© 2004 RiverMOO, Inc.
All rights reserved.
| Volume 4 Number 1 |
January, 2004 |
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Where did 2003 go? My mother always said that the older one got, the faster time passed... and now I believe her. Did you ring in the new year? Are you ready for 2004? I have been extremely busy for the past few months. Between being ill most of 2003 and meeting someone new (Curt) and having him in my life, well, time just seems to fly by. Health wise, I'm doing better, but the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is kicking my butt. Especially now that it's cold. My hands go numb and it's difficult to type when that happens. The old knees are throwing fits, too! Ah, the joys of getting older. I am settled into my new home and am thoroughly enjoying my views of the lake. I can hardly wait until spring, though. I am not a winter person! So, how are you doing?
 by Terry Need a new wallpaper for your desktop? Try the new January wallpaper located on the Web! Created by Wilma from North Carolina, it is truly spectacular! What's ahead for Quilting Passion in 2004? Well, of course there will be more mystery quilts, free block patterns, free quilt patterns, and probably an online quilting class or two offered by QPU. Be sure to check the eNews (this newsletter) often for the latest updates! And lastly, love a Challenge? Love to Quilt? Then don't miss the Quilting Passion Challenge 2004, coming up later this winter/spring!!! Watch for details!!
2003 was a sparse year for free patterns designed by me, mostly due to my health problems. 2004, hopefully, will be much better. I have more free time on my hands and the doctors ordered me to "take it easy"... what better way to relax than to quilt? 2004 will bring about a series of paper-piecing patterns, so be sure to check the home page of Quilting Passion often for the latest. This new series will make its debut sometime in January (aiming for this week, but we'll see!). Click here to begin the exciting journey of pattern surfing!
My pick for pattern/project of the month is one that is certainly fit for making many, many quilts. This very versatile pattern is created by Quiltmaker Magazine and is called, "Warm Wishes". This pattern has been used many times by the forum's charity project and each quilt made using it is unique! Give it a whirl! It's fast, fun, and easy!
All I've thought about today is the next mystery quilt project! It'll be MQ 13 and is still in the planning phase. I hope to kick it off within the next two weeks, so I'll keep you posted. If curiosity is killing you about previous mysteries, 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 special thanks to those who share their finished projects with me! |
The forum continues to grow and thrive, thanks to quilters like you! A few of our monthly projects include:
The "Round Robin Charity Drive", or RRCD continues to grow and is quickly becoming one of the most popular activities on the forum. We have initiated a total of 262 quilts since March of 2002! That is absolutely so amazing! Not only is this fun and rewarding for each of the volunteers in this project, but the end result is that we are making an impact on the lives of kids 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 RRCDs were done as the traditional "round robins", but a few months ago, we added a second method for making these quilts, made using the "row by row" method. Both seem to be quite popular! Of the 262 quilts, 178 of them have been donated so far, and there are many that are this >< close to going out. The last donations were made to the Northumberland, PA chapter of Project Linus and also to the Richland County chapter in Mansfield, OH. I am tracking all of the Project Linus Project information on our Web site, so it is easy for you to keep up with what's happening with this tremendous and oh-so-valuable project. The site also contains information on the donations and the waiting list. It sure hammers home how much there is a need for this! If you belong to 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 sregora@quiltingpassion.com. For more information, refer to the Forum Project Linus Web page describing the project. Another activity that began is that of Volunteer of the Month. All participants in the RRCD Project Linus project are eligible to win. Perhaps YOU can win in the future! 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 are also many in the works, so stay tuned for new information. I have also added two new admin to the forum: Peggy and Sheryl. Peggy is the RRCD Coordinator and Sheryl is her assistant. These two ladies are working especially hard right now to organize the quilts still out and to also motivate us to finish some that have been in progress for a long time. January of each year has been designated as the month to "catch up", so no new quilts will be started this month. Please help Peggy and Sheryl as they inventory our quilts in progress! And give them a big pat on the back, too, because this is hard work and 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!
There are currently no new classes scheduled.
More free patterns, of course, to be added to the site, plus I'm also thinking about another MQ! Yes, another one!!! #13 is in the works. Quilting is such a passion of mine. How about you?
Any new ideas roaming around in your head that you'd like to share with me?
So much to do, so very little time! I hope that this month is happy and healthy for all of you. Happy
quilting, |
