Hi everyone, it’s been pretty hectic here this week. Our Sisters of Stitch craft group celebrated our 2nd birthday on Wednesday. It was a great afternoon. We played some games, had a bit of poetry and other readings and enjoyed the best cook up of home bake that was really yummy.

In 2009, I started this group with the view of providing a mutual club that offered friendship and then learning in a totally free and friendly atmosphere and I think we’ve achieved that very well. The Brisbane City Council Library offers their meeting rooms, which are well appointed and comfortable, free of charge to non profit organisations such as ours. This in turn means that we don’t have to charge a fee to belong or attend. We meet every second week, on a Wednesday afternoon and generally have between 30 and 40 members in attendance. There’s lots of chatting, laughter and fellowship to be heard throughout the library when the SOS girls get together!

I would encourage any of my readers who are thinking of starting up a similar type of group, to go ahead, take that leap of faith. It only takes one person to get the ball rolling. You will enable many community members who otherwise would be crafting in their homes on their own, the joy of gathering together on a regular basis with like minded people, in a free and unthreatening environment. I take my hat off to councils like the BCC who have the vision to provide these facilities for their community.

I recently had a request for Musical Quilt Block ideas so spent an afternoon surfing and found some amazing quilts and blocks, some with instructions, some just for inspiration. Here’s the link to that article: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1122.asp

Don't forget, the forum is there for all Bellaonline Quilting readers to contribute to. Here’s the link to the forum if you’d like to have your say: http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/43/1/Quilting

So, onto my little gifts for you this week. Have fun!

http://madquilter.blogspot.com/2008/11/mug-bag-tutorial.html a mug bag tutorial. We all need one of these if we belong to crafting groups!

http://kittyandmedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/tutorial-dying-silk-ribbons-with-rit.html here’s a very simple tutorial on hand dying silk ribbons, using Rit dyes.

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=15139 these are called hussifs here in Oz, but they’re useful the world over

http://www.gomakeme.com/2011/03/how-to-make-a-simple-tassel.html a basic tutorial for making tassels.

http://mairuru.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-make-patchwork-string-and-how-to.html patchwork string - lots of uses.

http://roued.com/greyduckling/gifts-for-the-seamstress/ yep another one!

http://luxquilt.blogspot.com/search/label/basket love this basket tutorial – hope you do too!!

Well, dear readers, I must away and get some clothes hanging on the line. It’s a beautiful day here and there’s a gentle breeze, so should be a good drying day. Till next week, take care and keep those fingers busy!
Cheerio for now


Judie Bellingham, Quilting Editor
http://Quilting.bellaonline.com

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