Daily Blog

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Award-winning quilter Jane Sassaman talks about her quilt, "Illinois Album."  Always inspired by nature, find out where Jane finds salamanders on her property in this episode of "Got Tell It at the Quilt Show" from the Quilt Alliance.

Star Members can watch Jane in Show 301.

"Go Tell It at the Quilt Show!" is a Quilt Alliance project designed to capture the stories of quilts where quiltmakers gather.

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TQS was "wowed" during its visit to the AQS show in Phoenix, Arizona.  Symphony of Colors, a Japanese exhibit, displayed quilts with piece work and applique that were beyond compare.

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Hi There!  Welcome to a new blog addition to The Quilt Show, Anna & G On the Road. Last year I was lucky enough to have Shelly Heesacker, producer of The Quilt Show, come to my home and do a segment of an "every day quilter." From all that excitement, I am now joining The Quilt Show Team as blogger on the road! I consider myself an every day quilter and in fact call myself "The Forrest Gump" of quilting, because I love to experience it all! I started quilting in 1993 and hit the door running...as in fabric accumulation! I have done a little bit of everything, designing, quilt shows, quilt publications, long arming...and every type of class out there. I write an international quilt blog, www.wooliemammoth.blogspot.com, and am developing a YouTube channel for quilting while RVing.  Our channel will be called QuiltRoadie...of course.

I live in the perfect quilting mecca, Sisters, Oregon, where we have the largest outdoor quilt show in the world, with over 1,000 quilts displayed outside for one day! Our little town of just over 2,000 swells to over 10,000 on that one day. Prior to the show, we offer a week+ of activities and classes which I will be teaching my favorite medium...WOOL! Yes, I do love all things quilts, but wool is one of my favorites. Central Oregon has 9...yes, 9 quilt shops in a 45 minute radius and they all provide a different personality. Luckily for me "G" in the "Anna & G" has no problem stopping along our travels, so I can check out the flavor of each quilt shop.

My intention is to publish a blog post every Wednesday that will include a variety of topics, quilts, quilts and more quilts, tips, shopping locations, quilt shows, interviews with designers, sewing rooms...and holy moly...cooking. And, if I end up staying home, you will get a whole lot of the Central Oregon quilt scene. I will post when I am in a certain location and hopefully will be able to visit some of you that are like me...the everyday quilter! Thank you for taking the time to read, and we'll hopefully see you back here next Wednesday!

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(Photos: Susan Carlson)

It's always fascinating to see an artist's creative process.  This time is no exception.  Follow along as Susan Carlson creates "Dixie Dingo Dreaming," a portrait in which she hoped to capture the likeness and character of her beloved pet.

Star Members can watch Susan in Show 801: "Painting" with Fabric: Free-Style Quilts where she shows you how she creates her "serendipitous" collage-like quilts.

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The Blossoms Embroidery Collection is the latest in Kaleidoscope Collections’ line of specially tailored embroidery designs. Use them with regular fabric to make stunning embroidered panels and embellishments.  Or, better yet, you can stitch these embroidery designs onto printed fabric made with Kaleidoscope Kreator 3* software to get a spectacular, one-of-a-kind look. Each design in the Blossoms Embroidery Collection exactly matches a corresponding shape in the Blossoms Template Pack* for Kaleidoscope Kreator 3. By combining designs printed on inkjet fabric with matching machine embroidery, you'll be creating kaleidoscopic works of art that are truly unique!

*Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 and Blossoms Template Pack sold separately

Star Members can learn about machine embroidery with Jeanie in Show 1504: Make It Special with Machine Embroidery.

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Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero practices what she preaches.  Learn about "Flights of Fancy" as she discusses using her embroidery software to create her award-winning quilt.

Star Members can learn about machine embroidery with Jeanie in Show 1504: Make It Special with Machine Embroidery.

Click here to learn more about Jeanie's embroidery software.

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http://thequiltshow.com/watch/show-list/video/latest/1702

Innova longarm quilter extraordinaire, Gina Perkes, is opening her new longarm quilting studio in Payson, AZ.  Come along with TQS and take a peek inside The Copper Needle!

Click here to read about why Gina opened her studio and what she'll be doing as she talks with Teri Lucas at terificreations.wordpress.com.

The official Grand Opening was Saturday, April 23, 2016.

201 W. Main St. Payson, AZ 85541

Gina also has a drop off location near Phoenix.

Here is the address: Call Gina ahead or contact her through her website, www.thecopperneedle.com, for specifics and details. ‪#‎thecopperneedle‬

Lilac Mountain Studio
6056 E Baseline Rd, #146
Mesa, AZ. 85206

Gina's latest show is Show 1812: Rulers Rule.

Star Members can learn more about Gina in Show 308: Artistry on a Longarm,

Show 1005: "Twofer" the Money: Terrific Time Saving Techniques,

and

Show 1702: Rebel with a Cause.

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                                       (Image from Make It & Love It)                                                                                    (Image from BERNINA)

Are the dust bunnies under your couch rivaling the ones in your sewing machines and other studio machines? Dust bunnies can be ignored for a while, but not those in your machines. Do you remember the last time these work horse tools had a good cleaning?  If you can't, it means that they are in need some very needed TLC.  It's time to go from "ewww" to "oooh" on a regular basis.

This week's workout is to clean and prep all of your machines so that they will perform at their best.  Or better yet, Sewing/embroidery machines and other items such as Serger's should receive an annual professional cleaning.  If you don't have a sewing deadline looming, this would be a good week to take these machines in for a servicing. 

The basics on Cleaning and Oiling your sewing machine:

1. Turn off and unplug your machine.
2. Set your machine needle in the up position.
3. Gather your owners manual, a small brush (a make up or paint brush work), tweezers and oil recommended for YOUR machine.
4. Remove and discard (in a safe receptacle) your machine needle.
5. Remove the presser foot so that you will have easier access for cleaning.
6. Remove the throat plate to reveal all of those dust bunnies and bits of thread that have been lurking out of sight.
7. Using your brush and tweezers, carefully remove all of the lint and thread bits. 
8. DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR, as this will force items further inside your machine.  Also, avoid the habit of blowing into the machine, as the moisture in your breath is not good for all those moving parts. 
9. If you are able, remove the bobbin housing and bobbin.  But...remember (by taking a photo if necessary) the position of the bobbin housing to avoid frustration later when you reassemble the unit.
10. The tension disk is another dust and thread collector which is easily cleaned with a lint free cloth lightly pulled through the same way you would thread the machine.

11. Add just a few drops of oil.  Just to be on the safe side, we recommend following the instructions of your owner's manual for areas that require oil.
12. The outside surface of your machine can also use a cleaning to remove dust and dirt and keep your machine sparkling.

For more tips on cleaning and maintaining your machine visit Make It & Love It.

If you have a machine with a top-loading bobbin, check out this tutorial for cleaning your machine from Whipstitch:

Cleaning your serger:

Sergers create a huge amount of lint and fibers, so it is recommended that you should do cleanings more often.  Just like sewing machines, sergers come in a variety of brands, so be sure to check your owner's manual for help and information regarding cleaning and oiling. The basics of cleaning are very much like those for a sewing machine:

1. Turn off and unplug your machine.
2. Set your machine needle in the up position.
3. Gather your owners manual, a small brush (a make up or paint brush work), tweezers and oil recommended for YOUR machine.
4. Remove and discard (in a safe receptacle) your machine needle.
5. Remove the presser foot so that you will have easier access for cleaning.
6. Remove the throat plate to reveal all of those dust bunnies and bits of thread that have been lurking out of sight.
7. Using your brush and tweezers, carefully remove all of the lint and thread bits. 
8. DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR, as this will force items further inside your machine.  Also, avoid the habit of blowing into the machine, as the moist aire is not good for all those moving parts.  
9. If you own a small vaccum cleaner use this to clean out as much as possible.
10. Clean the outside surface of the machine to keep it sparkling.

For more tips on cleaning and oiling your serger check out this tutorial from Whipstitch.

Now that you have your machines clean and ready to go, why not whip up a nice cover to keep the dust off.  Here are a couple of ideas to get you going:

                                        (Machine cover by Bloom)                                                    (Linen dishtowel with ties (Martha Stewart)
 

    (Stacked book design by s.o.t.a.k)

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(Original Article date: 8/17/2012)

TQS would like to introduce Roderick Kiracofe and his new book QUILTS to our TQS members.   Many of you, however, may already be quite familiar with his work.

Roderick is the author of the critically acclaimed The American Quilt: A History of Cloth & Comfort (1993, 2004) and Cloth & Comfort: Pieces of Women's Lives from Their Quilts and Diaries (1994), published by Clarkson Potter Publishers (Random House).

He co-founded The Quilt Digest and curated "Showcase" for volumes 1-5 (1983-1987); published Homage to Amanda: 200 Years of American Quilts for the three-year traveling exhibition under the auspices of SITES (Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Services) and wrote the Introductions for A Quilter's Wisdom (1994, Chronicle Books) and Going West! Quilts and Community (2007, Smithsonian American Art Museum)

He produced and designed Yvonne Porcella: A Colorful Book (1986) and was a regular participant on one of PBS' most popular series The Great American Quilt (1991-1992).

Mr. Kiracofe also served as a consultant to the California Heritage Quilt Project. His expertise was used for the majority of quilt search days over a two-year period to date and assess quilts brought in by hundreds of families. He consulted on the selection of the quilts for the exhibition and book Ho For California! Pioneer Women and Their Quilts.(1990).

He served on the first board of directors for Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). He currently serves on the Board of Oakland Art Murmur after helping to create a vibrant arts district in the City of Oakland (CA).

His latest self-published book, QUILTS, was the result of his curiosity about quilts made in "his era."  He wanted to know what the quilts were like which had been made from 1950 to the end of the 20^thcentury. Those he considered "outside" the second quilt revival of the 20^th century and the Art Quilt movement.  Had they even been made?  He was also curious about eBay and what it was all about.  Would this be a source for finding the quilts he was looking for?  The answer was YES to both questions. He was looking for the quilts that "broke the rules," those that caught his eye and spoke to him as works of art.  He was literally amazed and stunned at the treasures being uncovered.

Roderick found many of these quilts on eBay as well as from private dealers, flea markets and estate sales.  They are from all across the country. Some have documentation of a maker and where they were made; most do not. Some are African American (documented) and many are not. 

He was drawn to the visual beauty and power that each one possesses and is still intrigued and fascinated by the fact they were made by someone and in many cases, slept under.  They hold untold stories and voices.

QUILTS focuses on the historical journey of the quilt as a work of art. The joy and excitement of showing quilts from the collection at SFMOMA, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, Petaluma Arts Center, and on Facebook and the incredible responses received through those venues was a huge motivating force in his creating this printed/digital archive.

Here's what Roderick has to say about his collection and his book:

The most recent thrill around the collection was hearing a story from a quilt colleague who has been working with a quilting group in South Carolina. She showed some of my quilts to the group on her iPad.  "Miss Ella" spent a considerable amount of time looking and holding the iPad and her comments made it clear she had gained a new appreciation for her own quilts. She shared that her quilts had embarrassed her daughter.

One of my goals in assembling the collection was to bring these "under-appreciated and unacknowledged" quilts into the light; to bring them to new audiences who would see and appreciate them AND hopefully be inspired.  The thought that Miss Ella would be validated for what she had created deeply touched me deeply.  The truth is, I cried.

QUILTS is not only a departure from THE AMERICAN QUILT in content, but also in presentation and design.  (I still love that book and project, but I wanted to see what other conversations could be had.) My love of photography and photo books came into play in designing and creating this book.  I designed a presentation that allowed the viewer the space and opportunity to view; see what you see and observe.  Relevant information for each quilts follow at the end of the book.

I highly recommend (for those with iPads and iPhones) downloading it as an eBook.   I have loved producing beautiful print books, but the first day I saw QUILTS as an eBook I was elated. The quilts truly shine in this format. The ability to touch and enlarge them, to observe them closely is almost like holding one in your lap; then back away to see it "on the wall."

Roderick has been kind enough to share photo excerpts from QUILTS below.   You can purchase the book here.