by Terry

     Where has the past month gone?  Wasn't it just a few days ago that I published the October version of eNews???

     Last month, I had to sadly report that I had not sewn a single stitch for over a year and a half.  Well, a few things have changed since then.  First, I boasted on the forum that I loved binding, so Marianne sent me a quilt that she has needed bound for a very long time... we won't mention quite how long.  I've already got the binding cut and pressed, now to sew it on with my good ol' Janome New Home 8000 (born in 1993, along with my quilting passion!), then hand-hem it.  Which makes me wonder... how many of you sew the entire binding on by machine?  I don't mind sewing it on by machine, but when it comes to hemming it, if I do it by machine, it is UGLY.  I should repeat that:  UGLY.  Other than that, I've made one block for the Quilt Pink Project and would like to make another.  I also have my brand new Baby Lock Wave serger threaded and ready to go!  I took it on a test run tonight and it sews like a dream.  The first item on its agenda is to finish a baby quilt that I began in January 2005.  I can have it finished in less than an hour, if I just find the time.  There are also a couple of blocks I'd like to make for other projects, both forum and local, as well as several quilts.  I also have other sewing plans, but you'll read about them later in the eNews!  I feel like I'm back into my quilting zone. 

     I have been updating the Quilting Passion Web site and it shows.  I loved my new design, then decided I hated it.  Then decided I'd put too much work into it to start over again, so I'm happy with it again.  I have probably 1/3 of my site redesigned and quite a lot left to do!  So, if you come across the old pages, ignore the ugliness and perhaps even broken links and/or images.  If you're trying to find something and can't, shoot me an e-mail and I'll point you to it.  I appreciate your patience with me as my virtual dust is being spread about!

     It has turned quite cool here and I am already hating the colder weather and looking forward to spring.  If it's going to be cold, I want snow!  Otherwise, give me warmer weather, or even rain.  I love rain. 

     I am also in the process of putting up an online quilt store, YOUnique Designs, that is going to offer a wide variety of products.  Right now, it looks to be a mess!  I hope to have it in decent condition by the end of this month.  There are already products for sale; it just may be difficult to find them online right now, since I'm also re-designing that site.  All of the items are listed on the Order Form, however, and if you find something you're interested in and can't find it, just let me know.  You may be asking why in the world I'm opening another site?  Simple answer;  Well, actually two answers.  First, I want to keep the Quilting Passion site non-profit and second, I now need another source of income due to about $275,000.00 worth of medical bills.  My health insurance dropped me the day it all began, June 01 2005, so I have had no insurance and now the bills continue to come in.  Can we say STRESS?

     So, how are you doing?

by Terry

     Need a new wallpaper for your desktop?  Try the new November wallpaper located on the Web!  This time I created two different versions of it; one with the seasonal graphics overlaying it and one without.  Let me know if you like having these options or if I'm wasting my time!   This wallpaper isn't quite done in "my" colors, but then again, I am not an "autumn" color person.  I love spring colors! 

     What's ahead for Quilting Passion this coming winter?  Well, I'd like to begin teaching a Quilted Greeting Card class in mid-November. 

     The remainder of 2006 will hopefully bring about a series of patterns that I began in early 2005:  Stained Glass, Crazy Patch, and Log Cabins, so be sure to check the updated page of Quilting Passion often for the glimmer of hope that I finally get around to it.  I do know that I've set a deadline for finishing this series before the year is over!  And, for what it's worth, I have converted all three of these series' over to the new Web design!  I am making a little progress!!!!!

     Be on the lookout for a quick contest this month, between the 1st and the 12th.  Details are given at the November 2006 Patriots Contest page and also on the forum.  I will give you a few hints, though.  Be thinking PATRIOTIC.  Be thinking BLOCKS.  All entries mailed to me will be used to make a charity quilt and donated through our forum charity project.  From beginning to end, this project should take less than an hour of your time!  If you choose not to mail your entry, that's OK, too... just send me a digital photo and it will be entered into the contest.  Oh, did I forget to mention that there would be prizes awarded to the top 2 winners?

    And lastly, love a Challenge?  Love to Quilt?  Then don't miss the Quilting Passion Autumn 2006 Challenge, hosted by Kimberly!

by Terry

     2005 and 2006 have been more than sparse years for designing new patterns for me, due to my health.  I have high hopes of getting "caught up" and have begun to formulate some new designs.  I have three in progress right now (See the Mystery Quilt section), one I'm kicking off in January, and several that I'm going to offer via YOUnique Designs Newsletter subscribers. 

     If all goes well, I plan on kicking off a "Block of the Month" series for 2007.  Details about this will follow in the December eNews.

     The Quilting Passion Web site does have quite a few free patterns that I have designed over the past few years.  These are still available!

by Terry

     My pick for pattern/project of the month is one that I designed myself. It is quick and easy and looks great.  It's called the 4-Rail Block/Quilt and the pattern was recently used, with permission, as an auction quilt.  Details can be found on the pattern page of both the pattern and the quilt auction!

by Terry

     I not only kicked off one mystery, but then two, and then a third!!!!  These are still in progress, so be sure to check out MQ 15, MQ 16, and MQ 17.  16 has a Christmas theme and the other two have autumn themes.  I hope to have all three of these mysteries wrapped up by mid-November.

     If you would like to view previous mysteries, then be sure to check the pictures of quite a few finished mysteries in the Gallery below!

by Terry

     The Gallery has had a lot of new additions, so when you get a chance, take a look at all of the fabulous quilts made from our readers over the past few months.  A special thanks to those who share their finished projects with me!

     If you have made a quilt using one of the patterns on this site, please share a photo with me so that I can add it to the gallery?  When submitting the photo, provide your first name and state that you live in.  I'd certainly appreciate it!

by Terry

     The forum continues to grow and thrive, thanks to quilters like you!  There is so much going on that I hardly know where to begin!

     A few of our monthly projects include:

• FQ Drawing, which returned in October and was a HUGE success!!!!!  November is underway!

• Charity Projects

• Fabric Swaps

• Block Swaps

• Noodle Swaps

      The "Round Robin Charity Drive", or RRCD continues to grow and has quickly become one of the most popular activities on the forum.  We have donated a total of 1,065 quilts since March of 2002, 221 of which have been donated in 2006 alone! That is absolutely so amazing!  Not only is this fun and rewarding for each of the volunteers in this project (which is currently about 60), but the end result is that we are making an impact on the lives of children and adults that truly need a spark of hope.  If you haven't joined this project, let me just say that it is truly one of the most rewarding projects that I have ever participated in.  And we have so much fun, too!  In the beginning, the RRCD Process was done as the traditional "round robin", but I eventually added a second and third method for making these quilts:  "row by row" and "whole quilt".  

     If you belong to, or know of, a non-profit organization that provides quilts to traumatized and/or terminally ill children and would like to be placed on our waiting list, please feel free to contact me via quilting@quiltingpassion.com.

     For more information, refer to the Forum Charity Web page describing the project.

    There are numerous block and fabric swaps going on, so if you're in the mood to sew, feel free to jump right in!  There is also a special project that just began and we could use all the help we can get to try to send quilts and school supplies to Romania.  This is becoming a huge success story, in which the children of Romania are the stars.  I will share final statistics with you as soon as the deadline ends for this project.

     And let us not forget that Kimberly just kicked off a new challenge, Quilting Passion Autumn 2006 Challenge.  She has said that she believes it will be the most challenging of challenges.  Now, does that arouse your curiosity or what?

     September 30, 2006 was also national Quilt Pink Day.  We've had a few members that participated in that and donated blocks that will help benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  I am sponsoring a block donation drive locally (Pryor, Oklahoma area) during the months of October and November.  A newspaper article was released on October 4th explaining this charity initiative and I was consequently invited to speak at the local Pryor Patchers Quilt Guild (their Web site is brand spanking new and totally empty!  I just put it up a few days ago.) in late October.  I have been invited back to pick up the pink/white quilt blocks that they will donate on the 28th of this month.  I have also discovered a new venue for making quilting friends and staying inspired; I will be joining this guild at the next meeting!  Now, along the same lines, I initiated a Quilt Pink Event on the forum and it is moving along quite well.  Our last Quilt Pink project yielded 40 blocks and I have already received more than that in the mail.  GO FORUM!Of course, this event is to benefit the same Komen Foundation.  Once I have all the blocks, I'll sew them into tops, then have them quilted, and lastly mail them to the magazine sponsoring this.  What will they do with these quilts?  Auction them online on eBay around May 2007!  Oh, did I forget to mention that everyone that submits a block to me gets their name put in a hat for a drawing?  The winners will win prizes!  I'm doing this on the forum AND also locally.  There will be 2 separate hats and 2 separate groups of winners.  :)  I am sneaking this tidbit of news in at the bottom, just to see how many of you are paying attention.  In fact, when I post the publication of this eNews on the Web and you read this part, please post in that thread that you were paying attention!  You never know what that might bring about...

     For those of you that are fairly new to the forum, let me introduce you to the administration staff.  I am the Head Administrator, Kimberly is our Assistant Administrator, Peggy is the RRCD Coordinator, Sheryl is the RRCD Assistant Coordinator and Myra is the Block/Fabric Swap Coordinator.  We also have a couple of forum monitors:  Lynn and Alison.  These ladies do a fantastic job on the forum, and I'll be honest with you... while I was ill for the past 19 months, they took very good care of everything!  They deserve a big pat on the back because this is hard work and it also takes time!

     For those of you that are members of this very special forum (which is my home on the Internet!), thank you.  For those of you that haven't visited yet, please do so by clicking here.  Remember, basic membership is still free!  

    
by Terry

     There are currently two classes slated.  The beginning HTML class started in October and wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, as did Kimberly's Hand Dyed Workshop.  Both of these classes will remain online indefinitely, however, so you can take them any time you wish!  Details can be found at QPU.

     Genny is beginning a class in early November.  Be sure to watch the home page of QPU for details as to when it begins!  The topic of the classic centers around learning more about how to use the quilting software, EQ5, sold by The Electric Quilt.

         
by Terry

     Hopefully, I can complete the series of mini-blocks I began in January 2005.  I'd also like to squeeze in at least one more class through QPU, Quilted Greeting Cards, and perhaps design a few free patterns.  You will also notice that every time you visit this Web site, you notice changes.  Well, stay tuned... I am in the process of re-designing the entire Web site... we're talking hundreds of pages!!! It is no easy task, let me tell you.

     Quilting is such a passion of mine and I have missed it so much.  I have so many ideas and designs running around in my head that I simply do not have time to do everything that I want to do.  I bet some of you feel the same way.  That's why it's called QUILTING PASSION.  :)   

by Terry

     Any new ideas roaming around in your head that you'd like to share with me?  Ideas for mysteries, swaps, new patterns, anything?

by Terry

     So much to do, so very little time, and, as I find myself being spread thinner and thinner as I get older and older, I can add that there are also fewer brain cells left to work with! 

     I hope that the month of November is happy and healthy for all of you.  It is a month of Thanksgiving here in the states (as October was in Canada) and please take a moment to count your blessings.

     Christmas is around the corner and before we know what hits us, we'll be ringing in the new year.  This seems to be the busiest time of the year for me and I imagine for all of you, too.  Since I am trying to save some money, I plan on making more of my Christmas gifts this year and buying less.  Now, to just find the time...

     I have several plans for Christmas projects at home this year, but haven't made up my mind as to what yet.  I'd definitely like to mail all of my close friends and relatives the quilted postcards.  Those are so cool!  Then I have another idea or two for Christmas gifts, but I'm not telling, because I'd like to begin them either on the forum or on YOUnique Designs, either as projects or mysteries or something!  I may be getting a little older, but I still  have a few tricks up my sleeve!

Happy quilting,
Terry