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Left Column (65% width)
Me and My Family from 1998 to before the beginning of 2009
Hi, as I greet you, so many faces have come to my mind!
In the last few days, I have been working on the complete makeover of my old website. This afternoon, I was reading the old About Us which was first written 10 years ago! (The old writings are in grey colour!)
What a 10 year! I simply lost in the memories, just like broke into my father’s dusty attic one day, only this time it is my own.
Written in 1998: We are a family of four: Jenny, our daughter. Keith, my husband, a traffic engineer is my First mate in our silver/gold smithing. I am a quilter and silver/goldsmith. Snowball is Jenny's 'baby sister"!!
Updated in 2006: Time flies! It was 8 years since the first thimble was born. As a quilter and silver/goldsmith, I designed and made my quilting thimble and subsequently improved the traditional Rocking Method to the folding method that involves NO-PRICKING the underneath finger nor upper thumb, no cramping of fingers and use big needles. I have travelled so far so widely to share with quilters within Australia and across the oceans.
Today Oct 20th of 2008: Snowball remains as cute as always – no sign of aging except becoming rather short with me at times. Jenny, under my very loose watch, if not down right neglect, has grown into a healthy and beautiful young woman – don’t ask me how. She left high school last year in flying colours and is now majoring Opera Performance at the Conservatorium of Music of Sydney University as a promising dramatic soprano. My poor Keith, has been demoted to my mail order packer on top of most house chores when I enjoy the dedicated support of my wonderful friends.
As you all know, our business was first born out of my hobby. The last 10 years has seen it growing into an innovative quilting business with new inventions and high quality products - better than I have imagined way back then. Now Thimblelady® holds 1 international patent on the cone thimble plus a number of innovative techniques copyrighted in both my quilting book and Appliqué book. There are two more MAJOR inventions to be announced after the designs are registered and trademarked, patent pending… Innovation was, is and will always be the base of our business. The excellence of every item on this site, whether it is made and chosen by me, is scientifically based with one clear aim at promoting better quality quilts!
Written in 2006: Quilting and sharing bring us together - I feel most fortunate and am truly blessed! I hope you feel the same...
As we speak on 20th of Oct, 2008, I feel even more the same! This is the best 10 years of my life! I have never learned as much, worked as hard, nor have I ever achieved so much during any other 10 years of my life!
Quilting has taught me how to live. It taught me the value of honesty and the respect for fellow hardworking citizens. Only when I sat through the long nights quilting stitch by stitch, did I truly appreciate what really lies behind any achievements. Only when I spent my own time and money to experiment failure after failure, did I feel the importance of protecting intellectual property. It was only when I became a victim of intellectual property thefts, did I truly appreciate the honesty of the majorty of quilters - without your support, I wouldn’t have bothered with any of these: because it is sheer hard work - the cone thimble design took 1 year to perfect the design after years of teaching and quilting, the thumb thimble took over two years, the new stitch regulator took more than a year to perfect… Thank you to all honest quilters - your honesty keep me in business! It stimulates me to respond to you in kind by improve my service to you...
Teaching has brought so many wonderful quilters into my life and taken me into theirs… Your kind invitations have taken me to so many places in the world I wouldn’t have ever dreamed of visiting. Do you know I still feel the hit of that wonderful thrill before walking into a classroom of quilters eager to learn? The only difference maybe more confidence in that thrill than nervousness, even though 1998 still feels like yesterday!
So much has happened in the world where I have taught. I think of you in time of this crisis and I am sure many quilters are feeling the squeeze. The only choice we have is to be optimistic and to quilt through the bad times and into the better future… Some say, one should cut down on hobby during financial crisis… Not me! Crisis can only challenge our clever hands and minds. Make a beautiful meal at little cost - yes, we can! Make the best quilt of your life with scraps by needle turn applique super finely, piece super evenly and then quilt super exquisitly. Life is too short - we must survive the crisis with a priceless quilt. Make the best quilt the world has ever seen in two years is the promise I have made to myself! And you watch.
It seems hard to believe that I love quilt making ever more after 10 years! In fact, it is first time I am beginning to feel that I have got the hang of it. Each new invention opened a whole array of new possibilies. I believe quilts made with the utmost care and the best technical skills are true and tangible wealth. Look around the world, look back into history, what have wars or politics achieved or problems solved?! Only Art and craft works of high quality gain value over time…
Written in 1998: Our dream is to create an Australian brand of patchwork and quilting products of excellence. I hope to create more quilting products that will make you, your quilts and your quilting more beautiful. You can browse through our website to see the new products I designed and try them out. They are designed by me (a quilter) for you (a quilter).
Updated early 2007:
Invented:
A hands free quilting hoop.
A cone thimble for quilting which are now being granted Patents by both US(2007) and Australia (2008).
Quilting technique and Applique techniques from 1998-2002.
Now (2008): Two new inventions: The Stitch Regulator for perfect whipstitch piecing and Magic Square that combines quilt-as-you-go concept, double-sided quilt concept together and straight seam whipstitch piecing in one.
Authored:
I have written and published 2 books and 2 DVDs (on Liuxin’s own innovative quilting technique and high needle skill appliqué) in English. Both books were translated into Japanese.
A new book on Thimblelady's Magic Square will be ready for sale on 1 Dec, 2008.
Column Writing:
Since Jan, 2007, I am writing a regular column, "Need Advice? Ask the Thimblelady", on Quilters Companion (Click to subscribe the magazine).
TV presence and features:
1. Featured on Simply Quilts (TV program) since Nov 2002.
2. Featured on major quilting magazines in Australia and US and Japan since 2001.
3. Nominee of Teacher of the Year 2004 of American Professional Quilters magazine.
Quilt Competition Awards:
2003:
In Australia: Best Hand Quilting award for Professional Category and First place in Traditional Category and several prizes in second and third places in State Annual Shows.
In US: 1st Place, Merit Hand Quilting, in Houston International Quilt Festival.
2004:
In Australia: several 1st and 2nd prizes in miniature categories in States Annual Shows.
In US: Finalists for AQS, Paducah and Quilt Festival, Houston.
2005:
In Australia: several first places in States Annual Shows.
In Japan: Excellence Award in Tokyo International Quilt Week; Grand Prix in Yokohama International Quilt Week.
2006:
In Australia: Best of Show of Western Australia State Show; Best of Show of Victoria State Show and 3 x 1st place in miniature in NSW, Vic and WA. Best hand quilting Professional, Best in Design and Judge’s choice in Vic.
In US: 1st place, innovative applique, Houston Quilt Festival.
Other award:
Finalist of Australian Ethnic Business Award, 2006.
Teaching and Lectures:
Have taught and lectured at all levels of quilting events. Other than regular local, state and interstate teaching, I also taught:
2 consecutive Australia National Quilt Conferences (started 2005).
4 consecutive NZ National Quilt Symposiums.
3 consecutive International Quilt Market and Festival, Houston.
Judging:
Guest Judge for Western Australia State Annual Show, 2005.
Sponsorship:
Initiated in 2001 a major award category for most prestigious Quilt Competitions in Australia and NZ and have been the sole sponsor of the award ever since.
Main goal in 2009? We have already been working on design and manufacture Thimblelady's own high quality (low cost) fine fabrics. They will be made specifically for the best of hand quilting, piecing and appliqué! Go to Fabric Club for more details. We need your input.
Many of you know that I have been working on opening a physical quilt shop so I can offer more handy service to quilters to make better quilts – we are still looking for a venue and will announce it as soon as we get one.
We shall continue to expand our online shop and improve our online service. Whether or when we have a physical shop, www.thimblelady.com will remain our main window through which we reach each other. That is why we have invested in a state-of-the-art eCommerce software and I have spent lot of time learning to manage it...
Right now, I wish you a great visit to our new online shop to feel for yourself the ease of shopping or browsing… Check out our new products, new inventions and new classes and retreats as you will soon have a Christmas wish list to fill.
Try my new Stitch Regulator – You simply can’t believe how perfect whipstitching can be for everyone! Start my new Magic Square design - It is the best “No brainer” you have ever known! Make an heirloom quilt with little time, little cost, no pain and no stress! It is truly magic. I have made a large quilt out of it already. Hurry!
 Liuxin
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