Hi everyone, welcome to the Quilters Quarters Newsletter. Well, what can I say. We are enjoying the most beautiful weather at present. After such a wet and cool summer it’s lovely to wake up to beautiful cloudless mornings and light breezes. I simply adore this time of year. Autumn (in my opinion) is by far the best season for this old quilter!

Speaking of old quilters…… I was with a group of quilters recently and we were swapping stories of how we got started in quilting. It’s amazing the reasons why people get into quilting. One quilter said she had a yearning to quilt all her life, but didn’t start until she had retired. Another had been taken (under sufferance) to a quilt retreat weekend by a friend, and was totally smitten by lunchtime on the Saturday! My story basically is one of necessity. When my husband and I were first married, we had built our first home and therefore we had a home mortgage that you couldn’t see over.

We weren’t earning very much so I had to tighten my belt and stop spending money on clothing. To that end, MD bought me my first sewing machine. I didn’t have a clue how to sew. Not the faintest idea! I attended sewing lessons (with a witch of a woman who should have turned me off anything creative). I hated sewing my clothes, but I realised I LOVED the scraps that were left over. So I busily made wrap around skirts (this was the mid seventies) and cherished the scraps. That’s how it started for me – just on 37 years ago!

I wonder how you got into patchwork. Pop over to the forum and tell us your story. Here’s the link:
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/755160#Post755160

Last Sunday I posted an article on a subject that is close to my heart. The article is titled “Joining a Quilt Group”. I have highlighted the positives for being part of a quilt group, be it in a small home cottage group or a large quilting guild. Here’s the link to that article for your interest: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art802.asp

So, I have some nifty little pressies for you this week, hope you get something from them.

http://www.chicaandjo.com/2012/03/12/button-canvas-shoes/ I just love up cycled shoes

http://pickupsomecreativity.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/valentines-charms-tutorial-template.html these little sweeties would make a lovely little pressy in a card and envelope

http://www.shawkl.com/2012/01/little-turtle-pin-cushiontoy.html the sweetest pin cushion. (I know, I can’t help myself) You know, I tell myself I’m not going to include a pincushion at the beginning of each newsletter, but………. I can’t help myself. Do I need therapy? LOL

http://wendigratz.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/new-video-how-to-machine-applique.html a video tutorial on machine appliqué convex curves

http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/the-gift-quilt.html a really lovely quilt tutorial, very well put together

http://www.faithfilledfoodformoms.com/making-homemade-heating-pads/ Heating Pads to make

http://www.happytogethercreates.com/2010/07/runaways-dish-spoon-free-pattern.html who wouldn’t like these?

http://mypoppet.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-handmade-fabric-deco-tape.html I know I’ve featured fabric tape before, but this is a different tutorial for you

http://www.stashbooksblog.com/2011/12/when-a-bobbin-is-just-a-pawn/ if you’ve got a chess player in your family, why not make one of these?

Well, dear friends, I will sign off for this week. I do hope this newsletter finds you well and on top of your busy lives. I heard a rather clever saying the other day. “A smile confuses an approaching frown.” Try it on a stranger. It really works!
Cheerio for now

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

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