So you are thinking about making a new quilt.

Do you sit down with pad in hand and begin sketching? Do you break out the graph paper and ruler?  Do you turn on your computer and let it rip?

OR...do you break out the fabric, and let it rip?

Are you a planner, or a make-it-up as you go kind of quilter?

Submit a comment, and let TQS know your process for getting that new quilt off the ground and up onto your design wall.

Here's just a little taste of St. Patrick's Day goodness from our TQS members.  All of these quilts can be found in the TQS Quilt Gallery.

If you'd like to learn more about the stories of the individual quilts or their makers, click here for the Quilt Gallery or use the Quilt Gallery button on the navigational bar.  You can then search for quilts by member name, quilt block type, title, etc. using the Advanced Search located under the quilt in the upper right.

If you have Show #106 in your plan you can learn more about the quilts of Denise Labadie, click here for Episode 106 - A Touch of Ireland.

Personalize your own photo slideshow

How do you label your quilt?  Do you run fabric through a printer?  Do you use needlepoint or cross-stitch?  How about embroidery?  And what do you write on your label?  Hopefully at least the name of the quiltmaker, date, and location, but what other information do you provide?  Do you give the story of the quilt?  Submit a comment and let TQS know how you make your label and what it has to say.

Here Judy Matheison put a photo of the original floor upon which she based her quilt, a photo of the computer design, and a photo the the quilt with other pertinent information.

Quilt:  Bristol Stars by Judy Matheison, photographed at the Wente Winery in Livermore, CA.

Congratulations to TQS Member vwarner and TQS Member caroquilt.  Their names were randomly drawn to win the Kaleidoscope Kreator 3 and Favorite Projects Vol. 2 from Kaleidoscope Collections in this week's Weekend Fun contest. 

To see Jeanie demonstrate making kaleidoscope cards, watch her in TQS Epsiode 507 "Great Gifts".

If you plan on visiting the AQS show in Lancaster, March 24 - 27, be sure to see Jeanie and Kaleidoscope Collections: Booth #3403.

To see the complete line from Kaleidoscope Collections, click here.

The Forum is being updated.  We will soon be able to flock together again.

After the new version is up and running we will learn the new features.

In the meantime, what quilty thing are you doing today?

Congratulations to TQS Member martam.  Her name was randomly drawn to win the $50 Gift Certificate from Superior Threads in last week's Weekend Fun contest.  In case you missed it, Bob the Thread Guy has a really informative video all about metallic thread.  To watch Bob's video, click here or click the photo below.  

For more information on Superior Threads, please visit their website: click here.

Thank you Superior Threads for being a Proud Sponsor of The Quilt Show.com!

Photo by John Anderson

Join us in Episode 606, as award-winning quilter Philippa Naylor takes us on a journey of her quilting career as well as sharing the secrets for creating show stopping trapunto work.  From Lingerie designer to multiple ribbon winner with her quilts, Philippa's work and attention to detail are certain to command your attention.  To watch the show click here.   

Have you been watching the Bernina Educational Videos?  Well if you haven't, now is the time as we feature the top three videos as selected by our TQS members.  After viewing all three, can you guess which one is the #1 Bernina video on the TQS site?

In Video 309 - Sashiko by Machine, the dynamic duo of Nina McVeigh and Susan Beck demonstrate how to create a form of Japanese quilting known as Sashiko.  Click here to watch the stitches form.

In Video 310 - Dynamic Double Blanking Stitching. The duo demonstrates how a basic hand sewing technique, the blanket stitch, can be replicated with great panache on a Bernina machine.  The results are amazing.  Click here to follow along.

In Video 313 - Straight Stitch with Guides - our lovely team of instructors show how using guides,  you can consistently maintain your 1/4" seam allowance, as well as other size seam allowances depending on your needs. Click here to learn how to achieve that perfect seam allowance.

To view all the Bernina Videos, just click on the Click to Watch Videos under the Bernina logo on the left side of your screen or click here.

Nancy Halpern has a degree from Berkeley and has studied at Radcliffe and the Boston Architectural Center. She has taught quiltmaking around the world for over twenty years and has been exhibited around the world as well.  Archipelago was the first work commissioned by the New England Quilter's Guild.  It is hand pieced and hand quilted in an undulating pattern that echoes the movement of the ocean.  Her original design features the houses and trees on the islands off the coast of Maine where Nancy lives.

Archipelago, 1983
96" x 74.5"
Cotton, cotton blends

We made the puzzle a little bit tougher this time.  Have fun!

halpernarchipelago1 - 60 pieces non-rotating

halpernarchipelago2 - 40 pieces rotating

Your 1st Way to Win:  Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero brings you an exciting and easy way to make fabulous designs using your own photos with her Kaleidoscope Collections "Kaleidoscope Kreator 3".  And this weekend, Jeanie is giving away the "Kaleidscope Kreator 3" and "Favorite Projects Vol. 2" to TWO lucky TQS members.  

To enter to win, send an email to jeanieteaches@thequiltshow.com and type "Printing Photos" in the subject line.  Two (2) people will win.  Contest ends Monday, March 15, 2010 at midnight PST.  And Jeanie will ship internationally, anyone can win!

Your 2nd Way to Win Coming Soon:  A new TQS class - "Printing Photos on Fabric" with Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero. 

TQS has found that many quilters have figured out how to print on fabric, but most haven't.  We approached Jeanie and asked "can you make thiseasy for everyone to understand so they can do it themselves?" The result is a new TQS class that takes you from the camera to the computer to printing on fabric to your own pillow.  this is going to be a fun class and you will have a gift for yourself or a loved one when you are done.

If you are planning to attend the AQS Show in Lancaster, PA, March 24th - 27th, be sure to visit the Kaleidoscipe Collections booth for a demonstration of the KK3.  For more information, please visit Kaleidoscope Collections website by clicking here.

Patsy also shares tips on what type of threads to use to best highlight your designs and demonstrates a simple trapunto method to make your applique stand out. 

Quilters have many ways to express their feelings and creativity.  It's fun to see how they do this through their license plates, frames, and modes of transportation as they move from quilt shop to quilt show and back again.

Get your motor running and see what our TQS members have to say as they travel on their way.

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