Daily Blog - TheQuiltShow.com

TQS Member Has Harrowing Trip To Retreat

Story Submitted by: TQSWizard

On Tuesday May 15, 2007 Don Davidson got in his Toyota Tundra heading to La Veta, Colorado to attend the Ricky Tims’ quilt retreat. He was also anticipating being one of only 4 students for Justin’s pre-retreat dye class. Leaving his home of Marlin, Texas (30 miles SE of Waco, Texas) the truck was loaded with all of the things he felt was needed. The camper had his luggage, fabrics and an ice chest filled with beverages. On the back seat were boxes of assorted threads, cutting mats and his Bernina sewing machine that had been packed in its foam traveling case. He was ready for a relaxing and creative vacation. The trip to Colorado was without event. The weather was great, traffic wasn’t a problem, and he had the vehicle on cruise control (75 MPH), and was making great time. Sixty miles outside of LaVeta, Don was distracted by the scenery (it is quite breathtaking to see the mountains set so starkly against the open prairie) when suddenly he noticed a truck in front of him pulling a flatbed trailer traveling at a much slower speed. Reality check (or should I say “brake check”)! Unable to react Don’s truck drove up and onto the flatbed trailer ramp, then rolled over and fell back down onto the driver’s side. It all happened in an instant. There had not been time to get out of the way to avoid the accident. Thank goodness Don was wearing his seatbelt. After the initial realization of what happened he checked to make sure he was ok. Everything seemed in order other than his shoulder was in considerable pain, and the fact that he was unable to get out of the truck. Within a few minutes the Highway Patrol and EMS team had arrived on the scene. Due to the extensive damage they were not going to be able to have him just get up and out of the vehicle. Don used the cover of his thread box to shield his eyes from the flying glass as they broke the window. He then used his cutting mat to shield his entire body as the team broke out the windshield. Don was then removed from the truck, strapped to a backboard and transported to a nearby hospital in Trinidad, Colorado. Treated for a broken shoulder and admitted for observation Don knew he would definitely miss the dye class and probably the entire retreat as well. Needless to say the truck was totaled and towed into town. So much for a nice creative vacation! With no usable vehicle and unable to return home Don decided to make the best of his recovery time by “hanging out” with the retreat quilters. Upon his release from the hospital, friends from Pueblo helped him sort through what was left in the truck that now sat parked at a salvage yard. All of the fabric was wet due to the ice chest falling over. Most of his thread was scattered around and ruined by glass shards. The cutting mats were no longer usable due to glass shards as well. His Bernina looked intact, but it was a mystery at this point as to whether or not it would function. Don arrived a day into the retreat battered and sore but in good spirits. You can’t keep a Texan down for long. Justin was great and helped set up a table and chair that would allow Don to work while wearing his new arm sling fashion accessory. Talk about challenging yourself when you sew, this man was on a mission. But the question still remained, would his Bernina work after going through that horrific accident? The machine was plugged in and ---drum roll please---hummed into action. Way to go Bernina! You would have never known that it had withstood such tremendous impact. So, the next time you travel with your machine to a retreat, class, or lecture you can rest easy knowing this piece of equipment will withstand a lot. Pack it well and it will give you many hours of sewing pleasure. In case you’re wondering Don is recovering quite well, still a bit sore from internal bruising from the seat belt, but otherwise getting back to normal. Don is a retired Occupational Therapist who enjoys spending his time quilting in his studio (converted former childhood home of his wife) and participating in local town activities. His quilt interests lean mostly towards traditional friendship quilts, but he does enjoy art quilts as well.

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A Creative Moment

As you can imagine the past 6 months have been over the top, a sort of sensory overload. Though I think of myself as an innovative traditionalist - deep in inside is a lurking art quilter. Which probably explains my love of just about all quilts! This past spring I finally bit the bullet and purchased some Cherry Wood Fabrics (www.cherrywoodfabrics.com). Every show, my mouth would water when passing by their booth, but I just never opened up my pocket book (in fact I usually don't purchase at big shows as I am usually working in a booth) The amount of $$ I spent in 10 minutes was staggering - LOL! Ordinarily, these colors would not be my first pick I am not saying I don't like them, because I love them, just not my first choice. Something called them to me, and thank goodness I listened. After a retreat, co-teaching with Jean Wells in Sister's OR(www.stitchinpost.com), I came home and this quilt took life. I will machine quilt it and plan to take my time. By the way, the circles are pieced in (thank you to Dale Flemming for her technique). So whacha think - Does it look like me?

Working title: Sticks and Stones

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Alden Lane Nursery - Quilting in the Garden 2007

This year the quilt show falls on the weekend of September 22 and 23. Featured Artist: Valorie Wells and YOU as well as a retrospective of the past ten years. I can't believe that this year we are celebrating the 10th annual Alden Lane out door quilt show in my home town of livermore CA. It seems just yesterday the concept was a twinkle in Daddy's eyes. The event has grown from one to two days and there are several festivities and classes available for your enjoyment. Space is limited so visit Alden Lane's website and register today. www.aldenlane.com I'll see you there!

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My 15 minutes of fame

Story Submitted by: sewcolorful

04/15/2007 McCormick, fellow quilters display work in quilt show By Kris Winterton For Midlander Stephanie McCormick, making a quilt is like putting together a puzzle. She particularly enjoys piecing geometric shapes into pleasing designs. A prolific quiltmaker, she’s not afraid to modify patterns or create new ones. McCormick’s handiwork will be featured in an upcoming show of the Midland Quilters Squared Guild. The quilt show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Carriage House Hall. In addition to McCormick’s quilts, many other quilts made by guild members will be on display. The Midland Quilters Squared Guild has grown to include more than 40 members. McCormick joined in 1997, not long after she became interested in quilting. "1996 was the year of my grandson’s birth, and my daughter requested a baby quilt as a gift, instead of an afghan, which I’d been making," McCormick recalled. "I joined the guild to learn. The first few years I used patterns, but almost immediately I started adjusting the patterns of others. I use their ideas and go off on my own." That’s the fun part of quiltmaking, McCormick said. "Some that I’ve made are OK, and some are ‘Wow!’ Construction is fun for me – figuring out how the pieces will go together. I like angles." She prefers piecing to appliqué work, and about 80 percent of the things she makes are wall hangings. A visit to McCormick’s home confirmed the fact that she has an artist’s eye for color and design and loves to create beautiful things. "This is my favorite full-sized quilt," she said, indicating a striking bedspread whose batik half-square triangles are set off by black strips and black-and-white fabrics of several different prints. The intricate machine quilting was done by someone else, she said. She machine quilts her own wall hangings but doesn’t have time to do larger items. There are too many new ideas she wants to explore. She constantly has several projects in the works. There’s a piece whose colorful concentric triangles form an octagon. She calls it Trippin’ Triangles. There’s one with tumbling blocks of several sizes and colors that form a three-dimensional design on a black background. There are photo quilts with photo transfers showing vacations with family members and a trip to Australia. There’s a snowflake motif whose shapes were transferred onto fabric using freezer paper. A large star pattern has jewels hand-sewn onto the fabric. In many of her works, bright colors and jewel tones are set off by black. "Black brings out bright colors so well," she said. McCormick loves being part of the Midland Quilters Squared Guild. "I get ideas from it," she said. "The group has allowed me to do what I wanted – you don’t have to do what everyone else does. I think our group is very inventive. Everyone seems to not be afraid of putting themselves out there." Members issue challenges to each other. A recent one that a dozen members took up was to create a Mexican-themed quilt. One woman depicted jumping beans with sombreros; another used fabulous Aztec signs, McCormick said. Four guild members formed a smaller group called JNKS, which reflects the members’ first names (Jana, Nancy, Kathy, Stephanie). They take an idea and show it in four different quilt styles, and together they present lectures to quilters in various cities in Michigan. McCormick likes to keep busy creating things. She also weaves rugs, using leftover pieces of fabric. She and her friends have a good time expressing themselves through fabric art. "Most of my friends are quilters," she said. "Just being around people who are enthusiastic is fun." Reprinted by permission from Lori Qualls, Midland Daily News, Midland, MI

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Calling all Janiacs!

All "Dear Jane" lovers will be thrilled to know there will be a Dear Jane chat each Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST (6 Pacific) All are welcome!

This chat was organized by members who were waiting for Alex to enter the chat this past Tuesday night. We love that our members are finding ways to connect with one another! That is what this site is all about.

If there are any other members who are organizing chats, fabric-swaps or what-have-you, click the contact button, select news/events, and let us know! We are happy to get your information "out there".

Pictured above - "The Quilt" by Jane A. Blakely Stickle, completed in 1863

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Web Tour of the Blue Earth Expo 2006

The web tour of last summer's quilt show in Blue Earth, Minnesota is up at www.blueearthchamber.com/expo2006/expo2006-main.html. Hop over and check it out!

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Carla's surprise

Story Submitted by: Ibereeree

In cleaning up afterHurricane Katrina Carla Crane found her quilt top amoung ruble and destruction unharmed along with her Grandmothers Bible. I picked it up from her when we were in Pascagoula, Ms trying to help them drag wet, muddy, ruined parts of their lives out the door and to the street. The blocks in this top were made by her grandmothers, aunts, cousins and friends many years earlier because now so many of them are no longer living. After I got the quilt finished and gave it to her thru tears she said it gave her much comfort thru the troubles and trials of the aftermath of that devestating storm. She said it was if her grannys all had their protective arms wrapped around that quilt top and Bible protecting them.

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On The Road Again - St. Paul, Minnesota

Today I taught a class called Scribble Applique. These are two examples of the work accomplished by two of the students. Each student worked from a photo or original image to create their own drawing and freely cut the fabrics to create these wonderful masterpieces. Aren't they wonderful? Everyone did spectacular work and it was hard choosing just two to post for you to see now. Sorry, the photos are a bit blurry, but they were taken with a video camera instead of a still camera.

I'm also sorry you will be missing my great adventure for a few days, but I cannot edit and post video when I'm on the road. However, I am really excited about being in St. Paul, Minnesota for the annual quilt show put on the the Minnesota State Quilt Guild. This show is one of the most organized and well-directed quilt shows around and it is all done by volunteers! It rotates each year to one of four cities in the state so that the travel is more easily distributed for the members.

If you don't know about my great adventure - click on the Rhapsody Reality BLog on the upper right of The Daily Blog and start from the very beginning.

If you are attending the Minnesota show be sure to visit me and say, "It's a New Day!"

Ricky, in unusually warm St. Paul, Minnesota. "Yah, it's warm fur shoor! You betcha!"

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Last Night's Chat

Wow - Did we have the numbers or what? At one point 55 people! I have to admit that it got a little wild at times. thank you for putting up with the positive chaos. We at TQS will be talking about how to achieve a bit of order...........if possible.

However, one discovery was that we have several Janiacs on site. Please note that Bob has added both a chat and forum for you. We aim to please............And by the way: Ricky, "come home" we need more fishing blogs and DID you see the BEARS?!

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Sewing Machines for Victims of Natural Disasters

The Sewing Machine Project was conceived in early 2005, following the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. “I’d read an article about a woman who had lost a sewing machine in the storm, a machine she’d saved for years to buy, and, in losing it, she lost her means of making an income. I began collecting donated sewing machines here in Wisconsin and shipping them to Sri Lanka”, says Margaret Jankowski, founder of this project. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in September 2005 she decided to shift her focus to that area. Since then, she has made four trips to the city, taking over 275 machines. These machines are distributed to individuals as well as schools and community centers. People are using them not only to rebuild their lives but also to start small sewing-related businesses.

Another facet of the Project is the Pay it Forward program. Margaret partners with groups in the New Orleans community who need volunteers for sewing-related projects. Some groups need sewing teachers while others simply need people to help sew little infant caps for the local children’s hospital. When an individual receives a machine, they are asked to volunteer with one of these groups. In this way, they can use their new tool to help their own community.

Community is important no matter where you live. It becomes even more important in the aftermath of a disaster. The mission of the Sewing Machine Project is to give people a tool that will not only help them mend their own lives but also will give them a way to take an active role in the rebuilding of their community. People grow strong and their community grows strong as well.

If you are interested in assisting with any aspect of this project, please visit www.TheSewingMachineProject.org.

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