Monday, March 30, 2009

April Newsletter

A Bit About Life:
I can't believe that it is April already! Sunday, we had one of our worst weather days! It was blowing and snowing. I would call that blizzard conditions! I had to get my winter coat out to wear to church. I thought I had put it away for the winter! I should know by now after living almost my whole life in Idaho that I should expect that kind of weather!
I have been busy this last month quilting up a storm! I was in the process of working on my "Barn Raising" Quilt and got sidetracked. I am sure no one else ever gets sidetracked! LOL!! I found a pattern from EQ6 using their kalaidascope disk. The pattern is called Congregation of Poppies. This really intrigued me. I love to do paper piecing and use up my scraps. (somehow, I never use them ALL. Scraps begat SCRAPS!) Anyway, here is my Congregation of Poppies. It was even featured on the EQ blog. You can scroll down and read the article HERE I loved the color of the Poppies on the black background. I had fun drawing the vines, leaves and poppy buds. They are all hand applique. What do you think?

I did finish my "Barn Raising" Quilt. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I was making a quilt in honor of my Great Grandmother Lillie Viola Chicken House. I made a scrapbook page entitled "BRAVE betrays her name". Here is the scrapbook page.


I wanted to make a quilt with chickens on it in honor of her name. I am proud to be part CHICKEN! LOL! Here is a picture of the quilt I made in her honor. I call it "Barn Raising".


When we had our local quilt show in January, I took a class from Delene. She gave us an embroidery pattern for the saying, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" She also gave us some creative ideas and instruction on how to make a cute wall hanging. I love that concept and have learned it all my life from my mother and grandmother. Here is my version of Delene's Wall Hanging...

I am working on something for a birthday present. I can't show it now, but I will "After" the birthday! Shhhhhh.... LOL!!

Quilting Views and Tips:

I found a really fun video on how to make 3D Faux Cathedral Window Quilt Blocks. I love the Cathedral window and this tip makes them so simple. Check out the video by clicking HERE

Mystery Patterns:

I am going to leave the Mystery Tote Clues up for just a little while longer. If you haven't collected them, hurry! This tote turned out so cute! See what others have done with their tote by looking HERE I love everyone's version of the same pattern. Here is a picture of my "Flower For You Tote"
Keep checking back to see if a different MYSTERY has started. Click on the big question mark after clicking HERE.

Block of the Month:

If you signed my guestbook, you will receive the April BOM patterns in your email. You can see some of the blocks others have done in the "Beautiful in Black" Series. Click HERE. These are turning out so BEAUTIFUL!!! Come and join us and let us see YOUR blocks! Here is what the April Blocks will look like.





If you want to have some FUN, join in our Birthday Block Swap. You can read all about it HERE. Come and join us!

I hope you are having better Spring weather than we are in Idaho. I know that it will get better soon, it sure couldn't be worse than Sunday!


Keeping you in stitches!

Susan

http://www.quiltingforless.com/