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Fall 2007

January 2008

A note from Alice…

First, I wish all of you the best in 2008. What a wonderful beginning we are experiencing. With every year of life I notice every season blesses us with an abundance of new “to do’s.” I’ve always been thankful that my list is longer than my hours. That simply means our life is full and we have many opportunities to anticipate and explore.

One of the great celebrations of last Fall’s season was the abundance of quilt activities. Most every weekend hosted a quilt show, classes were scheduled in every guild, all the while communities and families were hosting many Oktoberfests, family reunions and the like… all seeking to capture every day of the glorious season. A significant activity of the Fall season is always the International Quilt Show held in Houston, TX. I’ve attended and taught there numerous times, but this year posed a new venture for me.





Through a series of events that called me to help, I offered to assist as Teacher-Coordinator for one of the best quilter’s retreat companies in Texas, Quilting Adventures. It was started four years ago by two guild member friends. They designed the seminars to be first class in every way, from the convenience of location (New Braunfels, TX) to delicious food and the best of instructor teaching techniques and styles. My good friend, Sue Coates, was one of the partners of Quilting Adventures, and tragically, she was killed in a car accident in October. She is gravely missed by all who loved her. Learning of her accident, I called and offered to help her partner, Barbara Quinby, That immediately engaged me in helping with the Quilting Adventures International Quilt Show booth. It was exciting to meet people in the Quilting Adventures venue and it seemed humbling to help Barbara get through the devastating loss of Sue. The show’s energy of quiltmaking overflowed into the aisles and all the potential “want to do’s” pushed my adrenal glands over the top! What joy to spread the news of quilt stitching opportunities!

Now, the holiday season has passed and through a series of events, I have decided to join forces with Barbara and her team to continue the wonderful spring and fall events known as Quilting Adventures. Please acquaint yourself with this grand retreat opportunity. Holly (my great webmaster) has posted some photos of our week at the Houston QA booth and soon, I’ll have new photos of the 2008 quilt seminars—offered within the first two weeks of March. Check us out—www.quilting-adventures.com. The curriculum choice is broad—from art quilt instruction to the best of traditional techniques—all in a 5-day schedule with the same instructor! And as an added bonus, it is hosted in a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere of private or shared rooms, delicious food and evening entertainment, sewing, resting and/or lectures from the professional faculty. Two years ago I taught for Quilting Adventures; last year I studied with Jane Sassaman.Both sides of the conference were great. I encourage you to check it out—Give yourself a week or more of high quality, hands-on quilt instruction. And, speaking of retreats—Please remember my smaller sessions taught and hosted by me—Mountain Quilters in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Two are scheduled for late spring (May 21-24) and early summer (June 18-21). Note: refer to the Cloudcroft Retreat on this web site.

I have carbon-copied my mountain retreats from similar sessions, hosted years ago in upstate New York, by my good friend Marty Bowne. She limited the classroom size, offered the best opportunity in exploration of one subject and served wonderful food. That is Mountain Quilter’s style! Each session is hosted in my classroom studio...

  ...provided with 8 personal work and design spaces. Lunch and dinner meals are planned especially for our retreat and served in the upstairs dining room. Focus of our May session, May 21-24, is patchwork with crazy techniques (combine the two and explore a variety of looks—all cottons, a rugged look of homespuns and flannels, scraps or the Victorian crazy.) It’s your choice—your theme and your good time. Focus of the June session, June 18-21, is my much requested jacket class. I love embellishment—but NOT “too much”—if you know what I mean. So, we fit, cut and sew simple jackets with embellishment-- to our hearts delight. In both classes I teach you many techniques and hope you’ll explore more as you get into your project.. I hope you’ll join me—we will have a great time. Just think—stitching all day, no meals to prepare, no chores calling…a glorious week in the beautiful New Mexico mountains. It’s near perfect and I look forward to seeing you.


And speaking of stitching—Several of you have written about your projects started in one of my summer or fall classes. I truly enjoy hearing from you and seeing your great projects. Thanks for sharing…and always write, if I can help you work through a project, or you want to share your finished piece. AND WHEN YOU WANT ME TO LECTURE OR TEACH FOR YOUR GROUP. I love to hear from you..

Hope you are snuggled in and sewing. I certainly am. Until next time….