What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Driveway chalk artist: Lucy Ann, age:9 Hosanna!  In today's online worship service Pastor Kevin explained to us that Hosanna, translated, means: "save us, we pray". There's no better exclamation for us on this Palm Sunday, 2020. He went on, in his sermon, to lay out how after Jesus' triumphant ride into Jerusalem that circumstances turned on a dime. Jesus comes to endure the cross and

Driveway chalk artist: Lucy Ann, age:9 Hosanna!  In today's online worship service Pastor Kevin explained to us that Hosanna, translated, means: "save us, we pray". There's no better exclamation for us on this Palm Sunday, 2020. He went on, in his sermon, to lay out how after Jesus' triumphant ride into Jerusalem that circumstances turned on a dime. Jesus comes to endure the cross and

What we’re working on…

• Kelli
  • Farm Life by Little House Needleworks
  • His Eye Is On the Sparrow by Heartstring Samplery
• Jo
  • Pins and Orts by Heartstring Samplery
  • Seeking Refuge by The Scarlet House
• Kayla
  • Sunburst Pineapple Doily
  • Tribute Socks

Face Masks

• Jo’s blog post
  • Pleated style
• Kayla’s classroom Facebook page
  • Olson style

Finishes

• Easter by Lizzie Kate
• Spring String by Lizzie Kate
• Flower and Garden Shawl (Ravelry)

Quilts

• Finish: Brick House
• Brick House Quilt Directions
• Bonnie Hunter’s Quilt Along
• Quilted Twins Quilt Along
• Temecula Quilt Company Quilt Along

Keepsakes Cross Stitch Shop

R.A.K.= Random Acts of Kindness-- they're alive and well, and they're happening all around us. It's especially heartwarming to reflect on these today. Specifically, this one pictured. A few months ago I received an email from an unknown (to me!) lady in Texas, she had seen my blog post from almost a year ago showing some thread-catchers that I made with a link in the post to the source.

R.A.K.= Random Acts of Kindness-- they're alive and well, and they're happening all around us. It's especially heartwarming to reflect on these today. Specifically, this one pictured. A few months ago I received an email from an unknown (to me!) lady in Texas, she had seen my blog post from almost a year ago showing some thread-catchers that I made with a link in the post to the source.

Okay, so, there is a LOT of info out there for and against wearing a mask during this Covid-19 crisis...especially one that is "home sewn" and while I had planned to stay out of it, I changed my mind and decided to dedicate this post to making one for yourself.

There are a great many tutorials out there, probably the only real difference is that I have included an extra  layer of protection in the form of a Hepa filter in the ones I have made.

* Warning, you want to be certain that such filter material does not contain ...

We received a lot of comments requesting another tutorial for a face mask using straps instead of elastic so here ya go! Using the same construction as the previous tutorial, we just added an extra step. Again, the double layer of fabric creates an opening for inserting a filter for added protection.

This mask is NOT medical grade but there is evidence showing that it can help reduce the spread of germs.  If you would like to donate masks to medical centers locally, we recommend that you contact them beforehand and ask what requirements need to be met. Some need ...

Who knew quarter inch wide elastic would become such a sought after commodity? And the surge of videos on how to make bias tape is another sign of our times. Then, there is a rush to buy HEPA vacuum cleaner … Continue reading →

Are you feeling less in control these days?

Who isn’t?

Like many of you, we are under a “stay-at-home” order. Even if you are not under an order, you are likely practicing “social distancing.”

Along with being “stuck at home” comes feelings of not being in control. It is acutely aware to all of us.

The truth is that we have very little control over things all the time. We just don’t dwell on it on a regular basis. Our brain is focused elsewhere the majority of the time. Right now, our brains tend to go to the ...

It’s interesting how differently the current COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent shelter-in-place regulations are affecting people. As quilters, we can’t imagine how anyone could be “bored” at home. As one quilter’s social media meme said, “Bored? This the moment we (quilters) have been training for all of our lives!” Can you relate?

We asked our Marcus & Studio 37 designers how they are spending their time at home. With their travel schedules suddenly cleared for the time being, they, like many of us, are making the best of the situation quite well…

Cindy Staub of Quiltdoodle Designs ...

A year ago our family was in deep.  We were in deep dealing with Kramer’s cancer.  At about this time we started making the daily trips to Lacrosse for radiation and chemo.  At the time we just couldn’t imagine how we were going to this…all these trips.

Then the first week of it was terrible.  Kramer was short of breath…we ended up needed to put him on oxygen.  His oxygen need started to increase.  His headaches kicked in.  We were new to the whole lung cancer scenario, we didn’t know how to cope or what ...

I have struggled to figure out what I should be saying on social media. It all seems absolutely (kind-of-sort-of) irrelevant. What could I possible have to say to a world suffering from a pandemic?

Still, I think of writing my blog as part of my job as an artist and quiltmaker. So, I am going to just show up, and be present, and see what happens next.

Earlier this month, just as the US was moving from life as we know it, to shelter in place, I went to Los Angeles to teach for the LA Modern Quilt Guild. My ...

There are some things that just cannot be stopped-- businesses can be closed, travel can be restricted, church services can be cancelled, schools can be shut down; but, spring is coming-- it can't be stopped! I spent yesterday morning cleaning out my patio flowerpots and tidying up in the woods directly behind our house by picking up sticks and stacking some now-neglected split logs for a

There are some things that just cannot be stopped-- businesses can be closed, travel can be restricted, church services can be cancelled, schools can be shut down; but, spring is coming-- it can't be stopped! I spent yesterday morning cleaning out my patio flowerpots and tidying up in the woods directly behind our house by picking up sticks and stacking some now-neglected split logs for a

Two weeks in:  Stevens and I are healthy. We've checked in with family and friends and they are fine.  Nearly every activity has come to a screeching halt.  The big cancellation in my world was the ALA Annual Conference at the end of June.  Both the Zion Woman's Club luncheon (May) and the AAUW luncheon (June) have been cancelled. The Rotary Golf Outing is rescheduled for September 25.  I've been to three meetings using Zoom with more to come. 

I've kept my outings to two supermarkets (Aldi and Jewel) and the post office.  I've taken ...

Since we've created the new porch space to enjoy we've added a new element to our daily schedules. No matter what Mr. Goodneedle or I are doing at 4:00 PM  we Drop Everything And Read for an hour. We have really come to enjoy this custom over the past two weeks and we hold each other to it, if I'm busy in the sewing room and might even consider skipping a day he encourages me to leave what I'm