Quilting...for The Rest Of Us

Have you thought about taking classes and just haven't made the move yet? Have you taken classes but haven't been sure you're getting as much out of them as you'd like to? In this episode, I share my experience--as always, based on mistakes I've made!--in taking classes from a wide variety of sources over the years. Leave your own tips and hints for others in the comments! Check out your local quilt shop for classes being offered! Sources for online classes: Quilt University CraftEdu Annie Smith's Quilting Stash Classroom Fons & Porter Master Class The Quilt Show (This list is not comprehensive by any means, nor in any particular order. I only have direct experience with Quilt University but am considering taking classes offered by a couple of other of the above. Please leave comments about other online classes you've taken and would like to recommend--or not!)

This episode is all about value! In what could arguably be considered the second half of episode 11, "In Which We Get Colorful," we explore the concept of color value and its impact on quilts. Learn how value is important, how to work with value in your quilt design, and tools and resources to help you learn more about value. Links I mention in the episode: CraftEdu--online craft courses: www.craftedu.com Maria Peagler, Color Mastery: 10 Principles for Creating Stunning Quilts, www.colormastery.com American Quilters Society: www.americanquilter.com Professional Association of Appraisers--Quilted Textiles (PAAQT): www.quiltappraiser.org Lorraine Torrence: www.lorrainetorrence.com The Quilter’s Ultimate Visual Guide Rodale’s Successful Quilting Library: Creative Guide to Color & Fabric Jim Saw’s Art 104: Design and Composition class at Palomar College

In this episode, we get the first interview with "Quilters Like the Rest of Us;" I'm excited! This time we chat with the Sandys from my guild-that-is-not-a-guild-but-a-bee, and the conversation leads into the discussion about color. In the "episode proper," after listener comments, I run through some definitions and describe color schemes, and then we talk about where to get color inspiration. Items mentioned in the podcast: Colorschemer--Online color scheme generator: http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html 3-in-1 Color Tool by Joen Wolfrom Color Play: Easy Steps to Imaginative Color in Quilts by Joen Wolfrom The Off-Kilter Quilt, a podcast by Frances! Woohoo! Jinny Beyer's Color Confidence for Quilters by Jinny Beyer (I had only found this used on Amazon for $100 previously, but now there are some options for around $20.)

In this episode, I talk with Beth Davis, AQS certified quilt appraiser. We discuss how one becomes an appraiser, why you might want to have a quilt appraised, what's involved in an appraisal, the "tools" of appraising, and a little bit about antique quilts in particular.   Beth Davis, appraiser. Shown here with her "lifetime" quilt--one that she slept under as a child. (Made by her great-grandmother.)                         One of Beth's "go-to" appraisal books, by Barbara Brackman. Beth mentioned having every Barbara Brackman book there was!         Another go-to book to help with dating fabrics.         Sandy's crazy-quilt with damaged silks. (Remember the story of the iron salts and the "swoosh"?                 Beth's 1800s quilt. The reds on the borders are what she refers to as the "madders."

"Intermezzo"--a short piece between two longer pieces. This episode isn't an official episode at all, but a short addition for the in-between-times. Episode 010--the interview with the appraiser--is longer than my usual episodes. After debating for some time, I decided I really didn't want to ignore the fact that some kind people have been leaving some great comments and spurring some wonderful discussion! So rather than making episode 10 the length of a movie feature, and rather than ignoring the comments altogether, I'm posting this "Intermezzo" episode--a little snippet of a piece between the actual episodes of the series. In this intermezzo, I share listener comments from episodes 7 through 9, as well as a couple left on the "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" blog, and a couple of emails. Plus, I give a few hints of some things I'm working on for future episodes, and tell you what fun is in store for me this weekend. All in under 20 minutes! Woohoo! Don't forget the creativity challenge! (See show notes for

In this episode, I talk about creativity. I offer a couple of definitions of creativity and then suggest a few ways you can grow your own creative nature. Then, I issue a challenge! Creativity Challenge: Use the photo below for inspiration for a project, and send me photos of the results by June 7, 2010 (at midnight Eastern Time). It doesn't matter what the project is, and it doesn't matter how you use the photo for inspiration. You might print the photo on fabric and then do something funky with it; you might be inspired by the colors, the subject matter, the feel/mood...it doesn't matter. You can combine this project with other projects--allow this photo to inspire how you approach some other project that you're doing. Doesn't matter! Just be inspired. Post a comment below if you think you want to join the challenge. Then send me a photo (or a link to your blog where you've posted the photo) by midnight on June 7. Anyone who completes the challenge will have their name put in a drawing for a fun gift!  Her

Welcome to the second episode on scraps! In this episode, we get right down to business and I talk about specialty rulers for scraps, and share a lot of ideas about how to use scraps, including some books. Referenced in this episode: Judy Hopkin's ScrapMaster ruler (just google "ScrapMaster ruler" for a variety of sources) "Ugly Little Star Quilt"

I really want to get better at using my scraps, so I decided to do some research on scraps and scrap quilts. I found so much, though, that I'm having to use two episodes to cover it! So, in this first episode, after doing some catching up with listener comments and contributions, I share with you my experience, my research, and some listener suggestions, as we talk about a glossary of scrap-related terms, a little history of scrap quilting, how to collect scraps, getting yourself used to doing scrap quilts, what the best sizes are to cut your scraps into, and a little bit about storing and organizing scraps. (In episode 8, I'll share ideas for using your scraps!) Links to things I reference in this episode: Silly Chick Designs podcast and blog: http://sillychickdesigns.blogspot.com (and iTunes) Bonnie Hunter's Scrapusers system Scrap Therapy (See http://quiltingfortherestofus.blogspot.com for more information and additional links.)

I just spent a weekend on the road and the only quilting I could do was "virtual." In this episode, I talk about ways we can get our quilty on through online sources. Referenced in this podcast: Village Comforts Quilt Shop (now listed in the "Shops I've Visited" page of this blog) http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/38311/ (Article about teaching quilting in Middle School) Sew, Stitch, Create podcast by Brye Lynn at http://www.sewstitchcreate.com (or iTunes) Quilt Cabana Corner podcast by Sandi at http://quiltcabanacorner.podbean.com (or iTunes) Quilted Cupcake podcast by Jean at http://quiltedcupcake.libsyn.com (or iTunes) About.com's quilting section and newsletter: http://quilting.about.com Quilt University at www.quiltuniversity.com.

I spent a lot of years in a completely disorganized, completely dysfunctional quilting space. When I moved into the new house a few years ago, I took advantage of the opportunity to overhaul my organizational methods or...rather...get some organizational methods. In this episode I share with you a few of the things I think I did right. But there's always room for improvement--so definitely share your own organizational tips, and favorite organizational tools, with me and the rest of the gang! Post pictures in the BigTent group "Quilting...for the Rest of Us," a subgroup of "Quiltcast Supergroup." (See the widget for signing up for the Supergroup in the menu at the right--once you're in the Quiltcast Supergroup, look for the subgroup for this podcast and join! By the way: Everyone who is a member of the "Quilting...for the Rest of Us" BigTent group by May 15 will automatically have their name entered for a drawing to win the cutest little charm pack! Here are my rulers, as described in the podcast.      

Our stashes can be a point of pride or a point of contention--depending on who's looking at it and how well they understand the compelling need quilters have for fabric! My husband, for example, thinks my stash is huge. I've told him he should visit a few other quilters' stashes before casting judgment. The stories I've heard... In any case, I did recently upsize my stash. This episode talks about what I've learned about my stash and what I need to improve. Perhaps it'll give you some things to think about as you look at your own stash. Here's a picture of my stash--show us yours! ("I'll show you mine if you show me yours....")

I had a long weekend last weekend, with nothing much scheduled other than church and a family dinner on Easter Sunday, so I planned to spend as much of it as possible at my sewing machine, catching up on some UFOs--one of Mom's, the rest mine. Through the weekend, I came face-to-face with some fundamental truths about quilting. What are your own fundamental truths? Leave comments! Also notice the new page on this blog listing quilt shops I've visited. Use the comments section to recommend your own. And see the link to the right for my quilting-related blog "Tessellations."

It's been awhile, but I was finally able to attend another class at my local quilt shop. This one was a five-hour extravaganza in machine quilting, taught by a very popular local teacher, Janet Root. In this episode, I share a few tips that I've picked up about machine quilting in the years I've been trying to get good at it.

Welcome to "Quilting for the Rest of Us"--a podcast for anyone who loves quilting and loves to talk about it. I am not an expert, have never published, or competed in a show--but I've picked up a lot of knowledge along the way, if not the skills to match. I was raised by a quilter, picked up the habit in my 30s, and finally got consistent about it a few years ago. (No telling how old that makes me!) Join me as we all talk about about quilting...for the rest of us! In this first episode, I share with you a little of my history and what my Mom taught me about quilting.