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September 9, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Busily getting the last of seminar preparations completed. Fielding lots of e-mails from those quilters coming from a distance. Where to stay? Where to eat? Are there quilt shops near by? Where else can we shop? Those are the FAQ’s for this week I think! As I’ve gone through my own e-mail each day, I’ve just copied and pasted a few links that I think might be of interest to you. No time to do much more than that these days. I hope I’ll see you at seminar! funky stuffed pumpkins click here found this via a Facebook friend, I have heard several of these comments after demos I have given. Yikes. And BTW what are quilting chakras? Every comment on every quilt blog ever: click here. beautiful star quilt, perfect for featuring a collection of fat quarters or for using up scraps: click here.
September 2, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Are you a fan of Amy Butler fabrics and patterns? I just received notification that her free pattern for her latest fabric line is now posted at her website. Here’s the link: click here. I also received notification not long ago that her latest clothing pattern: a pieced duster, is now available. She looks great in it, and I love the concept but I’m afraid I may be past the age cut off for her style. Although I am thinking about how it would look in a collection of somewhat “quieter” fabrics–batiks maybe. See what you think of her style. It would be great for you younger women out there. Looks like it would be very comfortable and could definitely take a pair of jeans up a few notches. Click here. As I worked through my e-mails today, I noticed that a theme was in […]
September 1, 2014
Good morning! Mary Ellen here. I thought I was in New Orleans this morning. It’s so darn humid out-even with the actual temp at 67º I ended up all “dewy” from the humidity. Thank goodness for central air. If you’re a fan of the disappearing 9 patch method, you’re going to like this one-the double disappearing 9 patch. It results in a very graphic, interesting block and it’s quite easy. Give this a look! click here While you’re there have a look at some of her tutorials for free motion quilting. I like her all over patterns with no marking needed! Just came back to add this bit. While exploring the blog above, I found this tidbit. Just yesterday I was puzzling over what to do with the bag full of batting scraps that keeps tipping over in the quilt closet. I like this idea! click here. Have you got […]
August 29, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. I think this idea from Jenny Doan is super. You may remember that last summer we came up with a few ideas for these Jelly Roll 1600 quilts. They are archived in the side bar of the blog or you can just search for jelly roll 1600. Many quilters love these because they are so fast, and just as many dislike them because of the “boring” appearance. I don’t know which camp you’re in- I’m in the camp that thinks this idea is great. Click here to see Jenny’s video with an idea for changing up the appearance a bit. Watch to the end. If you went to summer camp, I think you will remember enjoying the same sort of silliness that Jenny and her assistant get into! I will tell you that when you make them with a jelly roll of batiks, they are […]
August 28, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Want to see some extraordinary quilts up close? At this site (click here) you can zoom in close for a good look at some spectacular quilting and applique. I don’t see myself ever making a quilt of this caliber, but I do get some inspiration from the quilting. When working on my free motion skills, I have a few patterns that I fall back on again and again, and it’s nice to find some new ones to try. I’m sure those of you who applique will find the designs on the applique quilts amazing as well. What are you working on these days? Remember the Lucy Goosey quilt along that I had on the blog a while back? I’m making another block so I can set the blocks on point, and then I’ll be finishing the top up. I am making an effort to get […]
August 24, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. We’ve all been seeing bits about the Ice Bucket Challenge everywhere in the news of late. Do you know who Lou Gehrig is? I come from a family where my sister is nuts over baseball. She requested a trip to Fenway Park for her honeymoon! My grandfather got her started as a Red Sox Fan as a tiny tyke and she’s still one today. We always had baseball on the tv or radio through the season each year. Although Lou played for the Yankees, he was one of the players that all true baseball fans admire. Even if you’re not a baseball fan yourself, if you are aware of youth baseball programs because of a child in your life, I’m certain you’ve heard the name Lou Gehrig mentioned. It’s the 75th anniversary (July 4, 1939) of Lou Gehrig’s speech about his “bad break”. I’m sharing […]
August 23, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Heading off for an eye exam shortly. It’s getting harder and harder to thread those darn needles! I’m sure many of you can relate. I think I am going to graduate from drug store readers to a real pair of glasses. (Of course, maybe not, when I hear the price tag info!) As I kill a few minutes surfing around the internet I’m sharing the sites for fun things I find. Huge button art for your sewing room wall (It’s DIY so you can keep the price in check. Would make a great gift too for any seamstress friend.) click here Clever way to take simple scraps and Christmas ornaments up a notch. If you have some kid’s craft foam around the house from other projects, you’re all set. click here From one of my favorite sources for classy free patterns, a twenty-minute tote! They […]
August 18, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. Visited Bonnie Hunter’s site this morning. Found this link to a clip about making scissors by hand. Would love a pair of these! Click here. Bonnie is just home from a recent quilters’ trip to Great Britain. That girl sure gets around–she’s home right now, but before she comes to us in mid September, she’ll be spending time in Alaska teaching. Weaving modern cloth on old looms (found in side bar at link above): click here Here’s a bit of trivia for you. The roots of modern-day computers are linked to weaving. Joseph Jacquard came up with a system of punched cards for weaving patterns which eventually inspired the binary code of ones and zeros representing the punched or unpunched holes in the cards. Those ones and zeros were linked to electronic circuitry being on (the one) or off (the zero). And the rest is […]
August 7, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. We spent time yesterday at the museum getting the mailing of supply lists, etc for this fall’s seminar all set. They will be going out in today’s mail. Please pass the word to your friends who do not have the internet that they should be expecting them in a day or two. We set a record this year–16 mailings going to Canada! Several all the way in Toronto! We sent to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Long Island… More than half are to non-members; many out of the immediate area. Must be the avid readers of Bonnie Hunter’s blog. Right now, as you know if you are one of her subscribers, Bonnie is in Great Britain-London for the past day or two! She really gets around. We have had a cancellation for a seat in her Crumb Piecing class. If you are interested, go to our guild page […]
August 3, 2014
Hello all, Mary Ellen here. The demo night at guild last month was a success as always. My only wish is that there would be a way for those who are demonstrating could visit the other tables and see what other fun things are being shared. As Roxie announced, I will be sharing more Christmas ideas here on the blog to continue with the Christmas in July theme. Can you believe that on some of the radio stations they are already doing a countdown of the shopping days left?!! No wonder the holiday has become so commercialized. This first link I’m sharing is one of my go-to’s for free Christmas patterns of all kinds. There are ideas for quilting, sewing, crocheting, knitting, cooking… If you like the idea, you can sign up to get e-mail notifications from them, but that is not a requirement at all. Try them out here. […]