Show 1013 - Journaling Through (and On) Quilts

Posts On: June 18, 2012

We close out Series 1000 with artist and teacher Susan Shie ("Shie as in pie"). Although legally blind, Susan is well-known for creating highly personal works based on her drawings and writings, and which—in addition to her own thoughts and experiences—document world events, so that each quilt becomes a visual time capsule. Susan guides Alex and Ricky in a hands on lesson, using examples of her quilts to further demonstrate how her iconic pieces evolve, and then offers terrific suggestions and tips for writing on a quilt surface. As an added bonus, Ricky shows his method for making an updated version of the traditional Rail Fence pattern.

Show 1012 - Beyond Cotton: Working with Wool and Silk

Posts On: June 4, 2012

It's a whole new world as fiber artist Sonya Lee Barrington shares the pleasures of using wool and silk as alternatives to cotton in your quilts and other sewing projects. After whetting your appetite with a number of her fabulous quilts, Sonya "gets down to business," explaining the unique properties of these two versatile fibers, offering a slew of tips for working with them, and showing a variety of inventive project possibilities. You'll love her clever purse made from the pocket of a man’s wool jacket! Want more? Ricky demonstrates an easy "four-patch-within-a-square" block that we'll pattern on the TQS site with a super-cool block challenge.

Show 1011 - Stupendous Stitching

Posts On: May 21, 2012

After needlepointing an entire couch, it's no wonder that fiber artist and author Carol Ann Waugh decided to take up another form of needlework! Lucky for us, she taught herself to quilt. In this episode, she shows her “stupendously stitched” and quilted works and then demonstrates the "stupendous stitching" techniques that she uses to create her uniquely textured pieces. She also shares a nifty edge-finishing technique, offers clever suggestions for using up leftover bits of your work, and discusses what it's like to create commissioned pieces for private and corporate collectors. Last stop: an on-site visit with quilt artist Judith Trager of Boulder, CO.

Show 1010 - It's a Mystery!

Posts On: May 7, 2012

Spoiler alert: Skip over segment 2 if you'd like to make the mystery quilt…and want it to remain a mystery. Do you love a mystery? Quilt artists and design teammates Debbie Caffrey and Charlotte Angotti define what constitutes a mystery quilt, and how they collaborate on their mystery-quilt designs. Then each of these "designing women" reveals (to the audience and to her partner!) the mystery quilt that she's made using two pre-determined blocks. It's not all a mystery: Debbie "spills the beans" on her power strip-cutting technique, and Charlotte "comes clean" with tips and techniques for crosscutting and machine quilting. All's well that ends well, however, as the pair serves up a tasty snack to Alex, Ricky, and the audience. (Instructions for the mystery quilt and recipes for the snacks will be available on the TQS site.)

Show 1009 - "Stamp Out" Fabric

Posts On: April 23, 2012

Alex and Ricky welcome back popular quilt artist, teacher, author, and creator of beautiful hand-dyed fabric and thread Laura Wasilowski for an update on what she's been up to. Then Laura, a founding member of The Chicago School of Fusing, reviews the ten commandments of a fused art quilt, demonstrates a variety of hand embroidery stitches, and shows how to create and use hand-carved stamps to add texture and dimension to your fabric stash. You'll pick up lots of great tips, both on the embroidery and stamping processes, and the products to look for. Speaking of fabric, we finish off with a visit to Violet Craft, a young Portland, OR, fabric designer whose work exhibits a fresh, contemporary flair.

Show 1008 - Cogs, Wheels, and Gears...on Quilts?

Posts On: April 9, 2012

Don't waste a second! Join us ASAP as quilt artist, author, Quilting Arts columnist, and self-anointed "Goddess of the Last Minute" Robbi Joy Eklow shares some of her quirky and colorful work, including a recent series of cog-and-wheel-based pieces. In addition, she shows how to use Adobe Illustrator, a sheet of fusible web, and an inkjet printer to create a ready-to-cut-and-use design, and demonstrates an absolutely ingenious method for squaring up large quilts. In the final segment, Alex teaches Ricky (and the rest of us) how to make a quick-and-easy gift using a 4" block, pre-made piping, and a secret ingredient from the pet store.

Show 1007 - Simple Stitches, Super Quilts

Posts On: March 26, 2012

Quilt-maker, teacher, and author Pepper Cory began her journey into quilting as a college student, with the yard-sale purchase of a handmade quilt. In this episode, Pepper joins us for a delightful show and tell, and to share the history and "how-to's" of the classic Japanese stitching technique called sashiko. She also presents vintage and contemporary examples of a traditional pattern from the Isle of Man that she refers to as "the original quilt-as-you-go" block, and demonstrates its assembly with a simple running stitch. Finally, Ricky provides the evocative musical background for a tour of the day's location, the Museum of Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM.

Show 1005 - "Twofer" the Money: Terrific Time Saving Techniques

Posts On: February 27, 2012

It's another fabulous "twofer" show! First, award-winning machine quilter, Gammill spokesperson, author, and teacher Gina Perkes demonstrates how you can appliqué and quilt at the same time on the longarm machine...and add a little "dazzle" from the bobbin as well. Then quilt artist, author, designer, and (fast-talking) teacher Pat Yamin visits the set, showing some of her quilts and divulging her brush with Hollywood fame. She also shows how to use templates to quickly and accurately cut and piece a two-patch pattern, using Robbing Peter to Pay Paul as an example. You'll pick up tons of tips in this info-packed show.

Show 1004 - "Painting" with Thread

Posts On: February 13, 2012

Yes, you can do it! Artist, teacher, and author Nancy Prince taught herself to "paint" with thread, and now she shares her "secrets." Discover how to create an off-the-quilt thread painting: what stitches to use, how to size them, shade them, highlight and blend them. With Nancy's guidance, learn to "pump up" a commercially printed fabric with thread and how to use your computer to convert a personal photo into a pattern. Ricky concludes by sharing a video about the Colorado Quilt Council and the benefits of a state guild. Don't miss a minute!

Show 1003 - From Doodles to Quilts

Posts On: January 30, 2012

As a child, quilt designer, teacher, and author RaNae Merrill spent hours doodling on her favorite toy, a Kenner Spirograph. Obviously time well spent; nowadays, she begins each new quilt with a series of doodles and sketches. Join us on location at the Onaledge B&B and Rockledge Country Inn (Manitou Springs, CO), where she shows a sampling of her signature spiral and mandala quilts, and then shares her design process and unique foundation-piecing method. For the grand finale, RaNae, an accomplished pianist, treats us to a selection by J. S. Bach, and innkeeper Maureen Hance conducts a tour of the circa-1890 Rockledge Country Inn.

Show 1002 - The Value of...Value!

Posts On: January 16, 2012

Since graduating from FIT, Michelle Jackson has made a successful transition from lingerie designer to wearable art, and ultimately to art quilts. In this episode, the 2010 Niche Award-winning fiber artist demonstrates the relationship - and difference - between color and value, and the important part value plays in determining what one sees when viewing a quilt. In addition, Alex shows how cutting and constructing the Drunkard's Path block can be a snap with the help of the AccuQuilt GO! fabric cutter and dies. All this, show and tell, and a great location - the home of Bob and Barbara Normoyle in Monument, CO - too.

Show 1001 - Masterful Miters and Perfect Prairie Points

Posts On: January 2, 2012

Ring in a new year - and a brand-new series - with TQS as we catch up with designer, author, and teacher Susan Cleveland on location at Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs, CO. Susan shares some of her latest quilts and her new technique for stitching perfect miters. Next she tackles prairie points. (Bet you'll love her simple method...and her three delightful prairie-point variations.) We wrap with a visit to the NY home and studio of award-winning master quilter Jane Holihan, known for her impeccable hand appliqué and quilting. What a way to start the year!