I just watched a DVD that arrived this week. It was by a well-known quilter and full of valuable information. However, it was one quilter's view point about one topic and cost $19.95 + S&H for 75 minutes.

On January 1 I paid $16.95 ( no S&H ) for all the features of The Quilt Show site. At that time I had no idea what the site was really going to be like, but I was certain it would be worth the money and I didn't want to miss out on what promised to be an interesting new way to learn about quilting.

Since the first of the year, I have grown in my computer skills as well as my knowledge of quilters and quilting. Have I liked every aspect? Of course not. However, so much has been positive that the parts I don't care for just don't seem important.

Most magazines that I buy end up in the in the recycling bin within a day or two, but I don't write to the editor to point out all of the weakness I can find.

There are so many good things about this site and the people involved are so open to discussion, that I'm sure it will only get better as time goes by.

This really is only as good as we make it. I am responsible for my own satisfaction and happiness.

Everyone at ARJJ has done a great job, and I want them to know how much I appreciate all of their efforts.

Marge

You know, for every visionary venture there has ever been there have been nay sayers. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. I am sure there were more than a few sailors who got off the boat when they found out Columbus was going to sail due west into the unknown, but where would we be without those who stayed. I also seem to remember a story about the head of the patent office in Washington DC back in the 1890's - he resigned his position because he felt that we were as advanced as we were going to get and that there was nothing left to be invented. Look where we are today thanks to someone who thought he was wrong.

To those who choose to leave I sadly say fairwell, and I hope you find what your looking for and wish you the best of luck. There are no hard feelings. Everyone has to do what they have to do, and I mean that with all sincerity

To those who remain. Hang in there, don't let the nay sayers drag you down. Buckle up tight and hang on because it might be a bumpy ride. I know I for one am in for the long haul and can't wait to see what is still to come from behind the curtain...

Mandy

Very well said, Teri. We're only 8 months into this!!! Our requests and suggestions are solicited, listened to and responded to, frequently by one of the ARJJ principles. I don't think I've ever been involved in an endeavor where the powers-that-be tried so hard to please on such a personal level.

And then there's the technology; when I first joined in January the videos came through all choppy & disjointed. Now they're nearly seamless and in sync - somebody's been working hard on that 'cause nothing's changed on my end; same connection speed, same aging computer, same aging quilter. I wouldn't be surprised if someday we get a holographic Ricky, Alex or Justin delivered right to our quilting studios. No way am I gonna bail & miss that!

Rant/

Jorja

Yesterday afternoon as I was vacuuming the carpet I was thinking about the "leaving" post. The whole discussion is on my mind because quite frankly it makes me sad to see people leave for the reasons they're leaving.

The more I thought, the more I realized that since beginning quilting in 1993 I've grown and changed as a quilter. Quilting (like many things in the world) is a process with a back, batting & quilt top. When I started quilting I didn't know what a quarter inch seam was and why we use it. I didn't know a rocking stitch from a running stitch. I didn't know chain piecing from paper piecing and I couldn't figure out why anyone would want to go through the aggravation of machine quilting!

Like most quilters I started out small, place mats, baby quilts, wall hangings. My seams were not perfect, my pieces weren't square. Oh and you should have seen the time after I first used a rotary cutter well let's just say I take a lot more care now and I'm glad that skin grows back!

Over the years I've learned how to become accurate with my quarter inch seam, how to make miles of bias binding, paper piece, machine quilt and so much more. It has taken years and I still have so much more to learn.

That was the tie in with the other post, it took years for me to learn and grow as a quilter, to become familiar enough with my craft and become comfortable enough to grow and expand my possibilities and to take risks with color, fabric and new patterns.

The same thing will happen with The Quilt Show. It will take time for this new venture to grow and become all that we as quilters need and want it to be. In the first round of I'm leaving posts I said the same thing "be patient, give them time, it's too soon to leave". I'm saying it again. Be patient, give them time, it's too soon to leave.

We didn't give up quilting when our seams weren't accurate and our points didn't meet and we had uneven stitches in our quilting. We took a deep breath, bought more fabric, new gadgets to make cutting and stitching easier and stuck it out.

Don't give up yet.

Teri