I'm Just Sayin

Whirlwind Tour Continues - Whoo-hoo!
Wednesday, 14 March 2012 02:41    PDF Print E-mail

Well, needless to say, I have been a busy man. I left Germany and headed to Moscow where I enjoyed a day of sight seeing followed by a day of lectures. It's hard to absorb so much in such a little time, but hopefully some of it will stick in my memory - at least I have photos - and a new Russian hat! No, that's not my new hat in the photo above, but ask real nice and I might show you a picture. Thanks to Natalya for being such a good guide and host! I have a video to post soon, so watch out for that.


Then I was off to Spain where I enjoyed two days of wonderful classes in Girona followed by a day of touring in Barcelona. Rafael was brilliant at organizing fantastic classes for me in Girona and Rosario, a great ambassador for quilting in Spain who I had met several times in Houston, was my interpreter. My family friends Adria and Gisela gave ma a tour in Barcelona that led to the Sagrada Familia (designed by Antoni Gaudí) and Guell Park where Gaudi created one of the most interesting public parks in the world.


Next on my stop was the Netherlands and Belgium where I also taught classes. Rianne is head of Bernina in the Netherlands and Belgium and I really enjoyed seeing her optimistic outlook on sewing and quilting in that part of the world. I also enjoyed some touring time - having Flemish Fries while I toured Bruge, Belgium, and made a visit to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam on my birthday (March 11).



Now I have landed in Steckborn, Switzerland - at the world headquarters for Bernina! Today I am resting - but it's just another calm before the storm - I'll be pedaling very fast again very soon! Stay tuned - and let's here a big worldwide WHOO-HOO for the Whoo-hoo World Tour 2012!
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Ashaffenburg, Germany - Let's Eat!
Thursday, 23 February 2012 04:30    PDF Print E-mail


My flight arrived in Frankfurt yesterday and I was met by Anja Pundt who is hosting me for the quilt festival in Ashaffenburg, Germany this weekend. Anja has a quilt shop in Ashaffenburg. I met all the staff (ask me if I remember all the names) and then Anja took me to check into my hotel and then it was time for lunch. After we were greeted with "closed" signs at a couple of restaurants, we decided comfort food would be just fine. It's times like these when a familiar friend can come in handy - LOL.


Last night I enjoyed dinner at the hotel restaurant, but I almost burned the place down. When I was handed my menu (paper), it got too close to the candle and went up in flames. It sure got attention of everyone there. I know how to make an entrance! Germany, I am here!

Today I'm working on getting over the jet lag, but it sure didn't help that I slept in.

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Up Up and Away
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 13:43    PDF Print E-mail

I leave today for the Ricky Tims' Whoo-hoo Nation World Tour! I am currently sitting at the Denver International Airport having a bite to eat at Panda Express before passing through security. Keep checking back here to see what I might be up to over the next 57 days. Is that close enough to say "two months?"

Next stop - Aschaffenburg, Germany!

Let's here a big Whoo-hoo from quilters worldwide!!

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All That Jazz - On Exhibit
Friday, 20 January 2012 10:33    PDF Print E-mail


Conversations, by Kevan Lunney, East Brunswick, New Jersey

All That Jazz: Improvisational Quilts, an exhibition of quilts made entirely without pre-planning, is on display now at the Road To Californina show in Ontario, California now through Sunday, January 22, 2012. You can see all of the quilts online in the All That Jazz gallery. To see the name of the artist and read the artist statement, you need to click on View Images, a link located just above the main photo in the gallery.

To see the quilts - click here.

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Christmas in England
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 08:33    PDF Print E-mail

I have put together a photo album of my trip to England over Christmas with Justin and Susan. We enjoyed London, Bath, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Oxord, and spent our last three days back in London. Some of these photos help tell the story and others I like for artistic reasons. Enjoy watching! Click Here.
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Connie Earin - Scholarship Recipient
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 15:24    PDF Print E-mail


Butterfly Dreams by Connie Earin. Original design. 108" x 116"

Ricky Tims Inc. is happy to announce that Connie Earin of Columbia Falls, Montana has been selected as the 2011 Ponnie Brinkman Retreat Scholarship. recipient. Connie receives free tuition and $500 towards her retreat expenses at a quilt retreat in La Veta next year.

Connie was nominated by the Flathead Quilter's Guild. Sarah Robinson, president for Flathead Quilter's Guild states, "Connie completes projects in record time with great perfection. But the best part of this; she shares with the guild her new found knowledge and we all are inspired!"

Congratulations to Connie on being the second to receive this scholarship. Congratulations to all the Ponnie Brinkman Retreat Scholarship finalists.

Connie says about her quilt shown above:

I had so much fun piecing this quilt. I used jelly rolls and made 3-D butterflies that matched to the outer boarder. My first original design and my first use of 3-D. I have only been quilting for the last 2yrs. and thanks to my Mother who said, "Just take one class, if you don't like it, I will quit bugging you to try and become a quilter." Well, she created a whole new me with that first class!

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All That Jazz - Selections Made!
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:08    PDF Print E-mail

Sway Away, by Diane Melms, Anchorage, Alaska. Part of the 2012 All That Jazz: Improvisational Quilts exhibit.


Quilts have been selected for the All That Jazz: Improvisational Quilts which will be exhibited in January 19-22, 2012 at Road to California. Once the exhibit is on display, I'll also post an online slide show so you can see all of these amazing quilts.

Here is the list of quilts selected for the exhibit. Congratulations!

1. Swoosh, by Carol Moellers, Greene, Iowa
2. BrinkOfSunset, by Hanne-Grete Brink, Narvik, Norway
3. Taking Flight, by Irma Deane, Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Water's Edge 1, by Valerie Maser-Flanagan, Carlisle, Massachusetts
5. Woods Walk, by Valerie Maser-Flanagan, Carlisle, Massachusetts
6. Eucalyptus, by Charlie Petersen, Port Townsend, Washington
7. Encounter, by Shirley Gisi, Colorado Springs, Colorado
8. Phantasmagoria: a diptych, by Sharon Hightower and Mary Pavlovich, Claremont, CA
9. Jazz Dots, by Cecília González, Desedamas, Igualada, Barcelona, Spain
10. KA-POW!, by Maria Shell, Anchorage, Alaska
11. Little Boxes-Silver Lake, Kansas, by Maria Shell, Anchorage, Alaska
12. City Lights, Steamy Nights, Lisa-Marie Sanders, Cocoa Beach, Florida
13. Rococo Riffs, by Libby Lehman, Houston, Texas
14. Scraffito, by Terry Waldron, Anaheim, Calirornia
15. Fields of Honour 2, by Margeeth Swart-Kwestro, Gorinchem, Zuid Holland, The Netherlands
16. Conversations, by Kevan Lunney, East Brunswick, New Jersey
17. Sunset Cinema, by Sheila Frampton-Cooper, Van Nuys, California
18. abstract floral quilt, by Carol Kolf, Sheridan, Wyoming
19. Bold Move, by Diane Melms, Anchorage, Alaska
20. Sway Away, by Diane Melms, Anchorage, Alaska
21. Orange Rhyme, by Ellen Wong, Oakland, California
22. Orchards, Fields, and Streams, by Laura Wasilowski, Elgin, Illinois
23. The Gossip Garden, by Debbie Martinez, Hobart, Indiana
24. Tranquil Passage, by Miriam Ahladas, Ashland, Virginia
25. Piano Rag, by John Flynn, Red Lodge, Montana
26. Days of Wine and Roses, Robin Gausebeck, Rockford, Illinois
 
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Let's Build A Studio - Part 4
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:19    PDF Print E-mail
The progress on the studio continues. While I was away for a short trip to Denmark, the demolition was completed and new walls (closet space) went up. The best part of the new studio will be the views. Just take a look and see for yourself. Will I ever get any quilting done?

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Travel to Ireland with Ricky
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 11:11    PDF Print E-mail


Travel with Ricky Tims on this 11-day tour of Ireland visiting the Dublin, Glendalough, Avoca, Kylemore Abbey & Gardens, Killarney, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, the Dingle Peninsula and we will be spending time in the Galway area for the festivities that surround the very first International Quilt Festival of Ireland!

This trip is created and organized by Jim West of Sew Many Places. Get all the details HERE! Tour is limited. Sign up soon!

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Heading Home from Asheville, NC
Sunday, 18 September 2011 09:39    PDF Print E-mail

Ricky Tims, Alex Anderson and Libby Lehman eductate, entertain and inspire.

The Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar in Asheville, North Carolina concluded yesterday. A big thanks to the Asheville Quilt Guild for providing all the volunteers for this event and a shout out to Bernina USA for their continued support. The Asheville Cotton Co. (Bernina dealer) was on site and new Bernina sewing machines went home with several quilters who took advantage of the dreat deals that were offered. The Ricky Tims Whoo-hoo Nation grew by about 470 with students coming from several states! And, most of them are heading home with new hand-dyed fabric, books, CDs and DVDs to add to their collection!

One student found a new way to audition fabric before purchasing.



Thanks Asheville! Whoo-hoo!
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