CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Works For Me - Show & Tell - Quilt University - Floral Illusions - Club EQ - From Computer to Catalog - EQ Haiku - Yankee Doodle Jane - Designing a Jacket with EQ5 - EQ on TV - EQ in the College Classroom - Anniversary Contest- EQ Computer Lab at Houston Quilt Festival

From Computer to Catalog

by Tish Douglas

From idea to product: Tish Douglas designed an EQ4 quilt that got national attention, displayed in the catalog and Web site for the company, Coldwater Creek. We asked Tish to tell her story.

I write quilting lessons for AOL, and in July of 2001 I wrote about the Fourth of July parade in my hometown. "I sat on the curb," I wrote, "while my town walked past and waved to me." Two quilts were born of that sentence. Using EQ4, I designed and made "My Town Walked Past," but "And Waved to Me" was only in my head.

Then came 9/11. We quilters all do it, I think. When we are affected by something, we work it out in a quilt. I was reaching for the mouse and the EQ4 icon within hours of watching the Towers come down. "And Waved to Me" painted itself on my monitor; it seemed to have a life of its own. My online friend Pat Tribbey helped me choose border fabrics that were bright and optimistic.

Pat had the quilt, and instructions for making it, published through AOL and on the web within days of 9/11, and the response was tremendous. I received e-mail from quilters telling me why they made the quilt, and who they gave it to -- Beautiful, sad, touching letters.

A year passed by and 9/11 came around again. Through e-mail, Coldwater Creek asked if they could use the graphic of "And Waved to Me" on their homepage and in e-mail during that week. I, being hugely flattered, gave permission. I am not sure how they found the picture, if there is a quilter in their office … I never thought to ask.

A few weeks after the second 9/11 a woman from Coldwater Creek called to ask me if she could make my quilt. I said absolutely… the instructions are on the web page. "Oh no, dear," she said, "Coldwater Creek wants to have the quilt made so we can sell it." I picked myself up off the floor and we talked about textile rights and money and things far less important than quilting. It's right there in the catalog now. I look at it and am amazed!

But there's more… Sharla Hicks, of SoftExpressions.com, was a guest on "Simply Quilts" later in the year, talking about computers and quilting, and showing some quilts designed with quilting software. After her phone call, I had to - gasp - actually make a cloth version of "And Waved to Me." Then I mailed both little quilts to her in California. They will be a tiny part of a show during the new fall season.

Tish's quilt in Coldwater Creek's catalogue.

There should be a moral to the story. "Start with EQ and see how far a quilt can go." That's where it started -- a few clicks of the mouse, some glorious color, borders with cornerstones. The ease of designing with Electric Quilt makes it possible for the designs in my heart to become pictures quickly, before the soul of them is lost. Thank you, EQ, for all the things you are, for all the possibilities.

Tish Douglas, Plantation, Florida

CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Works For Me - Show & Tell - Quilt University - Floral Illusions - Club EQ - From Computer to Catalog - EQ Haiku - Yankee Doodle Jane - Designing a Jacket with EQ5 - EQ on TV - EQ in the College Classroom - Anniversary Contest- EQ Computer Lab at Houston Quilt Festival