The May issue is ready for printing. Our featured artist is Carol Ann Sinnreich and her quilts literally leap off the pages at you! Gloria Hansen joins us In the Art Studio and Crystal Smythe explores the IntelliQuilter's design capabilities.
Ask Kimmy launches with questions for Kim Brunner about blocking quilts and rolling on smooth backs. Diane Rusin Doran shows how to re-size, transfer and design motifs in Creating Unique Quilting Motifs and Barb Hollinger talks about finding patterns for fillers in her Foundations column. Eileen Doughty shares Celebration quilts, Jenny Bowker is back to tell more about Teaching, Traveling
and Traditions in the Mideast and Linda Hahn gives advice on the myriad quilting business opportunities available. We take a trip to Deb Geissler's workspace in Studio Tour - and fall in love with her purple bathtub!
Kathy Thompson tells us all about the ALS quilt project. You can enter to win, and make money for much needed research at the same time. The Jaw Dropper quilt is from Birgit Schueller. Don't miss this design-packed issue! |
Favorite Website SUBVERSIVESTITCHERS: WOMEN ARMED WITH NEEDLES
A writer's look at the quilting and quilt art community and
anything else fabric. Dawn Goldsmith authors this fun, educational and always interesting blog about women in the stitching world. Check it out at http://subversivestitch.blogspot.com/
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Featured Business
CHERI's CRYSTALS
Providing quality products at affordable
prices - Cheri's Crystals offers Austrian Swarovski iron-on hot-fix
color crystals and tools for applying them to crafts, quilts, and
fabric. Includes, helpful hints, instructions and tips for usage and
crystals motifs design and crystal crafts, crystals etc, embellishments.
Just think of what
you can do! Crystals add that little sparkle to anything they are
applied to from quilts to jeans or anything in between. Let your
imagination go! www.cheriscrystals.com |
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!
CONTACT US
On the Web www.mqumag.com
Subscriptions: 1.800.910.1925 EXT 4
Questions: info@meanderpublishing.com
By Mail: MQU Magazine PO Box 918 Fort Lupton, CO 80621
*********************** Our E-News Sponsors********************************** **********************************
HMQS, May 6-8, 2010, Salt Lake City. CALL FOR QUILT ENTRIES!
Online quilt entry available. Entry form deadline April 5th;
quilts due April 17th. $24,000 in awards. Register online for classes too. Don't forget
to include your Awards Night ticket. Desserts, entertainment & quilts! Hotel
info. and local attractions: www.hmqs.org
******************* 
The EdgeRider wheels provide
stability and easy rolling at the same time by combining three major design
solutions: Shape, Material and Dual Ball Bearings. The wheels are
manufactured by precision machinery, and each wheel is tested/ by spinning at
16,000 RPM. Call your dealer today! www.edgeriderwheels.com ******************* One Song Needle Arts - for all of your designing needs!******************* MQX EAST Providence RI April 12 - 17, 2010
MQX WEST Portland, OR October 11-15, 2011
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September 22-25, 2010
Sawmill Creek Resort and Convention Center, Huron, OH *******************
We specialize in affordable graphics and printing solutions for small businesses. ******************* |
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EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIBERS!
As you know, last year we suspended subscriptions to International subscribers (except Canada and Australia) due to the enormous rise in postal rates. We have been struggling with a solution for quite a while now. Recently we decided to pursue other avenues, such as digital. When we sent an email to current and former International customers asking the interest level for digital, we were completely surprised by the responses. Overwhelmingly the majority want a print copy in their hand - and are willing to pay the postage fees to get it. We are still investigating a digital option for later this year, but in the meantime we have reinstated the International subscription option. The cost is $84 per year (6 issues). Go to the website www.mqumag.com and click on the globe to order. There is no change to the Canada and Australia pricing. Thank you all for your honest and encouraging responses to our survey. And for the US market...we will also send a new survey to you about digital versions in the near future.
Vicki Anderson Kit Robinson Executive Editor Managing Editor
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QUILT OF THE MONTH

Jasmine
©2009 Ingrid Cattaneo
Grass Valley, CA
18 x 15.5 inches
Jasmine is a Blue Merle Australian Shepherd who is owned by
a friend. Although this quilt is made
from a photo taken when she was nine weeks old, Jasmine is now seven years old
and has 19 titles from agility competitions and is now only three qualifying
runs away from her Championship title. Jasmine's
portrait is made with cotton fabric and batting and is free motion machine
embroidered using solid and variegated polyester threads.
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CALLING ALL GUILDS!
We added a GUILD LINK to our Links page on the website. If you would like to have your Guild added, send your website information to liz@meanderpublishing.com. Guilds will be grouped by state, making it easy for potential members to find Guilds in their area. No matter how large or small, let us share your Guild information.
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Spotlight On Teachers
IRENA BLUHM
Irena Bluhm: an award winning quilter, instructor, pattern
designer and author of 8 books. With 18
years of garment making/design and 12 years of doing art for
hobby, she has transitioned the experience in creating fine art
and other skills into making quilts for shows and
exhibits exclusively. Irena is very passionate about creating
many different quilting design patterns, innovative ways of
making show quality quilts, writing books and teaching.
Visit her website for more information
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INDUSTRY NEWS!
 Australian Machine Quilting Festival
1-4th October 2010 Adelaide SA
Great Teachers - Pam Clarke, Kim Brunner, Helen Stubbings, Helen Baczynski, John
Nielsen, Belinda
Betts, Stewart Plank, Rachelle
Denneny, Keryn
Emmerson, Sharon
Parkinson, Jenny
Scott, Raylene
Smith,
Michele
Turner.Vendors, and a judged quilt exhibit as well!Brought to you by Tracey Browning and Sharon Parkinson. Dick & Vicki Anderson plan to attend and visit with our many Australian subscribers!
Check the website, www.amqretreat.com.au for more details.
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Tip of the Month
Decorative and metallic threads used in machine quilting often can be a
struggle. To keep the thread from breaking, here are a few things to try. -
Use a Top Stitch needle. These needles have larger eyes.
-
Change the needle. Needles can have microscopic burrs or rough spots that can
tear or shred the threads.
-
Loosen the tension.
-
Be sure the thread is coming off the spool correctly. Cross-wound threads
(the threads are wound back and forth in a diagonal) should be pulled from the
top of the spool. Use a vertical spool holder for these threads. Stack-wound
threads (these are wound in a straight spiral, with the threads lying evenly
next to each other) should pull from the side of the spool. Place stack-wound
threads on a horizontal spool-holder.
-
Use a separate thread spool holder from behind the machine. Sometimes having
a longer length of thread allows the twist to straighten out more, and results
in fewer problems.
-
A lubricant can be added to the thread. If you have an older machine, with
metal tension plates, you can run a bead of lubricant down the thread spool. But be
aware, newer machines use silicon tension plates and the lubricant can
interfere with their action. It's better to add the lubricant AFTER the thread
leaves the tension plates. Place a small piece of moleskin (sold at pharmacies
for corns, etc.) on the machine above the needle so that the thread runs over
it as it heads for the needle. Soak the moleskin with lubricant. The thread
will be coated as it passes over the moleskin. Note: My favorite lubricant is
Sewer's Aide.
-
In some cases, you can run a second thread along with the decorative thread.
I often use a very fine monofilament thread, but you can also use a fine
polyester thread, such as Bottom Line.
If you find it really a problem, use the decorative thread in the bobbin and quilt 'upside-down', as Ellen Anne Eddy showed us her article Topsy- Turvy Bobbin Work in the March issue.
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New Column in the Magazine
ASK
KIMMY
You wanted it...now it's here! Whether a beginner or an
experienced machine quilter, no matter if you are using a longarm, midarm or
sit-down machine, many of you have problems and nowhere to turn. Several
subscribers have emailed asking for a column to answer reader questions. Well,
we heard you! Kim Brunner, renowned author, quilter, teacher and training DVD queen, starts her column ASK KIMMY in
the May 2010 issue. Kimmy has the answers, and if she doesn't, she will go to
other experts to get them. Email questions to AskKimmy@meanderpublishing.com and we will ASK KIMMY!
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See Us at the Shows!
MQX EAST -
Providence Rhode Island Vicki will be there April 14-16
DENVER
NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL Vicki & Kit will be there
April 30-May 1 Kit's quilts are in a Special Exhibit!
HMQS -
Salt Lake City, UT May 6-8 Look for our BOOTH #705! Kit, Vicki
and Dick will be ready to greet you.
MQS Overland
Park Kansas You will see Vicki May 13-14
QUILT
COLORADO Estes Park Kit, Vicki & Liz will be
shopping like mad June 17-18
MILWAUKEE
MACHINE QUILTING SHOW Aug 4-7 both Kit and Vicki will be
available! Look for our Special Quilt Exhibit
ROCKY
MOUNTAIN QUILT FESTIVAL Loveland CO The whole gang
will be there August 20-21. It's in our own back yard!
QUILTING
WITH MACHINES - Huron Ohio Vicki will attend Sept 23-24
AUSTRALIA MACHINE QUILTING
FESTIVAL - Adelaide, South Australia Dick and Vicki
will be there Oct 1-4! We can't wait.
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