Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler is a collection of 140 six inch public domain blocks which have been put together into a quilt by Jenny Chiaverini.                   The quilt is based on an Elm Creek novel which she wrote about a group of women who make the quilt for a woman who is soon to be married.      There is a link to FAQ as well as a block of the week group and a gallery of many completed quilts and WIPs.

Nifty Nine Patch

Rachel Greco has made this amazing quilt and worked out a quick and easy way to construct nine patch blocks .. better than the old one where you simply sewed long strips together and then cross cut. There are step by step instructions as well as a printable page.

Stitching Fingers

Stitching Fingers is a forum for embroiderers created by Sharon B. It has only been created quite recently and so is still establishing itself. Seems a friendly group so far.

Pretty Impressive Stuff

Rissa has collated an impressive array of embroidery stitches  and information plus patterns and everything you might want related to embroidery.  

Her site Pretty Impressive Things has links to punch needle, shadow work, silk ribbon, crazy quilting, redwork, tassels, needle arts, needle felting and lots more things 

Fantastic site worth checking out more than once.

Homeberries

Jennie Baer of Homeberries the author of Modern Primitive Embroidery has created a range of simple stitcheries to fit every season. 

There are also links to videos showing how to form many embroidery stitches.

This pattern is available on her site for only $3.50 and all proceeds go to charity.

Diane Gaudynski

Diane Gaudynski has won many awards for her fantastic quilts.

 On her site are many hints particularly for machine quilting. Don't you just love this quilt?

Take a Stitch Tuesday

TAST is a great site.  This was a weekly challenge organised by Sharon B last year.  Each week she uploaded a new stitch with instructions and samples. Lots of photos and a wonderful way to learn new embroidery stitches.

The whole blog is still accessible if you want to work through it.

Capricorn quilts

Bea uploads a new BOM every month.  It is free for one month only.  The present series "Quilters Blessings" is about things that quilters would love ... like never ending spools, or days longer than 24 hours.  Each stitchery is 4 3/4in and with a border comes up to 6in.

Noah's Ark

Lynette Anderson has designed lots of great stitcheries.

She is the creator of the books An Angel's Wish and Friends for Christmas which have some naive style stitcheries and quilt patterns.

Scroll down the left hand side and you will find a gorgeous free BOM - Noah's Ark.

Needle 'N Thread

For a blog that has resources galore related to embroidery you can't miss Mary Corbett's Needle 'N Thread
From this site you are able to link to an online video of many stitches, a huge number of online embroidery books, discussions of relevant tools and accessories, review of books, some free designs and a whole lot more as well as more links.

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith teaches postcards and machine quilting.

The variety of quilts is quite extensive and well worth looking at for ideas.

Quilt News

Quilt Newsis a blog for quilt designers who wish to advertise their recent releases. There is a short paragraph or two about their latest projects and then a link that takes you directly to the new blog.
Marguerita who owns the blog has also put together a large number of interesting and/or useful links for both the avid quilter but more importantly for designers.
There is also a list of distributors and wholesalers as well as fabric companies.

Blog Summaries

Well I have decided that it is about time I went out and checked out some quilting sites/blogs and rather than forget what was good about them I would use this blog to record my findings. That way next time I am looking for a site I will hopefully be able to find it from here.

Positive Moments

What a coincidence. Paul has been reading about ways to alleviate anxiety and one of the methods he has been suggesting I try is to focus on the positive things around us.

Well being unable to sleep I decided to do a little surfing and what should appear on a blog I often check out. Interested? Check out Erica's blog. As she says focus on the positive moments in life. We'll all be the richer for it.

Plus she has some pretty interesting quilting ideas that she is trying out if you are into creative things.

Today's positives - a girl I work with has been practicing a saying "If I can say it, I can write it.  I can do it".  

She has difficulty saying words and so is reluctant particularly to say new words in case people think she is silly.  Have you ever tried to spell a new word without saying it .. even if it is only in your head?  Today she tried it and happily spelt most of the words correctly and more importantly confidently. 

Mini Monday Madness - Raconteur

Blueberry Pie don't you just love them. Paul makes the best pastry in the world and there is nothing better than one of his fruit pies especially with homemade filling.

25 Challenge - Remember

Dick
See Dick
See Dick run.

Jane
See Jane
See Jane run.

Spot
See Spot
See Spot run.

and hot chocolate in the winter time.

The lion

If you're attacked by a Lion
Find fresh underpants to try on
Lay on the ground quite still
Pretend you are very ill
Keep like that day after day
Perhaps the lion will go away

Spike Milligan

A Very Lego Xmas

I know it's not xmas but I am sure that I will have lost this link by then.
Very amusing.... I would tell you more but then that plus the title might give it away.

Oh by the way this turned up in a search for information on Idi Amin ..... I have yet to find the connection.

25 Challenge -Five

Food on a dry floor generally safe to eat if retrieved within five seconds. 

However on contaminated surfaces, it's significantly contaminated in under five seconds.

reference: http://tiny.cc/HF6fF

Have a Nice Day - Spike Milligan

'Help, help, ' said a man. 'I'm drowning.'
'Hang on, ' said a man from the shore.
'Help, help, ' said the man. 'I'm not clowning.'
'Yes, I know, I heard you before.
Be patient dear man who is drowning,
You, see I've got a disease.
I'm waiting for a Doctor J. Browning.
So do be patient please.'
'How long, ' said the man who was drowning. 'Will it take for the Doc to arrive? '
'Not very long, ' said the man with the disease. 'Till then try staying alive.'
'Very well, ' said the man who was drowning. 'I'll try and stay afloat.
By reciting the poems of Browning
And other things he wrote.'
'Help, help, ' said the man with the disease, 'I suddenly feel quite ill.'
'Keep calm.' said the man who was drowning, ' Breathe deeply and lie quite still.'
'Oh dear, ' said the man with the awful disease. 'I think I'm going to die.'
'Farewell, ' said the man who was drowning.
Said the man with the disease, 'goodbye.'
So the man who was drowning, drownded
And the man with the disease past away.
But apart from that,
And a fire in my flat,
It's been a very nice day.

Spike Milligan