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John and I got home Friday night and to say yesterday was rough would be the understatement of the century.....traveling to the other side of the globe has its challenges - but equally and so much more its rewards. I am having a time trying to process the journey - it was incredible! -  Koodos to Jim West for a smash up job as our leader. (I look forward to more adventures with you). If I had to pick my FAVORITE aspect of the trip - it would be the people of Africa. They were simply amazing - happy, friendly and very funny. Here is Mary sharing her Christian name with me and asking what my name is - It is a small world after all....by the way, she may not be quilter, but they all bead a mean streak!

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Here's an update from Debbie about the Sisterhood of the Traveling Triangles Exchange:

They have made arrangements to use PayPal for International shipments only. They are still working out the details, but have posted it in the 1st Forum Post. This will be the only way they will be accepting postage payments...none of those complicated International Reply Coupons.  International participants will pay for the appropriate size International Flat Rate box and that will be it! 

 

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We are so excited to share that we have a fantastic new sponsor on  board, Mancuso Show Management.  Welcome to TheQuiltShow.com family!  Many of you may already be familiar with Mancuso, as they have brought  quilting and textile arts shows across the country for more than 20  years.  The Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Virginia was the beginning  of it all, and 22 years later brothers David and Peter Mancuso have  expanded to seven annual shows in New Jersey, Colorado, New Hampshire,  Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, and Florida.

The festivals serve up over 230 workshops and lecture presentations  each year.  If you've had the good fortune to attend a Mancuso show,  you know that they are filled with amazing quilts, inspiring vendors,  and well-organized classes and presentations.  We are thrilled to have  Mancuso Show Management in our TQS family, and we look forward to  sharing more about them in the coming months.  You might even want to  keep your eye out for some free show admission and workshop certificates! 

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This is the second week in a row that the Top 100 Puzzle has featured a quilt by Jonathan Shannon.  It is a quite different quilt than Air Show.  As Jonathan said,

"Amigos Muertos' is a memorial to all those artists who have died from AIDS and cancer, and espeically to my friend, Lynn Piercy, who died as the quilt was being completed.  In quiltmaking, there is an honored tradition of using this medium to express personal feelings of both joy and sorrow.  Making this quilt was my way to feel close to those who have died too young.  For 16 months I used my finest stitches in their honor.  It is a loving, even joyful, work.  These skeletons play music and dance in a field of flowers and vines surrounded by a border of intricate cutwork applique.  While we who are left behind may be saddened by death, who is to say the dead are sad?"

Amigos1 - 90 pieces non-rotating

Amigos2 - 81 pieces rotating

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At the 2009 Houston International Quilt Festival an exhibition was held by the Russian Quilters AssociationHere now is the final video featuring an amazing array of talent from all over Russia.

 

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3483_the_alzheimer_s_art_quilt_initiative_aaqi.jpgThe Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is the featured charity TODAY (Friday, January 28) on Philanthroper.com - a new venture that encourages big change with pocket change.

AAQI has  special opportunity TODAY ONLY.  Beginning at 10 am eastern, Philanthroper, launched by Mark Wilson, is featuring the AAQI on his site.  He's asking his visitors to donate $1 by clicking on the "Give $1" button on his site.

Click here to donate.  

Take the first stitch with the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Its one of the few places where you can donate a buck. Just 100 pennies. It's affordable. It's easy. And like stitching around the quilt frame, we all can do a little to make a big difference. Let's get it done!

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Here are more quilts from the Texas Guilds' Award-Winning Traditional Quilts exhibit showcased at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. These quilts from quilting guilds and groups across the great state of Texas show you what traditional quilting is all about.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

 

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3467_iphoto4.jpgWe found another one!  Does this look familiar? Aren't the colors great?

How are you all doing with your past BOMs? Getting them finished up so you can start on Ruffled Roses? Will we find your quilt in Road to California next year?


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Here's the news from the Forum as of this morning.  It's amazing!

OUR DEADLINE TO JOIN HAS COME AND GONE AS OF MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY, C.S.T. CLARA ACTUALLY STAYED UP UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT TO GIVE US THE FINAL COUNT... WE ARE SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR SISTERHOOD MEMBERS TOPPED OUT AT AN UNBELIEVABLE 615 FROM 14 COUNTRIES. Here are more details from Clara on the countries involved. 66 Quilters joining us from USA, Canada (22), UK (6), Ireland (1), Scotland (1), Finland (1), Norway (1), the Netherlands (2), Australia (27), Panama (1), South Korea (1), New Zealand (1), Germany (1) and now Switzerland (1).

FYI: This Forum topic, so far, has recorded 1001 posts, 5666 views and 67 pages, and now it looks like we're all Forum experts even if we weren't to begin with!!!

To learn more, click here.