Daily Blog

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Here's a look behind the scenes of Episode 910: At-ten-tion! Art Deco Quilts, Front and Center with Don Linn. The filming took place at the United States Air Force Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs.

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Join the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative in Houston, TX at the International Quilt Festival (George R. Brown Convention Center) November 2-6 and buy a quilt. They are in the Exhibit Hall, at the front, in Row T with more than 1,500 quilts made by our supporters. These Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts range in price from $20 to $350. All profits fund Alzheimer's research.

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (www.alzquilts.org) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. It auctions and sells donated quilts through the Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt project and sponsors a touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's called "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope."

Here is a selection of the quilts available, and don't forget the Celebrity online auction is going strong through November 10, click here for info.

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 Our 1:00 meeting at the TQS booth was incredible!!!! Thank you for stopping by for our picture perfect family reunion -  It got kind of crowded - but that is OK - because we know,  It's a NEW DAY, EVERY DAY!!!!!!  (PS - This year there are a bunch a first timers at Houston - it is pretty exciting stuff)

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During the first ten days of November the "Feed Dogs" and the "Rotary Blades" will go head-to-head in an online Quilt Auction benefiting the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. To the winners go the spoils: bragging rights for the team and the individual who raises the most money for the AAQI.

Playing for the "Dogs" are Alex Anderson, Hollis Chatelain, Becky Goldsmith, John Flynn, Renae Haddadin, and Sue Nickels.

On the roster for the "Blades" are Caryl Bryer Fallert, Pat Holly, Libby Lehman, Judy Mathieson, Mary Sorensen, and Ricky Tims.

Please bid generously as all profits from the auction of these quilts funds Alzheimer's research. Here are the quilts.  Click here to bid.

If you've been keeping track of the "rooting" standings, Alex is in the lead, Woo Hoo!

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We loved how, in Episode 909, Gyleen Fitzgerald shared that, along with making new quilts, she also loves rescuing and utilizing old quilt tops. Old tops, however, do have unique characteristics that we must keep in mind as we set about completing them. If quilting an old top is in your future, her are some helpful tips from Gyleen that we've gathered from her book Quilts:  Unfinished Stories with New Endings:

• Anything pre-1900, no matter how complete or incomplete, should be seen a by professional appraiser before you do anything.

• Check the stability of the fabric in a quilt top before it's quilted. Be warned that anything could happen, the worst being a ruined, non-repairable top or block. When in doubt, seek the help of a professional.The pros have many ideas about how to clean and protect vintage fabric.

• Keep in mind that the idea is to honor the work of the original maker with your own work. Gyleen likes to juxtapose current fabrics with the old.

• Gyleen admits to being a renegade and washing her quilts on a delicate cycle in the washing machine. She uses a fragrance-free laundry liquid, OxiClean, and several color-catcher sheets. She only allows the cycle to run on delicate for about 10 minutes. A few seams might need repair afterward, but usually the treatment comes off without a hitch. On occasion, she has inserted a layer of white muslin between the top and the batting to give the quilt more strength.

• Gyleen likes to have her completed quilts machine quilted for two reasons. The first is that her schedule just doesn't allow her time to quilt them herself. (Sound familiar?) The second is that the machine-quilted quilt will be more durable and enjoy a longer life.

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Click here to view the winners.

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Walking around Quilt Festival in Houston, TX always gives us a chance to see what's new and happening in the quilt world, but often spot some more quirky and unusual items along the way as well.  Remember the button sorter and the t-shirt pants?  Or how about the quilt inspired by handkerchief carried by brides in the family?  Check the Daily Blog as we bring you more fun stories as we find them.

T-shirt pants

Spring of Desire by Ted Storm

Button sorter