Cleaning the Stash

I have been going through all of my stuff reorganizing and purging fabric I will never use. I have the "Shades of God" Collection from Keepsake Quilting (it can be seen on page 25 of their Fall catalog)and about eight pounds of fabric to part with. If you are interested in any of this, please email me at lightningsjATjunoDOTcom, changing AT and DOT.

RICKY TIMS SEMINAR

Last week I attended, along with nineteen other members of my guild, a Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar in Knoxville. If you ever get a chance be sure to attend one if you can possibly do so. Bernina is a sponsor. There is an ad on page 51 of the new McCall's Quilting just delivered.

I've known of his fabulous teaching ability since I took the convergence class from him back in the nineties at Road to CA and he has grown in that respect significantly and has added new techniques of his own invention since then. Libby Lehman gave us lots of tips about thread and the use thereof and of course, we all know Alex Anderson who is also a member of the faculty. They had a video camera operated by Tims' partner and projected on a huge monitor set up on the stage. That allowed the teachers to demonstrate some things like curved piecing, hand quilting by Alex.so that all 200 participants had a good clear view of what they are doing. There was no sewing on the part of students. I don't consider the format of the thing to be a seminar as I understand that word but I think they use that term to distinguish this affair from the usual classroom approach where the students lug in machines, fabric and all the rest of the paraphernalia necessary. These were, essentially lectures and demonstrations very well done. Ricky and Libby are natural comedians and the atmosphere was very light and enlightening. There was also a speaker, the CEO of Superior Threads, and we learned some interesting stuff from him and we were disabused of numerous old wives tales about thread choices. The total of what we learned would require the purchase of numerous books that would cost more than the seminar. By the way, we each received an excellent wire bound book clearly setting out details and how tos about every topic covered in the lectures.

I won't bore you with the list of serious defects in the Marriott facilities. The service was terrible from day one and deteriorated from there. The food was acceptable at first and worsened precipitously thereafter. By the last day they were serving poorly disguised left overs from the previous days but charging the original prices. I am not inclined to blame Tims for this and it probably won't be the case at other locations. November 1-2 they will be in Houston in conjunction with Quilt Festival, in Livermore, CA 1/24 - 26 '08, and at beautiful Glens Falls NY May 1-3 '08.

Our guild was a "co sponsor" of the affair and we got a price of $159 excluding accommodations so if you belong to guild you might bring that up with your fellows in the guild to do that. Frankly, I don't know the details of that roll but I think it was just a matter of touting it and alluring the membership to go. It was worth every penny as far as I'm concerned. Oh, of course, there are opportunities to shop from two vendors, Bernina with autographed machines, parts, tools and patterns and Tims which included Anderson and Lehman books and thread and the luscious hand dyed fabrics of Tims. I dropped a fair amount of $$ for fabric and thread.

I will now make up a bill to send Tims for my endorsement. LOL Actually, it is spontaneous on my part. I think every one of us from my guild agrees with me about how wonderful it was.

Jane in NC

I got the same message from Readers Digest. Apparently the email given was to the editorial staff. Lavinia-TN

Reader's Digest

If a meaningful gift can be "made and not purchased" where are we supposed to get the fabric to make that meaningful gift? Weave our own cotton or pull the batting out of our mattresses? Apparently the editor doesn't know any more about quilting than the woman who wrote the article.

I sent the author a rather pithy(!) e-mail the other day, but haven't heard back from her or the editor.

SeamSTRESS Sally

Editor Can't Comprehend What We Are Saying

That editor for the Reader's Digest has poor reading comprehension. Sigh.

Jeanne Marie was stupidly saying a quilt is a cheap gift. She wrote (and I am once again copying and pasting her words) "Dear Tight, If you think enough of the couple to attend their nuptials, then, yes, you need to bring a gift. If getting to the wedding is blowing your budget, make a quilt or frame a special photo. There are lots of ways to say “congratulations!” that don’t involve big bucks. If it’s really too much for you, don’t go."

The editor's answer completely ignored our protests that a quilt is not a cheap gift. Give that person a dunce cap.

Judy

Reader's Digest

I received a reply to my email to Reader's Digest about the suggestion that a quilt could be the answer for an inexpensive wedding gift. Here it is.

Thank you for your response to October's "Ask Laskas." We appreciate your taking the time to share your feedback and your experience. Jeanne Marie admits she's not a quilter, and was only indicating that a meaningful gift could be made and didn't have to be purchased. Rest assured, we will certainly share your comments with our editorial staff. We appreciate your interest in our publication and hope you will find much to enjoy in our upcoming issues.

I guess they do listen when someone writes in. Wonder how many someones it took.........

Kathi

My thanks and followup to quilting question.

harjo said...
Okey, I have talked to my DSIL about the situation, and explained that I went for further advice, and that I agree with all of you,(as I value your opinions, Highly). I guess she IS a rather understanding person, because, she said that she is okey with the quilts. But (as I lower my head) i did offer to make the girls a quilt from scratch as anna in spain suggested and she said "the girls would indeed like to have a quilt made by their talented AUNTIE HARLENE". I really don't mind doing that for them. It was the easiest out and will be fun.
Thank you all so much for your support. I just wouldn't have had the gumption to tell her like it was, without your backing.
I'll now go back to my lurking status, but you know that I will be making a couple of cool quilts this winter, I haven't told her yet but she does have to wait until I get my granddaughter's graduation quilt finished.LOL!
I'll try to keep you posted as to the pattern that we use, and maybe even a picture eventually. That may even qualify me as a true blogger, yikes.

Hugs, harjo
I first had this response in the comments, but realizing that all of you who offered suggestions may not look back there, I decided to put it out here for all to see.
Thanks again, you deserve a lot of credit, and all my admiration.
September 19, 2007 6:47 PM

Miss Laurel Burch already!

I will really miss the lighthearted, adorable LB creatures.

My DH will too, as he always knew he could get me anything

made by Laurel.

Here's a cute wall hanging that was made by one of my guild

members. I bought it at our annual sale & it hangs at the kitty clinic.

Jill

Good thoughts, Jill

Jill, I'll try to remember how much enjoyment I had making the next gift. But also have a rule of thumb, no thank you equals no more gifts. If I take the time to remember someone, especially in the making of a quilt, they can remember to say thanks.

The worst case of not appreciating a quilt came from a friend. Her sister was using the quilt she had made as a mattress cover. My DD never uses the quilts I've made for her. She says they don't 'go' with her color schemes. She did use the baby quilts, tho. DIL displays and uses every one; of course she is a quilter. Makes a difference.

MJ

Sometimes we assume too much..

& recipients really do love their quilts.
After my Mom passed away(& it's been 10 yrs)
I wondered if I had truly shown enough appreciation for
the many many handmade items she did for me.
I treasure each & every one but I'm not sure I was
ever as demonstrative as I should have been.
So now I try to tell myself that we all get busy & forget
that we should have said more.
I made each of my brothers quilts that I was never thanked
for until later... one was following the death of my brother's
teenage daughter, enough said.
The other was a baby quilt for my other brother's new son & their
life was a total zoo at the time.
So now I look at gifts differently & remember the enjoyment I
had during the process (if it's enjoyable then it's worth the time doing it)
So I won't let the lack of accolades stop me from honoring someone I
care about & want to share a part of myself with.....
the rest, they get gift cards!

I'm the One Grumbling

I had to laugh at my own response to Judy in Ohio's request for stories about ungrateful recipients of our quilts. My problem is not that the recipient is unappreciative. Instead, this little guy is TOO appreciative and loves this quilt. My DGS, now eleven years old, has several quilts that I have made especially for him, or which I gave him on the spur of the moment. He uses all of them, either on his bed or the sofa or wherever he needs to cozy up. One spur of the moment gift was my (almost) very, very favorite shirt quilt. The name of this quilt is "Manly Quilt", for it is made from four neutral color men's dress shirts plus numerous FQs from the quilt shop. The "background" in each of the four quadrants in this quilt are made from one of those shirts. I like this quilt so much that I have asked 11-yr-old DGS if I can have it back. I've asked SEVERAL TIMES! Each time he just grins, and says, "Nope!" The little stinker. LOL.

JudyPete

Those Wretched Ingrates ....

There has been an interesting topic on the about.com quilting forum about gift quilts given to people who did not appreciate them. One person wrote about giving a hand quilted bed quilt to someone who folded it up and left it on the floor for his dog to sleep on. I suppose there are WWQP BBers who can tell stories like that so let's see who can come up with a "Miserable, Wretched Ingrate" story ... and we'll all moan and groan in sympathy with you.

Judy

Famous Fabric Designer Laurel Burch Has Died

Laurel Burch, who designed those distinctively vivid rainbow cats and dogs and other fabrics, has died of a rare life-long health problem. She was only 61 years old. There is a very interesting newspaper article about her accomplishments despite a life of struggle at http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_6923487

I've used some of her fabrics in the past .... she always made sure they were printed on the best greige goods and so they were indeed yummy to look at and good stuff to work with as well. The local quilt shops will be a bit duller without her bright bolts on the shelves.


Judy

CLUELESS

Just received an email about the October issue of Readers Digest and the monthly advice column. Here are the question and her answer:

"Q: Destination weddings at resorts are the rage in my group. Flights, hotels and carfare cost beaucoup bucks! A couple ask a lot of their guests to see them exchange their vows. Am I wrong in thinking spending thousands on travel justifies a small gift, in any? Signed, Tight BudgetA: Dear Tight, If you think enough of the couple to attend their nuptials, then, yes, you need to bring a gift. If getting to the wedding is blowing your budget, make a quilt or frame a special photo. There are lots of ways to say "congratulations!" that don't involve big bucks. If it's really too much for you, don't go."

Someone, please educate this lady -- making a quilt doesn't involve big bucks? I already emailed her. Care to join me? You can see her at
http://www.rd.com/channel/jeanne-marie-laskas/ and her contact address is there. Lavinia-TN

quilting question

Hi all,

I feel like I know so many of you because I read this blog almost daily, but I'm just a lurker (shy, I guess)....in fact when I went to log in, I surprised myself that I remembered how...and on the first try.

I'm writing now, because I really need some advice and support. I have a situation, and I would like some opinions as to what your response would be, or what you would do.
My DSIL told me that she has two old quilts from her mother that she would like to give to her granddaughters. She knows nothing about sewing of any kind and wondered if I would take a look at them and tell her what I thought about "fixing them up for the girls".
I said "sure, I would look at them" , assuming that these were pieced quilts that were worn and were in need of some repair.
Well, she brought the quilts to me today to look at, and when I saw them I was speechless. They are old utilitarian quilts that are of one peice of fabric, like a whole cloth quilt or a backing, with a seam down the middle and they are tied. The batting is the old cotton they used to call wadding (I think). VERY HEAVY. The fabric is very fragile, and stained. She then told me that one of the girls wanted a deep purple and the other wants a particular green, and pulled a paper napkin from her purse to show me exactly which green.

I began to realize that she wanted them "recovered?" I suggested she buy dovet covers and put over them. She said "Oh, no. I don't want to do that". I was too dumbfounded at that moment to say or ask anything more. She told me to think about it. I have done some thinking, but before I say any more, I would like some of your opinions and/or ideas.

What do you all think?

Harjo