At the organization's board meeting in August at the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, Meg Cox was elected president. She has served on the board since 2006, most recently as vice president. Since its founding in 1993, the Alliance has rapidly grown into one of the premiere nonprofits in the quilt world, known for its unrivaled virtual collection of quilts from four centuries. The principal projects of the Alliance include the Quilt Index, a database of quilts from museum collections and state documentation projects run in partnership with Michigan State University. The Index will soon reach the milestone of 50,000 quilts online. Another major Alliance focus is the oral history project Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories, which will soon reach 1,000 interviews. These run the gamut from quilt celebrities to passionate amateurs: all interviews are archived at the Library of Congress.

Please visit the AAQ website for constantly updated information and to sign up for its free e-mail newsletter.

The new quilting TV show, Quilt Out Loud with co-hosts Mark Lipinski, of Quilter's Home magazine, and Jodie Davis of QNNtv is already a hit. Like Mark's magazine, this is a fresh approach, like a lifestyle show for quilters with some projects and tips, but lots of fun and surprises too, including visits to quilters' homes all over the country. There is a modest fee to subscribe to the show, but it's less than a subscription to many quilt magazines and also features literally thousands of QNN quilting videos and TV shows by celebs like Eleanor Burns and Fons & Porter. You can go to the Quilt Out Loud site and watch a sample of this fun show free. My segment will be featured in the October show, and includes an "ambush interview" at my house. Now the world will know the secret of where I keep my fabric stash.

For more information on the show, go to www.quiltoutloud.com.

Jim West of Sew Many Places is well-known for his fabulous quilt cruises. Now he's started a free online magazine about quilt travel, with articles written by such well-known teachers as Eleanor Burns, Jinny Beyer, Ricky Tims.... and me. This will be a quarterly publication and the first issue is now live and available to anybody who registers at Quiltposium.com. Once you are registered, go to www.quiltposium.com/welcome.php to start reading. My article about how quilt travel has changed my life is on page 14 and 15 of this 166-page magazine. Turn to page 129 to read about my 2010 quilt cruise to New England and Canada, or look it up at Sew Many Places.

Subscribers to the newsletter will hear first about the details of Meg's appearances, articles and new ventures, as well as preliminary plans for her next book, a sequel to The Quilter's Catalog. For that book, Meg will be seeking quilt projects from everyday quilters across the country: find out what she's looking for. Also, Meg will use her reporting expertise to dig up quilt world news, and share her thoughts on trends, personalities, books, tools, new fabrics and more.

To subscribe, click here.

While reporting on the modern quilt world for The Quilter's Catalog, Meg compiled a set of 10 questions for quilters. More than 350 quilters all over the world completed the survey, and a number of them were quoted in the book. All the responses helped Meg understand the trends and passions fueling quiltmakers today. Analysis of the new survey will be reported on later and included in Meg's next book. After every 50 responses, Meg will pick a questionnaire at random and send that quilter four fat quarters of her favorite current fabrics.

Click here to visit the quilting survey and complete it online.

"I've been waiting for Quilter's Catalog ever since Mark Lipinski mentioned it in his Quilter's Home magazine and I finally picked it up the other day at Barnes and Noble -- worth the wait! I love it. HOURS of entertainment for the quilt addicted. Thanks for such a wonderful resource."
  - Denise Eubank, Greenville, SC

"My name is Tina Allison and I met you in Paducah, along with probably 30,000 other people. I had explained to you that I was a brand new quilter and you discussed your book and the great beginners section. You asked me to email you and let you know how it is going so far with the book. I LOVE IT!!!! I have skipped around some and read the Beginners section first. It so far has helped me soooo much. Thanks for writing something so inspiring and appropriate for me at this time in my life."
  - Tina Allison, Riceville, TN

"The book is so packed with useful information and is a great value for the money! I can't tell you how much I've already used this book. I've found quilt shows near me and have taken classes at them too -- I never would have known about them if not for your book, so thanks for your part in getting me started in quilting!"
  - Judy Fugarazzo, Wayland, MA

"Thanks for creating this wonderful book. I am fairly new to quilting and have read it cover to cover a few times. I have been inspired to try my hand at art quilts and dyeing my own fabric."
  - Mary Sharpe, Active Duty Military, Ft. Lewis, WA

"I have your book and it is amazing. I am telling all my friends, what a great book. I am currently president of the Cimarron Valley Quilt Guild in Stillwater, Oklahoma and would like very much to know how to get in line for you to come visit us..."
  - Peggy Gaston

"This book has anything & everything you need with regards to quilting. Can't believe I have been quilting for over 10 years without it!!"
  - Jane M. Aula, posted on Amazon.com

(Want your reader review posted here? Click here to email Meg.)

Former Wall Street Journal reporter Cox (The Book of New Family Traditions) has left no quilt square unstitched in this dizzying compilation of everything you've ever wanted to know about quilting and then some. Far from being merely a quaint tradition of an older generation, quilting is now a $3 billion business, according to Cox, that serves over 27.7 million quilters across the U.S. Cox enthusiastically fills the pages with photos, sidebars, resource sections and tips. She also includes a special section titled "12 Projects from Renowned Quilters" that offers patterns for the beginner to the advanced quilter with four-color photos. While quilting by hand may still be popular, and even preferred by the author, she includes detailed information on sewing machine manufacturers, quilt design software, quilting podcasts and Web shows. She also provides inspiration for quilters through profiles of teachers like Eleanor Burns and Kaffee Fassett, complete with their personal tips. This book is an essential resource for hobbyists and professionals alike, and is sure to be a classic for years to come."

Order a copy of The Quilter's Catalog now via one of the links below!