Quilting...for The Rest Of Us

In this episode, I talk about some software and electronic gadgets that I find extraordinarily helpful in my quilt life. For Quilt Album software: http://www.quiltalbum.com/ Quilter's FabriCalc Electric Quilt Digital scrapbooking sites I mention: http://www.designerdigitals.com/ http://www.scrapgirls.com Directions for Potholders - Coasters - ornaments (from Barbara via Carolyn--editorial notes are Carolyn's) 1.  Cut 5 squares 1/2 inch larger than you want the finished item to be.  (in my case, I went by the size of the scraps available)  i.e. 7 1/2 for a 7" potholder (cut 1 of batting, if using) 2.  Fold 4 squares in half. 3.  Lay out in this order: 1.  batting 2.  whole square right side up 3.  Folded squares with fold toward the center 4.  Weave folded squares and pin in place. 5.  Sew around the outside of the item 6.  Trim corners diagonally 7.  Turn to right side.

In this episode, Hollis Chatelaine describes her initiative, Imagine Hope, a special exhibition featuring her art quilts and the work of photographers on global issues such as poverty, war, refugees, environmental justice, and much more. The exhibit is extremely moving, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with Hollis a little bit about her process, her quilts, and Imagine Hope's role in bringing people to awareness and action. (Following the interview, my usual announcements, listener comments, and Sandy update.) Hollis Chatelaine (right) and Leslie Genszler, vice president of the Imagine Hope team. (Also a wonderful person to talk to--I just didn't get it recorded!) For more information about Imagine Hope, visit www.imaginehopeworldwide.org and on Facebook. For Hollis Chatelaine's textile arts, visit www.hollisart.com, and on Facebook. See the "Do Good" page on this blog for information about the Imagine Hope shop--a great place for gifts (for others or for yourself!) that support this p

I was so happy to have the chance to meet and talk with Amy Milne, executive director of The Alliance for American Quilts, about the AAQ's "Quilter' S.O.S.--Save Our Stories" project. This is a great oral history documentation project capturing thousands of quilters stories; sort of my "quilters like the rest of us" interviews on steroids! I loved having this conversation and I'm sure you'll love meeting and listening to Amy as well. For more information about The Alliance for American Quilts, visit www.allianceforamericanquilts.org.

"Our mission is to create inspiring cultural works that provide sustainable income and well-deserved development opportunities for African women & girls." (Mission statement of BabaBlankets) I was introduced to BabaBlankets at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this month where they had a vendor booth. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce them to you as well! E. Aminata Brown, founder and designer of BabaBlankets, was able to take a few minutes out of her busy day to talk with me about the work of BabaBlankets in Ghana. Below: Aminata Brown (left) of BabaBlankets with me in front of her booth at Houston. Photo courtesy Broderick Webb. For more information, shopping, and their bricks-n-mortar store in New Orleans, visit www.babablanket.com. To listen to Allison's "Within a Quarter Inch" podcast interview with listener Tami about printing photos on fabric:  http://withinaquarterinch.blip.tv/file/2765570/

In part two, I describe the lectures that I attended at the International Quilt Festival in Houston: Kaffe Fassett, Hollis Chatelaine, Marti Michell, Hanne Wellendorf, Mary Sorenson, and Elly Sienkeiwicz. Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, and his website Hollis Chatelain's website Marti Michell's website Hanne Wellendorf's website (If this link doesn't take you directly to the English version, click on "English" in the bottom left hand corner.) Mary Sorenson's website Elly Sienkeiwicz's website

I'm going to divide my reflections on my experience at the International Quilt Festival in Houston last weekend into a couple of different episodes or they'd be too long to upload! In this "Part 1" episode, I talk about why you should go to such events, and a few tips if you do. I also share a few tidbits of my experience along the way--such as meeting a very helpful Australian and a pretty neat person who grew up an hour from me! There are also just a few listener comments at the end--I'm dividing those up among the episodes I post this week. Part 2 will be posted in another couple of days.

As a follow-up to last week's episode and my journey with my family quilts, in this episode I share my very strong opinion that y'all ought to be documenting your quilts! I give some thoughts about the whys, whats, and hows of documentation, and a very important tip about quilt labels. Don't forget about the holiday challenge!

Welcome to episode 26, in which I talk about the antique quilts I inherited from my mother, and what it taught me about fabric and family. For photos of the quilts discussed in this episode, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/39296555@N06/sets/72157625099928783/with/5108190746/

There it is, sitting in your sewing box...or perhaps in a drawer in your sewing cabinet...or maybe under the couch after a kid or pet got at it...your thimble. Have you thought much about the august heritage of this mundane tool? In this episode, we discuss the history of thimbles, some tips for collecting, information about using thimbles (including listeners' favorites), and how to find a thimble that fits. Plus, "quilters like the rest of us" interview with Fran, listener comments, and a Sandy update. My family heritage in thimbles, displayed in the printer's drawer from my BFF/BQF Kate: For a couple of additional pictures, visit my blog. (I like Podbean for so many things, but hate the way it deals with multiple pictures!)

Welcome to episode 24 and my interview with Patricia Smith, a member of my guild and all around history buff. Pat is self-educated in the world of quilts and quilt history, and serves as a consultant with her Civil War reenactment group to make sure they have quilts representing the right period of history on their cots. Pat and I also talk about her Dear Jane quilt progress, and her theories about the underground railroad quilts. Have fun listening in on the conversation! Pat's Quilt (taken with my cell phone while it was laid out on the floor at our retreat--sorry about the quality!) Mentioned in the episode: Batavia Quilt Guild's "Stitches in Time" Show, Oct. 15 and 16, featuring George Siciliano: http://museumquiltguild.blogspot.com for more information.

This is the audio-only version of this episode. In episode 23, I share the process and learnings from the folks who have participated in both of my creativity challenges to date: Frances, Virginia, Lynn, Jackie, Jill, and Darla. If you are listening to the audio version, you will want to visit the Quilting...for the Rest of Us Flickr group to see the photos from both challenges. (The link is in the menu on the right-hand side of this page.)

Our topic for this episode is teaching kids how to quilt. We have two interviews and all sorts of input from listeners--great stuff! Our first interview is another installment in the "quilters like the rest of us" interview series. Last May, I interviewed Jan from my guild, and we ended up talking about kids n' quilting, so I had already earmarked it for this episode. The second interview is with Lynn, a long-time listener, about "Aunt Lynn's Sewing School." Lynn had responded to my question in BigTent about teaching kids to quilt with a great email all about Aunt Lynn's Sewing School, and I just had to follow that up with a conversation. (Thanks, Lynn!) In this episode, I also share other great input from listeners about their experiences in teaching kids to quilt plus some resources you might want to check out. Mentioned in this episode: Kids Start Quilting with Alex Anderson (C&T Publishing, 2002) "Quilting with Kids" at  http://www.thecraftstudio.com/qwc/index.htm Maria Peagler,  http://quiltsandc

In this week's episode, I talk about the invasion of UFOs into the average quilter's studio. We'll talk about reasons why you should deal with your UFOs, how to decide which UFOs are worth finishing (or, at least, are worth you finishing), how to motivate yourself to deal with your UFOs, and what to do when you just don't want to deal with some of your UFOs at all. Don't forget the deadline for the summer creativity challenge is Monday, September 6th, at midnight (whenever midnight falls in your part of the world!). I'm looking forward to seeing your responses!

Another, but this time unexpected, brief hiatus in the life of the "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" podcast series when my son ended up in the hospital with a ruptured appendix. He's home from the hospital now and life is slowly getting back to normal. In this episode, I respond to listener comments, share a little bit about my first foray into Hawaiian quilting, a major math error, and the international quilting scene.

Here it is! The long-awaited Hawaiian Quilting episode! I had the opportunity to interview Anne Fujiwara, a designer and teacher of traditional Hawaiian quilting, in her shop, "Anne's Hawaiian Quilts" in Waikiki on Oahu. I also talk about visiting a couple of quilt shops, do an audio "show n' tell" of my purchases, and give a few resource suggestions for learning more about Hawaiian quilting.   Anne Fujiwara of "Anne's Hawaiian Quilts" in front of her sampler quilt. (For other pictures of her shop and the Sew Simple shop in Maui, visit my blog.)                   Other links from the show: Jaye's blog entry about how to tag photos in Flickr to your blog reader:  http://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2010/06/odds-and-ends-thurday/ Denise in PA's blog in which she tells her story of a quilt that almost didn't get finished:  http://mylifeinquilts.blogspot.com For information about Anne's Hawaiian Quilt shop and Sew Simple in Maui, visit the "Shops" page (use the tab at the top of this page).  

Do you consider your quilting "art," "craft," or "hobby?" In this episode, I reference a conversation that I started in BigTent about how we view our own quilting. I explore what the words "hobby," "craft," and "art" mean to me and my own evolution in how I view my quilting. Then I invite you to ponder your own response to that question! Referenced in this episode: Great Sets: 7 Roadmaps to Spectacular Quilts, by Sharyn Craig Quilting Gallery (where I'm the currently featured Guest Blogger) The "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" subgroup of the QuiltCast Supergroup in BigTent. Subscribe using the link on the right of this page!

Have you ever had a quilt that just works your very last nerve from beginning to end of the project? Listen in as I spin my own tale of woe and redemption! In this episode, I describe a quilt that I made and experienced several junctures at which I hit a wall--then how I turned those walls into design opportunities. Sign up for my new free, monthly e-newsletter! The companion e-newsletter to the podcast series will include additional product reviews, tips, and links to additional goodness for your quilty pleasure. Spread the word--you don't have to be a listener to enjoy the newsletter; and, as always, you can send in your own tips and reviews to share! (The link lives permanently in the right-hand menu of this page.) Items I mention in the episode: Setting Solutions by Sharyn Craig Sensational Sets and Borders, Rodale's Successful Quilting Library Jodi Barrow's Square in a Square Method Photos of the quilt in the episode will be posted in my Quilting...for the Rest of Us blog.

Join me for a great conversation with Tara Thom, an award-winning long-arm quilter! Tara and I talk about why someone might want to avail themselves of the services of a long-arm quilter, how to prepare your quilt for the service, how to find a long-arm quilter and considerations to make in choosing who to work with. Additionally, Tara shares her own experience about going into business for herself and some things to think about if you have dreams about becoming a professional long-arm quilter yourself. (With apologies for a delay because I've been down with a respiratory flu, I'm finally posting this week's episode a few days late. Sorry! Still recovering, but I have high hopes that this coming week's episode will be posted on schedule.)

Do you have problems deciding how much fabric to buy when you're buying without a specific project in mind? Join the club! In this episode, I share the habits I have developed over the years as well as some suggestions for ways you can figure out the best amount of fabric that would work for you. I also introduce the new creativity challenge! Check out the tab at the top of this page, "Creativity Challenge," for the new photo, plus guidelines and the deadline. Get your friends to play along! Sherry mentioned in her comment to episode 13 the "Empty Spools Seminar." You can get information about the seminar at www.emptyspoolsseminars.com.

In this week's episode, I share the results of the creativity challenge! After our "Quilters Like the Rest of Us" interview with Kathy and some listener comments and updates about what I have going on in my own quilty life, I talk about the responses I received for the creativity challenge. Then I walk through the process I took in my own response to the creativity challenge. In my explanation, I also deal with working with Lutradur, printing photos on fabric, matching sewing machine needles to specialized needs, and couching. For photos of the creativity challenge, visit the Quilting...for the Rest of Us blog. Links shared in the episode: "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" Facebook page Patsy Thompson Designs Nine Patch Media (Anna's suggested source for quilting DVDs) Strip Clubbing (the book which has the "State of Grace" pattern)