Question for Charter or long time Members?

[Lois B.]

How do you use this site? What has best helped you improve you quilting skills? Lois

[Terry K.]

Gosh, I can't pick just ONE! The shows have been helpful to see how other people create. The forum topics have helped me work through some problems that I encountered because others had solutions that worked better than mine! The blogs and the quilt gallery give me an inside view of the projects. The whole TQS has helped me become more confident! What a great thread to start Lois!

[Hannelore N.]

I don't have the time to use TQS as much as I would like to. My fulltime job gets in the way. Initially I dipped in and out of everything, but I quickly settled down. I love checking the forum every day before I go to bed. It's a great way to stay in touch with TQS friends. I also watch all the shows. The little workshops are great, but I pick and choose, normally ending up with watching all of Alex's ones. Now and then I settle down with a Single Malt on a Saturday night and 'play' with the gallery, putting in key words in the search box and treating myself to a very varied and interesting quilt show.

When I was considering to buy a new sewing machine I kept an eye on anything that was said about the different makes and models of machines, and it really helped me to make a decision.

I also love the quilt puzzles - again part of my Saturday night entertainment.

For me, the time difference between Europe and the USA is very interesting. If I post a question somewhere in the forum before I go to bed, I then sleep, go to work, come home, boot up the computer and...... voila! There are a lot of answers, often headed by Margo.

The BOMs have been amazing, but I have had to drool up to now and wait for retirement before I could consider doing one of them.

I belong to the British Quilt Guild, and excellent organization, but TQS offers so much more.

If I would have to pick one single fact about TQS that is the most important one to me, then it would have to be that it's available at all times, and so fits with my life. I belong to a small local quilt group that meets once a month. I have not managed to make any of the meeting this year because I have been too tired on those evening. With TQS I can have a little sleep and then watch a show, when the time is right for me.

[Charae H.]

Ditto, Lorchen. You have described exactly how I use TQS. Actually we would be on the very same page if you would substitute a nice California chardonnay for a Single Malt!
I don't belong to any other guilds, so I can't comment on that aspect, but I truly love the caring and willingness to share that TQS members exhibit daily. So the Forum is a must for me. I, too, love how I can go on-line whenever I am able and learn something new from the experts. If don't quite get it the first time, or if I get interrupted, I can start over and learn it again! It fits my lifestyle to a "T"!

[Hannelore N.]

And, Charae, it doesn't matter at all what we wear (or don't wear).

I must have been somewhere on the TQS site in every single state of dress or undress imaginable! 8)

Sooo, you are in CA.... I have just come home from picking up one of my sons from the railway station, and it's foggy here.

[Charae H.]

Yes! The state of dress/undress! How could I forget. I am just about ready to call it a day and go home. Beautiful spring weather here, but supposed to be rainy this weekend. That's OK by me. Maybe we'll be able to take showers and water our lawns this summer.

[Jill B.]

I also ditto most of Lorchen comments although I am now retired, and sitting here in my nighti.....lol lol lol

BUT so many reason why I love TQS,its more about what I have learnt because i often say to people once you have done one of TQS BOM's you can then sew any quilt I think, the BOM's also make me sew in a way I wuld most likely not bother as I think to hard or I am to lazy to try.

What I have also found is that sometimes when talking to other quilters its not so much about what I may know its about what they DONT KNOW, am I the only one who finds this, we watch tthe shows and see so many better way of sewing a particular way, or a great techinque, or paper piecing, or what I now know about threads. Also the teachers we get to meet on the shows who I would never have known about before, I dont know how many times I have spoken about a teacher and people say "who". And while at a quilt show today and made the comment how fantastic it is to see the male quilters as they add a different dimension in my mind and the comment back was good lord is there!! And for those of us who live outside of the cities to me its the total wow wow wow factor to have the chance to see and be involved in sooooooo many ways in this quiting journey.

[Joan D.]

I too love TQS I sit here at my computer every morning with my coffee some mornings I have to tear myself away to go to work. When I talk to other quilters they are so amazed at the information I share and it is everything I have learned from TQS, the lady that owns the LQS says she can't believe the names I remember it is because I feel I have met them and taken a workshop all on TQS. I love to share with other quilters people who speak my language. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for being there. Joan

[Lois B.]

I am so glad I opened this thread. TQS is a friend for whom I have been waiting a long time. She is there anytime I want her/him to be. The site inspires me to get moving and I try new things. The only Quilt Guild in my area meets at a time I can't go and I have learned from members that they have a very difficult time finding programs or teaches. I know I would love socializing with the quilters but I am most interested in learning new things. I love the banter in the Forum. I love the amazing expertise, Rosemary and Margo and all the rest of your. The best part of that the expert advice comes from those with whom I banter. I also love that the entire cite is downright friendly through and through. How many places online do you get personal replies to your questions for technical problems. We all talk about Bob, the tech guy, like we know him. I have also gotten' a series of emails from Capt. John when I was having trouble with puzzles. This is the friendliest high tech place I have found. Lois

[Lois B.]

I have been sewing for many years--then I decided to try a quilt. I have never taken a quilt class.Do not belong to a group. No one in my family or group of friends quilts.BUT I HAVE TQS. I have learned sooo much from all of you when you come to the forum. I have also tried the BOMs for the past 3 years and again learned so much. I am awed at all of you talented quilters and let me tell you that you are indeed my inspiration.

[Norma H.]

My membership here means a lot to me. I learn something every day and it has grown to be a very important part of my life. I enjoy all the wisdom shared by all of you and all of the guests on the shows. I enjoy all the techniques that are offered and try out a lot of them to decide if they fit me.
This is just a little adding to what have already been said. TQS has really become a dear and loved family.

[Norma H.]

Ok, I'm NOT a long-time member, but I've been pouring thru everything on TQS like an obsessed madwoman since I joined! I love the whole package! The forums are my latest "discovery" and I'd only be repeating what the rest of you have said about this friendly community. I have 5+ new "test projects" in the works, from rewatching all the shows that grabbed my attention the most. Having not done any piecing since my log cabin bed quilt 28 years ago (no paper piecing, no rotary cutters, no foundation or spray "starch", no templates), I am having the time of my life learning how to use all the new techniques that make things so much easier and more precise. Oh, and the tricks on how to do easily do things I thought were nigh impossible and never would have attempted before??? Well, since I joined TQS I've been driving my non-quilting friends nuts, tho they're too kind to say so. :lol:

[Lorna B.]

I have probably learned the most from the shows, the classrooms and doing the BOMs. I like the inspiration I get from the quilt gallery and the show & tell tabs. I like sharing, meeting and learning from people from all over the world on the Forum. The quilt puzzles are fun. I occasionally hit the blogs, but I just don't time in the day to read them all.

Lorna

[Lorna B.]

Much the same as Lorchen. I now live in rural Nova Scotia and therefore do not have as easy access to what is up and coming or the happenings in our quilt world and although I have been quilting for more than 20 years, I am still learning new tricks and techniques here. I love viewing the slide shows and reports like Pam Holland's. I loved doing the BOM a few years ago and hope to join in on a next one soon. My quilting word would be rather empty without TQS.
cheers on a lovely spring day
Jeanine

[Sharon A.]

TQS is my go-to site for inspiration and tutorials since my immediate area has no shop or guild. I check out the daily blog and quilt gallery nearly every day. The shows are fun and informative.