Super Seminar A Hit in Glens Falls, New York

The Ricky Tims Super Seminar in Glens Falls, NY was a great success! Over 670 dedicated quilters came to hear Ricky, Alex, and Libby share tips, approaches to quilting, shortcuts, and stories. The local paper, The Glen Falls Post-Star, even reported on the event. To read the story, Click Here.

Detail of "Flora Bella" by Annie Smith Photo by Gregory Case

Chat w/ Annie Smith
Annie Smith, our guest in Episode 209, will be our "Featured Guest" in the chat room on May 7, 2008, at 5:00pm Pacific/8:00pm Eastern. Annie will share more tips on how to make successful fabric choices when faced with all the temptations at the fabric store, and also how to improve your accuracy and precision when piecing your quilts. Join us for an hour of great fun--and remember: if you can't join us in "real time," you can always read the transcript of the chat. Just click on Chat Transcripts and select Annie Smith-Fabric Selection/Piecing Tips. To watch Annie's Episode, click here.

"Double Wedding Band" by Lorraine Olsen

Paducah Museum Quilts Now Online

The Museum of the American Quilter's Society (MAQS) is always a must-see destination for quilters who come to Paducah, KY for the big AQS quilt show in April. The core of the permanent collection consists of prize-winning quilts from the annual show, and while it's exciting to visit these quilts--and the other special exhibits on display--in person, not everyone can travel to Paducah, and the quilts aren't all on display at any one time. Starting now, you can view them all, 24 hours a day, at the Quilt Index online.

The Quilt Index, a database of historical and contemporary quilts run in partnership by the nonprofit Alliance for American Quilts with Michigan State University Museum and MATRIX: Center for Humane Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences Online, is currently adding 25 major quilt collections to its archives.

One of the outstanding works in the MAQS collection is the quilt shown above. Double Wedding Band by Lorraine Olsen is part of the museum's collection of miniature quilts. Amazing as it seems, this tiny masterpiece measures just 12" by 10 1/4"! "This is a happy example of what a true miniature is: not just a small quilt, but one made to scale," says Judy Schwender, the museum's curator of collections. Go to the Quilt Index to see more of the MAQS collection, including your favorite past winners at the Paducah show!

Speaking of small quilts: come to the website of the Alliance for American Quilts to enter the My Quilts/Our History contest. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the AAQ is seeking quilts that are 15" square and illustrate the maker's personal quilt history. Deadline is July 15, 2008.

"If Wishes Came True" by Sandytn

Make a Memory Quilt
Too often we pack away clothes that we cherish, either special garments from our own childhood or those belonging to a family member. Instead, why not use some of this cherished clothing to create a memory quilt to display and enjoy?

Sandytn's friend was having difficulty parting with the clothes her five-year-old son had outgrown, so Sandytn suggested using them to create a quilt. When the friend mentioned that her son wished that dinosaurs would return, a quilt theme was born. By using the "donated" clothes, Sandytn was able to create a quilt that both mother and son love. To read the entire story, click here.

"Red Hot Macaroni"

A Gift For Mother's Day
This coming weekend, we celebrate Mother's Day in the US and in various countries around the world. Why not surprise your Mom with a gift of a stunning "Red Hot Macaroni" quilt kit from the Shoppe? The kit includes all the fabrics needed to make the top and binding. The pattern is based on Susan Cleveland's book Piping Hot Curves, and features fabrics from Timeless Treasures. Show your Mother that she, too, is a "timeless treasure" by ordering the kit and book here.