Quilting...for the Rest of Us

Episode 24 In Which We Get Historical

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.

Episode 23: In Which We Get Creative (Again)--Video

This is the video version of episode 23. 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.)

Episode 23: In Which We Get Creative (Again)--Audio

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.)

Episode 022: In Which We Teach the Children 9-10-2010

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://quiltsandcreativity.com/summer-sewing-camp (Thanks, Darla!)

Episode 021: In Which We Get Spacey (UFOs)

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!

Episode 020: In Which We Are Relieved

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.

Episode 019: In Which We Go Hawaiian

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).
 

Episode 018: In Which We Discuss Art versus Craft versus Hobby

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!

Episode 017: In Which I Save a Quilt from Almost Certain Destruction

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.

Episode 016: In Which I Chat with a Long-Arm Quilter June 27 2010

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.)