Hi all! Would you believe this is my second attempt at writing the newsletter for this week? I sat down yesterday and composed a lovely little chat, got distracted and then promptly forgot to save it! Ah me! I think it’s old ago creeping up!

We celebrated 30 years of association at Queensland Quilters this week. It was a great day and a chance to reminisce about “the good old days” and how far we’ve come. For me the wonder of belonging to a quilt group is all about the friendships you make the skills you gain and the ability to enjoy the company of like minded people. If you don’t belong to a group at the moment, I thoroughly recommend you find a group to join. You’ll never look back I promise.

It’s getting cooler here now, as we’re in our first month of winter. I’m knitting up a storm at present – we supply a number of Renal Dialysis organisations with warm slipper socks and fingerless mittens for their patients. Apparently during the dialysis process, the patient can suffer from very cold extremities – so that’s the reason for the knit-a-thon going on at my place. I have joint issues associated with knitting but they have improved since I started using bamboo needles – they seem to have a little more flexibility in them, and put less stress on my thumb joint.

I managed to post a review on a really nice book titled Beyond Neutral – and it’s a very nice offering for those who like the modern quilts that are surfacing in the genre these days. Here’s the link if you’re interested: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art183478.asp

And so onto the little distractions I send out each week. An interesting selection this week me thinks. Enjoy!

http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2013/08/economy-block-quilt-in-progress-tutorial.html a simple economy block quilt tutorial

http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com/2010/08/31/a-string-quilt-tutorial/ a nice little stringy quilt tutorial – this one makes up in a trice

http://ambrosiascreations.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/tutorial-scrappy-patchwork-pillow-cover.html a cute patchwork pillow tutorial

http://www.flamingotoes.com/2013/08/so-fresh-citrus-embroidered-dishtowel/ a terrific idea for smartening up those dishtowels

http://www.madetobeamomma.com/2014/04/stroller-cell-phone-carrier.html this might come in handy for some

http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2009/07/label-tutorial-spoonflower-way.html label tutorial using SpoonFlower

http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/felt-playhouse.html a fabulous felt playhouse for your little lovelies

http://www.themotherhuddle.com/free-lipstick-case-pattern-and-sewing-tutorial/ a lipstick case free sewing tutorial and pattern

http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/how-to-use-a-bias-making-tool/ here’s some tips on using a bias maker

http://www.allfreesewing.com/Miscellaneous-Projects/Wrist-Pincushion a wrist pincushion sometimes comes in handy

Well, dear friends, I must away. I want to say a special “thinking of you” to all those readers who have recently undergone operations and are busy getting on with their rehabilitation. I have two very special friends who have recently undergone knee replacements and I’m in awe of the hard work and dedication that is required to recover fully from these types of operations. So I’m sending an electronic HUG to you all – keep up the good work.
Cheerio till next time

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

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