Daily Blog

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A behind-the-scenes peek at Episode 902 - When Serendipity Strikes with Lola Jenkins.

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Sharon visits with Jackie Robinson of Animas Quilts and they talk about Jackie's new patterns inspired by the construction of her Yaak River cabin.

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Take a look at a Chinese "news" video about quilting and The City Quilter in New York.

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In Step 8 of Making a Portrait Quilt with Rob Appell, Rob shows you how to attach the inner flange and outer borders to the sides of the quilt.  For all the lessons, Click here to go to Rob's classroom.

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It's quilt show time again.  This time in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.  It's time for the American Quilter's Society 27th Annual Quilt Show & Contest at the Knoxville Convention Center.  The show opened July 13th and runs through July 16th. There are over 400 beautiful quilts on exhibit along with 300 vendor booths.  Saturday night you can join a TQS favorite, Laura Wasilowski (Episode 303) for Art Quilts - The Musical!

Click below to see photos of some of the amazing quilts that won prizes.  You might recognize a few of our TQS friends, like Deborah Kemball and Gammill artist, Ronda K. Beyer (Episode 807) who won two awards. To see a list of all the winners, click here.

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Sharon talks to Margaret Miller about using stripes in her Angle Play quilts. You can learn more about Margaret in Episode 401: Playing with Angles.

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Have you always wanted to create a quilt using your own photographs? Not sure where to begin? Let Susan Brubaker Knapp walk you through the entire process--start to finish--in her book, Point, Click, Quilt! Here are a few great tips from Susan to get your "wheels" turning.

• Take photo both vertically and horizontally.  While we naturally see the world horizontally, some subjects beg to be shot in a vertical format.
• Take photos at different times of the day if you are not happy with your initial results.
• Don't just take photos head on.  Shoot from various angles; high, low, from above, from below.
• Take lots of photos.  With digital cameras, there's no film or processing charge.  Remember, if you are lucky, you get one good shot in a hundred.
  
• Have prints made of your best photographs, the ones you might want to use in the future, and put them in an album.  
• Categorize the images.  Plants go in one place, animals, landscapes, and so on in another.  This album is a source of images and inspirations whenever the creative well runs dry.
• Stabilize your work with a fairly heavy stabilizer to help the piece lie flat and hang properly on the wall.
• Consider drapery-weight fabric as a backing.  It can add a desirable stiffness to art quilts and also acts as an additional stabilizer during the quilting process.
  

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We all have more than one hobby, some of us quilt and knit, some of us quilt and take photographs, some of us even like to cook!  Well, Michael Hinton, Global Sales and Marketing Manager of GAMMILL QUILTING SYSTEMS, has another hobby has well.  He is Owner/President of www.TheAntiqueTractorShow.com and as such recently had an honor bestowed.  His dedication to preserving antique tractors has resulted in the creation of Antique Tractor Preservation Day on September 23, 2011 in  West Plains, Mo.

Congratulations Michael for all your hard work!

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Medallion by fiquilts

It's time to record the story of the recent, exciting TQS Half-Square Triangle/Strip Exchange for posterity! We've been asked by a very ambitious member, CMOELLERS (Carol), to put out a call to all exchange participants.

In recognition of the many, many beautiful quilts being created with the exchange triangles, Carol would like to create a book and DVD to document the process. Anyone who would like to share their own HST Exchange project is welcome to be included.

Your project can be submitted by email or snail mail. 

Submission for entry in prototype due by September 1, 2011 (see #5 below)
Final deadline for submission is May 1, 2012 (see #5 below).

Email is preffered.  Please send all requests for submission to carol.moellers@gmail.com.  If you have any questions regarding the project send them to the address above.  Please keep emails messages to a minimum as Carol wants to reply back as quickly as possible.

1. Submitting your entry

     a.  The subject line of your email should include the words "SOS SoTTT/Batik Exchange Project-My Submission.

     b.  Attach photos of your project (quilt, table runner, wall hanging, etc.) to your email.          

• Send 2-3 full-view digital photos of your project.
• Send 2-3 detail photos showing the quilting used in your project.
• Send a photo of the label on the back of your project.
  

     c.  If using snail mail, burn the images on a CD.

     d.  Project information (see #3 below)

     e.  Keep deadline dates for inclusion in mind (see above)

2.  Photo Requirements

     a.  Full-view photos must be of the entire project (all sides and edges included).

     b.  No part of the project can be obscured.

     c.  The project must be displayed in full length.  Do not lay your photograph on the floor for photographing.  Use a light or white background in the photograph.

     d.  Please do not stand in the photo or have friends (including pets) in the picture.

     e.  Be sure the digital photo is the best representation of your project as possible.  If you make a garment, try to photograph it on a mannequin, showing the front and back of the garment. 

      f.  Pay close attention to the clarity and color of your photograph.

      g.  Digital photos should be at least 4 MG (megapixel) but no larger than 8 MG saves as a JPEG file.

       h.  Do not send sllides or prints via snail mail.

       I.  Your CD will not be returned if using snail mail.  Please send your CD in a protective case so it will not be damaged during shipping.

3.  Project Information- Include in the body of your email/letter

      a.  Name of your HST project.

      b.  The name of the pattern (commercial or original, giving credit to the artist).

      c.  The size of the project (width & length).  This is not a requirement if it is a garment.  If it is a purse send the approximate dimensions.

      d.  In 300 words or less tell me what inspired you to participate, why you chose the particular design, or anything you want to say to share with your fellow participants.  All HST projects hava a story and this is your opportunity to share your story with others.

      e.  Include your name and/or your TQS screen name.

      f.  Your city, state, country.

4.  Sending your entry via snail mail

      If you choose to use snail mail, send Carol an email requesting a mailing address.  Indicate in the "subject line" of the email-"S.O.S. SoTTT/Batik Exchange-Snail Mail Instructions".

5.  Deadline Dates/Viewing/Buying a Book or DVD/Permission

      a.  A S.O.S. SoTTT/Batik Exchange Book prototype will be available for viewiing at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX this November 2011.  If you would like for your project and information to be in the prototype please send it to Carol by September 1, 2011.

      b.  Those not able to attend IQF will be able to see a special Smilebox slide show of the prototype book/DVD.  TQS will announce the slideshow in a Weekend Fun and Daily Blog.

      c.  The final deadline to have all submissions for the S.O.S. book/DVD is May 1, 2012.

      d.  Information regarding when the book/DVD will be available will be announced on TQS in early 2012.  This will include how to order your own copy, cost, postage, etc.

      e.  By submitting your HST projects/information for the S.O.S SoTTT/Batik Exchange Project you are allowing Carol permission to use and share your HST project/story in the book and DVD.

The TQS gand, Edyta, Debbie, Clara, Ritzy, Margo and all the sorting helpers did all the hard work, now it's time for us to have fun and share our completed HST projects.  Now, start sewing and get those SoTTT/Batik projects finished, we have a story to tell.