QuiltBlog

5 WEEKS to go! Join us in Wichita!
Linda V. Taylor to receive IMQA Lifetime Achievement Award You are invited to join IMQA in honoring Linda V. Taylor at the IMQA Banquet, Friday, May 17, 2013, 7:00 pm.   Linda has been selected to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award which was founded to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the enhancement and advancement of the Longarm Quilting Industry.   Linda joins other outstanding Award recipients, Norma Counce, Ken Gammill, Fred Nolting, Paul Statler, Marcia Stevens, Rick Vollbrecht and Zoltan Kasa. A basket will be available at the IMQA Booth during the show for those wishing to leave a card or note for Linda. To make sure you don’t miss this special event, register at www.mqsshow.org (under MQS® show, then registration) or at the show before 10:00 AM Thursday, May 16.  Banquet tickets are $40 which includes a concert by Ricky Tims, Lifetime Achievement Award and Viewer’s Choice quilt reveal.  What an exciting evening this will be!
	Quilted Memories is accepting pre-orders for Hobbs roll batting to be picked up at MQS! Please e-mail  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or call the shop ( 913-649-2704) for the show prices &/or to order.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Wichita! Deadline for pre-orders is April 30th, 2013.
Host Hotel - most nights completely booked! If you have contacted the Hyatt Regency and found that you are not able to reserve a room there - some nights are completely booked. Check with them first - the nights you need may still be available. There are seveal other area hotels who have provided us with blocks of rooms at a special MQS rate. We also have just recently contracted with the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 525 S Main, which is located very near the convention center. Contact them at 800-321-2211 and mention Fairfield Inn & Suites-Wichita by Century II and ask for the Machine Quilters Showcase 2013 special rate - $104 per night for king or queen double rooms.
Roommate Rideshare If you are looking for a roommate or someone to share a ride to the show please contact Cindy at:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it          She will help you connect with someone.	MQS® CLASSROOM SPONSORS A HUGE thank you to the following companies who are supplying machines for hands-on classes at MQS®: Handi Quilter Gammill Innova A-1 Nolting APQS Domestic Machines: Midwest Sewing and Vacuum of Wichita

Scooter Rentals – MQS®  If you are interested in renting a scooter at MQS® 2013 please contact Laikha for prices and rental  Volusia Medical Supply 866-956-2925 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Requests must be made at least one week prior to your need

See you soon! The MQS Show Committee

Many years ago Linda told me that quilting a quilt breathes life into that quilt.  I am sure all of you know exactly what that means. 

I have a customer who is so good at pulling colors together on her quilts.  She does beautiful piecing and everything come just perfect.  She makes each grandchild a quilt when they get married.  She called me and asked if I had time to get one finished for her.  She told me that the quilt was just ugly as her granddaughter only wanted orange in it and no other colors.  Orange was the color she hated most, so she really struggled with it.

When she brought the quilt over she held it tight and said "Put your sun glasses on!".  When she opened it I thought she had done a nice job but she just hated it. We all have one of "those" quilts.  This customer always picks her pattern, her thread etc.  This time she said "Just do it.  Nothing is going to change it much."

I left the quilt out, as I always do, so it could talk to me.  I knew just what thread and what pattern to put on it.  As I quilted that orange quilt, I watched the life come into it.  The pattern was complimentary to my customers only fabric she liked in it.  I was sure she was going to really like the quilt.

I called her when it was done and she came right over.  I had it spread out on the couch so she could see the whole quilt.  When she walked in her mouth dropped open and she said "It is pretty.  I didn't think that was possible!  The pattern and thread are just right."

Again, a quilt came to life!  What a wonderful feeling this art gives us.  A quilt is just a top until it's quilted.

What a beautiful Easter Weekend! 

I am so thankful for this beautiful world we live in and for the inspiration i gives us.  We have several trees in our yard in full coloful bloom and it just warms my heart to see nature prepare for this beautiful season.

As you know, I also embroider and bought a wonderful new machine.  It's a 10 needle and we are having so much fun.  What more could you ask for than picking out some beautiful designs, getting your embroidery started and then quilting while you are embroidering. 

I have my granddaughters Princess quilt on and the blooming flowers has inspired me on some of my designs.  Of course I just watched one of Linda's Season 4 videos too and am so excited to use that Peacock Feather!

Speaking of Peacock's, that is what I completed embroidering!   It was 10 colors, so no changing of the thread.  It took 90 minutes to embroider.

We hope you too, will share with us what projects you have going!  What inspires you?

I don' t know where all the time goes. I have been working on another show quilt and you could say it is eating my lunch. I have worked on it already over 100 hours and I think I may be half way finished, not quite. Some of you may have seen this quilt if you have taken the Show Quilt Class from Cheri Meineke-Johnson and myself. It is all hand-pieced and hand-appliqued. It is a beauty. It has been scaring me for more than a year now until I finally got up the courage to tackle it.  Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but there will be no quilt until it's time. 

  I have also been working on getting all my samples and kits ready for HMQS and MQS. My Statler has been going full time preparing all my student's quilts, while I am quilting on my Vision.  It's awesome.

  I'm so happy the 4th Season of Linda's Longarm Quilting is finished and is for sale as a series.  You can also watch it on thequiltingschool.com.   I had some awesome guests and I think the projects I worked on were the very best. I hope everyone will check it out. I know you will be inspired in your own quilting.

  Happy Easter to everyone! The Lord has blessed us all so much, I'm grateful for my blessings, especially my family and friends.

After dealing with a long battle of whip lash and neck problems, it has gotten in my way of quilting. I am getting there but it has truly "whipped me down."  But I refuse to stay there.

Today I needed some inspiration to finish a customer quilt.  It's such a cute one and is done with with bright applique flowers in bright colors and lots of wide open white spaces, just for me!  I was able to use a coordinating thread by YLI which is called Confetti in the fluorescents.  This thread is variegated in very short repeats.  It is turning out so cute.

Then back to the inspiration . . .Do you ever just go blank and need a design?  Then you just have to  go the thequiltingschool.com and pick a video.  I went to Linda Taylor.  Her newest videos are her Season 4 of Linda's Longarm Quilting.  You have got to check out her peacock feather she used in the newest episode with Pat Barry.  I am sure you all know that Linda demonstrates her quilting in each episode and this feather is beautiful!

If you are not a member of thequiltingschool.com you are really missing out.  We all have blocks and need inspiration but we can't just run to a class to get it.  Or can we?  You bet you can and for a very reasonable price you can be inspired any time, any where you want!  What a great deal to be able to learn anything I need to and see it as many times as I need to in the comfort of my home.

I know this is my job but I truly believe that being able to learn all we can about our machines, is extrememly important.  So check it out and be inspired and get quick fixes to those blocks!