That’s the name of the challenge our guild is doing this year.  I couldn’t remember the name but Jan reminded us at our meeting this month.

I talked a little about this challenge on a previous post.  I don’t remember all the details and can’t locate the minutes that list them.

The idea is to choose a quilt project/skill/whatever that we want to learn more about and improve on throughout this year….our own personal quilting Bucket List  We are to choose someone who is an expert in that area and use their books/teachings to guide us….a mentorship that doesn’t require that person to participate.  We just use them for inspiration.

I have an original Grace Machine Quilt frame with a Juki TL98E.  The frame is always up and the Juki never comes off.  I can do a Queen size quilt on this frame but I have to be really careful about the depth of the pattern I use as the throat of my machine is only 9 inches.   With the space I lose with the quilt roll, I can usually safely quilt a pattern under 5″.   I can do basic meander and stippling “ok” and I can follow simple pantographs but I’ve got so far to go!

Grace Machine Quilt/Juki

Hopefully, one day I’ll get a bigger set-up but for now I want to learn how to better use what I have.

I haven’t yet chosen my “mentor” but my Bucket List is to become more knowledgeable about short-arm quilting and to become a better quilter.   I’ve only found one person who is a national teacher for short-arm frame quilting….Wenda Coburn.  Kathy from Kathy Quilts has a nice DVD about short-arm quilting.  There are many big names for long-arm quilting and as short-armers we should be able to use many of the skills they teach.

I’ve got a few DVD’s and will be studying them. Here’s what I have:

Pajama Quilter Reloaded DVD/Workbook by Dawn Ramirez

Pajama Quilter Rethreaded DVD/Workbook by Dawn Ramirez

Grand Finale` DVD by Ricky Tims

Shortarm Machine Magic from Kathy Quilts

Emma Rae’s Designs from Kathy Quilts

Here’s where I need your help—I need your opinion about whose work I need to study and which DVD’s/books I need to add to my library AND who I should choose as my mentor. Leave a comment on this post with your recommendations and I’ll enter your name for a drawing for an unused book (from my personal library.

To be eligible, your comment must include a machine quilting DVD/book recommendation and/or name of a possible mentor in this area.  Sorry, but the drawing is limited to US or Canadian addresses.    I’ll use a random number generator to select the winner at 5pm cst Friday, January 22, 2011.  Comments after that time are not eligible.  One entry per person.

So, put your thinking caps on and let me know who/what resources will help me become a better quilter!