Daily Blog

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It's the new year, so why not--along with tackling all those UFOs--make yourself a promise to organize your work space too. A nice, organized work space might be just the boost you need to tackle those wayward projects. If you aren't sure where to start, try some of these great tips:

1. Use your vertical space to keep items within reach, but off floor and table surfaces.
2. Keep a unified color scheme for all major elements (walls, carpet, window coverings, basket systems, etc.). Introduce color with specific items in limited areas only. This unified look keeps the space from becoming too distracting.
3. Keep most of your organizational items (wire baskets, shelving, tables, etc.) in the same color scheme so that everything mixes well, regardless of manufacturer.
4. Look at this great tip from Bernina's We All Sew for stashing your stabilizer. It's a hanging shoe storage rack.
5. Check out more cleverly organized studios by Libby Lehman (Episodes 112 + 513) and Jacquie Gering (Episode 1202).  Both artists work in a relatively small space, but have clever ideas for using every square inch.

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If you enjoyed watching Janet Stone (Episode 1401) share how she achieves perfect machine applique, you'll definitely want to check out these other great machine-applique teachers who have been TQS guests. 

Remember, as a Star Member, you have access to ALL shows that have aired. 

Appliqueing Tiny Circles
with Pat Holly (Episode 608)

Bobbin Applique
with Ricky Tims (Episode 610)

Fast-Pieced Applique
with Rose Hughes (Episode 413)

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...can you guess who?

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Alex Askaroff shows you two adorable toy sewing machines from Bernina and Elna that will have you scouring Flea Markets and Ebay to find for yourself.  Alex has a number of videos demonstrating vintage machines, click here to see them.

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With all of the crazy weather going on throughout the country, it's nice to take a moment and reflect on the joy that a first snow can bring.  First Snow, by Susan Brubaker Knapp, was part of the "An Exquisite Moment" exhibit at the Long Beach Quilt Festival 2013.

You can learn more about Susan in Episode 901: State-of-the-Art Quilting: Tradition Meets Innovation - It's a true "multimedia experience" as quilt artist, teacher, and pattern designer Susan Brubaker Knapp joins the TQS gang on location at the home of Hugh and Dee Dee Eaton in Monument, CO. Susan shares some of her traditional and art pieces in a wonderful show and tell, and then - after a brief "musical interlude" (accompanied by Ricky) - she gets down to business, demonstrating her method for making consistently sized vines and her techniques for needle-turn appliqué. She also shows how she designs and creates a quilt using an original photo and her computer. (Bonus: the demo pattern will be available on the TQS website for download.) We wrap up with a visit to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, CO, which opened its doors in 1990 as a showcase for Colorado quilts and quilting.

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Looks like a few friends of TQS will be heading to Panama, will you be going with them?  

Frieda Anderson - Episode 705: Tips, Techniques...and a Special Tribute

Patt Blair - Episode 510: Quilts Through Two Artist's Eyes (also with Tammy Finkler)

Melinda Bula - Episode 501: Fabulous Fusible Flowers

Gregory Case (Photo Man) - Episode 807: Shhh!!! A Prize-winning Quilter Shares Some Secrets (with Ronda Beyer)

Anita Grossmann Solomon - Episode 905: Rotary-Cutting Revolution: It Couldn't Be Simpler!

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What would you do with 5000 paper-pieced hexagons?  Vicki Bohnhoff turned hers into an award-winning quilt.  Captain John has Vicki talk about her quilt-making process (including 222,750 hand stitches) and gets her to mention the one mistake she made at the very end.  Roo Garden won First Place Traditional Pieced at IQF Houston 2013.  

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Janet Stone's, Mutton But Letters, has been given numerous awards including Best of Show MQS 2011 and Best Home Machine Workmanship at the 2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest in Des Moines.

Mutton But Letters - 35 pieces non-rotating

Mutton But Letters - 99 pieces non-rotating

Mutton But Letters - 300 pieces non-rotating

Mutton But Letters - 99 pieces rotating

Mutton But Letters - 300 pieces rotating

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Did you resolve to become better organized this year?

Here's a cute little project to get you started. Sheila Donnachie of blupatchquilter.blogspot.com has created a "Mega Pinnie."

P.S.  In case you didn't know, "wadding" is also known as "batting."

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Recently I shared on my blog that I had once again reached one hundred pounds lost. Some people assumed that I had reached my goal weight. I would actually like to lose another 15 pounds, as that will decrease the stress on my knees and my back. But here’s the thing. I don’t think I want to have a goal weight. I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Wouldn’t it be so much better to have a GOAL LIFE? Here are some of the qualities I would like to achieve in that goal life:

• Kinder
• Humbler
• Productive (and creative!)
• Healthier (which would include being as thin as possible with food choices to support optimal health)
• BALANCED, with a side of contentedness (keeping up with that healthier goal but with minimal angst over food choices.)

For me, this seems a healthier way to look at weight loss. It is just one part of a whole and healthy life. Granted, it is a big part. But if those other things go by the wayside in order to achieve a certain weight or body size, that is NOT a whole and healthy life.

Everything works together. If I neglect my health, I will be in (even more) pain all the time. Do you know how hard it is to be loving and kind when you are in pain? So the best possible health is really very important. But if I am impatient or unkind because I am obsessed with what food I am going to eat, that is not a good life either.

These are some lofty goals. I am not always balanced. Anyone who has read my blog for a while knows I spend a little too much time thinking about food. I am not naturally kind and humble. I think I’m relatively productive, but I can be very wasteful of my days sometimes. And heaven knows, I’m doing my best to work on my health LOL.