The Quilt Life

The TQL Blog is moving!

2011-06-15T22:13:00.000-06:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed your support and comments on this blog as we’ve launched the new magazine. We are able to give TQL readers an even fuller experience with our new, expanded and comprehensive quilting information site—http://www.quiltviews.com/

http://www.quiltviews.com/ is the newest website from the American Quilter’s Society. You can find all my past, present, and future blog posts. Since this site will include content from me as well as my American Quilter’s Society colleagues, we think you’ll enjoy the amount of information we have pulled together. If you wish to zero in on TQL when you get there, however, search for “TQL blog.”

Our upgraded website already has over 500 articles, with more added daily. All my previous blog posts are already live on that site, including most recent comments from readers.

You can find me now at QuiltViews.com

Since this website is hosted at a new URL, please be sure to update your bookmarks, RSS feeds, and email subscriptions.

Please visit us at our new, improved location online. Be sure to check out the site organization, including categories, tags, and techniques. Plus, sign up for email updates to keep informed of the latest news.

See you there!

Unplanned Geometry

2011-06-08T15:19:00.000-06:00

TQL readers around the globe were fascinated by the silk sampler in Laura Fisher’s column “For All It’s Worth” (June 2011). “It reminds me a little of a crazy Dear Jane,” wrote Linda Lesiak of Fullerton, Nebraska.

Jodie Storm, of Bonville, NSW, Australia, cheerfully confesses to being obsessed with historic quilts. She’s given lots of thought to this one, and suspects this stunning quilt was made by an inexperienced quilter, perhaps a teenager, who made it up as she went along. Jodie told Laura how she figured out the way the quilt was constructed.

“I labeled the vertical rows A-H, and the horizontal rows 1-9.

The quiltmaker initially made three rows of three blocks each, D3-F3, D4-F4 and D5-F5. Block E5 was created as the center focal point of the original quilt.

The quilter then added rows to all the sides, and then another set of rows. See the way the black embroidered sashing turns the corners around each of the block sets? And of the sometimes bias cut and sometimes straight cut plaid sashing strips? Also note the Log Cabin "corner" chevrons (Blocks B1, H1, B7 and H7) are very similar in form, with the inside corners facing the center of the quilt. They would have been the corner blocks of the original top.

At a later date, she added rows A1- A7, and A8 - H8. The plaid sashing has again become straight ̶ unlike the bias cut of the original top, and there are several silk checks and plaids which do not appear in the original center.

Later still, she added row A9-H9. Look at the way the black embroidered sashing is placed, and the way the bias cut border is constructed.”

Thanks for taking the time to share this with us, Jodie. Maybe you are a little obsessed. But aren’t we all? It’s the way it is when you live the quilt life.

Which Way Did He Go?

2011-06-02T17:26:00.000-06:00

TQL challenged you in the February issue to use your imagination.
The man is missing from the Bird of Paradise quilt top on page 55, even though he was in the picture when the newspaper templates, above, were made. Why? You had so many creative answers it was challenging for us to select three favorites!
Each of our clever winners will receive a copy of the beautiful new book QUILTS: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum from the publisher, Rizzoli.

The Scandal!

Daily True American, April 3, 1863

After being tried for murdering James Lippincott, of Poughkeepsie, Charles Batchelder escaped from prison and subsequently tried to commit suicide. On April 3, Batchelder paid the fearful penalty of death. Great excitement prevailed in the city during the day. The culprit made no confession, and met his fate with great courage. The End

(ripped from the headlines, names changed to protect the guilty)

by Candy Prudhomme

Some Things Never Change

Sarah gazed at the unfinished quilt top.

The only unfinished block was Johnathan's. She realized that he wasn't coming back. She hadn't heard from him in over a year. Becky's husband and Joanna's brother had returned from the war. He should have been home by now....

Her heart breaking, Sarah decided to finish the quilt anyway. She would use the Hannibal elephant block she designed when the circus passed through town last spring. Elephants never forget, do they?

As for Johnathan.....he survived the war, but refused to ask for directions and got lost on his way home!

by Deborah Bloom

Good Husband

Robins, redbirds,

emus, too –

A hen, her cock-a-

doodle do.

Cat and hound dog

bark and mew –

Of owls and ponies,

not a few.

Peacocks, blackbirds,

in they flew –

An elephant ! Oh,

what a zoo!

So when a caller

came to woo

And said, my dear, what

can I do?

By this I found his

love is true –

He’s busy out there

scooping poo.

by Pat Mitchell

Everything Old is NewAgain

2011-05-25T18:58:00.000-06:00

We’ve been chatting with Pat Holly, maker of the prizewinning Paisley Peacock. Our discussion turned to sources of inspiration.

TQL: Where did you come up with the idea of embroidering your background fabric before you stitch the appliqué?

PH: The first time I used this idea was in 2000 on a small quilt. As usual, I was looking through some of my world textile books and I noticed something about many of the fabrics. Often there was something subtle happening in the background (maybe behind the embroidery). I also had just bought a new, fancy sewing machine with lots of decorative stitches. I wanted to use this feature of my machine, but whatever I did needed to have a purpose. I didn’t just want to add fancy stitches; I wanted them to have a reason to be there. So, looking at those old textiles gave me the idea to use the decorative stitches to create a background with texture. This has opened up a whole world of ideas – using different threads, different colors, different stitches (from a simple straight stitch or a small zigzag up to lovely complex designs) – there are so many variations possible. Try it –you create your own unique fabric!

Pat picks COLOR!

2011-05-18T15:57:00.000-06:00

We’re talking to Pat Holly, whose fabulous quilt Paisley Peacock not only graced the TQL centerfold in June but also won best in show in Paducah.

TQL: Pat, how do you choose colors for a quilt?

PH: When I am designing, next to the actual motifs and elements, color is the most important part of the process. I usually work in solid fabrics, spread out a large, mixed-up “palette” and see what new combination jumps out. While at art school, I loved the color theory class. We used colored paper to create our studies and I still have fun with paper. The class was based on the color theory of Josef Albers. His concept of “seeing” color really resonates with me – I think it is all about experimenting and seeing what colors work together. My latest quilts are made with silk fabric, which has an incredible depth of color and richness that I love!

TQL: Let’s try that!

Feeling the Paisley Connection

2011-05-09T12:20:00.000-06:00

We’re talking to Pat Holly, who, either solo or part of a dynamic duo with sister Sue Nickels, is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Pat’s biggest win for a solo effort to date is best in show in Paducah with Paisley Peacock. PP just happens to be the centerfold of the June TQL.

TQL: Paisley Peacock is so exotic! What inspired the design?

PH: I have a large collection of books, starting with quilt technique books, and then adding any books with pictures of antique quilts. At some point I started looking at books with textiles from around the world (this includes weaving, embroidery and garments) and I was amazed. Now, most of my new books are world textiles and right now I am fascinated with textiles from India. I was in Scotland in 2008 and took photos of Suzani embroideries at the Burrell Collection. This photo is not the greatest, but maybe you can get the idea of how I was influenced. I was lucky enough to visit India last year and my mind is still whirling with ideas. The most important part of all this (and this relates directly to Paisley Peacock) is I love feeling that connection with textile creators from all over the world, past and present. By using these images as inspiration, it allows me to talk about and share what I have learned about different cultures. Many people have never heard of Suzani embroideries—from central Asia —and I want quilters to be exposed to these beautiful textiles.

TQL: Pat, it’s amazing! You’ve managed to capture the richness of the Suzani textiles in a design that feels so fresh and original. Let’s talk about your color choices next time!

Our Prizewinning Covergirl

2011-05-04T15:26:00.000-06:00

Have you seen Pat Holly’s amazing Paisley Peacock, the June TQL centerfold? This quilt won best of show in Paducah last week, and we were thrilled for her, of course. When we first saw Pat’s 60" x 72" masterpiece, we knew we had to get to know her better! Here’s part of our conversation:

TQL: Why did you mostly make miniature quilts for a while? Why do you like that scale?

PH: I started making miniature quilts about eleven years ago. I have always loved creating little things. I learned to knit when I was about ten, and I found patterns to make sweaters and dresses for my Barbie doll. These were made on size one needles with “fingering” yarn. I learned all about knitting making these tiny garments and was happy as a clam. I also made doll clothes on my mom’s sewing machine. When I started making quilts (over 30 years ago), I made them in all sizes (bed size, wall size). I always loved looking at the miniature quilts at shows and decided to try my hand. I think the first show I entered was in 2000. I kept entering shows and finally won a ribbon in 2006 (2nd place, both AQS and IQA) with my quilt Tapestree. I was really excited because my quilts are mostly machine appliqued, and this was a technique not usually recognized with awards. In the miniature category, all techniques are accepted and judged together (hand, machine, pieced, appliqued).

Working on this tiny scale fascinates me. I love the idea of drawing the viewer in closer and closer. I also have a grand time seeing how small I can make the elements. Of course, there is a limit! And, although people don’t believe me, it really doesn’t take a long time to make a miniature. When you stitch around a circle that is ¼˝ in diameter, there are not that many stitches to make compared to a 3˝ circle.

More next time!

TQL wins "10 Best New Magazines of 2010" honor

2011-05-02T21:48:00.000-06:00

Big news here!! TQL has been selected one of the 10 best new magazines of 2010!! Here's what Library Journal had to say when it announced its list of 10 best new magazines of last year. "...brave entrepreneurs continue to produce excellent new periodicals. Here is this year’s fine crop of new magazines worth considering for your library."

Library Journal in its newest issue released online and in print today, says it reviewed 193 new publications last year before making its picks. You knew you liked TQL, and now you know you're in good company!

Be a Thread Picker

2011-03-30T21:01:00.000-06:00

It takes imagination to choose the best threads for your quilt. And the more stitching there is, the more important it becomes to give it some thought beforehand. When Sarah Vedeler was at that point in making GO! Be Dazzled, the TQL April Centerfold, she had a plan:
• 2-3 threads to match the dark fabric (one the same, one lighter and/or darker)
• 2-3 threads to match the medium fabric (one the same, one lighter and/or darker)
• 2-3 threads to match the light fabric (on the same, one lighter and/or darker)
• 2-3 threads that will "pop."

GO! Be Dazzled, Too

"When you are using a monochromatic color scheme with your fabric, as I did on GO! Be Dazzled, Too, use the complementary color in a couple of different shades, or a split complementary to give you two colors," says Sarah.

GO! Be Dazzled

"In GO! BE Dazzled, my pop colors were turquoise and chartreuse. The fabric colors all came from the warm side of the color wheel, so the pop colors added some cool tones." She went on to say that working with a color wheel, such as Joen Wolfrom's 3-in-1 Color Tool, is always a good idea!

Be Dazzled Even More Than You Were Before

2011-03-28T10:56:00.000-06:00

The TQL April Centerfold, Sarah Vedeler's quilt GO! Be Dazzled, is a knockout. Sarah mentioned that the quilt has a little sister, GO! Be Dazzled Too, which you get to see here. It's a simpler version of the centerfold quilt. It's a fun exercise to open your April magazine to the centerfold, and compare the two.

Simpler though this one may be, it's still stunning. Sarah has advice for choosing fabric and thread for a quilt. "For embroidered applique, I want the fabric to be as plain as possible so that the thread—which is the main source of the design—shows up as much as possible. Solid colors work well, as do tone-on-tone colors." And what fabrics should you avoid? "Any fabric that has a distinct design. The thread just won't show up. And if you've devoted a lot of time and effort to the embroidery, you want it to be noticed!"

But what if you have a piece of fabric that you REALLY want to include in the quilt, but it has a lot of pattern on it? "Consider using it for the sashing and borders, or maybe the setting triangles or any corners in the center of the quilt. In other words, places where there is no applique or detailed quilting."

Great advice, Sarah!

Happy birthday, TQL!

2011-03-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

The April issue is now out. It's our second April issue! That means The Quilt Life is celebrating its first birthday. Thanks to our wonderful loyal readers, it looks like we'll be serving up bi-monthly slices of quilt lives for some time to come. Keep those submissions and ideas coming. We love to hear from our readers!
The Quilt Life will have a booth at the AQS Lancaster show & Contest next week. If you're there, stop by, introduce yourself, and let us know what features you've enjoyed the most. Or what you'd like to see in the future!

The passing of Jean Ray Laury

2011-03-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

The loss of Jean on March 2nd was another great loss for the quilt community. She was of one of the "mothers" of the late 20th century quilt revival, there even before the quilt revival got going. I became a fan of her before I became a quilter. Back in 1977, I purchased her book The Creative Woman's Getting-It-All-Together at Home Handbook and it was a life-changer. I still have it and cherish my hardback, black-and-white, dog-eared, and stained copy with the broken spine! Back when women's roles were shifting and we couldn't always count on respect for our voices or in the workplace, Jean showed us how some artists managed their version of "having it all" (creative career and family).
Years later, after Jean and I met and worked together on various articles, she maintained her persona that I had created for her just from that book and what I knew about her reputation in the quilt world: innovative, warm and supportive, and such a talented lady!

I send our sincere sympathies on behalf of The Quilt Life to her family. She will be missed by so many.

Something a quilter would use?

2011-02-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

What do they look like to you? Some of you will know right away. Others have never seen these before (like me, before these arrived at my doorstep). Of course, if you've gotten the latest issue of TQL, you already know who the quilter is who uses these as embellishments. Answer: spent shotgun shells, artistically fanned out and arranged. Colorful, aren't they? Read about an usual quilter and her creative quiltmaking in "Making something out of nothing" in the April 2011 issue.

Applique tip from Linda Roy

2011-01-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Wrapping up my chat with Linda Roy about Vintage Button Bouquet, I thought info about the idiosyncrasies of how Linda does things would be helpful.
   Jan: So, Linda, do you have any tips for us?
   Linda: Sure. I can tell you that I premake components for my quilt and do so whenever possible. I find it relaxing to sit and applique those already-made units. All the small circles you see on this quilt are premade on discs, with fabric cut twice the diameter of the disc so that they self-stuff. I padded the larger circles by inserting a layer of the wool batting underneath.
   If there are items to go on the quilt that don't lend themselves to premaking, I usually use the needle-turn method. On occasion I have even needle turned straight edges instead of turning on my sewing machine to accomplish the same look with a straight pieced seam. That includes appliqueing mitered borders! I've also found that it is easier to get smooth edges by having the smallest seam allowance you can handle.
   Jan: Thanks for sharing with us, Linda. I look forward to seeing your next masterpiece!

Which came first?

2011-01-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

Jan: What a great idea to get applique design inspiration from vintage buttons! Now do you choose your bracelets based on how well they will translate into applique? Or do you just buy what appeals to you as jewelry?
Linda: I have so many ideas running around in my head that are inspired by antique buttons that I really don't need to purchase any more! It is difficult to define exactly why a bracelet appeals to me because I can't help but see things through the "filter" of design, which applies to jewelry and quiltmaking. Patterns and ideas are all around us and impossible to ignore once you are bitten by the quilting bug.
Jan: It's interesting that there are still so many antique buttons available.
Linda: Yes, there are enough that some vendors group the button jewelry pieces by "style," meaning bird motifs, picture buttons, florals, and some are very colorful, to mention just a few kinds.

Next time: tips for hand applique

Surface treatments: buttons, ruching, swags

2011-01-19T11:00:00.001-07:00

Jan: The vintage buttons shown here aren't actually from your collection, Linda, but I thought our readers would like to see them anyway because they are so lovely. There are 12 vintage buttons on the quilt. Could you tell us more about adding those and when you do that?
Linda: The buttons were sewn onto the background after the surface applique was completed. I found it much easier to handle by doing as much applique as possible in quarter sections, including the swags and the linear ruching, and then joining those. I only had one-yard pieces of the background anyway so it made sense. Every quilter how sometimes you have to make do—make the construction match the materials and limitations you have!
Jan: And how about the embroidery?
Linda: That is done on top of the quilting so that it sits on top. But the upside-down stuffed yoyos were added to the top as the last thing.
Jan: You mentioned in the magazine that the bracelets you collect sometimes have "perfume buttons." I had never heard of those before and did a little investigating. These are charming buttons from the 1800s made with velvet and overlaid with an openwork metal design, perfect for dabbing a teensy bit of perfume on instead of dabbing it on the skin where it would be likely to stain the clothing. Now that I know what they are, I'll look for them wherever I find antique buttons for sale. Not to worry, Linda, I won't become your competition by collecting them! I just want to savor them because, as I mentioned last time, anything vintage is interesting to me.

Next time: vintage button inspiration

More from Linda Roy about Vintage Button Bouquet

2011-01-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Have you reveled in the exquisite details of Vintage Button Bouquet that are shown in the February centerfold? There were numerous reasons for my love at first sight of this quilt: hand applique is my favorite quiltmaking process; Linda's workmanship!; orange in all its variations tops my favorite color list; and vintage anything catches my attention. I thought you would like to know more about the quilt's making and see more detail photos so this week, Linda will be here to tell us more. Today the topic is crosshatching.
Jan: Straight, even crosshatch quilting is much harder than it looks. How do you keep it so even and consistent across such large areas?

Upper left quadrant with
large crosshatched area.

Linda: It works best for me if I can mark the entire top before quilting even begins, even before layering the quilt sandwich. I lay the quilt flat on the floor and lightly tack the edges to the boards I use for basting.
J: There are different scales of crosshatching, wider in the wide open cheddar areas and tighter in the circles. This really adds a rhythm to the quilting. Do you mark the smaller areas in the same way?

   L: If there are smaller blocks within the quilt, or in this case, they are circular "blocks," I carefully mark the edges all around with dots and then draw lines corner to corner. Then I can use a table for marking the individual blocks.
   J: What do you use to mark those lines?
   L: The blue Mark B Gone water soluble pen works well on lighter fabrics.
   J: Do all your quilts have some crosshatch quilting?
   L: Each quilt is different depending on the design, but I do use a great deal of crosshatching as it compliments the curved applique that I frequently use.

Next time: the "button" applique

The Missing Man Contest

2011-01-06T21:35:00.001-07:00

A fun contest based on an article in the February issue, "Behind the scenes at the museum." The museum is the American Folk Art Museum and the man is "missing" from the Bird of Paradise quilt top made 1858-1863. Why are we saying there is a man missing from the quilt? Because the families that were guardians of this quilt before it entered the museum's collection were kind enough to keep the newspaper templates made for the applique along with the quilt. And though there are men depicted on this quilt top, not THIS man!

You can see the lady made from the template in the top "row" of the quilt, but you won't find her intended companion It's a mystery.

Tell us what you think happened to keep the man off the quilt in 100 words or less. Email your story to Info@TheQuiltLife.com and put "Missing Man" in the subject line. Deadline is Feb. 14th. If your story is one of the three most interesting entries, you'll win a copy of the Museum's beautiful new book QUILTS: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum!
Quilt photo by Gavin Ashworth, New York; template photo by John Parnell, New York

White House Quilting Bee and TQL

2011-01-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

It may not be for real, but we can wish it were! If you haven't seen the animated video of Larry King interviewing President Obama about the White House quilting bee, don't miss it. The "President" even mentions The Quilt Life and Alex and Ricky! You can view the video on the Black Threads blog. It was created (and so is Black Threads) by the very accomplished author and historian Krya Hicks. She was having fun with a new service that allows you to create a short animated "movie" just by providing a script. Now that sounds like fun! The President rights says that quilting is common ground, something that people of different political persuasions can all enjoy. Did you know that Larry is an accomplished applique artist? It's all great fun, take a look. While you're there, take in all the other marvelously interesting info on at Black Threads.

What's in a name?

2010-11-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

A block name, that is. It struck me when Barbara Brackman mentioned in the December issue of TQL (in If You Could Ask One Question feature) that "Names we assume to be folk tradition often were invented by needlework editors." Such power! I realize that happens these days, but never thought about it happening way back when. Those traditional names seem so right, so set, so generally accepted that they must have been handed from time immemorial. Barbara shot that assumption of mine down!

Skill building for charity

2010-10-25T11:00:00.000-06:00

The Helping Hands department helps lots of quilters to find a way to use their skills to do good for others. The Sutter Cancer Center Quilt Auction is the featured charity in the TQL December issue and it offers a slightly different opportunity for quilters (in addition to the usual focus on quantity of quilts): quality of quilts! This event happens every three years, so you have time to give your all to a project to make it the best it can be or to make a sustained effort to perfect a new technique, and then donate it to the auction. I know I take my skill building a lot more seriously when it's used for something that will be seen and not just on a practice piece. And when you know it will be auctioned, well, that's even more motivation to master the technique. Check it out; December issue is on the newsstands now.

Haitian quilters' work coming to Macy's

2010-10-20T09:29:00.000-06:00

Hey, as I was driving home, I heard a story on NPR about PeaceQuilts Haiti, the charitable organization that we reported on in our August issue. It has partnered with Macy's, providing handmade items made by some of the Haitian quilters for the department store's new line of home decor products called Heart of Haiti! Since the article was published, Jeanne Staples, the PeaceQuilts founder, has kept me up to date on how things are going and sure enough, as soon as I got home and checked the email, there was the news from Jeanne. For now, you can find brightly colored pouches and oven mitts, and only at Macy's online but it's a great start.
This reminds me of what happened with the Freedom Quilting Bee, of the same rural Alabama area as Gee's Bend and with some of the same personalities. The Bee's quilts and quilting style became the toast of New York in the late 1960s and early '70s, promoted heavily in Bloomingdale's. That was during that period right before the bicentennial, when new life was breathed into quilting, which eventually resulted in its "revival" and flowering that we still are experiencing today. This is a fascinating story that you can read about in a book titled "The Freedom Quilting Bee" by Nancy Callahan, originally written in 1987 but reissued in 2005.

Sunset Strip Revisited

2010-08-27T09:02:00.000-06:00

What a fantastic version of Ricky's pattern that was in the August issue! Other than a few fabrics used in the houses, TQL reader Sue Ann Vannoy of Huachuca, Arizona, used all hand-dyes from her stash. That sounds like a good reason to go out and get more hand-dyes, Sue Ann. I love the way the waves of color flow from top left to bottom right. Thanks for sharing! If you've made a quilt, or a block, from a TQL pattern or the Cook-Off thanks-for-voting blocks, we'd love to see it.

Rights and copyrights

2010-08-17T10:23:00.001-06:00

That pesky copyright question about what your rights are as a quiltmaker and as a copyright holder always creates confusion, doesn't it? Bonnie Browning, the AQS show chairman, has a very helpful post on the AQS website that addresses some of the questions. As an editor, people frequently question me about copyright law, thinking that it must be part of my job to understand it. And it is, to a certain extent, so I'm always eager to add to my imperfect understanding, but I must leave the legal advice to the experts. It's good for quiltmakers educate themselves, though, to prevent disappointment, as in "You mean this quilt of mine that was 2 years in the making can't be displayed? Or published? Or sold?" Bonnie's post is one that I'll keep as a reference. It even links to a chart. Check it out here.

Do you know these characters, oops, I mean caricatures?

2010-08-04T18:12:00.000-06:00

TQL's esteemed expert on collecting antique quilts, Laura Fisher (who writes the regular feature For All It's Worth), sent over a request for our readers: have you any information you can share about this 1903 quilt from New Hampshire? The blocks have inked caricatures of folks that she thinks might have been real people in the Keene area at the time. The one shown below is inscribed "Thou art my own love. —Burton J." Laura is hoping to find out "the who, where, and why" of this quilt. I'm always amazed to see the unique examples that Laura comes up with for her TQL articles. Those one-offs must still be out there for today's collectors to scout out. Her column is like the Antiques Roadshow for antique quilt collectors and dealers. When I grow up, I'm want to travel the country hunting up treasures like these. I hope there are a few left when that time comes! Coming up in the October issue: a very unusual House quilt, pieced, showing the little "village" at night instead of the bright white of a daytime background. Look for it later in August on the newsstand.

Hot for handwork

2010-07-01T19:55:00.000-06:00

4th of July usually is the hottest time of the year where I live. Even at our cabin in the mountains, the nights are comfortably cool but the days are still hot, hot, hot! That's why it's a perfect place for me to do handwork. (Did I mention that there's also no electricity there to run a sewing machine? That's a good reason too.) Applique and piecing by hand have given me some of my happiest moments and I'm looking forward to a few more this weekend. I'm between projects right now, so I'd better head up to the sewing room to make some decisions, pull some fabrics, gather some tools, and pack up for the long holiday weekend. Safe travels, all!

Update on PeaceQuilts Haiti

2010-06-28T16:28:00.000-06:00

This is the project that was covered in the August issue's Helping Hands section of The Quilt Life. I recently got a message from director Jeanne Staples:

"Since we last communicated, I traveled to Haiti—the first time since the earthquake. The devastation is just incredible. It was emotionally challenging, yet ultimately rather inspiring to see how the women have continued to create beautiful quilts, even though most of them either lost their homes or had serious damage, so that they are now living in tents. My colleague Maureen, a clinical psychotherapist, was able to do some personal assessments with many of the women, and provide some post-trauma counseling. We were also able to meet members of our newest cooperative in Cité Soleil, the notorious slum in Port-au-Prince. They are amazing! 13 women are working there, and 10 girls are learning to sew and quilt in an afterschool program, shown here, that our co-op manager started. We are headed back in a couple of weeks, and part of our agenda will be to explore ways that we can create opportunities for those with disabilities (especially as a result of the earthquake) to become fully integrated members in our cooperatives. I hope all is well with you, and wish you continued success with the magazine."

Wishing you and everyone at PeaceQuilts the very best, Jeanne. Keep up the good work.

Summer NIght Sky variations

2010-06-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

Variations on Summer Night Sky, one of the patterns in the June issue of TQL, have been sent in by Elsie Campbell, the designer and maker of the original.

She had mentioned these other beautiful versions made by friends of hers and now we get to see them. They are very lovely, proof that anyone can take a published pattern and put their creative stamp on it. The original is at left.

At right is a version from Jean Tomson. I love love love this creative treatment!

And at left, one from Becky Schweitzer....

...and finally, a version by Judy Arnold, right.

Makes you want to organize a challenge, doesn't it? The full pattern is on page 76 in The Quilt Life June 2010.

August 2010 issue now online

2010-06-09T14:45:00.000-06:00

It's August! At least in The Quilt Life land it is, because that issue is available to subscribers at thequiltlife.com right now. The print issue will be making an appearance soon. I can't tell you exactly what date you will see it because it depends on where you live, mail service, and all that. If you're not a subscriber yet, take a look at the August issue Table of Contents at thequiltlife.com to see what goodies will be inside.
TQL got a nice review at LibraryJournal.com. The June issue was the one reviewed, the one that focused on threads. "The Quilt Life has much to offer quilters at every level of experience," says the publication, which services library professionals. A good choice for libraries to offer, but I say you're going to need your own copy. This magazine isn't a "skim-and-toss." It's for your leisurely reading pleasure, and if you choose to make a quilt from one of the patterns or test out a technique, you'll want it by your side to guide you.

Heads on Sticks?

2010-05-04T17:39:00.000-06:00

Here's a treat for all of you who have your second issue of TQL, have read the Postcard from Ricky, and are wishing you could see the scene he described in the article. Ricky dug down, way down, in his collection of a million photos so you could see what heads on sticks really look like! That La Veta—for a small town, it really rocks. Such a creative bunch down there.
So now the 2010 AQS Paducah show is history, and a good one it was. The new facility, a huge, white, inflated "bubble" that is known as the Pavilion, made its debut this year. The loss of the Executive Inn space for a merchant mall required a creative solution to make sure that all the legacy vendors would be able to have a booth because people come from far and wide for the show and have come to expect an impressive lineup of booths with fabric, tools, supplies, patterns, and more. The Pavilion had wide carpeted aisles, lots of room, and bright daylight streaming down on us, even when it was raining outside. I liked it a lot.

The Quilt Life had a prime location in the Pavilion, the first booth to the left as you come in the front door! I really really enjoy getting to meet all the quilters that stop by our booths to chat, especially when they have good things to say about the new magazine. And they sure did! Thanks to everyone for the great response. The second issue was hot off the press so subscribers wondered why they hadn't received their copies yet. Because they were too fresh! Had to wait for the ink to dry before sending them out. Most people opted to look through the issue rather than wait until they got home to see what was in it. Curiosity was high, that's for sure!

FarmVille Finalists

2010-04-19T22:11:00.000-06:00

As promised, here are some of the FarmVille quilts that we liked a lot but that didn't make it into our second issue! The Facebook game that lets you grow crops in the design of a quilt scares me—everyone I know who plays says it's mighty addictive. In fact, Ricky talks about that very thing in the Digital World section of the new issue. He succumbed to it, though I think he has that under control now. Look for TQL June issue to find out more about FarmVille, if you dare.
It's almost time to head to Paducah and I can't wait. I had loads of fun in The Quilt Life booth at Lancaster and I'm expecting to have even more at the AQS Paducah show. Sooooo many people came to the booth to tell me how much they enjoyed the first issue of TQL. That makes an editor's day. TQL has a booth at Paducah too. Come by to visit! I'll try to capture Ricky to spend a little time in the booth with me between classes and other commitments.

Time's running out-Ask Roberta by March 8th!

2010-03-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

We've got three super celebs lined up to take your questions in future issues—Roberta Horton in the August issue, John Flynn for October, and Barbara Brackman in the December issue. If you have questions for Roberta, one of the most talented and respected names in quilting today, you'd better hurry! Monday, March 8th is the last day you can submit questions to this quilting celebrity. My favorite books of Roberta's are Plaids & Stripes; The Fabric Makes the Quilt; and Scrap Quilts: The Art of Making Do. That last one has to be one of my all-time favorite quilt books. Roberta travels a lot and picks up fabrics everywhere she goes. That book has lots of sample of her travel photos and the fabrics. There are some wonderful pictures of Eklutna in Alaska, along with the quilt that resulted from that trip. I liked it so much that I had to take a cruise to Alaska to see that place. Unsuccessful, though, and will have to back for another try at Eklutna.
Think up some good questions for world traveler and scrap maven Roberta. Ask away!

Thanks, Meg!

2010-02-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

TQL regular columnist Meg Cox had some kind praise for TQL on her e-newsletter http://megcox.com/newsletters.htm. I thought you might like to check it out. Lots of other good info too.

Kit and pattern questions

2010-02-23T10:18:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone for the glowing reviews of TQL! Not every subscriber has gotten it yet, but I swear it's almost there. There's been a lot of interest in the Burnished Chintz pattern and the kit that's available from Liza Lucy's online shop gloriouscolor.com. You can also order it by phone: 800-269-0309. Warning: if you are a fan of Kaffe Fassett's Collective lines of fabric, you'll be in heaven when you get to this website. Liza does a great job of designing quilts that show off the fabrics, but you can do that too. If you fall in love with the fabrics you see there, try this: pick a simple block pattern with just a few patches, enlarge it, repeat it, and voilà, there you have it—a pattern that presents a good opportunity to play around with those luscious, mouthwatering prints.

And one of the quilts that was shown in Alex's article "Quilting in the Garden" has aroused some interest too. Welcome Home is a great scrappy quilt, shown here hanging from a tree with beautiful blue California sky behind it. This quilt was made from one of Alex's published patterns that's still available at alexandersonquilts.com. When you get there, click on Patterns at the top of the page.
Myself, I'm a hand applique girl; I love the relaxing nature of it. But piecing also provides that Zen feeling when I'm deep into it. Both of these quilts would be good candidates for an absorbing day of piecing. So easy, yet so visually inviting.

It's here!

2010-02-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

I'm happy! And from the email congratulations I've been getting, many other people are happy with The Quilt Life too. If you haven't gotten yours yet, hold on, it's almost there. In the magazine, I promised you a photo of the "Happy Goat with the Bulging Belly" and here it is. I know that if you've just gotten your TQL you may not have had a chance to read it yet, but in Alex's article "Sparked by a taste for faraway places," she mentions the goat with the bulging belly that she saw on her vacation to Door County, Wisconsin. The goat was scheduled to have a photo in the article, too, until he got "bumped" by the chicken. I couldn't bear to have him disappear altogether because it's a unique sight, so here he (or she) is.
Yes, it's quite a tubby little goat. It's standing on the roof of Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant in the heart of downtown Sister Bay, Wisconsin. Al's has been there for 60 years, but it wasn't until a 1973 renovation that grass became part of the roof, followed by the first goat, Oscar. You can read all about Al's here. Next time I'm in Wisconsin, I'm going there!
Do notice throughout TQL that there are opportunities for you to let us know about people and stories that would fit some of the regular features in the magazine. Celebrities taking questions, suggestions for Ricky and Alex's Cook-off, "unexpected" quilters, and more. The Submission Guidelines are available at TheQuiltLife.com and you can also email us at info@thequiltlife.com. Think outside that box; TQL is about more than making quilts!

10...9...8...

2010-02-07T20:13:00.000-07:00

Countdown! The Quilt Life issue 1 has gone to press! We'll get to see the new baby within the next week. The wait is almost over. I speak for the whole TQL team when I say, "We can hardly wait!"

Look who's writing for The Quilt Life now

2010-01-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

Look who's ________ing now. You can fill in the blank with many different verbs and this comment still makes sense. Have you ever said, "Look who's quilting now" when you were surprised to find that someone you know is a quilter? I'm happy to tell you that Meg Cox will be writing a regular feature in The Quilt Life about that very thing: the unexpected quilters among us. Not only is Meg (that's her in the photo) an experienced writer who has been a reporter for the Wall Street Journal; she's also the author of The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide and a quilter in her own right. The feature in TQL is called "Look Who's Quilting Now." I don't know how she does it, but she can find a quilter anywhere. That skill must come from being a curious journalist who knows how to find a good story.
Next time you say, "Look who's quilting now," hold that thought long enough to email it to meg@megcox.com. With well over 27 million quilters in the U.S., there must be tons of tales to tell about unexpected quilters. Be on the lookout for them.

Facebook Farmers, Merry Band Members, and Celebrity Queries

2010-01-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

Little did I know that we'd be buried in submissions from the FarmVille/Farm Town farmers. Thank you everybody! The comments were a treat to read, too. You'll see the fruits of the harvest in issue 2 of The Quilt Life (June 2010).
If you were planning to submit one question to Eleanor Burns, also for issue 2, you missed your chance, but shortly, we'll have three more quilting celebrities lined up for future issues and you will be able to submit your questions to them. If you have any suggestions for celebrities you'd like us to invite to be the "Answerer", you can post your comment here or send your suggestion to info@thequiltlife.com.
What fun it has been to hear about the Merry Bands of Quilters. You all epitomize the best about the quilt life--creativity, sharing, having fun, and building lasting, loyal friendships. Are any of you planning to travel as a group to the AQS Paducah Show and Contest this year? Or the new AQS show in Lancaster in March?

Merry Band of Quilters

2010-01-07T13:24:00.002-07:00

Show season is approaching quickly. I've started making my travel plans already, starting with the very first AQS Lancaster Show, March 24–27. If you're planning to go, stop by The Quilt Life booth. I'd love to meet you and hear your ideas for articles in The Quilt LIfe. By that time, the first issue (April 2010) will be out and you can let us know how you like it. Better yet, how much you love it!

One thing that I often see at the large quilt shows that makes me smile is a group of friends traveling together, enjoying their quilt life together, a merry band of quilters you might say. It's obvious they are together; they may be wearing identical patchwork vests, or a particular hat, or sewn and embellished name badges that match (I've been meaning to make my own embellished name badge for years; it's on my to-do list).

These groups of quilt fans are soooo representative of the quilt life and therefore, perfect subject matter for The Quilt Life. If you are part of a Merry Band of Quilters (does your group have a name for itself?), click here to tell me a little about it, in 100 words or less, putting Merry Band of Quilters in the subject line. Your group could be featured in an upcoming issue!

Calling all FarmVille Fans

2010-01-03T10:33:00.001-07:00

Does your farm take the form of a quilt pattern? If so, you may get your farm published in The Quilt Life! We're looking for particularly quilty FarmVille creations. Hurry, the deadline to submit is January 15th! Information on how to capture your farm and how to submit it to TQL is here. Please tell all your quilting FarmVille neighbors too.

Workmanship survey results

2009-12-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here is the breakdown in percentages for the Workmanship survey:
Saving time most important, 20%.
Saving fabric most important, 2%.
Accuracy most important, 77%!

Happy New Year! May you find all the time you desire in the new year to make quilts, and may they be all be perfect. And if they are, send TQL photos!

Workmanship matters

2009-12-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

You surprised me! The survey about what's most important to you--saving time, saving fabric, or improving accuracy--showed that an overwhelming majority of you were concerned about your workmanship most of all. We tend to call the shortcut techniques "timesavers" but that doesn't paint an accurate picture of why we love them. More than three quarters of survey respondents valued workmanship most, and I have to count myself part of that group, too. Yes, saving time is important for those of us who have to work hard to carve out a time for quilting as often as possible. For me, saving fabric has value too, especially because I make scrap quilts. But when I want my patchwork to come out the way I envision it, that's what I want, and I will stand for nothing less. Accuracy matters.

Merry Christmas and Happy Winter

2009-12-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

As if we needed a reminder that winter was upon us! The last week has brought a snowy panic to travelers all over the U.S. In Denver, it means a white Christmas, which doesn't happen as often as you might think. The white part is good; the single-digit temperatures not so fun but definitely picturesque. Like the teeny tiny town of Cuchara in the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado. Last month, The Quilt Life's art director Joyce Robinson joined me on a trip down to La Veta for a photo shoot with Ricky Tims for our first issue. We were on the hunt for a suitable setting for a photograph of Alex Anderson's darling little quilt Love Letters, a pattern in issue 1. And we found the perfect spot in Cuchara.

This isn't it, but this view is right across the street from where we shot Alex's quilt. The town itself is only one block long! Very rustic with gorgeous views. When the issue comes out, you'll get another, and an unusual, view of this street corner with Alex's quilt in it. It took a few tries before we found the perfect setting. Below, Joyce (left) and I holding up the quilt for Ricky's approval (didn't get it at this site). We weren't exactly dressed for the cold and snow, but whatever it takes to get the best photo for our readers, we're game.

Take a look at the Table of Contents for the first issue now posted on the TQL website to get a closer look at Alex's quilt.

Merry Christmas from all of us at The Quilt Life. May you spend it enjoying the warmth of family and friends.

Choosing between time and fabric

2009-12-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

In the first issue of The Quilt Life, two of the techniques recommended involve saving time and improving accuracy. One is the Fast Forty-Five technique used, for example, in making a Snowball block. For the pattern Burnished Chintz in the issue, lots of Snowball blocks must be made. The other technique is shown in the article "One-Seam Flying Geese." Both are quick and easy, and for me, way more accurate. But there is wasted fabric when you cut squares in place of triangles. Not a lot, but it adds up. The same is true for paper piecing. Just about everyone agrees that blocks are considerably more accurate, but that method does waste considerably more fabric than traditional piecing.
So what's more important to you: saving time or saving fabric? I think I can guess which will win out with today's quilters, but I've been proved wrong before. Please take a moment to answer the mini-survey to the right. Thanks!

More to look forward to

2009-12-16T10:15:00.001-07:00

I'm revisiting the decision to tell you just a wee little bit about The Quilt Life's inaugural issue. I don't want to be a tease, so here's a little more of what you can look forward to. There's an impressive array of features, a couple by Alex, and Ricky, Judith Baker Montano (I find her work fascinating and beautiful), and the team of Elizabeth Scott (Late Bloomer Quilts) and Pam Vieira-McGinnis (pamkittymorning.blogspot.com). Melody Crust shares a favorite technique that has been keeping her occupied recently: making little embellished quilts, and I mean little! Three inches by four inches is a typical size, and they are fun to make.
One of the regular features is the Cook-off. Rather than just giving you a look at Ricky and Alex's favorite dishes, we've injected a little competition into the mix. Friendly competition, that is. You're invited to try each recipe and then vote for your favorite at TheQuiltLife.com. And to make it even more interesting, like a quilt challenge, the Cook-off has a theme. In issue 1, it's "Go green." That gets your imagination going, doesn't it? Do you have any suggestions for future Cook-off themes? We've gathered a big list for the future already, but if there's something in particular you'd like to see covered, please do let me know. Aha! There's another one for the list: "covered dishes" for potluck events!

Countdown to Issue 1

2009-12-07T22:37:00.003-07:00

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.

Welcome to The Quilt Life Blog

2009-11-20T15:02:00.003-07:00

Hello and welcome to the new Blog for The Quilt Life, the new subscription magazine by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson, published by the American Quilter's Society. Click here to subscribe today at the special introductory price of $20.00, through December 31, 2009.