Program 179

There are three ways to enjoy the show

1- Download either the video OR the audio podcast version of the show from iTunes (click the button below)

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Downloading via iTunes will allow you to save the show to your iTunes application and sync it onto your iPod, iPod Touch, or iPhone for later viewing.

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2- play the video here on the blog page by clicking the video below!

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Running time: 00:18:25

3 – Click the podcast button below and download the file to your computer to listen to directly or sync on your iPod.
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Running time: 00:18:25 Size: 17 MB

In this episode:

Product Reviews

Websites to visit

3 Tips for better quilting

Holiday Craft workshop in the Quilting Stash Classroom

Visit Ricky Tims’ Christmas in a Small Town to share your Christmas memories and find out more about the CD. Make sure to look at the video of Ricky at 21 months old, coveting his cousin’s piano — it’s priceless!

Christmas in the BIG Apple — if you’re going to New York for Christmas, make sure to wander to Times Square to see the gigantic quilts on the Astrovision screen – 28′ x 38′ – in all of their quilty splendor. Thanks to The City Quilter whose quilts are displayed. And don’t miss the opportunity to visit that faboo store while you’re there, but not on Mondays, when they’re closed.

The current issue of Quilter’s Home magazine (January 2010) has an article by me, “Ditch the Fear” about the fears that are so common with quilting.

Marie Bostwick — sequel to her short story “A High-kicking Christmas”, can be foudn in Fern Michael’s new book, “Snow Angels”.

Champlain Valley Quilt Guild website

A visit with Noah

noahand an interview update coming soon!  (Yes, that is a miniature paper-pieced quilt with Noah’s prize ribbons!)

Speaking of small, Priscilla decided that she wanted to make her Fabric Choices blocks (usually 12″) in miniature, paper-pieced — which was a REAL challenge, but she did it:

priscilla

Quilting Gallery has a cook book for quilters of quick and easy recipes so we can get back to quilting.

There’s a brand new online quilt shop, created by a mom and daughter, Kathy and Jo Thomas — Suppose Quilt Boutique.

Meet the newest member of the Smith family:

smithfamily1Aren’t they beautiful? And doesn’t Karen look great after the delivery?!

Last but not least, because you were a part of it:

eagleprojectEagle Scout Candidate, Robin, delivering quilts to the Pediatrics department at the community hospital. (These are only a portion – 75 quilts were delivered, they couldn’t hold them all ; )

Thank you SO much for your contributions that made Robin’s project happen!!!

Look for me on Facebook — QuiltingStash, not Annie Smith.

Happy Quilting — and Ho Ho Ho!

©2009  Annie Smith   All Rights Reserved

Updated Classroom Page!

Hi All,

Just a quick note to let you know that the classes for the first quarter of 2010 are now posted.

The Holiday Craft Workshop is also now available online. Please come and check it out by clicking HERE.

Check back in tomorrow for a new Podcast/Vidcast episode (#179!!)

Happy Quilting!

Annie

Coming Soon To Quilting Stash Classroom!

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Here she is!

In all of her new baby glory — Miss Cambria Rose…

Baby+and+Granborn yesterday — just in time before I have to leave to go home. A beautiful bundle of joy.

And yes, I have made her a baby quilt — while I was visiting with my son and dear daughter-in-law. I’m taking it home with me to quilt it.

More photos soon! ; )     (that smile can’t be BIG enough!!)

p.s it’s came-bria, not camm-bria.

Program 178 – Vidcast 1!!

You have asked for it, and now here it is!
I am so happy to announce QuiltingStash TV is finally HERE!

There are three ways to enjoy the show

1- Download either the video OR the audio podcast version of the show from iTunes (click the button below)

itunes_button_complete

Downloading via iTunes will allow you to save the show to your iTunes application and sync it onto your iPod, iPod Touch, or iPhone for later viewing.

Orspacer

2- play the video here on the blog page by clicking the video below!

Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Running time: 00:17:22

3 – Click the podcast button below and download the file to your computer to listen to directly or sync on your iPod.
podcast
Running time: 00:17:22 Size: 16 MB

Quilting is such a visual craft and while podcasting allows us to listen about quilting while we’re on the run, videos will help me show you some of the things I could only talk about before.

If you’re wondering, I am still going to blog on this website and do audio-based podcasts when it’s appropriate. I also do want to introduce video-based podcasts (called vidcasts) to my “stash” of tools.

To view the video, you can either download it from the iTunes podcast location or simply click the vidcast link above! Pretty easy, huh?

In this episode, I tell you about projects I’m working on, and share with you a few things I saw at the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California.

Here is a list of items I mention. Please browse and visit links to these sites:

Robin’s Eagle Scout Service Project

Gina Halliday’s Threaded Pear Online Store


Tracy Souza’s Plumcute Designs™

Bareroots embroidery patterns

Clover™ needle threader

Thread cases – where to find them on the cheap!

Wildwood fabric line by Erin McMorris from Free Spirit fabric

News about Mark Lipinski

Don’t forget to check out my online quilt classes HERE.

We are having so much fun in my online classrooms. Students from all over the world are making quilts and sharing them with each other and YOU. Be sure to visit the classroom main site and look around for the picture galleries that are filling up with our student projects.

Be sure to send me an email so we can add you to our mailing list for special offers on my boutique, special giveaways, and discounts on classes at Quilting Stash Classroom!

Click HERE to drop me a line – be sure to include:
your real name
your real phone number
your real home address

We don’t sell or give-away any of your personal information to anyone. We use it only for the purpose of sending you cool stuff and letting you know about special events and products available through Quilting Stash.

Be sure ant let me know what you think about the vidcast format. Please leave a comment and tell me your two cents! I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Quilting,

Annie Smith

Service Project Request

EagleServiceProjectHi, this is Robin – Annie’s son. I have a special request for all Quilting Stash listeners and readers.

I am a Boy Scout – from Post 706 in Morgan Hill and I am working on the last project before I achieve my Eagle Scout rank.

Because my Mom is such a huge quilter and fan of quilting, I thought I would make my project a quilting project! I plan to make 100 comfort quilts for a local hospital to give to extended-care pediatric patients. These kids often have to undergo painful treatments or surgeries and they might appreciate the extra comfort of a quilt they can take with wherever they go. They will also be able to take the quilts home with them when they leave the hospital.

When they leave the hospital, these 36″ x 44″ tied quilts will continue to give them comfort and help them realize that they survived their medical ordeal. It will be an optimistic object in their lives.

comfort_quilts

There are three ways you can help: donate materials, donate a completed quilt, or donate money for materials.

If you want to make a comfort quilt for my project, please make it from two solid, 1 yard pieces of 100% cotton fabric and sandwich a piece of medium loft, polyester batting in-between. Tie the quilt every 6 inches with embroidery floss, trim the edges and stitch around the quilt with a zig-zag stitch to finish it. Very basic. When you have completed your quilt(s), please send them care of SimpleArts, 14938 Camden Ave. Ste. 29 San Jose, CA 95124.

If you want to just send me any spare materials, here’s what I need:

  • 100% cotton fabric – 1 yard minimum
  • polyester batting – 1 yard minimum (medium loft)
  • thread – for sewing the quilt edges (white is good)
  • embroidery floss – for tying the quilts (any color)

Please send the materials as soon (use the same address as above) as possible as I have about 100 volunteers gathering in two weeks to put these quilts together in a youth service project.

If you want to just donate money so I can purchase the materials I need, please CLICK HERE, and donate via the SimpleArts donation button. Make sure to put a note in the donation form that the money is for my Eagle Service Project.

Thanks,

Robin

Quilter’s Palette Quilt Show!

Recently I completed the very first class for Quilting Stash Classroom. It was the Quilter’s Palette sampler quilt.

We had over 60 participants from 7 different countries – most of them from the US. Feedback on this class was remarkable! I am so proud of it’s success; we have 19 finished quilt tops already and many more nearly done!! Isn’t that great?!

These quilters should be congratulated for a job well done! Please go to the Student Gallery link and view their completed quilt tops. Be sure to scroll down to the Sesson 1 gallery. Their completed quilt tops begin around page 11.

Once you’ve seen the pictures, be sure to come back here and make a comment about which finished quilt top strikes your fancy and why! Students would LOVE to see your comments.

Program 177 — A Visit With Mimi Dietrich

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Running time: 00:37:28 Size: 34 MB

I had a lot of fun sitting around the kitchen table in Mimi Dietrich’s home and talking about Baltimore quilts, Diary quilts, and other things.

Mimi Right At Home!

Mimi Right At Home!

I got a chance to meet long time listener of the program, Linda Kabota from Thailand. She brought me some really cool goods:

lindasstuff

Not long ago, I made chocolate chip cookies from the recipe in the Lizzy B girls latest book, “Whimsyland.” I commented on this blog how I burned my fingers attempting to rescue a hot sheet of cookies coming out of the oven.

Lizzy B girls to the rescue one more time! They sent me a pair of homemade hot pads with a note:

potholders

Nobody can have a bad day when you get a care package like the one I did from Aurifil threads! These spools are fantastic!
aurifil

Don’t forget to check out my online quilt classes HERE. Here’s a picture of student, Pat Leask, in her work area – watching the online videos and working on her project! She looks right at home. Pat, why aren’t you in your JAMMIES?!
patleask

Be sure to send me an email so we can add you to our mailing list for special offers on my boutique, special giveaways, and discounts on classes at Quilting Stash Classroom!

Click HERE to drop me a line – be sure to include:
your real name
your real phone number
your real home address

We don’t sell or give-away any of your personal information to anyone. We use it only for the purpose of sending you cool stuff and letting you know about special events and products available through Quilting Stash.

Program 176 – What I Did on My Summer “Vacation”

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Running time: 00:28:13 Size: 26 MB

Yeah, if it were only a real vacation, not a working one — but I’m not complaining!! I had the time of my LIFE this Summer. Beginning in January of this year and my Quilting Stash Coast-to-Coast trip, I had no idea that I would be traveling so much this year — all having to do with quilting (well, almost all!).

Here is the run-down and highlights of my Summer:

North Carolina:

Thimble Pleasures Quilt shop has moved from Carrboro to Chapel Hill. To see pictures of their NEW fabulous store, click on this link: New TP Quilt Shop

Where Celeste and I had dinner: Mama Dip’s, a North Carolina institution!

A Southern Season all foodies need to apply ; )

Baltimore, Maryland:

I met Barbara Burham — an incredible quilter who decided to recreate an antique Baltimore Album quilt that she bought on eBay.

bboldA block from the original quilt. You can see the stains and deterioration of the quilt and fabrics, but you can also see the beautiful detail in the hand applique and quilting.

bbnewHere is the new block. Barbara used fabrics that would most closely mirror the fabrics in the original quilt. Marty and Barbara worked together to create quilting that would best represent the original quilt as well. This quilt is a MARVEL!

mimimartyMimi Dietrich and Marty Vint, discussing Baltimore Album Quilt history in the Baltimore Historical Society Museum.

groupwthinkerMimi, Barbara, Marty and me with Robin’s ‘Thinker” at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The museum has an extensive collective of Rodin pieces, as well as one of the best restaurants that I have ever had lunch at – not cafeteria fare by any means. If you go to the museum, plan on eating there — you’ll be amazed!

Pennsylvania:

pennsignOn to Pennsylvania to meet up with the Red Rose Quilt Guild — this was my very first trip to Pennsylvania!! And it was a great one!

amishqOne of the many Amish quilts in the collection at the Lancaster Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Inspiring!!

Here’s a link to the Central Market.

lititz

The Lititz Area Event Calendar so you can find out more about the area and what’s happening.

wilburA little trip to the Wilbur Chocolate Factory… the give out freebies to everyone. This is one of their signature dipped marshmallows. The castle that you see behind my little friend is ALL chocolate. Wilbur Buds, the first original “kiss” is heavenly.

sutterJohn Sutter is buried in Lititz – best known for the gold that was discovered at his mill that began the Gold Rush, my state’s history. It was cool to see how he influenced Lititz as well.

vickiqMy hostess, Vicki’s past Presidents quilt. Isn’t it gorgeous?

julieHere is my bud, Julie Broderson, Quilting Stash listener and contributor, who is responsible for bringing me out the Red Rose Quilt Guild. It’s always a pleasure to meet and hang out with listeners!

And on I go to Liz’s of Lizzie B Cre8ive:

Valley Forge Park is in Liz’s ‘backyard” — she rides bikes there with her dad.

logcabin1The Log Cabin Quilt shop in Bird-in-Hand – fabulous fabrics at even more fabulous prices.

liznchrisLiz and Christine looking at the detail of this wonderful quilt, that was for sale. It was a steal!

The Kling House is a great place for lunch – Liz’s favorite.

contrystoreThe Old Country Store, quilt shop area. They have an online store — and their prices are amazing!!

bedQuilts for Sale! Isn’t this one on the bed a beauty?!

Here is Liz and me, contributing to each other’s delinquency…

shoesGuess whose shose are who’s? ; )

Here’s a link to the Dansko Outlet ONLINE — I had no idea until I did this podcast that you can get their great shoes at great prices online.

New Jersey:

debbieQuilting Stash listener, Debbie Markowitz, from Jerusalem, Israel, was visiting family in New Jersey and stopped by Aardvark & C. to meet me!

To hear more about my New Jersey trip, listen to the podcast with Mark Lipinski.

Now — on the road with “the band” – Pacific Lights (formerly Sleepwell):

bandHalfway into the trip, we finally crossed the border into Texas. The boys were so happy to get out of the trailer-pulling Suburban!

I hope you liked their new release, “Move Me” on their new CD Sunnyside.

The boys also enjoyed a little impromptu street concert in Tempe, AZ on a hot summer night:

band 1

Band 3

They drew a good crowd — that is, until they had men on horseback…

PoliceWho shut them down… well, it happened to the Beatles too ; )

thinkerI’m “thinking” that I had a pretty great Summer!

I’m happy to be home for a little while, as I will start traveling again in October and November and December and … you get the picture…

I hope your summer was great, too!!

©2009  Annie Smith  All Rights Reserved

Program 175 — A Visit with the Maven of Applique, Elly Sienkiewicz

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Running time: 00:28:09 Size: MB

ellynmeElly and I had a brief window of time to chat at the end of session 2 of the Empty Spools Seminar last March. What strikes you most about Elly is what a gentle and gracious lady she is… then you discover that she has a great sense of humor.

Visit Elly’s website to learn all about the Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy, celebrating it’s 15th year in 2010!

As an Artist in Residence, I will teach “Exploring Fabric Choices for Applique” on Thursday, February 11th.

©2009  Annie Smith   All Rights Reserved