Hello everyone, it’s me popping in to say hello. The days are getting shorter, the nights cooler and Autumn is here for sure. I love this time of year here in Brisbane. We don’t have the humidity or massive rains, but beautiful endless days of clear skies and warm days. Just right for pottering in the garden or as I like to, sitting outside, hand stitching.

It’s hard to believe that we’re almost half way through another year. The other day, I heard someone say “life is like a roll of toilet paper– the closer to the end, the faster it goes!”. I thought that analogy was pretty right.

This week I had a request from a reader about a book that she read to her child over 20 years ago. I am unable to help her out, but I thought I might ask my readers if they can help. Here’s her request:

I'm trying to track down a book my son had maybe 20 years ago. It was a patchwork quilt story that had swatches of fabric inside so the child could make a quilt, too. Now that I have a granddaughter, I'd love to give it to her, and I figured if anyone knew about it, you would. Any information would help.

It would be terrific if we could help this reader. If you can, would you please either make contact via the forum – here’s the link: http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/819456/gonew/1/A_reader_request_Can_you_Help#UNREAD or contact me via my email quilting@bellaonline.com Thanks to you in anticipation.

Last Sunday I posted a pretty funny poem about being a quilting teacher. It made me laugh as I recognised some of the “situations” that teachers can find themselves in. Here’s the link to that poem: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art180411.asp

Onto the goodies for this week. I have some interesting items for you to browse through today. Hope you find something that’s useful for you:

http://www.favecrafts.com/Green-Crafting/Upcycled-Vintage-Fabric-Flowers/ml/1 try this beautiful fabric rose tutorial. The final creation is delightful.

http://onelmon.com/blog/2013/02/piggybank-monster/ a felt piggy bank? There’ll be no smash and grab here!

http://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/national-wear-red-day-free-pattern.html some Red Quilt eye candy for you

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/tool-time-tuesdaymilk-crate-cover.html sometimes we need the sturdiness of a milk crate, but they never look chic – until now

http://showtellshare.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/stray-sock-doll-tutorial.html one stray sock = one cute softie

http://www.shape-moth.blogspot.de/2012/10/otis-owl-giveaway-and-autumn-block-party.html a gorgeous paper pieced Owl block

http://tearosehome.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/tutorial-sew-stylish-pincushion.html a very stylish pincushion I must say!

http://www.abarefootbride.com/2012/12/28/homemade-baby-doll/ a homemade baby doll

Well, dear readers, I must away for another week. I hope this newsletter arrives at a convenient time and that you enjoy the links I’ve posted. Don’t forget, if you’d like to contact me you can via my email quilting@bellaonline.com Take care, and I hope you get some stitching done between now and next time I pop in.

Cheerio for now

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

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