Iraqi Bundles of Love

"It is a project intended to help people who are just trying to get on with their lives–clothe their children, make a living, create something beautiful. And best of all, it is in a language I totally speak–the language of fibers."

I read about this effort a month or so ago on someone's blog (sorry, I can't remember where) but ran across it again today on Sew. Mama, Sew! Blog. Click on the link and go read about it.

I wanted to participate when I first read about it, but was held back by having to decide which fabrics I wanted to send....lol....which of my lovelies would I part with?

No worry. Sew, Mama, Sew has taken all the worry out of it. For $15 they will send a bundle containing all this!!!

• 5 yards of new fabric
• 16 sewing needles in a case
• 32 pearlized pins on a wheel
• 1 tomato pincushion
• 1 pair folding scissors
• 1 150-yd spool white thread

Not only is it generous, thanks to their partnership with wholesale fabric vendors, but the price includes the shipping! It's easy to do, just Click on the this link which takes you to the SMS shop and you can purchase your bundle there. So easy.

Not much going on sewing-wise here ~ but soon. I have stuff cut and ready to go. The dining room table is covered with pieces and parts, so I need to get going on it. Soon.

Please Take a Minute to Read This....

Those of you who have been quilting a little bit may recognize the name Kathy Sandbach, author/teacher/machine quilter recognized for her machine quilting talents and her willingness to share them. I ran across some disheartening news about her recently and wish you would take a minute to read on and do what your heart leads you to do.

Here's a link to one of her books

and here's something her son wrote ~~

Hello, this is Ken Sandbach, Kathy’s son. As some of you know by now my mom has been diagnosed with a nasty type of dementia, called Frontal Temporal Dementia. If you were around her the last few years at all, you may have noticed some behavior changes—slight at first, and then progressing to downright bizarre. It took the kids some time (unfortunately), but this last December we finally got the diagnosis, and began putting all the pieces together. Her symptoms these days are too numerous for this email, but if you’re curious Google Frontal Temporal Dementia or go to www.mayoclinic.com and search there.

The reason for writing is to let you know after a long conversation with my sister we have decided to begin selling my mom’s quilting legacy. We are down to about 6 month’s money left for Kathy’s care, and have found that Social Security and Medicare just don’t cut it. Assisted living care is running 7k/month, not including her insurance and mortgage payments (her Oregon house in on the market, but no one is buying these days).

As a test experiment we have put 3 of her quilts on eBay to test reception (check them out soon, they won’t be there too long). If this eBay auction proves to be worthwhile, there are more quilts that will make their way to you—her fans. While this is a tough time, and even tougher decision to make, we’re hoping that the people who love them most will be willing to adopt them.

Please, PLEASE, forward this information to your address books/quilt lovers, and ask they do the same. Kathy has traveled all over the United States and UK teaching, so I am hoping this information will make its way around the entire quilting universe!

If you have any questions feel free to email me at ken.sandbach@beamglobal.com or my sister at kristine.sandbach@wachovia.com. Also there is a guestbook at mom’s old website www.machinequiltlady.com. Please go there and sign the guestbook. It would mean a lot to grasp just how many people Kathy has touched through quilting.

Sincerely,

Ken Sandbach

Two More Finishes

Yes, I know ~ they're just alike!

I used up the last of my racecar fabric to make these two cuties for two cuties. My great-grandson Kyle just got his first big boy bed and it's one of those race car beds. The little boy across the hall, Jesse, who is a month older than Kyle just got his first big boy bed too and it's a race car bed too.

So, in celebration of this momentous event in their lives, I hit my stash up and made two. I've found that making two is as easy as making one, if they are both alike and use the same fabrics.

I sewed the binding on yesterday and today washed them and dried them...I love that moment when I take them out of the dryer and see them in all their crinkly loveliness.

Ahhhhh.

Now I have some blocks in progress that I'll pick up and work on tomorrow.

A Satisfying Finish ~

love this quilt!

I've been saving these fabrics for more than a few years knowing that I wanted to make a scrap quilt using these colorways.

Then a year ago I started cutting into the fabrics thinking I would make a scrappy mountain majesty quilt. But, I needed to stop so I could pack for my move to California.

Then I hit the wall, once here, and was in a creative slump and little depression.

Finally, I pulled the pieces out and thought about it a while and changed my mind. I wanted a zig zag quilt.

More cutting and playing around with the fabrics....trying some and then setting them aside. This is the result.

My cousin Ted who is a fine artist who loves to tease me and always asks if I'm still making "those pot-holders" will get this one.

Pot holder? I don't think so.



This fabric is my favorite. It has script which I can't read (is it me in my old age or is that how it was designed?) and scattered throughout are some images. I love the horse. I hope it will remind Ted of our Grandparent's farm.

Sally Bramald's Wonderful Feathered Star....

If you are not familiar with this blog (Feather on a Wire) you need to go have a look. I started reading it oh at least a couple of years ago. I initially was attracted to her wonderful quilting....Sally is the queen of feathers and I love feathers. For several months she has been working on a feathered star quilt with some swags on the border to die for. Go have a look. Go on, be envious, it's okay. And while you're there, say hi.

The Direct Link to the Quilt....

is HERE
Go Bid it Up!!!
Remember it's called Nothin But Kisses......Muah!

Love Without Boundaries

The live auction of the quilt that many of us contributed to will be up on EBay Here tomorrow. Be sure to bid on it to help raise as much money as possible to this worthwhile cause. If you don't remember the quilt.... Here it is.