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High Fiber is a  benefit art sale created to support fiber artists and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, in San Jose, California. This year the museum is expanding the event to two weeks, running October 22-November 6, 2011, with a VIP Preview Rectipn on Saturday, October 22 from 5 to 7pm.

Along with the benefit there will be the art of collecting symposium on Saturday, October 22, from 1-4:30pm. This will be a conversation about art collecting with Chere Mah, Jo Ann Stabb, and Deobrah Valoma, internationally known art educators and collectors.

On Sunday, October 23, from 9am to 6pm will be the art of collecting tour.  This is an exceptional opportunity to see San Francisco Bay Area art collections in the homes of Diane & Dr. Harry Greenberg and Joan & Glenn Vinson, along with a gourmet lunch.

In the past there have been works by Yvonne Porcella and vintage quilts at amazing prices. Visit the benefit and start or expand your collection by purchasing fiber art works for $500 or less.  For more information, please visit, www.sjquiltmuseum.org or email info@sjquiltmuseum.org.

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C & T Publishing on their blog, www.ctpubblog.com, is having a giveaway and you can win!

Are you looking for inspiration? The Art of Quilts Postcard Collection-Architecture is just the thing to get your creative juices flowing. You'll find all kinds of ideas within its 30 postcards, each featuring a beautiful quilt with an architectural theme.

Artist whose quilts are represented include:  Elizabeth Barton, Lenore Crawford, Kathy York, Micky Lawler, Katie Pasquini Masopust, and many more.

One lucky person will win a set of The Art of Quilts Postcard Collection-Architecture.

To enter, leave a comment at the end of their blog post telling them what kind of architecture inspires you.  Also see their blog site to find out how you can get extra chances to win.

Comments will be closed at 6:00 pm PST on Sunday, October 9, 2011-the winner will be contacted via email and their name will be posted on their blog next week.

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Annabel Baugher with her quilt at the AQS show in Paducah, KY April 2010. Photo by dlquilter

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Annabel Baugher on October 3, 2011.

Imogene Annabel Baker was born on April 1, 1921, in rural Sullivan County, the daughter of Nelson Miles (N.M.) and Thelma Pickens Baker. On May 18, 1940, she married in Princeton to Dale Baugher, her husband of 51 years until his death in 1992. In 1942 they purchased a farm in the Half Rock community, where they spent the rest of their life together. In 2009, she moved to Trenton after 67 years on the farm.

She spent her formative years enjoying life on farms in the Yellow Creek community south of Green City. Her education began in the rural schools of the area and continued at the Milan High School where she graduated in 1940. She remained a student the rest of her life as an avid reader, trying new challenges and traveling. She was taught to sew and crochet by her mother and later taught herself to knit and quilt. Initially she sewed to clothe her family and later handquilted for competition and to leave heirlooms to her family. She received recognition for her handquilting at local events, state fairs and the American Quilters Society in Paducah, KY.

TQS member dlquilter spent time with Annabel in 2010 at the AQS show in Paducah, KY.  Annabel was there sharing stories about this quilt that spent five years on the frame.  Read more here.

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See what's coming up on Monday, October 10 as you watch a preview of Episode 908 - Trailer for Wedgies, Danglers, and Funkies, Oh My! with Dianne S. Hire and Tom Russell.

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It was a fabulous fall weekend for Quilting in the Garden 2011.  Take a stroll through the Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore and soak up some California sunshine.

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Fess up, is your sewing room a disaster?  Do you have a million different projects going on at one time?  Or, is your room neat as a pin?  Only one project at a time for you?  Let us know, are you a Ricky's sewing room Before?  Or, a Ricky's sewing room After?

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Piecing an unruly word quilt can be very liberating. The letters can be as wonky as you please: seams don't need to match and the spacing between letters is completely up to you.

With all this freedom, author (and Episode 907 guest) Tonya Ricucci does say, in her popular book Word Play Quilts, that observing a few simple guidelines can make your word play more successful. Guidance about the following, from her book, caught our eye:

1. Selecting the right fabric for the job
   a. For ease of readibility, keep a relatively high contrast between the letter fabric(s) and the background fabric(s).
   b. Stay away from busy, diagonal, and checked prints. These fabrics "blur" your words, making them hard to read. 
   c.  Avoid directional fabrics, which require too much thought about placement. This is supposed to be fun and easy, remember?
   
2. Cutting fabric strips 
   a. While it's possible to jump right in using strips that you have on hand, it's easier if you begin with strips cut for this purpose. 
   b. Cut an assortment of strips ranging in widths (7/8", 1", 1 1/2", and 2").  These sizes should cover most letters that you will make.
   c. Store cut strips (by color) in a baggie to avoid tangling
   
3. De-stressing about 1/4" seams
   a.  This free-form method of sewing is not about exact 1/4" seams. The general rule is to get close, but not to worry if you aren't perfect. Sew a straight enough line that the seam allowances will press flat, and with enough allowance to stand up to use without fraying.
   b. UnRuly quilting is perfect for group quilting projects, since you don't have to worry about consistent 1/4" seams.
   
4. The importance of pressing
   a.  Finger-press seam allowances flat when working on small units. Use an iron to press pieces with angles and when the entire unit is complete.
   b.  Be aware of bias edges created by so many random cut edges. Avoid tugging on the units as much as possible.
   

5. Turning mistakes into creative opportunities

   a.  Mistakes will happen as you are learning the process. Rather than discarding backwards letters use them to add a bit of charm to your quilt.
   b.  Save the small "mistake" unit and use it to stitch another letter.

Overall, Tonya stresses that this whole process should be FUN!! Relax and enjoy!

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The number of entries was astounding.  With over 450 names entered, we are so excited to announce the recipient of Ricky's original Chantelle quilt is TQS member Jeanette Schurr.  A big thank you to all who entered.  Remember we will have more opportunities for you to win some fabulous TQS prizes later this year.  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the announcements.

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Exciting News about Why Quilts Matter!
We hope you've all had the time and good fortune to watch our featured episode of the documentary series, Why Quilts Matter. This engaging series takes a look at the impact quilts have had on our society, our economy, and our lives.

Now, WE HAVE FANTASTIC NEWS FOR YOU!

We have just negotiated a deal with the team at Why Quilts Matter to bring the entire series to TQS Star Members! We have yet to work out a few of the details, but beginning early in 2012, we will air the complete 9-part series right here at TheQuiltShow.com!

So...make sure that your Star Membership is up to date and runs through March 2012. Invite your friends to join our lively and welcoming community, and get ready to enjoy this outstanding opportunity.