Hurry!  Ricky Tims' Color Rhapsody Quilt Class Begins June 21 Only 3 Days to Get the Kit and Pattern.

Beat the heat and have some quilting fun by making a Colorful Rhapsody quilt that celebrates the summer! Beginning with the first video lesson on June 21, Ricky will take you through the steps for creating this beautiful quilt.

Note: All participants must have purchased either the pattern or kit on or before June 20. After that date, the pattern and kit will no longer be available.

As an added treat, TQS is opening up Ricky's Create Your Own Rhapsody Quilt - Parts 1 and 2 (Episodes 803 and 804) to everyone from June 18 through September 2.

Fun Japanese Quilt with Cinderella Theme

"Shake It Up" with Carol Doak

Join us in Episode 1213 as quilt artist, prolific author (20 books and counting), and popular teacher Carol Doak meets up with the TQS gang aboard the historic USS Yorktown, now part of the Patriots Point museum complex just east of Charleston, SC.

Considered by many the Queen of Paper Piecing, Carol "shakes things up" with a ton of creative options for flipping, distorting, and otherwise changing up the shape of familiar paper-pieced elements.

Among her revelations: a method that allows you to incorporate paper piecing to size borders for any quilt. We wrap with a tour of our location -- veteran of two wars, the Apollo 8 space mission . . . and two Hollywood movies!

See Carol & Sharon Schamber Membership Special

Continue Our TQS Tour of the Globe - Part 3:  Germany
Join us as we take you on a tour of few lesser-known sights in the German towns of Dresden, Goslar, Herborn, and Wetzlar. Many of these ancient towns feature beautiful and decorative structures that are sure to delight and inspire you.

Here's Another Stash Buster:  Quick-and Easy Luggage Tags
As summer is the time that many of us visit family and friends, we think you'll agree that this week's project is "just the ticket!"

Take a StudioTour:  Helen Gibb

Join TQS as we step inside the studio of Helen Gibb, a silk-ribbon artist whose creative ideas will have you looking at ribbon in a whole new way.

Bonus: beginning June 25, Helen shares a charming vintage postcard project that you can make for yourself or a special friend.

Help Libby Lehman! WIN A Quilt From Alex or Ricky

Happy Father's Day!
To all the dads out there: enjoy a bit of Father's Day silliness, and remember that we love you for all you do!

Shakin' it Up On the Set with Carol Doak

We're wrapping up Season 12 with Carol Doak and a visit to the USS Yorktown, now part of the Patriots Point museum complex just east of Charleston, SC. Considered by many to be the Queen of Paper Piecing, Carol "shakes things up" with a ton of creative options for flipping, distorting, and otherwise changing up the shape of familiar paper-pieced elements.

Carol's episode debuts, Monday, June 17.

The Dream Rocket Project Needs Your Help

The Dream Rocket Project, started in 2009, is a multi-year project whose ultimate goal has been to collect 8,000 artworks and to assemble them to wrap a replica of a Saturn V Moon Rocket, located at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL, for a 60-day exhibition, running from May 1 - June 30, 2014.

Now, however, rather than wrapping the replica, the project organizers are hoping to wrap the REAL Saturn V Moon Rocket instead. They feel it would be awesome (and easier) for viewers to enjoy the art by walking under the entire length of the indoor rocket rather than trying to see it on the outdoor (vertical) replica, which stands 365' tall.

To implement this change of plans, the project needs your help. The change would require engineering drawings, color renderings, a 3D model, and more. In order to defray expenses, they've put the project up on Kickstarter. They're hoping to raise $24,150 by June 23, and that's just a few days away!

TQS Zoom Quilt: Grandma's Big Fish by Kathy I. Adams & Friends
Started in 2010 and finished the following year, Grandma's Big Fish took the prize for Most Humorous Quilt at Road to California 2013. Kathy Adams, Joanne Baeth, Dona Ford, Susan Massini, and Louise Page--all members of the Collective Visions art-quilt group--each made one of the five sections of this original design, which incorporates parts of three photos taken in 1959. Zoom in and enjoy!

Try This Super-Quick Project from Sew It Love It
Planning to while away a few hours this weekend reading that hot summer novel? Why not make yourself a comfy bolster pillow to tuck under your neck for extra support? 

This colorful project comes to us from Ilse at Sew It Love It. You can make it in practically no time at all, and in any size you like. All you need are two contrasting fabrics, pillow filling, and some ribbon.

Betcha can't stop at making just one!

Machine Not Working? This Might Be Why
Recently, Dr. Bob at Superior Threads was asked by a friend to check out her sewing machine, which wasn't working properly. Look what he found!

While the machine looked fine from the outside, the inner parts were covered with lint.

Lint is an accumulation of fluffy fibers. A little bit is to be expected, but you definitely want to prevent this sort of accumulation.

Click on the button below to find out how to care for your machine.

TQS Weekend Puzzle: Morning Rays by Carol Doak

This week's puzzle, Morning Rays, was made by Carol Doak. It's from her lastest book from C&T Publishing, Carol Doak's Creative Combinations: Stunning Blocks & Borders from a Single Unit.

Watch Carol in Episode 1213: "Shake It Up" with the Queen of Paper Piecing, which debuts on Monday, June 17. You can also catch her in Episode 602: Paper Piece Like A Pro.

How YOU Can Help Libby Lehman!

WIN A Quilt From Alex or Ricky

100% of Proceeds Go Directly to the Libby Lehman Medical Fund.

A Note From Ricky & Alex:

Following the medical tragedy of our dear friend Libby Lehman, there has been an outpouring of concern from quilters all over the world asking how they can help. Quilters want to make quilts, but Libby does not need quilts. The kind gesture of making a quilt for Libby and sending it to her will create more challenges than comfort for her and her family, with whom we remain in close communication. Please do not make and send quilts to Libby and her family. Cards and quilted greeting cards are fine.

After weeks of "waiting" to determine the best way we as a quilting community can help, the mission is clear: to raise funds to help offset the staggering costs of medical expenses and rehabilitation expenses. Libby's Medicare is ending soon but the medical expenses will continue for a very long time. We need to raise funds to assist. Outlined below are three ways you can help.  READ ON!

Method One - Enter To Win Ricky's/Alex's Quilt

Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims are each donating a quilt as a fundraiser. Two people's names will be drawn. The first name drawn will have a choice of either quilt. The second name drawn will get the other quilt.

Method Two - Raise Funds With YOUR Quilts

If you have made (or are making) a quilt for Libby, please consider finding a way for that quilt to generate money for the Libby Lehman Medical Fund. Raffle or sell it and then send the money and a picture of the quilt directly to the fund at Libby's sister Cathy's address below (not through the TQS fundraiser address in Method One above).

Better yet, do you have a quilt in your stash that you are willing to sell on Libby's behalf? If so, sell it or raffle it and send the money directly to the Medical Fund at the address below along with a picture of the quilt. This will mean so much to both Libby and her family.There is no immediate deadline for doing this.  The Lehman family will need assistance for a long time ahead.

Please make checks, money orders, and cashier's checks in US Dollars payable to "Libby Lehman Medical Fund" and send them directly to Libby's sister:

Cathy Arnold
2220 Stanmore
Houston, TX 77019

Method Three- Just GIVE!

Follow Libby's progress at www.caringbridge.org/visit/libbylehman and give whenever you can.

The following is from Libby's family: 

            As Libby’s recovery plan is beginning to take shape, it has become clear that this will be a long and unpredictable process. Medicare will only pay for a portion of the cost of the rehab. She does not have an auxiliary policy. The burden of paying for the long-term rehab and care will fall to Libby’s husband, Lester, and the family.

            Thank you to all who have donated to CaringBridge in tribute to Libby.  Although those contributions do not go toward any medical expenses, they have helped to make possible this website communication.

            If you would like to make a much needed contribution toward Libby’s rehab and other extensive medical expenses, it would help ensure that Libby gets the best medical care possible. 

            A bank account has been set up at JPMorgan Chase Bank. The name of the account is the “Libby Lehman Medical Fund.” Checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks (U.S. dollars only) should be made out to “Libby Lehman Medical Fund” and mailed to her sister, Cathy Arnold, 2220 Stanmore, Houston, TX 77019.  Please include your name and address if it is not on the check. If you wish to use an online secure transfer method from any bank (called Chase Quick Pay), please email Cathy’s husband, Bill Arnold, at bill.arnold@rice.edu, and he will provide you with proper instructions.