Ricky Tims successfully blends two diverse passions into one very unique and interesting career. Thousands who have heard his music affirm his skills as a pianist, composer, and producer. His success as a quilter is equally significant. He is known in the international world of quilting as an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, an award-winning quilter, and a talented and spellbinding speaker. His innovative and entertaining presentations feature live music and humor combined with scholarly insights and wisdom. His quilts have been displayed worldwide, and are highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilts with traditional appeal. He is currently the co-host of The Quilt Show, an internet-based show for quilters that also features Alex Anderson, C&T Publishing author and former host of HGTV's Simply Quilts. Ricky began designing and making quilts in 1991. In 2002, he was selected as one of "The Thirty Most Distinguished Quilters in the World." He maintains an international schedule of teaching and speaking engagements, presents Ricky Tims' Super Quilt Seminars in select cities throughout the United States, and holds week-long retreats in La Veta, a tiny mountain town located in south-central Colorado. He and life partner Justin Shults own Tims Art Quilt Studio and Gallery, a space dedicated to promoting quilting as art. Ricky is passionate about quilting, and is delighted to share his experience and enthusiasm with quilters of every level of expertise. He is challenged by creativity in all forms, and encourages individuals to cultivate self-expression, reach for the unreachable, and believe in the impossible. Quilting is a relatively new interest compared to Ricky's lifelong passion for music. He began formal music lessons at the age of three. He is a pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, music producer, and performing artist. Tims' music is neither classical, new age, pop, nor world, and yet it could fall under any of those classifications. Sacred Age, Ricky's newest recording, was released in January 2006. The album project, featuring solo piano infused with Native American instruments, string orchestra, and vocal orchestrations, was created to suggest the beauty, majesty, and spirit of the Spanish Peaks region of southern Colorado. Tims' music has wide appeal for a diverse audience and has been described as "George Winston meets Carlos Nakai meets Yanni."