Episode 401 – Playing With Angles (Margaret Miller)
It’s a whole “New Angle” on the familiar Four-Patch block as popular teacher, author, and quilt artist Margaret Miller demonstrates her nifty new tool. Alex and Ricky continue the theme by turning the Four Patch and the Nine Patch block “on its ear.” Finally, Bob Purcell (Thread Guy) shares his expertise on choosing the best needle for machine quilting. Don’t miss this fabulous kickoff to the New Year at TQS!

Posts on January 05, 2009

Episode 402 – Quilting to Perfection (Sue Nickels)
Mega award-winning quiltmaker Sue Nickels is renowned in the quilting world for her outstanding raw-edge appliqué and awesome machine quilting. How does she do it? Learn how in this episode as she shares her techniques for precise and enhanced stitchery. Watch as Sue gets a chance to play with the new Bernina 830. In addition, Gregory Case (Photo Man) suggests options for self-publishing, and the bottomless TQS Treasure Chest reveals “favorite things” for every quilter’s home studio.

Posts on January 19, 2009

Episode 403 – It's All About Kaleidoscopes (Ricky Tims)
You wanted to know how Ricky Tims got his start. So, join Ricky as he charts the journey from his quilting roots to his current artistry. See his special “bargain basement sale fabrics” quilt. In this show you will peek over his shoulder as he designs a Kaleidoscope quilt. What does Ricky do with a printer that is bigger than an ironing board? He creates stunning art prints. Finally, enjoy a special Kaleidoscope video showcasing quilts from Ricky’s students.

Posts on February 02, 2009

Episode 404 – Paying Attention to the Details (Elly Sienkiewicz)
Legendary Baltimore Album appliqué artist and historian Elly Sienkiewicz demonstrates how to add elegance to your quilted projects with decorative stem-stitch embroidery and crisp dogtooth borders. Follow along as she outlines the construction of a charming case for storing and transporting individual blocks. Learn how to care for your quilts and other heirlooms with Bunny’s suggestions from the TQS Treasure Chest. To complete the hour, Alex offers a lesson on using fabric selection to make your quilt come alive.

Posts on February 16, 2009

Episode 405 – Quilting in the "Green" (Valori Wells)
We are all doing our part to “go green”…and the quilting community is no exception. Quiltmaker, author, and fabric designer Valori Wells shows how to make a quick-and-easy, reusable fabric grocery tote, and—as a bonus—shares other “quilty” items, such as coverlets and stuffed animals, that you can create to enhance your home or to give as gifts. To continue the “green” theme, Bunny digs into the TQS Treasure Chest and comes up with a variety of eco-friendly products for quilters. Finally, check out Ricky’s technique for adding lush texture to your quilts with bobbin trapunto work.

Posts on March 02, 2009

Episode 406 – Following the Artist's Process (David Taylor)
We feel especially lucky to bring quilt artist David Taylor to the attention of the TQS family. If you’ve been to any of the major quilt shows recently, you’ve probably stood before his work in awe. In this episode, David brings his current “work in progress” to discuss and demonstrate the development, techniques, and fabrics he uses to create his award-winning quilts. Also not to be missed: the always-welcome Thread Guy, Bob Purcell, gives you a handy guide to troubleshoot your thread problems.

Posts on March 16, 2009

Episode 407 – Precision…and Pizzazz (Elsie Campbell)
Do your Eight-Pointed Star blocks “tent” in the center? Is a button your solution for mismatched center seams? If so, this is definitely the show for you! Join master quiltmaker and author Elsie Campbell as she demonstrates her award-winning techniques and favorite tools for achieving pieced perfection with this problematic block. In addition, Alex shows how focusing on a simple traditional shape—in this case, the half-square triangle—can add pizzazz to your quilt. And—you’ll love this!!—Gregory Case (Photo Man) takes us on a nostalgic and fun-filled photo journey of TQS history.

Posts on March 30, 2009

Episode 408 – All About Neutrals (Alex Anderson)
Ricky had his turn and now we feature Alex Anderson. Discover the charm and elegance of quilts made exclusively with neutral fabrics from Alex, who’s made all-neutral quilts for years, and has even written a book about them! Along the way, she shares bits and pieces of her quilting history, demonstrates the Daisy Chain block, reveals “What in the world is a crumb catcher?”…and shows you how to make one. Follow along as TQS ventures beyond the La Veta studio to visit the quilters of the Mother’s Guild of Boys Town in Omaha, NE.

Posts on April 13, 2009

Episode 409 – Crazy for Quilts (Cindy Brick)
Are you crazy for crazy quilts... or think you might be? You won’t want to miss quiltmaker and author Cindy Brick as she takes you on an “up-close and personal” look at the history of this unique style of quilting using quilts from her own collection. Cindy also shares how to create your own crazy-quilt block using a variety of luscious fabrics and embellishments. Ricky invites an audience member to help him design a quilt block “from the outside in,” and entertains and inspires with the flute piece, “Drum Circle,” from his Sacred Age CD.

Posts on April 27, 2009

Episode 410 – Feathers, Pickles, and Gifts (John Flynn)
“Big doings” in this episode: popular quiltmaker and teacher John Flynn is on hand for the presentation of “The Give-a-Way Quilt” he pieced and quilted to honor the traditions of the Native American tribes in his area of Montana. In addition, John shares his techniques and tips for piecing the Pickle Dish block. As a special treat for machine aficionados, Ricky demonstrates how to create lushly textured trapunto feathers. Then we’re “on the road again” for a visit to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Posts on May 11, 2009

Episode 411 – Quilting to Aid Others (Elise Roberts/Sandra Dallas)
Quilters are a generous group. To honor that tradition, special guest and author Elise Roberts traces the history of social actions by quilters in the United States. You will learn how to create a quilted banner to spotlight your group’s service or fundraising event. Alex and Ricky “pick up the thread” by sharing how today’s quilters have responded to recent tragedies. In a related segment, TQS visits the “Home of the Brave Project” in Davenport, IA, part of a nationwide group making quilts for families that have lost service members in war. Finally, our visit with popular novelist Sandra Dallas (The Persian Pickle Dish and The Quilt that Walked to Golden) at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is not to be missed!

Posts on May 25, 2009

Episode 412 – Machine Ribbon Embroidery (Susan Schrempf)
The results are so amazing, you’ll think the work was done by hand…but it’s not! Watch special guest Susan Schrempf show how easy it is to create beautiful flowers on the sewing machine using silk ribbon and simple embroidery stitches. Then pillows take the spotlight, as Alex demonstrates how to transform a UFO block into a quick-and-easy pillow, and our TQS crew heads to Racine, WI for a field piece on “The Pillowcase Queens” who are making thousands of pillowcases for our troops overseas.

Posts on June 08, 2009

Episode 413 – Easy, Fast-Pieced Applique (Rose Hughes/Clare O'Donohue)
We wrap up Series 4 with not one, but two special guests! Rose Hughes discusses how she designs her quilts using photos, and shares a technique for creating quilted landscapes using her “fast-pieced” appliqué method. Then author Clare O’Donohue tells Alex about her new mystery novel, The Lover’s Knot. To “finish” things up neatly, Alex shows how to make a scalloped-edge binding, and Bunny pulls great gifts for your favorite quilter from the trusty TQS Treasure Chest.

Posts on June 22, 2009