 5:00pm Pacific/8:00pm Eastern (August 19, 2008). This is also 01:00 GMT (August 20, 2008) and 10:00am (August 20, 2008) in Australia. Clear as mud? Join us for an hour of creative ideas and inspiration from three unique perspectives. To learn more about the "Three Sisters" visit Articles.

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NQA - full heart

Our heart is full - ready for bed - more to follow...................

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Double the Fun with Episode 304

Photo by Gregory Case

Episode 304 with Merrily Parker and our own Block of the Month designer, Sue Garman is a double treat. Merrily shows you that with a little practice, even a novice can create beautiful designs on a long arm quilting machine. While Sue will make you say "aha", when she demonstrates her step-out applique system to save valuable time. It's a show that will have you looking at quilting in a whole new way. To watch the show click here.

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England - Heading Back Home

My hat is off to the organizers of Festival of Quilt here in Birmingham. The show is spectacular, the people are wonderful and warm, and if you are ever looking for a great quilting get-away, I would highly recommend it.

I got to meet up with so many wonderful friends. Better yet, I got to meet many of you. I learned that our international members are absolutely over the moon about TQS and the excitement and enthusiasm about it is growing every day. I know there will be many new members as a result of my visit so I urge you to click the Search link each day and review our newbies regardless where they come from, and send them a welcome email.

I'll be on my flight home tomorrow.

In closing - I send my best wishes and thoughts to John and Alex on this special day for their son and new daughter-in-law. Hope it was beautiful!

Photos: Three TQS Members (fabpatch, Lorchen, MaggieMac), before the concert dinner, and several quilts from a Russian quilt artist named Irina Voronina. These quilts are spectacular in photos, but standing face to face with them, I was in awe - stunning!

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Something Old...............

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue -

Something old - when Joey was born, John gave me a diamond ring band that I have worn next to my wedding ring ever since we came home from the hospital when Joey was born - you might have noticed it on a show (a gift to the new bride)

Something new - a 2008 penny

Something borrowed - a hankie that my grandma made for my mom's wedding and has been in several weddings since.

Something Blue - the embroidery on the little pocket which holds these treasures.

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