Daily Blog

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Last fall, we shared the story of Kim Suleman and Debbie Johnson, who charmed us at Quilt Market with their period costumes and book, Colliery Days, inspired by the Edwardian Town and Railway Station at the Beamish Open Air Museum, in County Durham, UK.

Here's wonderful news! These creative women are back again with another hot-off-the-press, inspiring book of sewing projects, Shopping Days, focusing on the early 1900s. With a booth (#1503) and a Schoolhouse presentation planned for Quilt Market later this month, "Bettie" and "Florrie" are working hard to bring their new book to your local quilt shop. Before they make the trip "across the pond," there will be a book launch and signing on October 18 at the Beamish Museum where you also can meet this delightful pair in person.

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It's almost that time of the year. TQS is gearing up for a great time at the International Quilt Festival in Houston which begins in less than four weeks! We will be there in booth 714-718 with lots of fun and excitement (as usual), and--of course--we want to meet all our members attending the show.

Don't forget to drop by every day at 1 p.m. for the TQS member "Meet and Greet." It's a great way to catch up, as well as get to know your online quilting buddies. It's also a great opportunity to catch a sneak peek of what's coming up on TQS in future episodes. So c'mon by and see us. We promise you'll be pleased.

PS: Don't forget to wear your TQS badge. Don't have one? Here is the pattern and some examples of other badges.

Did you know that you can get the artwork for badge right here on the site? Click here for the artwork.

Need a little inspiration to get your juices flowing before you make your badge, take a look at some of these...After you've watched the slideshow, make your badge, find your friends, and tell them, "It's A New Day!"

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Here are the names of the 5 Lucky Winners of the BERNINA Stitch-in-the-Ditch attachment for their walking foot. 

Cynthia Jensen, Wanda Myers, Brenda Metze, Penny Reid, and Debra Forsberg

If you are not one of the lucky winners, this attachment is available from your Bernina Dealer.

Watch a video detailing the BERNINA Stitch-in-the-Ditch sole.

Watch Alex use the foot to make a lovely table topper.

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This is such a small world! Margo's last name is Clabo. Her father-in law's name is Fred.
They knew that his family was from Sevier County, Tennessee, but they
also knew that there was a large contingent of Clabos around Duluth, Minnesota.
They hadn't done the research, but assumed that there was a connection, somehow.

One day Margo received an e-mail from Hanne-Grete a TQS member from Narvik, NORDLAND, Norway. You'll all know her as BrinkOfNorway.

Here's the gist of her story.

When visiting with my 95-year old grandmother yesterday, she told a
family history I did not know about. I knew my grandmother's parents went to  Duluth, Minnesota around 1910, and returned back home 4-5 years later with
enough money to buy a small farm:) What I didn't know was that Grandma's uncle
had already settled in Duluth and just came back to Norway to accompany my
great grandparents to the US. A Few years after returning to Norway, the family over
here in Norway lost contact with "uncle". My great grandparents last name was
Klaebo and "uncle's" name was Nils but Grandma thought he used his second name Fred in the US (easier to say I guess).  Learning my missing "uncles" history it suddenly hit me that Clabo would be the perfect English version of the Norwegian last name Klaebo and thought must maybe there was a connection.  I know Grandma would just LOVE it if I find out if her uncle got marreid, had kids and what happened in his life.

So Margo is thinking that she and Hanne-Grete are related, by marriage, and several times removed and that they are cousins.  That's her story and she's sticking to it!

Hanna-Grete is on the left and Margo is on the right. We think we see a family resemblance.

Amazing what TQS and the love of quilting can bring together!

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An early career in couture clothing gave way to the quilting life for fiber artist, quiltmaker, innovative designer, and colorist Dianne S. Hire...and she's never looked back. Join us in Episode 908 as Dianne brings along a fantastic show and tell of her unique and colorful quilts, gives us the scoop on how she makes "wedgies" and "danglers" to enhance her work, and partakes of an informative Q&A exchange with our studio audience.

Also on tap: Alex shares some of her best sewing tips for "when things "go funky!" and we head off to the Katy, TX, home of quilt artist Tom Russell to take a look at his work and reap the benefits of his best techniques and tips.

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In Episode 908 Wedgies, Danglers, and Funkies...Oh, My!, posting Monday, October, 10, you'll meet Dianne S. Hire.  While Dianne began her career in couture clothing she now lives the life of a fiber artist, quiltmaker, innovative designer, and colorist. In this episode you'll discover the wonderful world of "wedgies" and "danglers" which she uses to enhance her work.  Dig on Justin's cool glasses while Dianne engages in a Q&A sesson.

Also in this episode Alex also talks to you about what to do "when things go funky" and to top it off, TQS heads out to Katy, TX to look at the work of quilt artist Tom Russell who shares the benefits of his best techniques and tips.

Come take a look at filming of the show!

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Here's an update for the AAQI Stanley Cup Quilt-Off - As of 10/8/2011 - According to their website - Alex is in the lead!

So far the standings are as follows:
We try to update once a day, but this is NOT an automated system. Please be patient.

• The Feed Dogs
  • Alex Anderson: $155
  • Hollis Chatelain: $19
  • John Flynn: $30
  • Renae Haddadin: $87
  • Becky Goldsmith:$77
  • Sue Nickels: $25
  
  
  
• The Rotary Blades
  • Caryl Bryer Fallert: $35
  • Pat Holly: $35
  • Libby Lehman: $115
  • Judy Mathieson: $45
  • Mary Sorensen: $20
  • Ricky Tims: $106

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Okay, you heard Alex talk about it with Hollis, and now the time has come.  The Stanley Cup Quilt-Off to benefit the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is coming!

For the past three years, an elite group of quilters have been raising money for the AAQI each November to commemorate National Alzheimer's Awareness Month. The group has grown from four (2009 World Quilt Federation Smackdown) to eight (2011 World Series Quilt Challenge), and now to twelve (2011 Stanley Cup Quilt-Off).

The sports parodies are suggested each year by John Flynn, as a way to encourage "trash talking" between the competitors. This year's salute to hockey includes photographs of each quilter with hockey helmet and missing teeth PhotoShopped onto bodies of famous hockey players. (Apologies to the NHL.)

The twelve quilts will be on display from November 2-6 at International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.

It all begins by Rooting for your favorite player.

Everyone can root for his or her favorite quilt(s) online with a $1.00 donation to the AAQI. "Roots" (donations) have nothing to do with the outcome of the auction, but are a way to influence the money earned by each quilter, and, of course, support the AAQI's mission of raising awareness and funding research. Donations (roots) can be made at http://www.alzquilts.org/root.html.

To learn more, to root for your favorite player, and to take a closer look at these stunning masterpieces of quilting, click here.

For 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 raise 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.

The Quilt-Off Schedule is as follows.

• September 1-November 10: Root for your favorite player— $1 per "root"
• September 1st to October 15th: Purchase commemorative "Quilt-Off" Earrings.
• November 1-10 online quilt auction.

The final horn sounds at 10pm CST on November 10th when the online quilt auction ends, but the puck drops NOW!

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TQS Guest Gina Perkes recently took BEST OF SHOW at the 2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest - Des Moines
September 28 - October 1, 2011 with her quilt Ambrosia.  This quilt has won several awards including 1st Place - Innovative Applique at the 2010 IQA show in Houston.

Gina visited TQS for Episode 308: Artistry on a Long Arm.  In the episode, Gina walks you through the process of creating intricate grids and continuous curves. Her easy to follow step-by-step instructions will give you the confidence to design your own masterpiece.

Congratulations Gina!

Ambrosia 35 pieces non-rotating

Ambrosia 110 pieces non-rotating

Ambrosia 120 pieces rotating