Hi there, it’s almost the end of Winter here and hooray I say. Bring on the warmer months (not hotter note). It’s my darling husbands birthday today and we’re celebrating with our friends and having a special lunch in a restaurant situated on the beautiful Brisbane River. He doesn’t like a lot of fuss (like most husbands I suppose) so it’s hard to celebrate without making a noise!!

After 36 years of marriage, I guess I’ve had to get used to not making a fuss for his birthdays, but I’ve always insisted that a FUSS be made for mine!! Milestone birthday or not, I want noise, and hip hip hoorays to mark the special occasion. Some of my friends truly resent having another birthday. I reckon, if you didn’t have birthdays…………… it would be pretty quiet!!

Anyway, I’m busily making two quilts for my doctor’s practice. They’ve got two doctors having babies and I said I’d make quilts for them. The first is a paper foundation pieced star quilt. It’s got lots of bright happy fabrics (the sex is unknown for this baby). The other is a simple I spy quilt with lots of boy stuff (it’s a boy!!) like tractors and cars and spiders and insects. I’m enjoying making both, and will post photos here when finished. Almost to the quilting stage for both.

Last week I posted another funny Quilters poem by Jenny Riley. This one’s titled Priorities, and I know it will resonate with quilters everywhere. Here’s the link: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2265.asp

I’m busy selecting patterns to make my Christmas gifts for this year and I’ve posted a question on the forum. What are you planning to make for your gifts this year? I’m hoping I’ll get some inspiration from your replies. Pop over to the forum and let us know what you’re doing. Here’s the link: http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/779770#Post779770

Thank you to Kathryne in TN, Alexis from Vic, Patsy, Mary, Julie in NM, Carolyn, Ina and Debbie in FL (hope you’re safe Deb), for your lovely emails received recently. It’s really love hearing from my readers and hearing what you like in the newsletter (and sometimes what you don’t like). I really do appreciate hearing from you.

So onto my little pressies for you this week. Have fun with them!

http://craftycupboard.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/make-life-square-baby-quilt-top-tut.html pretty baby quilt tutorial

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/11/incredible-junk-portraits-by-zac.html totally off the wall. the ground, the road, the dustbin etc etc……, but fantastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31nuxmYKxQM&feature=youtu.be a great video of all the winners at Paducah 2012

http://themodernquiltguild.com/2012/01/08/100-days-week-of-shapes-tutorial/ a great kite pattern

http://teachergonecrafty.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/cupcake-pin-cushion.html cup cake pincushion

http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/2012/04/kaleidoscope-quilt-tutorial.html a nice and simple quilt tutorial

http://www.patchworkposse.com/blog/2012/03/free-pattern-o-is-for-owl-wall-hanging/ here’s a cute little owl wall hanging you can download for free

http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2011/08/scrappy-color-book.html a great color learning book for your littlie

Must be off, hope all’s well at your place. And for those in the path of that monstrous storm, we’re thinking of you – stay safe.

Cheerio for now



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

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