February 2025 Newsletter

 It’s February – Love is in the Air - Love for Family, Friends, Fur Babies and All Things Quilting.

 You are on my newsletter list because you were at a program I did at your quilt guild or you signed up for my newsletter online or at an event. If you don't want to get these newsletters, please let me know at djps1957@gmail.com.

 Curious about what's going on? Here's the news:

New from The Curious Kansas Quilter

I’m always working on new ideas and have several in the works at the moment. Besides finishing up some UFOs (just finished one from 2016) and working on some new skills, I am working on a new trunk show – Optical Illusion Quilts. It will be available after May this year.  The big news is that I am teaching at the KC Regional Quilt Festival in June this year. The classes have been posted and are ready for you to sign up. Check out my technique classes here.

Curious about EQ8?

Electric Quilter 8 is a program that enables quilters to design quilts and audition fabrics for your quilts. I have taken multiple group and private EQ8 lessons, but it just has eluded me. I have my suspicions as to why but let’s say I was probably too impatient. Learning and using EQ8 for designing my patterns is one of my major goals this year. Currently I design on paper and then use work processing to draw the diagrams. It’s cumbersome and my patterns lack a professional look.

So, I signed up for Kari Schell’s Tech Know Quilter EQ8 course.  I started this week with the basic lessons and I feel really confident that I’ll get it this time. I’m planning on transitioning my patterns to EQ8 starting with my new-ish pattern Cross Roads. So stay tuned!

 

 Visit the International Quilt Museum

This gem, located just 3 hours or so north of the KC area in Lincoln Nebraska, is well worth the visit. I’m only a little bit biased due to the fact that I’m a new member of the Board of Friends of the IQM (International Quilt Museum). I’ve seen several exhibits in the last couple of years including Paula Nadelstern, Sue Spargo, feedsack quilts, and Victoria Findlay Wolfe. Current exhibitions include Whimsy II: Quilts of a Feather, Studio Showcase: Judy Kirpich and Karen Schulz, Without a Net: Quilted Sculptures by Susan Else, and A Golden Age of Quilters: 1870-1940. Exhibits are constantly changing, so multiple visits are a must. The museum is reasonably priced, but is also free during the first Friday of the month. Another time to visit is November when the Friends hold their annual fundraising Art Market.  Potters, glass artists, wood carvers, basket weavers, folk artists, and fiber artists have their beautiful art on display and available for purchase.    

 

Just for Fun

One of my favorite actress/comediennes is Miranda Hart. She starred as Midwife Chummy in Call the Midwife and in the title role in Miranda (both British shows). I resonated with her character in both shows. She has come out with a new book – I Haven’t BeenEntirely Honest With You.  This book describes her struggle with some long undiagnosed long term health concerns and what she learned about herself and life along the way.  I listened to the book on Audible and it was narrated by Miranda herself in her funny, self-deprecating, totally British way.  I found it the perfect combination of real issues tackled in a somewhat light hearted way, humor and some good lessons (she calls them her “Treasures”). It is a great audio book to listen to while sewing or organizing the studio. Highly Recommend!!!    

 Upcoming Events

February –

6 – Miami County Quilt Guild

8 – Denise’s Saturday Sew Day at StitchOn

15 – Kira with the Stripology Ruler at Quilters HQ

27 – Topeka Country Quilt Guild

 

March

11 – Flint Hills Regional Quilt Guild

15 – Denise’s Saturday Sew Day at StitchOn

22 – Playing with Log Cabin Blocks at Quilters HQ

26 – 28 – Central Oklahoma Quilt Guild

 

April

3-5 – Ad Astra Shop Hop at Quilters HQ

19 – Denise’s Saturday Sew Day at StitchOn   

 

Stay Curious!