The Quilt Show

Carly Mul • August 26, 2025

The Quilt show by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims is a wellknown phenomenon. For fifteen years now, Alex and Ricky are bringing quilting into our homes through television. Long before we had videos and zoom these two talented quilters have brought us joy by sharing and showing us all kinds of different quilters and quilting techniques. 450 episodes have been created during 15 years of tv making, a true legacy. I chatted with Ricky about this and he is rightfully really proud of this legacy. "Even some of the oldest shows are still informative and a joy to watch", he says.

All this on top of the amazing work Ricky and Alex each do individually. So many people in the quilting world have so many talents! I spoke with Alex's husband John about their fabric business, the rising cost of shipping. With Ricky I chatted about his view on "time", ravens and his quilt coming to Houston in October. I had an interesting discussion with Hugo, Ricky's husband, about his quilting and photography.  I take these wonderful chats with me in my memory just as much as the tv making time. I have been enriched, again.

Twice per year The Quilt Show invites about twelve "guests" and with each guest a show is being produced. This is not only the work of Alex and Ricky. They have the support of their partners, producer Shelly Heesacker, editor-in-chief Lilo Bowman and a team of camara people, sound and lighting experts and social media people. They are good at what they are doing. They make a well-oiled operation that tries to make the guests "shine", as producer Shelly describes it. Their preparation is intense but still, there is room for last minute ideas or improvements.

I was asked to be a guest earlier, but as they do ask from all guests some serious preparation, I declined as  I didn't have the time at that time in the way I felt was needed (it was around the time I had deadlines from my publisher for my book). Thank goodness they asked me again for the August taping and I am glad I could say yes this time.  It started with a lengthy conversation with Editor-in-chief Lilo Bowman. She explained what one can expect from the show and what the show expects from a guest. Little things like, hair out your face, no jewelry that make sounds on the table, makeup for tv lightning, advice on what to wear.  And also, when are you coming:  flight info, hotel info.... all this just in case something  unexpected happens like a lost suitcase or so.  It is a big deal to get introduced to so many viewers worldwide and a solid preparation is important. It makes the quality of the show what it is. I appreciated the advice and it led that I -for the first time in my life- wore foundation, mascara etc. I am such a plain Jane! Thank goodness I have daughters who are much more into this than  I am and I got their help.

After the practical information from  Lilo, I found a new friend in producer Shelly Heesacker who interviewed  me for  about 3 hours via  zoom about my life.  She knows how to make tv and how to get personality out of someone by asking interesting questions. How I came to the US as a lawyer, made boxes, started a quilting business, wrote a book,  and now make my own quilts, teach classes and speak at  events.  It was a trip down memory lane as she wanted old photos and listened to old stories. Just to get an idea who I am and connect the dots. What motivates me? Why did I make some of the choices I made? What was hard or easy?  I enjoyed our conversation so much and she seemed to love the boxes. I asked for a favorite color (periwinkle) and made, with a smile, a little box for her as a thank-you gift.


On a sidenote: With just a few discussions, it became clear to me that Ricky and I share outlooks on crucial things. At one time he said: Just because I love something, that doesn't mean I have to get buried with it".  About how to make changes, even when things are going very well. He moved out of CO, although he loved his place so much. I sold my fabric business although I loved it so much. We don't have to wait for bad things to happen before we make changes. ... I treasure this conversation in positive thinking that is based on the idea that we all have limited time in our lives and that we have to be aware how we are spending our healthy days.

The way they set this up is really smart. The Quilt Show rents a big house in a place, this time Louisville, KY, where there is room not only for taping but also for hosting the entire crew. The house in Louisville was big! The taping happened on the third floor. Floor one and two were bedrooms for the crew, kitchens for food preparation and cool drinks. Places to hang out and relax as the work is intense. They are making it a home for a week. Rooms for the guest to change, to lay out quilts.  I felt the honor of being  a guest the most when I was able to take this photo of the closet of Ricky's shirts. He and Alex change outfits for every show, but not after asking the guest which color he/she is wearing. They adjust their clothing to the guest and that is such a nice gesture of hospitality. To me this photo is priceless and so telling about the experience.

They ask you to arrive a little early so that your quilts can air out after having being folded in a suitcase, but  it is not only the quilts that benefit from this. By arriving earlier, I could get used to the setting, see the taping of Nina Clotfelter, the guest before me. It takes the nerves away. Now I am not really nervous talking in public and don't have issues with formulating myself, but  I was dreaming the night before the taping that the buttons of my dress would somehow jump off during taping! Apparently there was some unconscious anxiety in me after all. I had a backup dress, knew that it wasn't live-tv, so I went back to sleep....


Each guest has an interview with Ricky and Alex together and I have already forgotten what we talked about! We talked so much on and off the taping, I didn't feel the camara running. The entire operation felt quite low key and casual.

After the interview,  I had a section with Alex in which I showed  how to make a line in color. I do this also in every color collage class as it is such a good explanation how I make a collage without a pattern. They first were a little surprised that I only had this little stash of fabric with me, but we had to tape it twice because it went easily over the limited time! After that I talked with Ricky much more in detail about my method, but that 14 minutes segment is really too short to explain it all. We knew that in advance but we quickly discussed the method and introduced viewers to what I call "Leaders", Followers, Connectors and Kisses", the core of my way of making lines in my book. I hope it will intrigue viewers in what I do and maybe it will lead to more teaching opportunities at guilds or shows in the future? I am not looking to "work-work" as a teacher, but there are places I would love to go to. Ricky  promoted the book, my websites and my fabric Builders  to give viewers a source of help that is available in case they want to try this. I do believe that the amount of time was enough for viewers to decide if they would like to try this, or not. And that is really the goal of the show: showing you different ways how we can play with fabrics!


I have no idea how my show will look like and I signed a paper that they can do whatever they want with my voice and my work! Some major editing needs to be done before a taping turns into a show. I have faith.   "My" episode will come out somewhere next year between February and July and I can't wait to see the result of these wonderful two days in Louisville, KY. It was an honor indeed and I will keep you posted!