Maynard by David Taylor

Quilting Meets the Olympics 
A recent addition to David Taylor's quilted barnyard series is Maynard (shown above). There really is a bulldog named Maynard, and he is owned by none other than Johnny Spillane, the silver medalist in Nordic Combined for the US Olympic Ski team at the on-going Vancouver Olympics.

" I was introduced to Winter Olympian Johnny Spillane by his wife, Hilary.  Hilary and I had worked together at Steamboat Design Associates here in Steamboat Springs prior to me becoming a full-time quilter.  As Hilary and I have mutual friends, we started socializing outside of the office.  I had also worked with Johnny's mother, Nancy, and we had become fast friends.  When Johnny and Hilary moved into their new home on their property just south of town, their dogs really enjoyed the open space!  Hilary, a budding photographer, had snapped this photo of Maynard one very snowy day.  When I saw the picture, I knew I had to turn it into a "dog" quilt. 

Well, here it is.  Over the past year or so, I have gotten to know Johnny Spillane as just "Johnny", - a super nice guy, a terrific cook, and a good cribbage player.  We are all thrilled beyond words to see Johnny racing to the finish line during the Nordic Combined events at the Vancouver Olympics.  What a moment in history!" 

To see how David builds his amazing quilts, watch Episode 406 here.

Table Runner Contest Ends Soon!                                      

This is your last chance to enter the TQS Table Runner Contest.  Don't miss out on this great opportunity to win some CASH for your original work.  The contest ends on March 1, 2010.  We will announce the top three winners the next day in the Newsletter and Daily Blog.  For all the contest rules, click here.

Crazy Rooster by TQS member MrsMoen

Tip of the Week:  It's In the Bag
Let's face it. Most quilters work on LOTS of projects simultaneously, and keeping things orderly can sometimes be a challenge. TQS member buickjim uses zip-closure bags to store pre-cut  as well as completed blocks for each project.  He then adds a sticky note with information about the bag contents to the inside of the bag.  That way the note does not get lost...AND he is able to reuse the bag when he finishes the project. Thanks for the great tip, buickjim!  If you have a tip to share, send it to us here.

Parkinson's Disease: Make a Panel for a Cure!

Support the fight against Parkinson's disease by adding your own personalized panel to the Parkinson's Quilt. The Parkinson's Quilt Project is the first global quilt project to focus the world's attention on the nearly one million people in the US and more than 4.1 millon people worldwide living with Parkinson's disease (PD).

The quilt will consist of 2' x 2' panels made by individuals and groups affected by Parkinson's. The individual panels will be joined into 8-foot sections.

The Parkinson's Quilt will be displayed for the first time at the 2nd World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, from September 28 - October 1, 2010.  For more information about the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and this project, click here.

Check it Out: Gammill Magnetic Pin Catcher
Keep your pins and other small metal tools from wandering as you work with this handy magnetic dish from Gammill.  The magnet is so strong, that the dish even will attach securely to your longarm quilting frame. Now that's handy! To find this and other great quilting notions, visit the Shoppe here.