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Watch in Full Screen Mode. Click the icon in the lower right of the player.

This year at Alden Lane (2013) in Livermore, California, Quilting In The Garden hit new heights.  With Susan Else's amazing 3D Quilted pieces and Sandy Klop bringing 100 of her own quilts, the people came back a second day for another look.  You will see over 100 quilts in this video, so get ready...get set...go!

Any quilt you see numbered 98 to 198 is one made by Sandy Klop.

 

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Latifah showed Alex how to make the block she uses for these adorable Duck Face People in Show 2502. It would also be a great block if you are into cross stitch. You could use it to duplicate a cross stich pattern.

DuckFacePeoplebyLatifahSaafir - 36 Pieces Non-Rotating

DuckFacePeoplebyLatifahSaafir - 100 Pieces Non-Rotating

DuckFacePeoplebyLatifahSaafir - 300 Pieces Non-Rotating

DuckFacePeoplebyLatifahSaafir - 36 Pieces Rotating

DuckFacePeoplebyLatifahSaafir - 100 Pieces Rotating

DuckFacePeoplebyLatifahSaafir - 300 Pieces Rotating

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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Latifah showed Alex how to make the block she uses for these adorable Duck Face People in Show 2502. It would also be a great block if you are into cross stitch. You could use it to duplicate a cross stich pattern.

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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The first non-American SAQA president, Lisa Walton, discusses SAQA and what it’s about, its founder Yvonne Porcella, and the vast scale of exhibits across the globe that they present. Next, she shares a fast and fun fusible quilt design that is also a fantastic stash buster and a technique inspired by Bargello quilts. Lisa also talks about her textile tours.

Then, Gayle Schliemann talks about Cosplay, how it includes fans of costumes, comic book characters that gather at conventions around the world, and the work that goes into making a costume. She discusses how her sewing skills and BERNINA capabilities allow her to do unexpected and unique details on her creations.
 

Watch Lisa and Gayle in Show 2503, when it debuts Sunday, July 28, 2019.

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Take your mind off the summer heat and dream of snowflakes, candy canes, and holiday pie while you get a head start on your holiday sewing!

We've put together a selection of festive fabrics to get you into the spirit - shop and sew now and relax during the holidays!

Shop Now

Below are just a few of our lovely holiday fabrics. Click the button to shop them all!

 

 

 

Shop Now

 

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Celebrate Quilting in the Garden  – September 28th & 29th – 2019 and share your quilting masterpieces with the public! Witnessing the quilt show is spectacular in itself, but seeing the show and recognizing a quilt you or a loved one made makes it extra special.

Click here for information on how to enter and to download the entry form.

Click here to watch a video from a previous show.


Be inspired by 250+ quilts hanging from our majestic oak trees, meet well-known quilters & shop specialty vendors.

Alden Lane Nursery is proud to present two featured artists this year: Sue Rasmussen and Nancy Brown.

 

 

Classes are also available from:

  • Lisa Norton & Lora Zmak
  • Jennifer Sampou
  • Nancy Brown
  • Tracy Souza
  • Sue Rasmussen

Don’t delay in registering for these inspirational classes. Class size is limited and will fill up quickly! Call 925.447.0280 for class availability. Supply list for classes will be emailed with confirmation and tickets.

  • Wednesday, Sept. 25th – Lisa & Lora (the Material Girlfriends)
  • Thursday, Sept. 26th – Nancy Brown
  • Thursday, Sept. 26th – Tracy Souza
  • Friday, Sept. 27th – Sue Rasmussen


 

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Kaye Wood (1936-2019) passed away suddenly this week. Many of us learned to quilt from watching this quilting icon on PBS where she had over 40 series and more than 500 programs. A 2012 Sewing Industry Hall of Fame inductee, she will be greatly missed.

Click here to learn more about Kaye from her 2012 induction into the Sewing Industry Hall of Fame.

Click here to visit Kaye's Facebook page.

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Sumire by Hiroko Miyama just brings a smile to our face. How can you not a love a beautiful golden retriever on a field of flowers?

Hiroko's quilt was on display as part of the Animal Kingdom exhibit at the Houston International Quilt Festival 2018.

 

 

 

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Note: This is NOT a political blog. Rosalie loves the USA, wants to return here to work, and to follow all the rules correctly. This is a problem for all International teachers going to many countries. We hope to help her and get the correct information to others to reduce probems in the future. Please no political comments, solutions only.

 

Rosalie tells her story...

"I appreciate the concern and support of so many people over my unfortunate experience in Seattle on Saturday July 6.

I understand that it is the duty and responsibility of officers at any entry point airport to determine who comes into a country. I also believe they have the authority to make judicious decisions on individual cases.

This event has clearly affected many more people than just me. Quilt conference organizers, colleagues, students, friends and anyone thinking of teaching in the future in the US could be impacted. To make things clear, here is my account of what happened.

On presenting myself and my documentation for admittance to the US, I was stopped, questioned, and sent for further screening. This involved two more interviews and, while it was definitely uncomfortable, the officers were clear, concise and abrupt, but no one was deliberately rude. They were probing in their questions, and asked several of the questions repeatedly. After travelling for many years with this visa, as anyone would, I felt surprised and anxious being cross-examined.

The issue of the wrong visa (B1/B2) was raised several times and this was the cause of my inadmissibility to the US, and subsequent deportation. It seems that this is an area of confusion even for American citizens, as well as visiting teachers. It is unclear what the correct visa is that allows one to visit AND teach. Technically, that is what I have done…visited with friends, sometimes for several weeks, travelled with them and taught in between. It is very costly to come back and forth for each individual teaching event. I have certainly never over-stayed my visit.

As a boringly law-abiding citizen I honestly thought I was totally legal. (I have never even had a speeding ticket, although I once got a parking ticket!). I thought a visa for Business and Pleasure meant I could be involved in the business of teaching. Evidently the definition does not mean ‘business’ as I know it. I tried to explain that I was well regarded in my field, and that this was clearly a misunderstanding or misinterpretation, but they were not willing to use their discretion to accommodate my case, and revoked my visa.

So technically,even though my visa was issued by the American Consulate, I needed another type of visa.

Of course the whole performance of being raced through the airport by two officers running through the crowd was unnerving to say the least. Having to be escorted onto and off each sector of my flights home with only my escort being given my documentation and Passport by the Purser was humiliating. I had to sign the transcript of my interview without having read it, and only actually saw it and my Passport once I got home. While I understand that that was the Protocol for deportation, I question whether it was really necessary to treat a 72 year old woman wearing compression stockings and alternately walking with a cane or in  an airport wheelchair that way, especially when I made my case so clearly. Fortunately, being a good traveller, I was able to cope with a flying time of 44 hrs in 3 ½ days.  

My main focus now, other than not forcing so many people to change plans, is to get a Waiver on my revoked visa, so that I can apply for the new correct one, whatever that is deemed to be. Until that happens, I was told that I cannot even apply for a visa for 5 years.

My first action on coming back to South Africa was of course to contact the US Consulate here in Durban. For the last 2 ½ weeks, I have sent repeated emails and phone calls to them, accompanied by some of the letters of support I have received. My request has been to schedule an appointment to resolve the issue of the Waiver, and to then apply for the correct visa. I just want somebody to speak to!

They do reply immediately, but it is an automated response directing me to various websites and sub-sets of websites. I have now got as far as being told by email that as soon as they find the relevant person to deal with my case-specific request, they will send me the information.

I have a flight reservation back to Seattle on August 17, and am hoping to have the issue resolved by then so I can get there.

I really appreciate all the support and concern people have shown. Maybe this concern will reach the US Embassy in Pretoria or Consulate here in Durban and get them to understand how many people are affected by this, certainly not just one person teaching quilting!

I'm sure there is a way that quilters can keep going and be legal."

Rosalie loves the US and wants to do everything by the book. Can you help? (We are pursuing several leads so far but could use more. Thank you.)

If you know anyone at the State Department who may assist in expediting the visa process for Rosalie, please reach out to us at CustomerService@thequiltshow.com

 

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I was prompted by this photo to talk a bit about creativity in my Woolie Blog. And since I have continued to exam my views about creativity. Recently I have had challenging discussions with girlfriends when I would say, "I am not creative." I didn't necessarily feel bad about it, but embraced the fact that there was not a creative bone in my body. Then a columnist (who was not a quilter) interviewed me for our local newspaper and told me how creative I was. I said, "No way," and she balked. I guess I always thought that creativeness was when you designed a quilt from the ground up...and yes that is the height of creativeness. But, when I looked up the definition of creative, it is having the ability or power to create. And, that is what I do each and every time I pick up a pattern, cut the fabric up, sew it back together, and "create" a new form from the pile. Even if I am being guided by the designer who is encouraging me along the process, in the end it is "I" who has created the quilt.

I had no idea how judgmental my inner voice was being every time I spoke out loud, "I am not creative." And, even now as I write this I am appalled at how I could talk to myself like that...I would never say to a friend who just finished a Buttermilk Basin stitching pattern, "Stacy West is sure creative...but not so much you...you just stitched it." WOW...all these years of putting myself in a box being non-creative...I am BUSTING OUT and embracing how creative I am! After all, I have the ability and power to create!!! How about you???

Stay tuned and travel along with us on Quilt Roadies.

Click here for Anna's blog.