First, Happy Birthday to my fabulous Mom who is 29 again today. I don’t know how old that makes me (theoretically 9, but the math doesn’t work with a 23YO YM, so you can decide how old I am). Check out her blog, Mary’s Art Musings. She has started writing about drawing and painting again.
On to your regularly scheduled programming.
Fabric, Notions, Supplies, Books & Tools
I received the Mrs. H newsletter. Apparently, the UK has Recycle Week and Mrs. H took the opportunity to provide upcycling tips for bags, including checking bags at thrift stores for good hardware. Sign up for the newsletter on their main page.
I have purchased from ZipIt before, but I have to say that they have super excellent, excellent customer service. I went back and forth with them because I made a mistake in ordering the colors (and I did try to be organized!) and Jennie, who helped me, was so nice and patient about it all. THEN I got the zippers the next day. I was talking to her one day and the zippers were in my hand the next day. No kidding, no exaggeration. It was all great.
Scruffy Quilts has a new website. It has a fresher look and links to a variety of supplies and services.
Projects, Classes, Patterns & Tutorials
I was looking around for a quick zipper pouch pattern. I found several. This one from CloudSplitter Bags has nice details.
I was looking up swap themes and came across a tutorial for a banner. I have been wanting to make (or be gifted) a banner for Thanksgiving and this tutorial might get me in gear!
You’ve already missed 10 days of the Stitch Pink Quilt-a-Long, but it is not too late to join and to catch up. This is a free QAL to support Breast Cancer Awareness. It is co-hosted by The Fat Quarter Shop and Moda. The quilt along began on October 1 on Moda’s blog where they are releasing a new block pattern each day until October 31! The FQS is sewing along with Moda using the Stitch Pink October 2020 Quilt Kit that includes more than 10 yards of Grunge Basics for the piecing and the background. They also have a matching Backing Set for a perfectly pink quilt that really pops with color! I am sure, however, you have enough pink in your stash to make this without buying anything new. I don’t know that I will sew along, but I’ll go look at the blocks and see what I think. Use the hashtag #StitchPink2020.
I found a pincushion pattern that is adorable! It is called the Little Birdie Pincushion and can be found on the Quiltscapes site. The tutorial and the pattern are free. Makes great gifts.
Jeni from In Color Order has a new Vote mini quilt tutorial on her site. I would love one to hang in my front window.
SuzyQuilts is leading the Shine Sew-a-Long. You need to buy the pattern.
The Sewing Loft is having a Zipper Bag Swap. Cost is $5.
Quilting Jet Girl has a tutorial on setting blocks in a circle. I did this sort of setting for my Carpenter’s Wheel. It isn’t really rocket science. You just need to fill in the gaps with blocks. I made up my blocks from 2.5″ squares, but you can do it with one piece of fabric.
Sophie at CraftBuds told me about their flat zipper pouch tutorial. I haven’t tried it, but I did take a quick glance at the site and there is a lot of information that might be useful.
I saw a great bag on the Sew4Home Etsy store. It is listed as a diaper bag, but it could also be used for general around town use. It has a great shape.
You still have time to start the Rockstar Bag Sew-along, which is starting in the Sew Sweetness Facebook group tomorrow.
Other Artists
The guild had a presentation from Cheryl Brickey at last month’s meeting. I wasn’t familiar with her work, but really liked her presentation. She has a blog, sells patterns, has a book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts, and another one, Just One Charm Pack, coming out. She also hosts mystery quilts and quilt-a-longs and teaches Electric Quilt class for the company. She has some of those classes coming up a QuiltCon Together.
Bonnie Hunter talks a little about reorganizing her fabric stash in her new space. She has some good tips. I especially like “put your fabric where you will use it”.
Media, Exhibitions and Shows
I mentioned my pal, Jeff Rutherford’s, new podcast, Quilting Stories. A few weeks ago he and co-host, Elaine Poplin (IG:@messygoat) interviewed me. If you are interested in hearing my story, check out the latest episode.
The popular Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, located in Oregon, went virtual this summer, so you can still enjoy the beauty of this show.
Thanks to Kristy of Bonjour Quilts, I go this tidbit and the links: “The Houston International Quilt Festival will be held online in December this year – bookmark this page for details. Similarly, Quilt Market will be held virtually in January 2021. Details will be released here.” Barbara Brackman has a post on the Houston Quilt Festival as well. She reports that there will be a Virtual Quilt Market January 26-28, 2021.
Philadelphia has a series of murals depicting quiltmakers and quilts, which was recently reported on the Quilting Digest Blog.
My longarmer, Colleen Granger, now has YouTube Channel. Get in on the ground floor by subscribing now.
If you are making a quilt for someone who is colorblind, you might want to use Coblis to see how your selected palette will look to them. Upload a picture of your fabric to see how it looks with various types of colorblindness.