Just wanted to add my agreement with all who posted an answer on this topic. I've signed up for next year and can't wait. Love this site. Jan

First of all, I want Bernina to know that I really enjoy all of the great short videos they provide on this site--I have a Bernina, but even if I didn't, I would take the info on the videos and use it with the machine I own. The main reason I subscribed to TQS was to see the shows--and I have never been disappointed! I've learned alot! The bonus to this website is all the friends I "talk" to all over the world--it's truly been alot of fun for me! Judy in Torrance

BrinkOfNorway wrote:
Brink You wouldn't be in America at this very moment with out TQS. This web site carried you across the Atlantic Ocean. I can't wait to see pictures of you with fellow TQS members in Houston.

When you think of every thing involved, staff, inventory, audio-and video, rent, research and all the long hours it takes to make these shows, the income needs to come from several sources including commercials! In the end we as members of this site benifits from it all:) I can for sure live with quilt related commercials
The guests promoting their gadgets, patterns or books can not be a bad thing. First of all it is their source of income...and I like a lot to get to know whats out there.

And, I LOVE my Janome

If you don't like the commercials....you can use the fast forward feature and pass right over them. The staff of TQS has thought of most everything.

Commercials pay the bills.
I watch the Bernina videos and go to my Viking shop and say we need this foot (couching, for instance).
Bernina has always been the machine company that courted quilters.
I'll end with "happiness comes from within."

I was heading to The Prayer List when I saw 'disappointed.' I agree with all of what my friends have said. We are a community of quilters who just plain support each other. I have a Janome, I buy the DVDs as sitting at a computer kills my back for too long. I love Alex and Ricky, and the things I have learned on this site have far exceeded my limited expectations when I signed up as one of the first members. We are quilters, we are friends, we did not come together as Bernina users. And you know what? if you do come back, we are forgiving and will welcome you. That's who we are.
Joan

Regardless of what machines we use we need to remember that sponsorship is so important today, particularly in the current financial crisis. I don't stop watching Formula 1 because of all the adverts on the cars and I have to confess to using the fast forward button during the adverts on the shows. I do not enjoy adverts but that in no way detracts from my enjoyment of the content of the shows themselves.

I cannot really understand someone criticising something they have not watched. Superior Threads are frequently advertised but there have been many of the guests who state that their preference is for a different thread. Surely that is testament to the fact that there is freedom of expression within TQS.
Maggi

You have to give to recieve, that is what TQS is about. Your coment hurt a lot of people. I live in Norway and TQS is my every day joy, but I participate and thats part of the fun. I have learned a lot and it does not matter whitch mashine they use. It is just like driving different cars. I agree with all the other coments here, you have stepped in to a minefield. You are welcome to defend yourselfe, that would be a polite thing to do.

I think this woman has probably stopped checking the forum as she hasn't replied to any of the comments. If I don't like something on a site I don't keep going back. I guess we just didn't have what she was looking for. But who knows what she expected.

Let's start a new thread called "I love TQS" Then when I go to "view posts since last visit" I will not have to see the word DISAPOINTED. I prefer positive thinking. Betty Ann

Personally, it has taken me a long time to find out all the advantages of TQS. Like others, I find that the shows are a small part. One might be amazed at the number of members that don't own Berninas, but we can all learn techniques from educational videos. I find this Forum amazing. If one has a question, someone will have an answer, possibly within minutes. Need a cheerleader? Post a project. Need a friend? Send an email. Want a new idea? Look through the Gallery. Want a little something to do? Look in Projects. Want some fun? Look at the Daily Blog... and the list goes on. Ricky's and Alex's classrooms have a wonderful archive of videos.

Although the shows are a small part, I admit, I have every year's DVD and refer to them when I want to remember a specific technique of a particular, probably famous, quilt artist. I watch a lot of quilting videos from many sources, sponsored by many different machine companies. TQS continually remains the most consistently professional, entertaining, and educational. Ricky and Alex are dynamic, nice, and downright funny. I may not be overwhelmed by every show, but I will subscribe yearly to this site for as long as it is available. It's a great bargain.

Your reason for leaving is somewhat akin to refusing to watch a particular television show because you don't drive or like that model of car that sponsors it!

Sure, there are commercials. So? Ever see the pop-up ads on MSN or any of the other websites? Ever watch television?

And, sure, there is some mention of Bernina in many of the shows because some of them deal with technical things which are impossible to explain them without mentioning the foot or machine feature being used. But I own a Pfaff, and so long as the foot or feature is DESCRIBED as well as the number given, I can translate into "Pfaffie" and learn what they are teaching me.

I you watch any of the shows, you will see that 99% of the shows are not Bernina-specific, and the guests do not even mention the brand of machine.

Plus, even as a "Pfaffie," I want to say that I APPRECIATE Bernina sponsoring these shows. They make my favorite quilting website possible!

BethMI

As we all know, we are preaching to the choir here, as we are the ones that make this site so fantastic! Alex, Ricky, and all the rest couldn't have this venue in which to provide us with information if all of us were not willing to participate. Our membership dues are really an investment in our own quilting education.

I have always said that TQS was my Facebook! And millions of people join Facebook and put up with the "annoying" advertisements because it is a free site. Millions of people pay for magazine subscriptions, and a huge percentage of those magazines are advertising. The advertising pays the light bill, so it is a necessary evil.

I don't own a Bernina, or an AccuQuilt. But I do use Superior thread because of TQS. And I now have hundreds of new friends all over the world because of TQS!