© 2004 RiverMOO, Inc.
All rights reserved.
| Volume 4 Number 7 |
July, 2004 |
|
The weather is superb here in Oklahoma! We've had a healthy mix of rain and sunshine. The small garden that Curt and I put in is beginning to take off. We only planted tomatoes (cherry and regular), green beans, onions, and peppers (bell, cayenne, habanera, jalapeno, sweet banana, hot banana), but I'm already getting enough that I have started canning the excess! Curt loves hot and spicy, so the 36 hot pepper plants are right up his alley! If you have a GREAT recipe for canning hot peppers and/or tomatoes, let me know? I've made pico de gallo and it is delicious! The summer months are here and the days are going by so quickly that it's unreal. Between doctor's visits, housework, yard work, quilting, family, and Curt, I barely have time to breathe. And, unfortunately, I'm slated for yet another surgery within the next couple of months and am hoping that it relieves the back pain that I'm suffering from. The RA is kicking me in the teeth, too, but I continue to do things everyday, hoping that I can keep it at bay. Some days, it is impossible to appliqué and that frustrates me. I'm down to taking nine pills a day, though, and it's almost like being on vacation! Speaking of vacation, I just returned from a five day trip to Vegas with my mom. We flew out, then drove back with my sister, who is going to be here for the summer. We had a PERFECT trip. When I get time, I'll post pictures! The 4th of July is just around the corner and I have an idea for a tablerunner, and just need to find a few minutes to put it together! Don't be surprised to find the pattern either on my Web site or given as a mystery quilt. I'm leaning toward a mystery, but time is running out!
 by Terry I have finished the last three blocks for the Flower Appliqué Quilt. Yay!!!! All I need now is to come up with the layout, then this project will be done and I can begin my next one. I am either going to begin a pantry quilt project, a butterfly project, or a birdhouse project. Haven't decided which yet! The July Wallpaper is now online! In celebration of Independence Day, the colors are red, white, and blue. I will finish writing a tutorial for making Flying Geese, "How Many Ways Can Flying Geese Fly?". It is an instructional tutorial that gives you several options for making these oh-so-versatile geese quickly and easily. Watch for this article to be announced on the forum and/or the Quilting Passion Web site.
I did not create many new patterns this past month, but here are a couple that are available: Stay tuned to the forum and/or QP Web site to find out what the two blocks above are going to be used for! Be sure to check the main page of my Web site for updates on new patterns released. Or click here to explore the possibilities! As I said last month, I am adding more and more patterns to my site, especially appliqué. I am addicted and I know it! In fact, I'm proud of it! :) I have many, many ideas (and even rough drafts) for new patterns... now, to just find the time to do them.
My pick for pattern of this month is one of my own, Flag of Hope. This pattern is a simple, paper-pieced pattern that makes a great small wallhanging. The pattern is also available done vertically. Ready for Mystery Quilt 14? It will be a very quick mystery in which we will create a tablerunner in celebration of Independence Day. Watch for it to begin ASAP; it will be announced on the forum and also on the Quilting Passion Web site.. The Gallery is a special place to showcase pictures of all the quilts that YOU have made using my patterns and/or ideas. I have just recently added a few new pictures, so be sure to check them out. Y'all do such great work!!! And if you have finished any of my patterns, please share a picture with me so that I can add you to the gallery! I would appreciate it! |
The forum continues to grow and also continues to be "home" to many of us! Just a few statistics to let you know how we're doing:
There are many activities going on. A few of our monthly projects include:
The "Round Robin Charity Drive", or RRCD continues to be an all-important aspect of the forum. We have initiated a total of 349 quilts since March of 2002, and 10 of those since last month. Out of the 349, 304 of those have already been donated, which is 13 more since the last month's report! Isn't this fantastic? The excitement of this project just doesn't end for me and I hope you feel the same way! 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. And beginning in late May, we kicked off yet a third method of making these quilts in which we simply make blocks to be sewn together. This block by block method is already underway using the Snowball Block, Friendship Blocks (12" and 6") and 4-Patch 4-Rails. For more information regarding the ongoing collection of blocks, check in on the forum for snowballs or friendships, or 4-Patch 4-Rails or contact me for details! 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-rewarding project. The site also contains information on the donations and the waiting list. I continue to have organizations contact me wanting on our waiting list. The need is so great and I feel as though we are just a mere drop in the bucket, but nonetheless, every stitch that we take impacts a life somewhere and that is good. If you know of an organization needing donations, please feel free to contact me via sregora@quiltingpassion.com. 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. If you would like to see a specific swap hosted, simply contact Myra (GR8DAME) and let her know and she'll see if she can get it kicked off. Each month, we select two forum members to honor and recognize on the forum. Congratulations to the June Volunteer of the Month, Joyce (PA) for her outstanding willingness and generosity on the RRCD Project. And congratulations go to the June Quilter of the Month, Chris (IL), for her outstanding participation on the forum. Both of these ladies deserve a huge round of applause for helping make the forum and all its activities a huge success. Please continue to keep Patty and her family in your thoughts and prayers. For those of you that are members of home away from home, thank you. For those of you that haven't visited/joined yet, please do so by signing up on the forum. Remember, basic membership is still free and we have so much fun that we want to share it with you!
There are several new classes beginning this fall, so be sure to check the QPU Web site to see what's going on. Documenting Quilts finished a few weeks ago and I hope that some of you have journals that you made that you can share pictures of. Setting a Quilt On-Point is in progress right now. It should finish within the next week. There has been a lot of interest in the Quilt As You Go Technique class and I am looking forward to teaching that one! It is scheduled to begin sometime this fall, but could also be as early as this month. There's also interest in the Beginning Amish Quilt class and it is scheduled to go live in the fall, also, probably October. I have had inquiries as to how difficult this class will be and the answer is that it is going to be very easy. Other courses in the planning include:
Think any of those sound interesting? If so, be sure to check the forum for details... or if you aren't a member of the forum, please e-mail me and I'll give you the details. Are there any classes you would like to see taught? If so, let me know!
More free patterns, some online quilting classes, a couple of new 12-month projects (as we will be wrapping up the Appliqué Flower Quilt project very, very soon), and who knows what else? Let me leave you with four thoughts. Think "pantry", "butterflies". "birdhouses" and "Independence Day"! You should know this by now, but if you have any suggestions, questions, comments, etc., please feel free to contact me and let me know!
Have a wonderful Independence Day this month and for those of you that are vacationing, be careful and have fun! Have a great month, everyone! Happy
quilting, |
