Daily Blog

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This is Pat's daughter Carol's dog, Bailey--looking hopeful.

The image is painted with fabric paints on white cotton. The next step was to stitch the fur with many different colors of thread free-motion style. Then she sandwiched it with batting and quilted the rest. It is a fun technique and effective for that furry look.

Star Members can watch Pat in Show 2103: Easy Mosaic Techniques and Adding Detail & Depth to Your Quilts.

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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Star Members can watch Show 2104: Zentangle Quilting & Totally Tuffets when it debuts Sunday, August 13, 2017.

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In Houston 2014, there was an exhibit of 500 Traditional quilts. Amazing quilts were displayed and collected into a book by Karey Bresenhan. We are going to show you several quilts from the exhibition but all 500 are in a beautifully photographed book. The book "500 Traditional Quilts" can now be found at crazy low prices (click here). TQS has no financial association with the book. We just like it.

The quilt "Crazy About Ballet" by Linda Steele incorporates crazy quilting, embroidery, fun piecing, and wonderful design. Linda ended up with four quilts in the book. Congratulations and well deserved.

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Noriko Kido's quilt "Promise" was displayed in the Traditional Quilts Exhibit at Houston 2014. It is beautifully done (see the techniques in the sign below) and we loved the color and format.

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I can hear a collective groan at the mention of DIET...let alone a Quilter's Diet. And no, I am not suggesting restricting anything...either chocolate or fabric, LOL. But, I am going to share with you one of the adjustments I have made in my quilting life. I love Block of the Month (BOM) programs, kits...and quilts of all kinds and sizes. But, the reality for me is our current house has huge windows on nature and limited wall space. This means any BOM that I signed up for and intended to make had no wall space on which to display my accomplishments. That is when I decided that no one is the boss of me and my BOMs...I'll just make them smaller!!! Hence the Quilter's Diet was born. Twelve block BOMs became nine block BOMs because I had one wall that could display a quilt that size. And with the remaining blocks I can make pillows, table runners or mini quilts.

Then I thought... "Why do I only have to make big quilts to satisfy a quilter's itch?" Maybe the Quilter's Diet could mean a turn back to my history of miniature quilts!! If I see a sweet fabric line that I must have, it doesn't mean I have to always make a big quilt...I can get a taste by making a smaller quilt. Besides, learning new techniques or trying out new tools on smaller quilts is a great way to develop the skills for larger quilts. And after all...diets...all kinds of diets, including a Quilter's Diet, are more successful when followed daily and with the support of those around you. 

So, what to do with all those Quilt Diet quilts???

I hang them in groupings! Then I get to enjoy the different techniques that I have successfully executed, the lines of fabric I love, and most of all, I can honestly say...I have been very successful on this diet!!!

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Alex recently posted a video about sewing with children. In response she received a fun idea from Rita P-S.

My granddaughter is 3 1/2, but lives in Denver and I live in the Chicago area, so I can't teach her to sew yet. I just sent her a Ziploc bag of large buttons from my late mother's button box and some threader floss (like for those who have a bridge.) Amy said she strung buttons for hours! It's a start!

Rita P-S

Do you have any fun tips for sewing with children?