It feels like Saturday this morning, but the calendar says Friday! That's probably because yesterday felt like it was two days long. We started out early from the Kaisand house so that I could get to Iowa Public Television studios by 8 a.m. I was slated to tape an episode of Fons & Porter's television show. It wasn't my most efficient morning, so I was a little late. But, with the help of the crew I got the car-load of quilts unloaded quickly and we were off and running.

The topic we chose to discuss on Fons and Porter was about using pantographs on a long-arm quilting machine. I took Lenni, my trust-worthy long-arm machine. April West of Ames, Iowa, is an amazing long-arm quilter that I've know for quite some time. (She quilts on an APQS machine, of course.) When I was looking for examples of quilts done with pantographs I called her to see if she had any. Wow! Did she. The quilt in the photograph of Marianne Fons and I is just one of the dozen she sent.

Heidi and Marianne Fons on the set.


It took about six hours to get all of the taping done for one 20-minute episode. The director Andi will have lots of editing to do.

Marianne and Cindy Hathaway on the set between takes.


After taping was done, I unloaded the quilts and my supplies at the APQS showroom, loaded up some stuff for the booth at International Quilt Festival and headed to Chicago. It took about 5 hours to drive from the office, but the trip went pretty fast. Talking on the phone helps! Quilter and George demonstrator Pat Sloan called a few times once the show opened to ask questions.

Now I've had a good night's rest and am ready for a busy day at the Festival. If you're in the Chicago area, don't miss it!!