This is a pic of the website page, “lectures“. When you visit the page, just click on the buttons on the images to watch the movies I’ve made to let you know a little bit about what to expect from the lecture.

Lectures are just the tip of the iceberg, and the true learning comes from the workshops. This pic is from the page “workshops“.

My thoughts from so many years of teaching college students:

Lectures provide teachers an opportunity to share.

Teachers provide students an opportunity to grow.

Students provide teachers an
opportunity to teach.

If you provide the
opportunity,
I’ll share.

I also gave a make over to the portrait website, www.chiseledincloth.com. The make over isn’t complete either; as time permits I’ll get it completed.

These websites keep getting in the way of the fun BOM I’m designing. It is a six month, queen size BOM. I’m writing the instructions and soon it will be off to the testers.

An epiphany happened to me about twenty years ago. There was a void in my life and I didn’t even know it was happening.

I think an inspiration is like a flash of light in your psyche just waiting for action, and I needed one.

On the wall in a fabric store hung a stunning Oregon Trail Jacket. I bought the pattern and soon realized, even though I had no quilting experience, it had to be very similar to making a quilt. There was piecing, thin batting, matching seams and so on. Whatever it was called, I was hooked.

Wearing the jacket was always a fun experience because strangers would stop me and ask about what I was wearing; there were always questions and compliments.

The jacket still looks as good as it did the day I completed it; wish I could say the same for myself.

First, I would only wear it on nice days. Second, I wore it into a shop and the lady was so enthralled with the jacket she couldn’t contain herself. She asked just about every question she could think of; how was it made, how much it cost to make, where I found the pattern and on and on. I finally completed the sale and was about the leave when she said, “Wait, Wait, I want Dorothy to come out and see your jacket, she just loves gaudy things like I do!”

The jacket was just the inspiration I needed to steer me into the quilting realm. I went on to make traditional quilts for each of my children and grandchildren; however, I soon branched out into portrait quilts. I find creating a realistic likeness of a loved one in patterned fabric to be very exciting and rewarding.

I create my own portrait/pictorial quilt patterns and the technique I use to complete the quilt is to simply zig zag the edges of each piece of fabric in a slightly non-traditional appliqué method.

After years of presenting lectures and workshops to guilds and being asked how I make the patterns, I developed an online class to help quilters enjoy the process. It really is quite easy and lots of fun to make patterns from favorite photos. Purchasing an appliqué pattern is nice, but creating your own is awesome! All you need is a computer, software (free software is available) and a photo. My next online class to learn how to make the patterns begins September 5, 2009.

I recently retired from my faculty position as coordinator of the graphic communication program at a college and I’m now spending my retirement enjoying the quilting world more fully. I design pantos and continuous line stitching patterns for blocks, appliqué patterns, kits, teach online classes, and share the “how to” of portrait and pictorial quilting to guilds through lectures and workshops.

My quilts, patterns, presentations, and information about online classes are available at www.chiseledincloth.com

According to Wikipedia, magazines for women began as early as 1827! I had no idea. Sarah Hale, the author of Mary Had a Little Lamb, was the first woman editor of one such magazine from 1837 until 1877. During that time frame the subscribers jumped from 10,000 to over 150,000. The magazine included articles by influential authors such as Edgar Alan Poe, illustrations, patterns, and poetry. They avoided political and controversial topics, but stuck to information to help the average woman. Hmmm…that sounds very much like the new ezine, Ruby.

Ruby, the new magazine for women is beginning July 1, 2009 with one subscriber, heading for 150,000! Karen Gass, editor of Cotton Spice Magazine, is the editor and the brains behind Ruby. Here’s a quote from Karen:

“This magazine will be filled with the things we are really interested in – our home, our friends, our family, hobbies, charity, cooking, music, art, stories, pictures of the important things in our life, and much more.”

“The name – Ruby because ‘…her worth is far above rubies.’ From Proverbs 31:10. While we will have a Christian viewpoint, not everything will be ‘Christian’. If you like interesting, clean things – then you’ll love this! Our lives revolve around our family, the charities we love, our hobbies, our home and this magazine covers all that. No guilt. Frugal, simple ways of doing everything.”

Karen has the foresight to invite a talented group of women to serve as editors in such areas as charities, friends, devotions, home, cooking, music, paper dolls, coloring pages, flat adventures, home schooling, gardening and so much more. Flat Adventures will be my contribution to Ruby. No, it’s not about the earth being flat and early explorers, but it’s …

To keep up with technology and keep costs low, this magazine is offered as an online experience. You may purchase a single copy for $2.75 or a six-issue yearly subscription for $13.75. Ahhh, just sit in front of your computer with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy each issue.

Not only can you read Ruby, you are encouraged to contribute articles, photos, etc. to Ruby.  Karen has thought of it all!

To find out more about Ruby, visit http://magazineruby.wordpress.com/ and, as the newspaper vendors of old shouted, “Extra, Extra, Read All About It”.

If you enjoy appliqué, then you’ll love the Applique Society website. Their mission is “to promote, to teach, and to encourage the love of all types of appliqué in quilting”.

 The website offers free patterns, information about lost quilts, links, news, show and share, cruises and retreats, appliqué info, events and so much more. By the way, they have a Hawaii retreat scheduled. Check it out.

 Hawaii — October 7th – October 14th, 2009

What does Aloha and Appliqué have in common?

It is The Appliqué Society’s 2009 Hawaiian Retreat!

If you’re interested in joining the society or simply to learn more about applique, you’re only a click away. Members wishing to express their willingness to teach are placed on a Resource List; guilds looking for appliqué teachers just need to click on http://www.theappliquesociety.org/ to find appliqué teachers willing to travel and share their knowledge with your group. 

A big shout out and thanks to Karen Gass, editor of Cotton Spice Magazine for honoring this blog with the first ever Cotton Spice Best New Blog Award!

 If you aren’t familiar with Cotton Spice web quilting magazine, now is the time to check it out and  learn about the latest techniques, news, patterns, projects, challenges, contests, blogs and just about anything you ever wanted to know about quilting. Each issue is filled to the brim with wonderful stories and creative presentations.

If you’ll read the first fifty-six pages and then slide down to page fifty-seven you’ll see the wonderful review of our Quilts and Thoughts. . . blog. Thanks Karen! 

And, don’t forget to visit them often; something fun is always happening at Cotton Spice.