Hi everyone, only 23 more sleeps till Christmas Day I heard someone say the other day. Oh Boy, where has the year gone? I think it’s true when we’re told as children to make the most of our childhood, because when you are an adult, the time flies by!!

As VP of our State Guild, we often receive donations from members and member’s families, consisting of quilting resources no longer used or required. Recently, we were offered the entire contents of a quilters quilt room, including patterns, threads, buttons, well habby of all sorts and fabric, fabric, fabric. I’m on the last of the sorting now, and am ready to deliver the stash to various groups within our Guild – the Art Quilt Group, the NextGen group (who look after encouragement of younger quilters in our schools) and of course the Linus Group that go to so much effort to create beautiful quilts for our needy children in our community. It’s been a big job, and sometimes very intriguing – this particular crafts lady, participated in all sorts of handcrafts and some pieces of equipment have even had me stumped.

I look at my sewing room and wonder how much of this stuff will eventually be given away. It sometimes does make you sit back and think about why we store so much “stuff” as part of our hobby. No answers from me – it’s just an observation.

Well, last Sunday I posted the second and final part of my Ringing the Bells Christmas Table topper instructions and diagrams and I’ve had some very positive feedback from a number of Bellaonline quilters who have started to make the topper. I’d really love the see your final creations, so don’t hesitate to send me a photo via the BellaOnline email – and I’ll have a showcase article for all our readers to see.

For the second and final set of instructions for the Ringing the Bells Christmas Table Topper – here’s the link http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art23985.asp

I also posted a new “silly season challenge” during the week. The challenge this time is to come up with a collective noun for a group of quilters. We have a murder of crows, a pod of whales, and a wad of money. So how would you describe a group of quilters? Pop over to the forum and offer up your suggestion. You will see that the forum as received a number of suggestions. Here’s the link http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=43


Now for my gift to you for this week.
I found another quiz for the Bellaonline readers and this one is – of course- a quiz about quilting. Have fun!

Here’s the link:

http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz2674221e9df18.html

My gift to you last week was a free BOM and I’ve had several comments that the page at times was inaccessible. So here’s a different link to that same BOM.
http://www.quilt-design.com/BOM/patdec99.htm

Well, it’s goodbye from me for this week. I do hope you’re not getting too stressed over the current economic crisis we seem to be experiencing throughout the world. I think the best thing to counter the stress is to do some stitching. Any stitching, but something to get your hands busy and you mind at ease.

Cheerio for now

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

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