Hi everyone. Well it’s true, the world is truly topsy-turvy. We have just suffered through the hottest August night in history where I live. That probably doesn’t sound too unusual to most of you that live in the northern hemisphere – the problem is, I live in sub-tropic Australia and we’re right in the middle of our winter!! Call it climate change or whatever, it’s really happening, I believe. So our plants are completely confused, expecting cold nights and cool days and it’s been sooo hot. Not looking good for a mild summer that’s for sure. Oh well, I guess it keeps life interesting eh?

My daughter rang me this morning – to thanks me for her birthday gift. She loved the embroidered apron and the appliquéd tea towels I sent to her for her birthday. (The tablecloth is still a work in progress). I’ll be visiting her in about three weeks, and hopefully I’ll have it finished by then!

I completed the needle book I started last week. I’ve still to put it together with the wool insert and lining. I tend to wait till I’ve got three or four that need to be done and do them all together. For now, this blue one is waiting for some company. I’ve also completed twelve little quilts for Linus. Here’s a photo of one of them. I’m expecting to be asked for the pattern from my Bellaonline Quilting readers, so I will post the pattern in a week or two. If you’d like to see a photo of the finished needlebook and the Linus quilt, here’s the link: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1321.asp

Last Sunday I posted an article about the Great Aussie Hexagon Challenge. The organizers are hoping to make the biggest quilt in the world in 2010, and have invited the officials from the World Guinness Book of Records to witness the record. Here’s the link to that site, with details of where you can send your hexagons:http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2273.asp

If you have any tips for up and coming quilters pop over to the forum (here’s the link: http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=43) to add your tip. Let’s see how many we can post.

My gifts to you today are two different free projects. The first is a delightful little quilted mat, which would make an ideal gift for a quilter friend at Christmas. http://www.patchalotpatterns.com/Joy_Quiltlet.html

And this one is a fabulous easy quilt from All People Quilt. http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/throws-wall-hangings/mango-tango_1.htmln

Well, quilters, that’s all my news for this week. I do hope you’ll all keep well and happy for the next week and I’ll pop in again in 7 days time.
Cheerio for now, and have fun quilting!!

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

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