What's New

Quilt Jewelry...

I just had to let you know about some beautiful hand crafted jewelry made by Chris Daly. Chris is a stained glass artist turned quilter, and she has blended the two into the most charming pieces of jewelry. At present, you can see her work at ShadyGroveStudios.etsy.com.. If you don't know about etsy, it is a website to 'buy and sell all things handmade'... a sort of ebay for handcrafted art of all kinds. Chris hand dyes fabric, then turns it into the tiniest of quilt blocks, capturing them in a stained glass setting to transform them into earrings, pins, and pendants. If you are looking for a quilt-related gift, be sure to check these out!

Student Showcase!...

After talking about it for ages, I finally learned how to add a new segment to my website. It is called Student Showcase, and features quilts students have made in classes with me! Check it out. When you click on the photo in the Showcase, it will enlarge it and give you more details!

If you have a quilt (or quilt top... they count too!) that you have completed from one of my classes, please send me a picture along with your name and any story that may accompany the quilt. I will be pleased to add it to the website.

New Class Picture on Website...

It is always fun to finally finish a new piece. Many of my class samples are in the form of quilt tops, allowing me to pack more in my suitcase when I travel. But every once in a while, the quilting bug bites, and it is fun to get one of the quilt tops quilted. Such is the case with the class sample for the Shaker Tree of Life class sample. The photo now accompanies the class description and can also be found on the Gallery page. It is a delightful way to conquer circles, as well as learn points and stems. Check it out!

Electronic Newsletter...

Did you know that I have a monthly email newsletter that I send out? If you would like to be added to my email mailing list, just email me at wihalpin@mwt.net and let me know.

Wisconsin Quilters: Our State Guild

If you aren't already a member of your state guild, I encourage you to see if your state has one, and if so, run, don't walk, to join! I first became aware of Wisconsin Quilters when I lived in New York, and was invited to teach at one of their quarterly meetings. What a dynamic group of quilters! They have meetings four times a year, with three in the greater Milwaukee area, and the remaining meeting elsewhere in the state, allowing easier access for quilters outside the metro area. The usual format is to have two national teachers do presentations on Saturday, one in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. Then, on Sunday, each of the national teachers offers a full day workshop. What a great opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of national teachers, see a trunk show of their work, and be with other quilters in the process. Even if you can't stay to take a workshop, just seeing so many quilts up close and personal is more than worth it. And of course, there is always Show and Tell, a favorite part of any quilt gathering.

A short time later, when we found out we would be moving to Wisconsin, I contacted the Program Planner I had been working with, and she set me up with a realtor in our new community. And as if that wasn't enough good karma, we sold our house in NY because a quilting friend knew of someone looking for a house in our area, and put us in touch with each other. When I say that quilting is a great resource for settling in a new community, I speak from experience!

One of the first things I did when I moved to Wisconsin was join the state guild, and it has been a terrific part of my life ever since. I am now in my third term on the Board of Directors, and I can't speak highly enough of the great group of people I work with! From the dynamic Board, who is constantly looking for ways to appeal to the changing face of quilting in Wisconsin, to the members who continue to spread their enthusiasm at every meeting we have. If you are part of the greater Wisconsin area, check out Wisconsin Quilters . We have terrific teachers lined up for 2007 and would love to welcome you, either as a guest, or as a new member. And if you aren't from the area, check the internet to see if your state has a guild. You won't be sorry! Every state guild I have taught for has been a gem, bringing together quilters in new and exciting ways!

Quilt for a Good Cause

We are so blessed to be able to quilt. For so many, it is their passion. And for so many, they share their passion by quilting for a good cause. Let me tell you about a very good cause that can use your support. Quiltmaker Ami Simms has started the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. The goals of the project are to raise awareness and to fund research so a cure can be found for Alzheimer's disease. How can you help? Check out the Priority Alzheimer's Quilt Auction, where quiltmakers have donated quilts that fit into a flat Priority Mail envelope for on-line auction. Since January 2006, the Initiative has raised over $157,000. If you know anyone affected by this terrible disease, you know how devasting it is for patient and family alike. Whether you donate a quilt, or place a bid, let your quilting support a great cause.

I made a quilt for this auction and I have to tell you how participation in this project touched me in ways I never imagined. It started out as a way to do something for my mother-in-law who sadly was a victim of Alzheimer's. The crazy quilt I made was fun to do, a collection of bits of fabric held together with the fancy hand-stitching I so love to do, embellished with ribbons, buttons, and beads. It was exciting to see it come up for bid, watching how people responded to it, and seeing the price rise. What I never expected was the number of lives my quilt would touch. I received a message after the auction closed from Kathy Ockuly from Glenwood, (Baltimore) Maryland. It seems she and her friends had joined forces to have the winning bid on my quilt. They have a dear friend who had recently lost her mother to Alzheimers, and wanted to do something special for her, so they bid on this quilt, and sent it to her to let her know how much they cared.

It didn't stop there. A few days later, I got a lovely letter from Ruth Bragg, in Meadville, Pa, the recipient of the quilt. She and her mom had shared a love of stitching, and she told me how very much this quilt meant to her. With so many groups doing charity projects, making quilts for such a wide variety of causes, sometimes we forget that the charity doesn't stop with the completion of the quilt. The kinship goes on and on and on, to all those that the quilt touches along the way: to the friends who found a way they could offer compassion to a friend who had gone through a crushing loss, to the friend who felt the warmth and love of her friends in their giving her a quilt in memory of her mother. And through all of it, money was raised to help search for a cure for this terrible disease.

While we may think there is nothing we can do, quilting is a powerful medium. When my quilt came up for auction in August, the Priority Alzheimer's Quilt Auction Project had raised close to $9,000 since it started in January 2006. Now, a year and a half later, that figure is over $147,000! Never let it be said that what you do doesn't count for something. When we join forces, we can accomplish great things. So think about participating. Think about bidding on a quilt in memory of a friend or a relative or an acquaintance. Your gesture will lend support in ways you never imagined.

Antique Quilt Blocks

Iowa Quilter Barb Manders has come into posession of several antique quilt blocks dating from the 1840's to 1860's, and she is searching for a good home for them. They have been valued at $15 each, and are in quite good condition. There are several small star blocks, in red, blue, green, and yellow, as well as several 'chimney sweep' blocks made up in fabrics typical of the era. Here are photos of a sampling of what is available. If you are interested in purchasing any of the blocks for your collection (they are stunning when framed!) let me know. Barb has entrusted the blocks to me to offer when I give lectures, and I will be happy to send you more pictures if you are interested in adding antique quilt blocks to your collection.

Autographed Books Available

This isn't new, but just as a reminder, I am happy to personalize autographed books. Check out the Ordering section of my website to see what is available.