Hello all, time to pop my head in the door and say hello! We’re getting closer to Christmas 2010 and I’ve noticed the stores are getting busy, as well as the traffic. I always intend to get my Christmas shopping done throughout the year, but as John Lennon once said, “life happens when you’re busy making other plans”. I guess I’m lucky that I don’t have a long gift list, but this year will be a little different.

My three sisters and I are getting together at Christmas for the first time in about 3 years. Although we talk constantly by phone and email, we are scattered across Australia, so we don’t get a chance to be in the same place at the same time, usually. But it’s all happening this year and I’m very excited.

Our respective husbands groan at the thought of us four sisters being in the same room together, as it does get a bit noisy. But it’s always fun and even when there’s four different conversations going at the one time, we don’t miss out on anything. Hooray for sisterhood!!

So I’m busy making some very special gifts for my sisters. I think the best gifts are handmade by the giver, where possible, and so I’m sourcing some special threads to create something individual that reflects each sister’s personality. I’m having fun!!

You all know by now that I’m involved with quilting for charity. I wrote an article last week about how you can go about quilting for charity. It’s not an article that’s just about doing for other people in your community, but there’s some information on quilting for unwanted dogs in your community. Here’s the link:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1193.asp

If you have any other suggestions for quilting for charity, pop over to our forum and add your say to the heading, “quilting for charity”. Here’s the link:
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/641846#Post641846

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

http://noodleheads.blogspot.com/2010/05/mail-organizer-tutorial.html Mail gets lost at my place, here’s a good idea for organizing your mail.

http://www.craftbits.com/project/starburst-flower-hair-clips pretty clips to make

http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2008/07/diaper-changing.html a great idea if you can’t find a changing station

http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2009/01/elf-slippers-tutorial.html gorgeous elf slippers for the “imps” in your life.

http://www.marcusbrothers.com/makeit/projects/quillow/index.html great for stadium seating

http://piecenquilt.blogspot.com/2009/10/gobble-chain-tutorial.html Like this one, great quilt.
http://www.merrimentdesign.com/pincushion-thread-catcher.php I know I’ve featured a number of these, but this is another good pattern I couldn’t pass up!

That's all I have for now, so I’ll say bye bye for now to you all, I do hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits and health.
Cheerio for now


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

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