Daily Blog

I was so excited about entering a quilt for the first time in my quilt guild's show. I decided to do an art quilt. This was a fused, raw edged applique wall hanging with free motion embroidery and quilting. The applique went together beautifully, but when I started the free motion embroidery, I started getting missed stitches and I was breaking needles. I went through the 'drill' of checking to make sure I was doing everything right. I made sure I had the right needle, I adjusted the tension, the thread was quality embroidery thread, etc. My machine was fairly new and a top of the line machine. I just couldn't figure out what was going wrong! I did continue working on the quilt; I felt I had an obligation to myself to get this in the show. It was just a few days before the show and I was so frustrated that I called the guild president, partly to vent my frustration and to ask her if I should give up or finish the quilt. Of course, she said CONTINUE! and gave me lots of (much needed)encouragement. Needless to say, I did finish my wallhanging. My quilt won an honorable mention, so I guess I did more things right than wrong! I learned a few things, too. I learned about thread painting and free motion embroidery and quilting and I learned perserverance. I learned that even though things don't always go your way, somehow they usually turn out OK. I learned that when in doubt, call a friend. A few days after the show, when I went to use my sewing machine, I realized I had not dropped the feed dogs during the free motion sewing. I almost cried, because I knew there was nothing wrong with my machine! Just the operator! Don't give up! Dawn Paoletti

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Photo Essay- part 1

Gregory Case, The Quilt Show's official photographer (Photo Man) knocked himself out this round! We have decided to split the photos into four sets - with no particular order. For those who want a sneek peek at what we did and who we highlghted this past tapimg round in La Veta - here you go. Grab a cup of Java and enjoy! Stay tuned - more to come................

http://thequiltshow.com/one

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More Florida Wilderness

Look - Look - everyone! I found more Florida wilderness - NOW I need to find Florida Wilderness shoes................

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Epidode 106 - A Touch of Ireland - Now Online!

Episode 106, A Touch of Ireland posted today. To watch this show, go to Watch a Show and scroll down to Episode 106 and click Watch Now. Choose from an environment and enjoy the show. Below the enviornments you'll find the Segment List. The Segment List is there to help you find anything associated with that particular show. Enjoy!

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Lorens quilt

Story Submitted by: QueenNonna

Katie and Loren live not to far from me, we would get together often. While there I would covet one of her quilts, Grandmothers Garden. It was made by Lorens Great Aunt, it is in the fabrics that I love most. Well, Loren (74) lost his life last year to a heart attach, he had been doing chemo for kidney cancer and went through with flying colors but his heart was not up to the chemo. Loren was a voluteer paramedic and firefighter for our little community. He was loved by everyone who came into contact with him, our community honored him just before he died with the Citizen of the Year award. I decided to make Katie a quilt with Lorens clothes, his shirts for the blocks (crazy patch), his pants for the sashing, and his patches from the fire department and paramedics for the corner stones. Needless to say Katie dearly loves and treasures her piece of Loren. A few weeks later Katie called to invite me over so she could take pictures of us with the quilt. Just before leaving Katie gave me the Grandmothers Garden quilt, she knew that Loren would want me to have it. What a treasure, we both now have great treasures to love.

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Bernina University or MY Florida Wilderness Adventure

Who says you have to be in CO to have a wilderness adventure?! On the way to the Grande Cypress Resort (You will like this place Ricky!) - I was keeping a pealed eye for alligators beside the road. Yes, I do know they are around here - but imagine my surprise when this happy little fellow showed up - maybe we don't have to go to Antartica after all!

Looking for gaters - looking for gaters - looking for gaters................

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Handmade Textiles from Afghanistan

Rubia, Inc. is a New Hampshire, USA, non-profit organization working with Rubia in Afghanistan to serve women in rural Afghanistan, through education, skills training and the promotion of their hand-embroidered textiles.

Named for a red root used to dye yarn, Rubia is creating new traditions in textiles by translating the heritage and skills of Afghan women into sustainable livelihoods. All aspects of the development and implementation of Rubia’s programs are rooted in Afghanstan, using community members at all levels to help build the economy and capacity in their home region.

EMBROIDERY IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF TRADITIONAL AFGHAN TEXTILES. Traditionally, embroidery has been women’s handwork, done at home, between domestic chores, to enhance their surroundings. Rubia integrates these traditional elements with the new benefit of earning an income while maintaining fragile elements of their tectile heritage: plant dyes, natural fibers and designs drawn from ancient Afghan tribal patterns.

Alternative livelihoods are the key to Afghanistan’s social and economic recovery. Subsistence farmers who had supported their families with poppy cultivation are now seeking other means of economic empowerment. Poppy flowers and other designs embroidered by women in the valley of Darrai Noor provide a legitimate source of income, a new tradition in textiles.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOO, by purchasing beautiful Rubia embroidery to support a self-sustaining business. Visit their online catalog at http://rubiahandwork.org/catalog/index.html.

Rubia is a project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), a registered public charity, which provides non-profit status. www.saveourplanet.org

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Allyson & Tyler: Mom, Dad & Bridesmaids

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The Eagle has Landed

If you have ever wondered where the "official" APQS Eagle landed after leaving the roost in Iowa, well he has been found. Sporting official 4th of July attire, he is resting in Livermore CA, in the yard of my parents. It was a long journey to CA, but apparently the Eagle has settled in and feels right at home.

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Win a Goodie Bag!

- Gentle Reminder - Times a Ticking - take a few moments to post your six quilts and you will be eligable to win a stuffed and autographed Bernina goodie bag (thank you gizmo girl and guest artisits) in addition to being eligible to win Ricky's quilt! First drawing for the bags will be July 23. Remember the old saying? "You snooze you lose" Join the fun as we build our World Quilt Community.