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Belle's Crossing by Jo Morton

Sometimes it can be frustrating to work with many disjointed elements when building a quilt top. For easier handling in the assembly process of a quilt top, Jo suggest breaking the piece into workable units (as in the Belle's Crossing quilt above).

Instead of sewing blocks and squares into long rows that are then sewn to additional long rows, divide the pieces into quadrants.  Sew the rows in each quadrant together.  Then sew the quadrants together.  Much easier, and less room for error.  Look for this quilt and other projects in Jo's book Coming Home here. 

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Yesterday (Monday) was the first of five days of taping 10 new TQS shows on location in the Colorado Springs area. Remember, "on location" means out and about and not with audience members. It allows us to shake up the TQS drill and we've heard from enough of you to know that you like both.

Our first location was the United States Air Force Academy - and more specifically, the Cadet Chapel. The chapel is one of the most amazing architectural buildings in the world and certainly one of the most identifiable. We taped two shows INSIDE the chapel - who would have thunk it? Not only that, but I had the honor of getting up to the choir loft to play the magnificent organ (see photo) - with 4334 pipes! This dream was not on my bucket list because I would never have thought that would have been possible. It will forever be one of my most memorable moments.

The photo above shows quilts from our first guest. He uses architectural elements in his quilt designs so being in the chapel was a great fit. Our afternoon guest was an international quilter from the Netherlands who makes quilts that explode with color. Any guesses?

Justin, squinting in the bright morning sun, is wired for sound to open the show outside the US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel.

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Story Submitted by: JodyCT

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For those of you interested in the catalog for Infinite Variety Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, here is what the American Folk Art Museum has to say,

This magical but ephemeral moment will ultimately be captured in the pages of a fully illustrated catalog copublished by the American Folk Art Museum and written by Elizabeth V. Warren, guest curator of this spectacular presentation. If you would like to be kept informed about the publication date, please join our mailing list.

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Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Join the celebration as Alex, Ricky, our in-studio guest—quiltmaker, author, and designer Jo Morton—and our studio audience mark a TQS milestone: our 100th show!!

Jo shares a great show and tell of her vintage-inspired quilts, and unveils super suggestions for success with color and terrific tips for accurate piecing. Then it’s off for an at-home visit with an old TQS friend, quilt artist David Taylor—plus, Ricky shows an easy mono-print technique using fiber-reactive dye and soda ash.

All are interspersed with memorable moments from past TQS shows. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll learn…don’t miss it!

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After taping show 801 with Susan Carlson - my quest began to take her class. I could see by this episode that she was/is a world class teacher. How fortunate that she was teaching at Asilomar this year and there was a last minute cancellation - BINGO - I hit the jackpot!

Now came the issue of what image to create - Once again, my little red tennis shoes (my first pair) were calling my name. This class was so much fun and inspirational - I thought you might want to see the fruits of this week's labor - If you have not yet watched her show - NOW is the time! What should I name this quilt?

Here is a quick slideshow of some of the steps in the process. Coming up this weekend, more photos from Susan's class.

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Mark your calendars for the 1st annual International Quilt Festival of Ireland, June 7th - 10th, 2012, yes, 2012.  This convention will be something new as it will not be held in a convention hall, but in a specially designed quilter's village on the banks of the River Corrib.  There will be everything from a Farmer's Market, to a chocolate shop, to hands-on quilting classes.  There will even be programs for non-quilters.

The Irish Patchwork Society, the Quilter's Guild of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild and Sew Many Places, welcome you to their one-of-a-kind festival. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

On June 7, 2011, you will have the opportunity to sign up for all of the hands-on quilting classes, on location workshops, and non-quilter activities, so mark this date on your calendar!

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It's taping week with some wonderful quilt teachers and some fun locations.  Here are two views from our hotel window.  Where are we?

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We knew that TQS members would come through and they did.  Would you like to know where you can get porcupine quill and a few more unusual tools tips?  Here you go:

Porcupine Quills can be found on Ebay, an Indian Pow Wow, and possibly a bead store in Ann Arbor, MI.  Rumor also has it they can be found at a vendor booth at the Houston International Quilt Festival.  

Unusual Tool Tips:

Use a tie-rack hanger to hang your jelly roll strips once they have been ironed an are ready for use. It keeps them separate and helps to stop them from fraying.

For hand quilting, the best needle grip tool I've found is a finger cot (found in the first aid aisle of your drug store).

I keep a small ladder in my studio, so that I can reach the uppermost area of my design wall.

I use matchbox car holders found in the toy department to hold my thread.

Go to your local hardware store and look for replacement carpet cutter blades. They fit in your rotary cutters. So far all we have found are the 45's at Harbor Freight Tools.

A hammer. When I make carpet bags there can be too many thicknesses of fabric to feed through my sewing machine. I take it out in the garage on the cement and pound it down a few times and it compresses it enough that it will feed through the sewing machine. The needle goes through easily.

I have some used dental tools that I use for pulling out corners & using as a stileto. Also good for helping to position applique pieces.

And finally,

I even use my cats (when they are in the mood) for weighing down my quilts.

To see more tips, click the button below:

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Here's a sneak peek at Episode 808 – Celebrate the Past (and Future) with TQS! (Jo Morton/David Taylor) airing April 11, 2011.