I've had the same experience as Rita; I just get the notice of the new month's challenge. I'm working on my Cindy Needham sample and have had fun with the design. I've learned something from each month and I've kept up so far although I did miss the bonus tutorial. (I didn't get a notice for that one.) It's been fun to see what other people have made and I'm becoming more confident with my skills.

I don't know how but I have managed to get an email with the right lesson each month. And I don't get any extra ads on a daily, weekly or monthly basis either. The only one I have not done is the Cindy Needham one. I downloaded it and read it but then I forgot to actually practice it. I will do it when I get back from Kerry. I have really enjoyed the challenges each month and it has really helped with my confidence in FMQ. I still have a long way to go but I am definitely getting better. Practice is the main thing.

Nancy, I too had difficulty downloading some of the tutorials. One wasn't in PDF format and I had to have some specialized software or an account with some website, so I stopped doing them. Plus the daily e mails selling different quilt related items was making it hard to distinguish the lessons from the ads, so I am actually going to opt out. It's a great idea, it was just too much for me to keep up with right now.

Kathy

I lost interest. I still read through the lessons, and have found good ideas from some, but not all. We can only keep up with so many forums

I'll have to take a look. I had been keeping up, but got frustrated because I had a lot of problems getting to the new tutorials at the beginning of the month. I don't know if she's a bit slow in updating her links or if there is something on my computer that is saving the old page so the link doesn't update when I do a reload. I don't have problems with any other Web page, so I kind of just let that one slide. But it sounds like I should go back! I'll check it out tonight....

Thanks!
Nancy

Well have you all kept it up then?
I joined up last week and wow what a learning curve. The teachers are so good and Leah Day is charming.

This month's teacher is Cindy Needham and we are making a zentangle type blocks. It's great and the pieces people are making are amazing.

At a quilting class I went to several years ago in Houston, the teacher (don't remember who she was) recommended using the cheap pre-quilted fabric from places like Joann's for the sandwich to practice on. Then you don't have to spend any time preparing the practice piece. I bought a bunch on sale at Joann's just for this purpose so that's what I'm going to use.

You're most welcome, Debbie. I like your idea of using muslin for practice--I have lots of it. I've also gotten into the habit of rummaging through Joann Fabrics' remnant section for practice fabric. I need a lot of practice!

Renata wrote:
Thanks for the link Renata. That is the one I was looking for. My internet reception yesterday was hit and miss for some reason and I could not load the page.

I think you pro quilters of TQS will have no trouble keeping up with this challenge. I've just been scoping out some your (our) profiles looking at everyone's beautiful quilts thinking that most people on just this little thread could be teaching one of the months! There's not much to do, but follow the lesson, do some practice, take a picture and post it. Maybe we'll win some thread!

There seem to be a lot of people with a lot of FM experience signed up, but to win is a random drawing.
The list of teachers is exciting.

Renata--that is what I missed--thank you!

I signed up for this a while ago. I'm anxious to learn any tips I can. This should be just the motivation I need to practice to better my FMQ.

I've signed up for this one also. I had been wanting to work on my FMQ skills but finding classes where I live is a challenge. This program looks to be a good way to keep on track and really do the practicing required.

Ritzy, On the part of the post where the calendar for the year is posted you can click on the teacher's name for that month. When I did that a U-tube video came up with her - forgot her name already- demonstrating the lesson/exercise for the month. The sampler quilt is optional. If you read through everything you eventually find out how to enter a picture of a sample of your work for that month which makes you eligible for the prize for the month. I need to make a bunch of quilt sandwiches to get ready for some serious practice. Lois