Stash Bandit and The Quilt Show in Phoenix
One of the rich resources available to quilters is The Quilt Show,
an online community with lessons, patterns, projects, history, quilt alongs, BOMs, forums, a gallery, a blog and much more.
The Quilt Show is hosted by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson, both legendary figures in the quilt world. Here’s an invitation from Ricky. (Click the arrow to begin!)
Not long ago I was invited to be a guest on The Quilt Show, and last week we taped my episode in Phoenix. It was great to escape the cold of Nebraska for a couple of days in the warm desert southwest.
Team TQS had been in touch regularly with information about how everything works so I felt well prepared at every step. I was invited to watch the shoot just before mine, which featured Vicki Conley, a lovely person and quilt artist. One of her specialties is poster-style quilts featuring U.S. National Parks.
I think you’ll want to peek at the galleries on Vicki’s website. The quilts are stunning. (Links at the bottom of the post.)
After lunch, I was up. I’d had long conversations via Zoom with producer Shelly Heesacker to plan out my segments, determine which quilts to show and what to talk about. I worried about not having enough material to fill the time but I had more than enough.
First we shot a couple of segments outdoors in a casual setting. I did a bit of show and tell and then Ricky and I discussed our “dogs”—quilts that didn’t turn out as we’d hoped. I’d once told Shelly that I bring a few dogs to every trunk show and that people really appreciate that. Everyone makes a bad quilt now and then, and I think you learn a lot from them.
Ricky admitted that my dogs were bad. They were so bad, we both laughed. Another day I’ll tell you about the dogs I took with me.
Soon we moved indoors to shoot a few more segments about scrappy quilts. Ricky was chatty and he easily filled the air with interesting observations, which made my part fairly painless.
All week I’d told myself that I was just going to talk about quilts with a friend who also loved quilts. And that’s pretty much what happened!
A few other highlights of the trip:
• I witnessed a serious hit-and-run accident en route to the shoot.
• I discovered an awesome breakfast place called Scramble.
• I met Val Sparks, a retired Bernina retail/quilt shop owner, who was just delightful.
• I met Carrie Bloomston, artist and fabric designer for Windham. You probably recognize her distinctive style and this her most famous print:
And for the first time ever, I donned a Stash Bandit mask and played wild, wild west with Justin Shults.
I had to pinch myself over and over again. It was a privilege and it was fun! The episode will air in the third or fourth quarter, to be determined. I will let you know.
Quilt on,
Here’s a link to Vicki Conley’s quilts: https://www.vicki-conley.com/national-parks. Be sure to poke around at the other galleries. The quilts are incredible.
Important:
Please check out thequiltshow.com. There are many free resources, and if you like what you see, the paid membership is reasonably priced. 😊
Tags: fabric savvy, make extraordinary scrap quilts, quilt design, scrap quilts, trunk shows
Sarah Bruce
| #
I love that periwinkle blue blouse you wore for the show—absolutely perfect! Can’t wait to see your episode 💕
Reply
Diane Harris
| #
Thank you, Sarah. I don’t own many solids and that’s what they requested. Not everyone follows the rules, though! 😉
Meylonie
| #
CONGRATULATIONS! I was plenty impressed when you were published in Quiltmania. Now you’ve really hit the big time! Woo Hoo!
Reply
Diane Harris
| #
I’m still just me but I’m glad you think it’s the big time, LOL!
Rachel Summy
| #
Congratulations! Fun to see the photos of your special day! What a fabulous time you had!! you make Nebraska and all the midwest proud!!
Reply
Diane Harris
| #
Thank you, Rachel. That’s really a lovely thing to say! 😊