Good day to the Bellaonline Quilters, I hope the day is a good one for you. I’ve had a rather wonderful week so far and I’d like to tell you about it. Occasionally I present various workshops to an assortment of quilt groups. One particular group has invited me to teach on a number of occasions and they also invited me to open their Challenge Exhibition last year.

I recently received a request to provide the “inspiration” for their 2010 Challenge. This year they are going to take on the “Chinese Whispers” challenge. Some of you might know what this is, but for those (like me) who don’t, I’ll explain. It sort of follows the idea behind the game of Chinese Whispers that we played as a child, where the first person whispers a message into the ear of the next player, they then whisper the message to the next and so on until the final player stands up and repeats the message. Invariably, the original message and the final message are poles apart to say the least.
Well, with this Quilt Chinese whispers, one member is given “the message”. It can be an image, a passage of words, a poem, or even something tactile like a textile. It is their job to go away and create a small quilt top with their interpretation of the message. They then come back to the group and show it to one more member, who then goes away and creates her interpretation after seeing the quilt top from the first member. And so on. There is to be no verbal communication between them. It will be very interesting to see what this group of quilters come up with by the end of the year. I’d love to tell you what the inspiration was that I gave them, but I know that a couple of these girls receive this newsletter, so I can’t let the cat out of the bag!!

I spent the evening with this delightful group and I must say it was a very friendly, caring group that I sat amongst. Everyone having a voice and the freedom to use it! I was especially taken with the friendship blocks that had been returned, the show and tell and the honest and open fellowship of this group. It is so lovely to belong to a group of like minded people. I encourage you all, if you don’t already, to join a group, and if there is no group to join, start your own. Put three quilters in the same room and you have a fellowship that does your very soul the world of good.

I posted another instalment of the World’s Biggest Hexagon Quilt last Sunday. It is growing and growing and has become this monster out of control. But it’s going to be AWESOME when it’s completed (in May) and I’ll post more photos as they come to hand. I spoke with Gail Chalker (She who is in charge) and she is overwhelmed with the generosity of quilters from all over the world and she asked me to thank you all for your wonderful contribution. Here’s the link to that article: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4580.asp

Onto my gift s for you for this week. I have lots of fun finding stuff for you, but if you’d like me to source something special, just drop me an email. So, here they are, have fun!

http://sewingdork.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-make-your-own-aromatherapy-hot.html Hot to make your own hot pack

http://vick-et-pique-et-colle.over-blog.com/article-11451635.html Mice Kettle! (The translation is sometimes a bit suss, but there are sooooo cute!

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/02/flat-emelie-and-matt.html I too, loved paper dolls when I was young and spent many hours happily designing and dressing. Here’s a great idea for “fabric” dolls that will last the test of time and two year old fingers!

Well, I’m off to my Sisters of Stitch sewing group, so I’d best get a move on. Take care, everyone, stay well and cheery and I’ll pop in again, next week.
Cheerio for now


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

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