The new Desktop Wallpaper Calendar is commemorative of March.  There are two (2) different versions of it; one with the seasonal graphics overlaying it and one without.  The blocks selected for this month's calendar are called, "Sunbonnet Sue With Watering Can" and "Overall Bill", both created using EQ5.   

     What else is new?  Well... I have updated a couple month's worth of articles.  Please watch the forum or this Web site for more details of upcoming events!

     A few articles that you may find of interest from this past month include:

• Book Review:  Centennial Stitches, Oklahoma History in Quilts,

• Gadget Review:  60° Triangle, by CREATIVE GRIDS,

• QuiltersBuzz Hall of Fame,

• Quilting:  Hobby or Not?,

• Types of Quilts:  Sudoku Quilts,

• Types of Quilts:  Watercolor Quilts,

• Web Site Review:  FabricMatcher.com plus an interview with Damian Fielke,

• What Makes A Quilt A Quilt?

     I already have plans for quite a few articles (and other things) over the next month and if you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. 

     Lots of new ideas forming in my head... just need some time to put them together.  The great thing is that I can see I am making a lot of progress!

     While packing a few weeks ago, I came across a magazine, The Australian Publication of Queensland Quilters Inc., "Material Facts", in which they published an article written by me in the June 2007 edition!  The article is entitled, "What Size Is That?" and defines quilt sizes.  This article is a reprint of the original article that I wrote a few years ago, that has been updated.  A complimentary edition of this magazine was mailed to me and is shown below!

     Upcoming Events:

• April 10 - Good Friday 

• April 12 - Easter

     For a listing of known quilt shows, birthdays, anniversaries, and other events, please refer to the Quilting Passion Calendar.  If you have an event you would like submitted, please contact me!

     Enjoy these small bites of information!

• Quilts can be made and donated to animal shelters.  They are very appreciative of each little crate pad!  Call your local shelter for crate sizes and use those scraps.

• Preemie quilts are in high demand here in Las Vegas.  Watch for a new Web page highlighting them, and also giving a pattern with directions.

     I plan on offering quite a few free patterns to users of the Quilting Passion Web site.   These patterns include individual blocks and also quilts.

     The patterns that I have chosen to highlight for this month are ones that I just updated on Quilting Passion.

     First, is a nice bow tie block that is simple, fast, and easy to make.  No "Y" seams!

     Second, is cute little bear, called "Teddy The Bear".  This one would go well in a baby quilt.   

     Mystery Quilt 19 kicked off this week and is wrapping up over the weekend!  If you make this simple, easy, personalized project, please e-mail me a photo?

     You can subscribe to the MQ mailing list to keep on top of current mysteries!  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!

     The Gallery has had a few 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 very special thank you to those who share their finished projects with me, but most importantly, to those of you that use my patterns!  YOU are the incentive that keeps me designing!  Did you realize that?

     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!

Mother's Day, 2007

     The forum has been open since September 17th 2001!  Going on nine (9) years.  It's amazing.  We currently have 8,069 members.  That doesn't include guests!  We have had a total of 61,872 guests since opening!  We also have 11 new members in March 2009.  Lurkers, too, are always welcome, and of course, if you feel the need to type and share, we love reading it!  The goal of the forum is to provide an environment where people can come to learn, enjoy, share their projects, and keep up with what's going on our quilting and personal worlds.  I feel blessed that many of you choose to spend your precious time with us!  Note:  These stats were taken at 3:54 AM PST, 03/13/09.  

     A few of our monthly projects that I would like to see reinstated include:

• FQ Drawing,

• Block Drawing,

• Block Party,

• Charity Projects,

• Fabric Swaps,

• Block Swaps,

• Noodle Swaps.

      Special Projects that are in planning include:

• Preemie Quilt Drive,

• RRCD Project (ongoing, but with changes due to the economy).

     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 1,803 quilts since March of 2002, 228 of those in 2008, 311 of those in 2007 and 420 in 2006!  We are still cranking out quilts for a wonderful cause and I am so very proud of each of you that are accomplishing this miracle.

     March 14th is a sad day for the forum and is one in honor of our dearly departed friend, Ann.  Ann's birthday would be this coming Saturday, the 14th, so that day is hereby designated the "Observance of Ann Day".  Ann is gone, but not forgotten.

     I know you've heard it before, but you can help our Charity Project just by using a Yahoo search engine!  I would appreciate it if you begin using this search engine on a regular basis and also encourage your friends, co-workers, and family to use it, too.  Be sure to select "Quilting Passion Organization" when you do a search for us to get credit!  The search engine is named GoodSearch.  Instead of typing the Web site in every time you want to use it, it is simple to make it your default search engine by following these simple directions to change the default search provider:

Again, please use GoodSearch and recommend it to everyone!

     There are currently no Classes being planned for 2009, however, give me a month or so and hopefully I will have one ready to go. 

     Do you have any suggestions for a class?

    Hopefully, more free patterns.  In fact, I've had quite a few patterns and small projects in mind for the past few weeks and hope to find time in March/April to sit down and get to them!

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

     Spring is my favorite time of the year, with summer coming up a close second.  I would like to share a few photos of spring at my previous home in Oklahoma.  I no longer live there; it was too much upkeep and I sorely needed to downsize.  And I did!  I built a cottage in Pryor last year.  It has a whopping 512 square feet and is the perfect size for me!  I will try to share pictures next month.

Wildflowers, May 2007 (2 years ago, I only planted two that I dug up along side the road and now they have taken over my front yard... and they're the most beautiful weeds I have!)

Clematis, May 2007

Old-Fashioned Climbing Rose, May 2007

Turkey in my drive!  May 2007

     May each of you have a wonderful March; safe and happy.  Enjoy the time you have with your families, for they cannot be replaced.  Also take time to enjoy yourself, for your sanity cannot be replaced, either!  And above all, live life to the fullest!

Happy quilting,
Terry