This is the first issue of an experimental electronic publication designed for computer-literate quilters who are interested in the intersection where computing and quilting meet. To some, the ancient handcraft of quilting may seem to be in another universe from the light-speed world of electronic communication, but those of us who have hung out on this corner over the last few years know how well the computer has come to serve quilters. Whether you are a subscriber to Quiltnet, a CISter on CompuServe, or are using Electric Quilt 2 to design your quilts, you know that the computer has revolutionized quilting almost as much as the rotary cutter!
The purpose of TVQ, which I hope to publish eight times a year, is to provide a focus for issues of computer quilting and a way of crossing the boundaries which exist between the many groups of online quilters. It will contain news of new mailing lists, in-depth reviews of quilt-related software, profiles of online quilting communities such as those at America Online, CompuServe and Prodigy, quilting tips and interesting threads from the lists and the newsgroup, and profiles of individuals making contributions to cyber-quilting. And it will contain some classified advertising as well. I hope to make it a useful resource to both beginners in the online world and to veterans of online quilting groups.
I have labeled this newsletter experimental, because I have no idea if, or how much, people may be willing to pay for such a publication. In the spirit of sharing that so typifies quilters and the online world, I feel like I ought to be giving TVQ away, but time and online costs being what they are I can only justify it if I can recoup some of my costs. Thus I have decided to ask for subscriptions at the modest rate of $5.00 for 8 issues, delivered as an ascii text file to your e-mail box about every six weeks. The first 100 subscribers will also get four issues worth of free want ads as part of the deal! See the end of this page for details on how to subscribe.
Quilt-Pro Systems, the company which has produced Quilt-Pro for Windows quilt design software and more recently a version for the Macintosh, has established an 800 number for ordering their products and asking general questions. The number is 1-800-884-1511. Their software support line is still a commercial number, (214) 625-7765.
We'd like news of new classes starting up to teach quilt design on computers, or new approaches to that teaching. New products, maillists, World Wide Web pages, etc., are all fair game, and we'd appreciate any tips you can provide. In fact for every tip or story you provide that we use in TVQ, we'll extend your subscription by two issues. Send your tips by e-mail to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.
If you have a comment about an article, a complaint or a correction, we're glad to hear that, too, and may publish some comments as letters to the editor. Again, these may be sent to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.
Copyright (c) 1995 by Robert Holland. All rights reserved. This file may not be reproduced in any form except to be printed out for the personal use of its owner without the expressed, written consent of the copyright holder.
That buys you 8 issues (in addition to this one) and for the first 100 subscribers one free classified ad for your business or personal use in 4 of those 8 upcoming issues. Ads may be up to 50 words in length.
In upcoming issues you will find more in-depth reviews of quilt design software (next issue: Quilt-Pro for Windows), more profiles of quilters, as well as profiles of online quilting communities (next issue: CompuServe). These features will be interspersed with news of developments in the quickly changing and expanding world of online quilting.
To subscribe, fill out this form and send a check or money order for $5.00 made out to Robert Holland, to 140 Ridley Circle, Decatur, GA 30030-1117.