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The Pacific International Quilt Festival 2011, created by Mancuso Show Management, had over 800 quilts on exhibit. As usual, it was difficult to decide which to photograph.  Sometimes it was serendipity and the fact that the crowd was not in the way.  This year, the show's 20th anniversary, it was no easier making photographic decisions. All of the quilts were amazing and you'll recognize some famous names along with those of TQS members. Here are just a few highlights to wet your whistle, keep an eye out for more.

If you are in the area, the show runs through Sunday,10/16/2011; click here for more info.

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In this BERNINA Educational Video from Nina and Susan, Riding the Ridge, they show you a great technique for attaching binding to your quilt by creating a "piping" that helps to guide the binding as you sew it on.  This technique uses the #23 applique foot to create the piping, the 37D dual feed foot to help you attach the binding to the quilt, and the 10D edge stitching foot to sew down the binding as you feel the ridge created by the piping.  No hand sewing required!

To watch other BERNINA Educational Videos, click on  to the left of your screen.

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Now that we have established that Margo and Hanna-Grete are cousins (see Small World), we had to share more excitement this week from our FORUM.

BrinkOfNorway AKA Hanna-Grete:

WooooHooo!  My Cruise-By-Quilting made some attention! This months newsletter by Sons Of Norway has a 2 page article about Hurtigruta and me waving the quilt, the American and Norwegian flag. It also has a picture of me and Jan (fiberwoman) at IQF last year. WooooHooo. If this gets any funnier I dont know what to do!

Click here to go to the newsletter.

To find out more about the Cruise-ByQuilting, click on over to these blogs:

Talk about a Drive-by "Quilting" - All Hands on Deck!

Cruise by Quilting!!!!

and finally

Video of the Cruise by Quilting

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Pincushion Mania at Quilting in the Garden 2011 was a display of an amazing range of very creative home-made pin cushions.  Attendees were able to vote for a viewers choice.  The final winner was the cactus in the small pot, entered by Lisa Norton.  How cute is that!!!

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Hot off the press!.  Best of Show Winner at PIQF is TQS Member Sherry Reynolds', America, Let It Shine! Congratulations to Sherry, it is a truly amazing quilt.  Look for more PIQF winners in the Weekend Fun.  To learn more about PIQF (the Pacific International Quilt Festival) click here.

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The Pacific International Quilt Festival is here! Starting today October 13 and running through October 16, 2011 at the Santa Clara, CA Convention Center in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This Mancuso Show Management festival is celebrating its 20th year and fabulous plans are afoot.

Over 800 quilts and garments will be on display along with a Fashion Show, Workshops, Lectures, and of course, that amazing Merchants Mall.

The faculty this year includes:

International:

Sue Dennis, Gloria Loughman (612), Janice Gunner, Jennie Rayment.

US:

Esterita Austin (506), Tammie Bowser, John Flynn (410), Rose Hughes (413), Dierdra McElroy, Kathy McNeil, Linda Schmidt, Laura Wasilowski (303), Debi Kuennen-Baker, Kellie Rushing, Bobbie Bergquist, Jean Brown, Gregory Case (807), Kaye Moore, Virginia Walton, and Pat Yamin.

Many of these instructors have been guests of TQS. If there is a number next to their name above, that's the episode in which they were featured.

Admission is $15 (includes re-admission) and children under 16 are free. Sunday only is $13. Hours are 10-6 daily, Sunday 10-5.

To see last year's winners, quilts - click here and wearable art - here.

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Quilt drying after five washes to remove bleeding.  Photo by Lilo Bowman

I've been working on a project off and on for about two years. OK, some of you might recognize it as the 2009 BOM! I got this far (see photo above) and then hit a creative wall. 

Recently, a quilting friend visiting my studio made a few suggestions and my muse returned. As a result, I've been working feverishly to complete this UFO using pre-washed, hand-dyed fabrics. To pre-mark my bobbin work in the large triangular areas, I used wash-away thread, which requires that the finished quilt be immersed in water. Herein lies the problem: My quilt is bleeding!! Currently it is being washed (with a color catcher) for the fifth time, but the lovely, wine-colored fabric continues to "run" all over the place. All-important lesson learned? If in doubt, wash, and wash again, until all excess color is removed BEFORE using a fabric in my quilt...especially a hand-dyed fabric.

That said, there are two camps on pre-washing fabric for use in quilts. There are those who do and those who don't, and I don't want to ruffle any feathers. My intent is simply to alert you to the potential hazards of using unwashed fabric in a quilt that you plan to wash in the future. If that's your plan, here are a few suggestions to keep your colors from "mingling."

1. Pre-wash similarly colored fabrics together in cold water.

2. If you suspect a fabric may bleed, add a bit of Synthrapol to the initial wash. Synthrapol removes and suspends excess dye in the wash water so that the color does not gravitate back to the fabric.

3. If you are still uncertain that the remaining color is fast, wash the fabric once more with Retayne. This product sets the color and keeps it from bleeding.

You should be able to find Synthrapol and Retayne in most quilt stores or online.

If you have other remedies for fabrics bleeding color, we would love to hear them. Share your tips through the Forum so we all can avoid this potential hazard.

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Enter to win a copy of this outstanding magazine for yourself. 

Just submit an email to DecemberQuiltLife@thequiltshow.com type "The Quilt Life" in the subject line. 

Four winners will be chosen at random. 

Hurry, contest ends Monday, October 17, 2011.

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Rob Appell was a featured artist at Quilting in the Garden this year at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, CA. He took the time, when not  chillin' with his quilting buddies in his more-than-cool surf shack, to create a video for TQS.  Wait until you see the miniature version of the 2009 BOM Stars for a New Day hanging over his shack. And, don't forget to stay until the end for the gag reel.

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John and I are wondering what are some of the best Grandparent names you have ever heard of???? Two inquiring minds NEED to know -