Lecture 2 June14, 2006

Quilt University - more than 140 online quilt classes - http://www.quiltuniversity.com/

<Needles> Evening Carol and welcome to RPLOTN
<Carol> Hi! I am happy to be here.
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Good Evening Carol
<Carol> Hi - to everyone

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Ladies I would like to start this lecture and introduce you to Carol Miller from Quilt University
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Protocol will be ! for comments and ? for questions. Let's give Carol a Big RPLOTN Welcome

<Glenda-AZ> Nice to have you.....clap...clap
<GAquiltR> welcome Carol
* Glenda-AZ thinks: WELCOME
<quiltaholic> welcome Carol
<magicat> clap clap clap clap clap
<Carol> bowing and smiling
<Carol> Hello again - lecture is not quite the right term. You can ask me anything and I will try to answer

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Carol can you tell us about Quilt University and what it is all about?
<Carol> Quilt University is a way to take quilt-related classes online. We try to offer skill level classes from beginner through graduate school. Our topics include piecing and appliqué, hand and machine work, traditional work and more contemporary applications. We also have dyeing classes and a number of garment, and other related items.

<quiltaholic> How much are these classes
<Carol> The class prices are based on the number of lessons - so a 3 lesson class is less than a 5 lesson class. In general, it is about $8 per lesson.

<Glenda-AZ> Are these scheduled classes or on going all the time?
<Carol> In some cases, work will take longer and extra weeks are added between the lessons. An additional $1 is added when this happens. All classes have an extra two weeks at the end. We open registration on 5-7 classes per week. Each Saturday, a group of classes begins. Not all classes are available all the time. The Catalog page and the Calendar (which we just set up today) show when a class is next scheduled.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> How many teachers on staff?
<Carol> We have 38 instructors right now, including me. Some instructors have several classes, others only one or two.

<quiltaholic> Is it a visual site....I don't mean to sound dumb but can you see the instructors?
<Carol> There is a picture of your teacher on the welcome page of your class. In each classroom, there is a discussion forum. It is not live chat like this because our students come from all over the world. Thus, we use the bulletin board format so you can see all the questions and answers even if you are gone for several days.
<Carol> We ask the teachers to check in once a day., but in busy classes, teachers are often online several times.
<quiltaholic> kind of like Quilters Network, I guess is what I am asking
<Carol> No, not like QNN - they use video and many people are not equipped to watch if they have slow connections and certainly cannot download.
<quiltaholic> ok that was what I was referring to

<auntie-em> Quilt University is one of my favorite web sites - I've taken a couple of classes - patti anderson buttons and bows and Karen Combs optical illusions

<Carol> Our lessons are written like a book, with lots of pictures and diagrams. We encourage the students to print them out so they can keep them.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Would you be interested in using a chat room if you had the opportunity Carol for classes?
<Carol> No, Donalyn, the time problem would inevitably leave people out and make them feel they were missing something. We have many students from Europe and Down Under and there just isn't a time that would work for all. Even some of our instructors are from Down Under.

<Carol> Karen Combs was one of the first four instructors to join us and has become a good friend. I am glad you enjoyed her class.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Carol you mentioned to me at Festival that you have a challenge to guilds? Could you explain that?
<Carol> We wanted to encourage people to think creatively so we issued a challenge to guilds and gave the theme. Unlike some challenges which are based on using a particular fabric, we specified only a title - this year, it is The Hole Thing. The work has to have a hole in it of some kind.
<Carol> the members participate in their guild and a winner is chosen. That winner participates in our online show.
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Hole you mean an actual hole or the effect of an hole?
<Carol> Yes, an actual hole. <G> But we make holes all the time, don't we? Every time a needle goes through the 3 layers....
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> that sounds interesting
<Carol> Could be the visual look of a bigger hole. We are not trying to draw strict boundaries.
<quiltaholic> These quilts will surely be conversation pieces of art.
<Carol> One hopes. :>

<Needles> Carol I just want to say I have watched you on our local PBS channel and I have really liked what I have seen. thank you for being on.
<Carol> ... on PBS - I don't know who that was, but it wasn't me!
<Needles> okay I should have said the name of your show. hehehe

<Carol> I have a question for your group. Do you find that most of your members are traditional quilters or more contemporary?
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> uhm, that is a good one, I do both art and traditional quilts
<Willo44> traditional mostly here
<Glenda-AZ> Contemporary here.......
<auntie-em> I do mostly traditional with a slight contemporary twist - don't really like very artsy way out stuff
<quiltaholic> mostly traditional...but hubby is trying to get me to go outside my comfort zone
<Carol> Okay, you have wrecked one of my pet theories. We see more contemporary interest than traditional and I thought that might be because the traditionalists didn't use the computer as much....

<quiltaholic> Come to the HGTV boards...I don't know how many of us are on that site but the largest majority are traditional quilters and we stay online back and forth all day and into the night....lol
<Carol> Interesting, QA. I'll have to take your word on that unless someone gives me more hours in the day.
<quiltaholic> :-)

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> How large are the classes Carol?
<Carol> We limit participation so that the galleries and forum do not get too overwhelming but a class might be as small as 5 or as large as 80. Since everyone is working in their own home, space is not a consideration.

<magicat> could you go into detail what taking a class entails?
<Carol> You sign up and on the Thursday before class, you get a password and can sign in and introduce yourself. On Saturday morning, the 1st lesson becomes available. (You got your supply list for most classes before you signed up.)

<Willo44> I have taken several classes and loved them all

<Glenda-AZ> When teaching I found some are more a hands on student...and do not follow verbal instruction well. How do you handle those? And, do you have a special time for assistance?
<Carol> Glenda, most of of instructors are able to explain things in more than one way and the lessons are filled with pictures and diagrams. 99% can make this work but there are some people who absolutely need to see it demonstrated right in front of them and there is not much we can do about that - YET.
<Glenda-AZ> I understand.....tnx

<Carol> Questions can be asked any time in the forum and if it is something you want to know in a hurry, you have the instructor's email and can contact her that way. Also you can send in photos of all the stages of your project and they are posted in the gallery. This means you can get advice on what fabric to use, or your layout or whatever. As more people get high speed internet, we can consider using videos.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Carol how is payment made for the classes?
<Carol> You can pay by MasterCard, Visa or check in the US and Canada
<quiltaholic> Do you offer Paypal?
<Carol> No

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Carol what type of degrees are earned?
<Carol> We don't give degrees. If we had to actually see the physical project and make sure that people did all the work, our prices would triple. More to the point, in my opinion, what use would a degree be? Most people do this for their own enjoyment. Personally, I have learned more since I got out of college than I did in the 4 years I was there. And I learn what I want to know, not what someone else thinks I should know.

<Willo44> The classes I took were EQ5 and they were so good, I loved the format, I printed everything too and worked at my own pace also when I had a question, it was answered promptly
<Carol> Thanks, Willo. Fran and Patti do a fabulous job with those EQ classes. They are some of our busiest courses.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Carol how long have you been quilting and where did the idea of a Quilt University originate and how
<Carol> I began quilting in 1979 - started teaching about 10 years later. Got tired of teaching every hot new technique and quick project at my local shop. Was looking for a better way to teach the things I found interesting. I know that each local area might only have 2 people interested in something, but if you could reach a larger audience, almost anything could be taught.
<Carol> I was talking with Lily Kerns online and we were talking about a way to get people to think more creatively about their quilting. She thought we could write a book but then, how many people see it? And we wouldn't be there with them...
<Carol> So I went to a big Mancuso show and realized the crowds were there because there were a whole LOT of teachers and came home and told my husband I wanted to start Quilt University. It sort of jumped into my head fully grown!

<Carol> Back to how classes work, a new lesson opens each week.

<Glenda-AZ> Not to brag...but I just completed a leather/ultra suede project using quilting techniques.....Creativity can take you a long way from a nine patch
<Carol> What did you make, Glenda?
<Glenda-AZ> A commissioned wall hanging of a cattle roundup on calf skin hide
<Carol> Very cool!
<Carol> I forget that my slang gives my age away. <G>

<quiltaholic> How did you choose the ladies who teach for you?
<Carol> The first four were people I knew, some better than others. After that, I asked some people who were teachers and others contacted me. I look at what they want to teach to see if I think there will be interest. It has to be something they have developed. Our teachers cannot teach from another person's book since we cannot make our students buy the book.
I also judge by the person's ability to communicate in writing. And to take pictures of the process.
<Carol> Some people who have taught for us miss seeing the students - others love this way of working. Lastly, we don't want our teachers to teach the same things.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> How many teachers are famous , like Ami Simms or Alex Anderson, do they teach also
<Carol> Famous is relative, of course. There are probably regional teachers like Linda Schmidt who are really well known on the west coast and not on the east coast. We have a number of teachers who are published or who have won awards for their quilts. No one is in the same class as Alex.
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> LOL Carol

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> You mention Garment making and other type classes what are those. I know a few people here like making clothes.
<Carol> I teach a class called InVestigations which teaches how to properly fit a vest and then explores ways to make your own original vest with a commercial pattern as the vest. Linda Schmidt has a class where you learn to make an elaborate undersea creation on the vest. We also have an Etui sewing box, a Victorian cloth box and things like tree skirts
<Needles> Carol is it hard to quilt clothing? That is one thing I have not tried yet?
<Carol> Quilting the panels that make a garment is no different that quilting anything else. HOWEVER, in my class, we do NOT quilt. Most quilters (myself absolutely included) do not need any additional padding. We use quilting and embellishment techniques to make interesting but flattering garments.
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Well that makes sense in not needing any more padding.

<Carol> We offer a sample class on Borders when you register for the newsletter. You can see how a class is set up.
There are also lots of places on the main site that you can visit without a password.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> what is the website
<Carol> www.quiltuniversity.com

<Carol> There are huge amounts of information in the library, including many mini lessons
<Cyn-CT> That was my question - what is the site to get started
Carol> Sorry - I thought that would be listed on the promo for this chat
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> It was Carol but some people were not aware of it
<Carol> <G> I know how that goes.

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Carol is the challenge still open for guilds to participate in or should we wait till next Jan?
<Carol> You can still join

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Well Ladies what do you think want to do a Hole Quilt?
<auntie-em> sounds like fun
<Carol> You don't have to decide tonight - email me

Glenda-AZ* Our Gidge taught Bargello at QU..she demo'ed a lesson at Sisters.
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> that's right I forgot about that Glenda

<Carol> Are there any other questions?
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Okay, are there anymore questions or comments. Carol you have been very informative and I may now sign up for a couple more classes for more UFO's
<Carol> well, a lot of the classes are only techniques, so you don't have to start a project

<quiltaholic> Carol..I would like to invite you to come over to the HGTV Quilting and Needlework boards just to see what is going on over there...Judy Martin has visited and allowed us to vote on her quilts that are in her newest book...we would love to have you
<Carol> why don't you email me at dean@quiltuniversity.com and we can talk about it. I appreciate the invitation but would need some more information. Right now, my hands are screaming Uncle from all this typing. <G>
<quiltaholic> ok will do
<Carol> thanks

<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> Well I guess no more questions or comments, I want to thank Carol for letting us hear about Quilt University and to thank you for giving up precious time. We welcome you back anytime Carol

<GAquiltR> Thanks so much Carol !
<SarahTX> Thanks Carol!!!
<auntie-em> ditto
<Cyn-CT> Thank you so much!
<quiltaholic> thank you for your time tonight...:-)
<magicat> thanks carol
<Needles> Thank you Carol.
<Carol> Thanks very much. I hope to see lots of new Canadians over at Quilt U
*Glenda-AZ* Thank you Carol....most interesting
<Carol> Good night

<Glenda-AZ> Tnx Carol..most interesting
<Needles> clap clap clap clap.... for Carol

<SarahTX> thanks QD that was interesting
<Cyn-CT> Thanks, qD for setting this up - it was interesting
<auntie-em> good job as always qd - talk to you gals another time
<quiltDonalyn-CTYankee> yes and now to scan the classes

A VERY big RPLOTN Thank You to Carol Miller for spending her evening answering our many questions about Quilt University. Pictures of your Quilt U projects will be posted in the newsletter if you get them to Smoky!!

Check back at our main website from time to time to see when we have another lecture planned!