What do you think?

What draws you to a pattern?? Is it the samples on the cover or the design?? I have wondered this question for a long time. I see books and patterns with gorgeous quilts on the covers only to discover they are mostly a common pattern that has been redone.

I've used this pattern for years. It's the one I use to teach beginners to quilt. It is one sheet of paper that was from a quilt class many years ago. But it's still my favorite for teaching the basics of quilting. Do you think they look different made up with different fabrics and color ways?


Inquiring minds want to know :-)

WIP

It's been hard to get back into the groove of sewing and quilting. In the evenings I find it easier to just pick up something that is already in progress.

Like my pink Strings quilt.....

And this scrappy quilt that has been hiding in my closet for a couple of years. I found extra blocks so I've been adding rows to see if I can complete this little quilt.

I've lost the pattern, so I'm not planning on any borders.

I hope you have a happy quilting day!

Linky Party Tuesday
WIP Wednesday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?
Sew and Tell Friday

A Free Resouce

Did you know there is a free resource guide as close as your nearest JoAnn's Fabric store??

Today I stopped in at JoAnn's to pick up sewing machine needles. I was not too sure what I needed, so I picked up the Machine Needles Guide found right in front of the notions section.

As I looked around, I noticed there were lots of these little pamphlets available with so many different titles.

Machine Needles guide
All About Pins guide
Hand Needles guide
Fabric Adhesives guide
Sewing tools, Marking essentials, Elastics, Fasteners, Cover buttons, Omnigrid Rulers and many more.

I couldn't help but think how these little pamphlets are a helpful FREE tool when you are shopping and have a question about which one to use.

And an update on my GIFT for one of my readers. A couple of weeks ago I offered a one years subscription to Quiltmaker magazine. A lot of things happened during those two weeks, but I did draw a name and tried to contact the winner. That person never responded to my email, so I drew another name. And believe it or not, the second person never responded either. They say that the third time is the charm. So......... the winner of the one year subscription is.........

Amy of A {Redeemed} Quilting Sheep.

Stop by and visit her beautiful blog and tell her "hi!".

Have a great weekend!

Granny Square quilt

There has been a Granny Square quilt rage going on lately. I love this pattern and had bookmarked the Blue Elephant Stitches tutorial.

But I kept thinking............. this quilt looks SO familiar to me.

And then I remembered!!!

My daughter had bought a very old quilt at an antique shop a couple of years ago. So I dug it out. The design is laid out differently but I think it is the same pattern block. It looks different using the white in the center.




There is a damaged block that was replaced with a piece of muslin.

I'm not sure that I can replace the damaged block. But it might be worth trying.

·.·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.·-¦-·.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·.·

I would like to express my thanks to each one of you that sent words of comfort and encouragement during this time of loss to our family. We appreciated your thoughts, prayers and gentle words. You have ministered to us as we have walked through these sad days.

A Celebration

"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying.... for the former things are passed away."  Revelation 21:4

This week I have said good bye to two women who have had a huge impact and influence on my life.  On Tuesday evening, my dear Mother in Love took the hand of Jesus and left her earthly body to walk the streets of gold.  She was one of the most giving and gracious ladies I have ever known.  It has been a sorrowful tear filled few days, but we are in fact rejoicing in knowing that she is not in pain anymore and praising God that her faith has been made sight and that she is with her Savior.


Then on Thursday morning, my husband's aunt joined her sister in law as she too left us to reside with Jesus.  And although we were not blood relatives, she stepped into my life at a time when I was grieving the sudden loss of my own mother.  She has been a substitute mother, a grandmother to my children, a friend, a mentor, a beautiful example of how to love people wholly and unconditionally. 

Few of us have the privilege of knowing one person in our lives who sets a course of integrity and honor and who fills you up with their unwavering love.  I have been blessed to know and love two such women.

Absent from the body

Present with the Lord

I have to tell you

... reasons I'm not getting much sewing or quilting done.

We have been getting our old house ready for renters. And there has been a lot of work to do. My hubby did such a beautiful job bringing our yard back.

Also my very precious Mother in Love has been ill, and will very soon take the hand of Jesus and walk the streets of gold. It's been a really rough month, and we would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Coffee Time

No new finishes this week, but I've been working on a Coffee Time table topper.

Maybe I'll get it quilted for next week :-)

Happy Quilting!