Countdown to Issue 1

Welcome to TQL's blog! We're hard at work making Issue 1 everything you expect from Ricky and Alex: fun, thought provoking, and full of beautiful quilts. Thanks to all of you loyal fans who have already subscribed, without even seeing the full magazine yet. You won't be disappointed. It's not scheduled to be on the newsstands until the last week of February, which may seem like a long time from now for you new subscribers eager to finally get it in your hands. For us at the magazine—Ricky, Alex, our art director Joyce, and me—the deadline is quickly approaching when we will turn it over to the printer and probably celebrate the birth of our "new baby." And then dive full speed ahead into Issue 2.

We have a theme for Issue 1 and it's Inspiration. That's one thing that all quilters are familiar with. The features will show you where Ricky and Alex and other quilters have found it and what they do with it. And Libby Lehman is joining us, sharing her vast experience in many aspects of the quilting life in a regular column, Take It from Me. There are a couple of great patterns, techniques, lots of features and beautiful photographs, a look at quilting Down Under, and some surprises, too. There's lots more but I don't want to give away too much just yet. A little suspense is exciting!

Here's a chance for you to get involved in The Quilt Life: talk to us! Tell us what you'd like to see in the magazine. Do you know someone whose quilt life is unique and sure to interest the rest of us? Or a clever technique that you haven't seen before? An ingenious new product we all should know about right away? Let us know about all your ideas and requests. We aim to please.