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Or how about this? Geeze - I need to get back to work! LOL

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How are your photo styling efforts coming along? As mentioned at the end of show 112, we challenge YOU to put your artistic skills to work because we want to create a TQS 2009 calendar with our members work in it! (please see the contest details in show 112 resource guide). Ricky and I were talking this morning, brain storming about possibilites for set shots. After hanging up, I ran out doors and took this snap shot - although I like the general composition, I think perhaps the sun needs to be another position - a little too blinding in the bottom right hand corner. But, this is FUN - time for you to join in and get your images to us!

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The short Bernina videos have been VERY popular on TQS. They reside in the Bernina banner on the left - just click on "Bernina Educational Videos" and you'll see the list. Nina McVeigh is a national Bernina educator. She has done a great job of coming up with a variety of interesting tips and tidbits about using your sewing machine. Her latest installment is Machine Needle Punch. Did you know you can create wonderful fabric creations without using thread? Take a look. Have any of you created works with needle punch? If so, let us know and send us to your profile page so see.

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Ted Storm, Winner of this year's Robert S. Cohan Master Award for Thread Artistry at the Houston International Quilt Festival, took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to chat with The Quilt Show about her early introduction into the world of quilting and the stories behind a couple of her amazing pieces of work.

Ted grew up in Holland and learned needlework in school and also by watching her grandmothter stitch embroidery.  From an early age she had a flair for embellishment, and making collages with fabric. 

During her last year of what is the United States' equivalent to high school, her Textile Arts teacher recognized her talents and suggested that she attend a textile design school.  Ted visited the school and realized immediately that this was the field of work to which she was called.  The school only accepted 28 students for the 4 year program, and of the 28, only 7 graduated with a Master's in Textile Design. 

The last year of the program, Ted's mentor (the high school textile arts teacher) was killed in an automobile accident, which deeply affected Ted and almost caused her to drop out of the program, but she decided that she would continue with the program as that is what her teacher would want her to do. 

After graduation, Ted was offered the job of a Textile Arts teacher.  She continued creating her own works, mostly wall hangings, and was also commissioned to do pieces for lobbies of various architectural firms in Holland. 

During this time, Ted became interested in applique, but was told by a quilt shop owner that applique was NOT quilting.  A friend then advised her to go to Salzburg, Austria for an upcoming show.  She did, as she was desperate to find someone to teach her about applique.  In 1988 she attended the Quilt Expo Europa 1 in Salzburg where her life changed completely.  Sitting in the audience she met Lois K. Ide, from Bucyrus, Ohio, who was to become her new mentor.  Lois had brought fat quarters of fabric to share, a tradition Ted knew nothing about.  They began conversing and Ted asked, "Do you know how to applique?"  Lois did, and invited Ted to her home in Ohio to learn.

Over 1988 Easter break, Ted spent a week with Lois in Ohio learning everything possible about quilting and applique.  Ted feels that Lois is her "quilting mother."  Lois was completely open and willing to share all of her knowledge with her new friend.

Upon returning to Holland, Ted wanted to make a thank-you gift for Lois that truly represented Holland.  She decided to use a piece of her grandmother's Royal Delftware plate as the inspiration for the quilt that would come to be known as "Holland's Glorie".  She made two samples in applique utilizing all of the skills she had learned from Lois before beginning the larger quilt.

The quilt was entered into the 1992 Quilt Expo, The Hague, Netherlands and won 1st Place and Viewer's Choice.  Ted says that it was a real shock to the Dutch quilting world at that time as itt was nothing like the quilts and designs that were being made in Holland. With all of the notoriety, she left her teaching job and began traveling and teaching quilting full-time. 

Ted's most recent quilt, "Spring of Desire", has a very personal story behind it.  According to Holland's tradition, a bride should carry a handkerchief when she gets married.  Ted has been fortunate enought to have the family handkerchief that has been carried by each young bride in her family since 1829.  She wanted to create a quilt based on the design of this delicate batiste piece of family history.  She again combines applique, trapunto, and shi sha mirrors in her overall work.  There are over 70 shi sha mirrors in each corner.  The entire quilt is handmade.  The best part, however, is what the viewers do NOT see.  On the back of the quilt, the label is made using a piece of her wedding dress as well as that of her mother's.  Also included is a list of the family weddings since 1829 in which the handkerchief has been carried.  What a wonderful tribute to family history!  And to think it all started with the sharing of fabric and a conversation with a generous quilter.

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Atlanta, Georgia, USA - The group of Call My Name volunteers is in Atlanta, Georgia, creating 100 new panels for the AIDS quilt.  Since the AIDS epidemic began, approximately 42 percent of the infected have been black, but according to the quilt's curator, fewer than 400 of the 47,000 panels in the quilt represent African Americans who have died from the disease. The group of Call My Name volunteers is creating panels to honor these forgotten victims.

Some of the quilters have selected names of strangers, others are there to pay tribute to a friend or family member.  When completed, the 100 panels will be stitched together and will be displayed in 2008 at various African American universities in the United States. 

The Call My Name project is organized byThe NAMES Project Foundation, which is headquartered in Atlanta, and is the caretaker of the quilt.  Click here for more information about this project. 

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Recess is over - the school bell is ringing! When you see the sparkling star in Alex's Class Room - time to run in from the play ground and take a seat at your desk to learn and enjoy!

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      "Cat With Christmas Lights" by SantaCarver1

Are the upcoming holidays turning your life into a tangled mess?  Are those "To Do" lists endless, if not impossible to complete?  Why not get some help from our TQS quilting buddies?  Do any of you have hints to share with us?  Here are some of ours:

   1.  Decorate one area in (or outside) the house every day. 

   2.  Bake and freeze as much as possible several weeks prior to the holiday, to avoid that last minute frenzy in the kitchen.

   3.  Try not to shop on the weekends to avoid crowds, unless of course you enjoy them.

We know there are many more, but we would love to hear your hints to make life a little easier during this hectic time of year. 

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Several of you have requested to see more of Libby's work space -After a first hand look of where she works and plays, I was struck by how incredibly organized she is. It inspired me to come home and re-evalulate my space and learn how to optimise where I quilt. Just because I have a wonderful area to claim as my own - doesn't mean it is being used to its greatest potential............

QUESTION: Where do you quilt and what is the best space saving or organizational tip you can offer?

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Well - it is almost time for the school bell to ring - my school bell that is! As I have mentioned before, my video blogging adventure was not without a specific goal. Soon I will have a special area on the site where star members will be able to watch short video lessons. Many times they will be packaged as a seies - about 3 minutes each session. Watch for the star to flash, and when it does, be sure to come on into classroom and see what's up!

I would love to hear from YOU - WHAT do you want me to teach YOU? Please get me started with a list of topics that need to be discussed and taught -

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Tickets Available
It's time once again to reserve your tickets for the next set of TQS tapings. Here are the dates, guidelines and policies for requesting tickets. Those of you interested in flying should consider coming into Colorado Springs-1:45 minutes from La Veta (Denver is 3 hours away). Lodging in La Veta is VERY limited, but Walsenburg, 15 minutes away has several hotels. Pueblo, Trinidad, and Alamosa are larger cities with plenty of amenities-all about 1 hour from La Veta. For general information about La Veta click here.

Two Shows for Series Two and Twelve Shows for Series Three!

Dates: Thursday-Wednesday, March 27-April 2, 2008

Two shows are taped each day. Attending the entire day is required.

Cut off date for requests-February 15, 2008, or when 'Sold Out'

Free tickets are offered on a first come, first served basis. All requested tickets MUST be used. Please do not request tickets if you are not committed to attending. Seating is limited to 40 and we do not overbook the seating area. Therefore, unused tickets result in empty seats and diminishes the energy of the show and denies someone else the opportunity to attend. If you have reserved tickets that result in a "no-show" or "partial-show" you will not be eligible for tickets to future show tapings.

Due to the overwhelming request, tickets will be distributed for one day of attendance only. Confirmation of tickets will be in the form of an e-mail document. You may however, request up to two days. If you request two days, state your FIRST preference. Second day tickets will only be distributed if additional openings are available after the deadline for ticket requests (February 15, 2008). In the event that second seating is available, you will be notified by e-mail to confirm second day attendance. These second day tickets will also be based on the original request on a first come, first served basis.

To make your request for free tickets or to get further information about tickets and our ticket policies e-mail service@thequiltshow.com . Please note that your e-mail request for tickets should state the word TICKET in the subject line in order for it to be processed in the order it was received.

Large groups desiring to bring a chartered bus of attendees to the show tapings should contact Lilo directly at (719) 481-1757.