Hi Quilters,
I know, I'm a day late but so it goes. The calendar assures me that this week, on the 20th, spring will arrive. The weather here calls for snow tonight. The crocus are in bloom, the birds are starting to sing. Spring is on it's way, and will arrive when it's good and ready to.
I've finished a quilt top that I'm going to have quilted and give to my husbands Uncle's church to raffle. It's the one that no matter what I did, I couldn't get my brain to wrap around how it went together. I did manage and it is done. Now I have the same set of blocks to make again, but into a different finishing kit for myself. This is from last years Spring Block Party that was online. When I saw a new one was starting on April 1 I thought I really should get last years finished.
In just 2 weeks is the Lancaster quilt show, one where we meet others from AOL and have a great time. Last year I had brought most the blocks I'd finished and this year, I will have the finished top with me. I'm the sort the works best with a deadline, in case you didn't figure that out. I need to make deadlines for all my quilts in progress.
I received some great ideas for a signature wedding album. I'll put the responses a bit down in the newsletter. This week, we're a little thin, but that happens as well. Everyone is busy and we are volunteers.
Happy Quilting,
Karen Mikijanic
NPN Editor
SageKM@... or Ninepatchnew@...
Hints and Tips
by Fabaddict@...
Sometimes I get so many ideas in my head all I can do is make the tops up and quilt later. I hate measuring a top several times - once or twice to see the size, once or twice, or even 3 times to be sure the backing is large enough, and again to see if I measured the top right the first 2 or 3 times and again for the batting.Â
I have cut that time in less than half - I measure the top and write the measurements on a label or piece of masking tape, and put on the wrong side in one corner of the quilt top. That measurement is there until the quilt is ready to quilt, then I move the label out of quilting range, and put it on the front corner of the quilt when done quilting.  When I get to the binding, I know by the piece of tape or label how much binding I need to make. Sure saves me a lot of time!!Â
I also put a piece of tape with the width of the batting on the bottom corner of the batting. That way I know at a glance if it is wide enough to put with another piece to make a large enough batting for another quilt.
Journals
by Erzebatbat@...
Lets take a trip down memory lane!
Remember when you were a preteen and one of the most valuable gifts you ever got was your mother's permission, letting you get your ears pierced? Second most valuable gift getting your first diary? With a lock and a itty bitty key? Seems so long ago for me...... but I digress.....
When I was finishing 6th grade and was heading to Junior High (MIDDLE SCHOOL for you youngin's now) in the fall, I received my first diary. It was one of many 6th grade graduation gifts. A pretty blue, complete with lock and key. I wrote my most inter thoughts and dreams in it, after which I of course hid it under my mattress thinking my sisters would not find it. WRONG! But that is another story......
Nowadays, what we use to call Diaries, are referred to as Journals. My son had to keep a journal in his 7th year in middle school. He went thru 3 black and white notebooks. I never knew what was in that journal but he wrote in it everyday. Even with online journals called BLOGS, and homepages like MySpace and FaceBook, there is something very charming about actually having to write on paper in a notebook. I think parents and guardians should encourage young people to keep a paper journal. This would improve handwriting skills and sharpen verbiage expressions.
One popular trend that is making a comeback is the paper journal. I have noticed that the selection of nice covers are limited and very pricey. When I was in a dollar store, I saw the black and white notebooks that I had to get for my son when he was in middle school. Light Bulb moment! Why not purchase a couple and cover them with a mini quilt? Oh the possibilities! Think of it, presenting a preteen with a covered notebook as a new way of communication! You can customize the cover to fit the personality or the interest of that child. Heck, make one for yourself and turn it into travel journal and note special things that happened along the way. This would be a great book to note those special quilt shops you visit, putting fabric samples, sketches, wish lists, etc.
With 2 fat quarters (orphan blocks would work great), a standard hardcover notebook (black and white speckled one from a dollar store), batting or flannel for the padding and a Velcro dot or a heavy duty magnet purse closure to secure it with and you can create your own piece of artwork!
Enclosed are links to websites with tutorials on how to make your own covered journals. With spring coming and traveling plans are in the making, wouldn't a gift of a paper journal be a great send off gift? I think so!
Keep On Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz
kirin notebook: How to make a reversible journal cover
http://kirinote.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-make-reversible-journal-cover.html
Reading and Writing Was Never SEW Fun « THE DOMESTIC DIVA'S DISASTERS™
http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/reading-and-writing-was-never-sew-fun/
Knitting After Hours: Mini Notebook Cover Tutorial
http://knittingafterhours.blogspot.com/2007/12/mini-notebook-cover-tutorial.html
One Red Robin
http://oneredrobin.com/index.php?paged=2&s=wool
Readers Respond and Thank you!
with wedding signature ideas.
For the autographs - do a tablecloth. You can find a nice white one - lay out permanent pens and let everyone sign that. You can embroider over the writing after the wedding or just give it as is.
Â
Bev
Karen ...Perhaps you could have a journal type book at the reception and have everyone write something in it? I was given a surprise b.d. party by my husband and at the end of the night I got this journal (didn't even know it was passed around) when I got home and read all the wonderful things that were written about me and the memories some had because of me ........I cried......it is my most treasured possession!
If you want to make a w.h. or quilt to commemorate his wedding ......I think I would have guests sign one large piece of fabric  and put that on the back of the quilt. It would be easier than dealing with lots of little pieces I think? Let us know what you decide!!!!!Â
Â
Jeannette
Karen ..........You buy a lovely journal book ...they even sell them now in the super drug stores. They come with pretty covers and lined pages. One time I made a wonderful scrapbook for a friend's special occasion birthday boy, was that some job! This journal book is a no brainer believe me! Just pass it around and let others do their thing
**************
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