Behind the scenes reporter/photographer, Gregory Case, reports again from the film studio of “The Quilt Show”, a new “tv-like” show that will be broadcast over the internet.  The Quilt Show (which “airs” its first episode on April 2) is the brain child of quilters, Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims.

Here is more of Gregory’s report:

A couple of days ago, I blogged about the future of quilting which is becoming more internet-based. Note that you are reading this via a web blog, in your own preferred location and time of choosing. The internet allows you to shift the paradigms of time and space—you can be anywhere at any time and as long as you can access the web, you can read QuiltersBuzz, or other quilting blogs and websites, or access The Quilt Show website from your home, office or laptop computer.  

While the future is internet-based, ironically, Ricky Tim’s and Alex Anderson’s, The Quilt Show, is sold out for all these six tapings and the June taping seats are filling fast as well. Literally, busloads full of quilters are converging in La Veta, CO, making the trip to be a part of quilting history. 

The reality is that the future also looks a lot like the present. Ricky Tim’s Art Quilt Studio & Gallery will create a destination place for quilters to seek out and visit. For those geographically challenged in finding La Veta, Colorado on a map, look near the southeast part of the state. ( Try a Google search too!) Find Denver and head south. Go past Colorado Springs and Pueblo, and make a slight right turn at Walsenburg. La Veta is tucked in a valley with snow-capped mountains around it with a population of about 900. Today, the town folk were talking about seeing evidence of a bear roaming the alley behind Ricky Tim’s Art Quilt Studio & Gallery. Yeah, it is that remote!

The locals visited Ricky’s gallery all day. They expressed their enthusiasm for his new venture and are excited that La Veta will become even more of a quilter’s mecca a la Sisters, Oregon.

I followed them and the ever-expanding crew of producers, lighting and photography directors, film editor, sound people, and more, to create an exciting new venue where The Quilt Show will be taped. I have the wonderful job as a quilt and textile photographer to photograph the behind the scenes events: the production meetings, the rehearsals, Ricky and Justin’s house with their three dogs, the quaint town of La Veta, etc.   

Over a year ago, a quilting vision was created. Today, I believe Ricky and Alex have glimpsed the future of quilting. While it may blossom in La Veta Colorado, it will grow to be seen literally by the rest of world as long as one can access the web. No longer will the Midwest be flyover country as far as quilters are concerned. Soon, not only will Ricky and Alex (and the Quilter’s Buzz) have seen the future, you will too.”

Thanks Gregory, for the glimpse of the vision that Ricky and Alex have for the quilting industry.  Thanks for the “plugs” for QuiltersBuzz too.

 I agree with Gregory, that our quilting community is changing…there are more and more computer savvy people in the quilting/craft community and the internet is changing the way we access information, distribute information, create marketplaces to sell and display our wares and to “show and tell” our creations. I am looking forward to the show.-Gina

(Photos thanks to Gregory.)