Margo wrote:
Margo, It was TV show #1713. There was a commercial at the end of the program that said if you get (or renew) a Fons & Porter magazine subscription that you will also get a DVD with all the 1700 series programs.

The quilt I liked best looked like a variation of the Square Deal block. I was made by someone at Landauer Publishing. I think this is the one I want to make. I emailed Landauer asking them to post pictures on their website of the quilts made from the exchange, but haven't had a response yet.

Judy

I am Maryjo Kaszubinski. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and a teacher of Home Economics (forget the new name-Family and Consumer Science) for 43 years. I love teaching High School & Middle School students to create and sew, but I hope to retire very soon so I can create more myself. I want the freedom to travel more, attend more Quilt Shows and take more classes so I too can express my Creativity! I have only taken a few classes, doesn't fit well with school schedule, but my favorite has been Laura Wasilowski. She makes the day so much fun and shares projects that fit my limited time schedule for quilting. Ricky's Seminar is also a wonderful learning experience with Alex and Libby. A great source of knowledge is shred at our small quilt group that meets in our church monthly. Our group ranges in age from Home Schooled middle schoolers to wonderful women in their 80's. I hope we can all remain Sister of the Cloth as I call my sewing friends after the exchange is cmplete. My first sewing was on my Great Gradmother bed when I was 5 or 6 and I have loved stitching ever since. She was bed bound and she use to entertain me with fabric and thread.
Creating Peace one Quilt at a Time,
Maryjo

Hi, My name is JoAnn and I'm a quilter! To add to my addiction, I'm a Longarm Quilter. My mother taught me to sew as a young girl. She made almost all of my clothes when I was growing up and then my daughters dresses when they were little (they are now 28 & 30). Since I don't like to "alter", sewing garments just wasn't my "thing"! I took my first quilt class in 1982...back when you cut out pieces with templates and scissors. I pieced it and quilted it by hand. The orginal plan was to make twin quilts for my two little daughters but after seeing all the work involved, there was no way a 2 and 4 year old were getting a quilt....maybe when they were in their 30's! I wound up making it into a large double for myself! I quilted a little through the years but did not get really serious until my mother had a quilt top of her's "longarm quilted". I was hooked! In 1995, I sold my house, quit my job as a medical transcriptionist, moved in with my mother, turned her attic into my "studio" and now I quilt for others as my full time job! What an amazing adventure this has been! I have met so many wonderful friends through this little craft called "Quilting".
JoAnn Rusden
Savannah, Georgia
USA

Hi, my name is Clara Lawrence and I am a quilter. A mother. An artist and a horsey person. I also dabble with photography and just about anything creative. Take a peek at my quilts and photos. There are some on my profile and my website http://www.claralawrenceart.com My honorary sister and I took a class in 2002. She was tired of me saying that I always wanted to make a quilt, so she signed us both up. That was it and we were hooked. I’ve gone to many of the International Quilt Shows in Houston and have been on a mission to try and put my artwork into quilt form. The journey continues even today, but I’m getting closer. I live in a small town so there isn’t a lot around here as far as classes. Alex has been my main teacher through tv and now her website.
As far as favorite teachers, that would be a hard one, so I will list the ones that had the most effect inspiration wise. Alex Anderson, Pam Holland, Libby Leiman, Ricky Tims, Linda Taylor, and Hollis Chatelain. As far as the most fun, Libby and Pam get my vote. They were a blast.
Photography has always been a part of me. For me it is just another medium to create with or capture a moment through. Sometimes it is my notepad for a later time. I love getting a picture that tells a story.
My immediate goal for after this Exchange is over. Is to get busy on a piece I hope to enter into Houston.
Art is very much a part of inside of me, but now more so than ever is being a Momma to my two boys, Mikey (11) and Bryan (10).
Clara Lawrence

P.S. I forgot to add and I'm ashamed at myself. I am also a longarm quilter. A new one, but I LOVE IT!

Lotti, you could try Sew Sisters. Their website is http://www.sew-sisters.com. It's not very close to Pearson but it's worth a visit if you can make it.

Manuela

I'm Margo! I made my first quilt in 1963 with the help of my Granny, and made a few more after that but didn't get really serious (addicted?) to quilting until 1991. Simply Quilts taught me a lot but I enjoy learning these days from Internet sources! Especially from TQS!!

While all our trusty quilters are waiting with baited breathe on their HSTs to return I had a challenge for all yea to do until then. I noticed over in Ritzy's thread. (Yes, I'm stealing an idea or I've been inspired. I'll take the second, it sounds better)

Let's get to know each other better. So, who are you? When did you get started into quilting? Who inspires you the most with your quilting? Who is your favorite teacher? Other than our gracious hosts Alex and Ricky of course. Well, if it is one of them, then why? What else describes the passion inside? Ok, pour it out. We all want to know. Clara

torak23 wrote: The Queen and the Goddess thank you for the kind words and I can probably speak for the both of us in saying that if you change your mind and really do want to send us to the Bahamas we would say ever so pleasingly "WHEN DO WE LEAVE!!!!" Until that moment we will enjoy the though and just wonder. Ahhh. Having a moment now. Ok, I'm done. Now it's off to plan for the grand sort. Clara aka the Sorting Queen

I am sitting outside with my laptop enjoying a beautiful mid- western day, drinking tea and having a bagel. Have been reading all the posts since page 77 and hated to run out of posts!! I soooo wish I could make it to Texas for the sort, but its not in the cards After reading ,I now have 3 songs going through my head!! I don't mind though as it is going to remind me of this wonderful experience! Wish we could send the Queen and her court on a nice beach in the Bahamas! By the time they get done, they may never want to see a HST again! I can't imagine how you are going to get this done and know that when it is, you will probably be out of whack for a day or two! Wouldn't full body massages be great? I sent in 580 HSTs and any left over can go to the donation envelope. Wish I had sent more! Thanks again to her majesty and court for pulling this off!!!! Many, many good wishes to you all! Beth in Iowa

romira wrote:
We drive to Georgia all the time (Family reasons). It only takes 11 to 13 hours depending on how many stops you have to do. We'll miss ya, Clara

ClaraLawrence wrote:
Ahhh, I wish I could be there!

printmaker wrote: With a little caffeine and we will both be bouncing around together. Looking forward to it. Clara

DEAR Clara, Now I know it is too bad my DH is otherwise engaged that day! See you there with my "leaping tall buildings" shoes on (Z-Coils)!!! Jackie

I just got an email in and had to share. She had me at the first line. Hee Hee.

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My Dearest Queen,

After Ritzy told the details of her sort, I got out my calculator & started punching in numbers.
She said 4 people working 5.5 hrs. to sort 16,000. That means 22 "woman hours."
If y'all can sort at approximately the same speed...it will take 320 hours to sort 230,000.
That is, 32 people sorting for 10 hours, or 16 for 20, and so on.
If this makes any sense it gives some order to the magnitude of your task.
Please forgive me for adding my 2 cents worth, it's just a puzzle I want (need??!! lol) to solve.

I have every confidence you have everything well in hand...you are a rock star!

keeping you in my thoughts & prayers,
Roseanne

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I only have two things to add. Roseanne, you are not on my list of helpers and why not? (I say that with a smile) And second thing. PLEASE HELP. ANYONE. Just send me an email and I'll send you the info for the sorting. It might be coming up soon. Clara aka The Sorting Queen