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| Volume 6 Number 1 |
October 2006 |
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Where have the past two (2) years gone? Well, long story, so I'll make it short. I lost my father in February 2005, then I began having mild heart attacks in June 2005. The heart attacks became more frequent, but were misdiagnosed and I was being treated for seizure activity. Finally, in January 2006, I was admitted into a heart specialist hospital (simply because it was the closest one when I lost consciousness) and had heart surgery the next day. My souvenirs? The strips of paper where I flat lined several times. I truly have a guardian angel watching over me! Needless to say, I have not sewn a stitch in the past 19 months. I am just now getting back on my feet again and obviously am feeling more like my "old" self again, as evidenced by my increased activity on the Internet! Plus, you're getting an edition of the QP eNews. I have plans to make several blocks within the next couple of weeks, for projects that I am currently involved in. I can hardly wait to get "caught up" with updating my Web sites and get back to the business of designing and quilting! Wouldn't you say it's about time? I am settled into my new home quite well and am thoroughly enjoying my views of the lake. In fact, I spent a good deal of the summer out on the lake fishing. Yes, you read that right. Fishing! Me, who has never fished on this lake before and I've lived here for 50 years (yes, I hit the half-century mark last April). The biggest fish I caught this summer was a catfish. I was so proud of it! I don't eat fish, however, and I don't like touching them (the slimy things), so I wear special fishing gloves when I handle the fish that I catch. The gloves are supposed to protect the fish from a human touching them... something about the oils on our skin damaging their scales. I watched many a sunset, but a couple of them were interesting; one was the silver lining of clouds with the American Flag blowing in the wind and the other was the sun reflecting on the water of the lake. Next summer I'm taking my good camera out on the boat! More often than not, I took my baby out on the boat with me. She's 2 years old now, full grown, and weighs in at a whopping 4 pounds. She's a Teacup Chihuahua, named Speck! She loves boating! But alas, summer is gone and the boat is in storage and fall is setting in. The Canadian Geese and wild turkeys are already taking over my backyard, as well as deer and armadillos. I love wildlife, but I hate the armadillos! They dig holes all over the place. I keep thinking I'm going to do some research on armadillos someday and see if they serve any useful purpose in the environment! And it's strange, but up until a few years ago, northeastern Oklahoma didn't have armadillos and now we're overrun with the nasty critters. Where is Ellie Mae when you need her? It's already too cool for me. I am a very cold-natured person and am already dreading winter! Gosh, that sounded like my first day of school and the teacher asking "What did you do this summer?" ;) So, how are you doing?
 by Terry Need a new wallpaper for your desktop? Try the new October wallpaper located on the Web! This time I created two different versions of it; one with the seasonal graphics overlaying it and one without. Let me know if you like having these options or if I'm wasting my time! What's ahead for Quilting Passion this coming fall? Well, I'd like to begin a new Mystery Quilt, plus I'm also currently teaching a beginning class of learning HTML through QPU. Kimberly is going to be teaching a Hand Dyeing class, also, so be sure to check the link above for dates and other information. Also, if I can squeeze it in, I'd like to teach (or have someone else) a class on making quilted postcards to send through the mail. I've received two in the past couple of weeks and you should see them! They are both awesome. Thanks Lynn and Val! The remainder of 2006 will hopefully bring about a series of patterns that I began in early 2005: Stained Glass, Crazy Patch, and Log Cabins, so be sure to check the home page of Quilting Passion often for the glimmer of hope that I finally get around to it. I do know that I've set a deadline for finishing this series before the year is over! And lastly, love a Challenge? Love to Quilt? Then don't miss the Quilting Passion Autumn 2006 Challenge, hosted by Kimberly!
2005 and 2006 have been more than sparse years for designing new patterns for me, due to my health. I have high hopes of getting "caught up" and beginning to design again ASAP, which is why I'm itching to begin a new Mystery Quilt. I constantly stay busy, yet I don't seem to get all that I want done! I bet some of you have that very same problem! The Quilting Passion Web site does have quite a few free patterns that I have designed over the past few years. These are still available!
My pick for pattern/project of the month is one that is certainly fit for making many, many quilts. This very versatile pattern is created by Quiltmaker Magazine and is called, "Warm Wishes". This pattern has been used many times by the forum's charity project and each quilt made using it is unique! Give it a whirl! It's fast, fun, and easy!
All I've thought about lately is the next mystery quilt project! It'll be MQ 16 and I already have the pattern designed in my head. I hope to kick it off within the next two weeks or so, so I'll keep you posted. One hint: Think fall! If you would like to view previous mysteries, then be sure to check the pictures of quite a few finished mysteries in the Gallery below! The Gallery has had quite a few new additions, so when you get a chance, take a look at all of the fabulous quilts made from our readers over the past few months. A special thanks to those who share their finished projects with me! If you have made a quilt using one of the patterns on this site, please share a photo with me so that I can add it to the gallery? When submitting the photo, provide your first name and state that you live in. I'd certainly appreciate it! |
The forum continues to grow and thrive, thanks to quilters like you! A few of our monthly projects include:
The "Round Robin Charity Drive", or RRCD continues to grow and has quickly become one of the most popular activities on the forum. We have donated a total of 1,049 quilts since March of 2002! That is absolutely so amazing! Not only is this fun and rewarding for each of the volunteers in this project (which is currently about 60), but the end result is that we are making an impact on the lives of children and adults that truly need a spark of hope. If you haven't joined this project, let me just say that it is truly one of the most rewarding projects that I have ever participated in. And we have so much fun, too! In the beginning, the RRCD Process was done as the traditional "round robin", but I eventually added a second and third method for making these quilts: "row by row" and "whole quilt". On an interesting note, here are a couple of statistics for you to think about. First, in the publication of the last eNews in January 2005, we had donated 358 quilts. Compare that to our current 1,049! Second tidbit to think about is that, based on our past performance, we are donating two quilts every three days. Amazing work for busy people who probably have full-time jobs and families to care for, don't you think? I am so very, very, very proud of each volunteer!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot stress that enough. If you belong to, or know of, a non-profit organization that provides quilts to traumatized and/or terminally ill children and would like to be placed on our waiting list, please feel free to contact me via sregora@quiltingpassion.com. For more information, refer to the Forum Charity Web page describing the project. 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 is also a special project that just began and we could use all the help we can get to try to send quilts and school supplies to Romania. And let us not forget that Kimberly just kicked off a new challenge, Quilting Passion Autumn 2006 Challenge. She has said that she believes it will be the most challenging of challenges. Now, does that arouse your curiosity or what? September 30, 2006 was also national Quilt Pink Day. We've had a few members that participated in that and donated blocks that will help benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I have plans to sponsor a block donation drive locally (Pryor, Oklahoma area) during the month of October. I've submitted an article to the newspaper and it should go to press late next week, hopefully on Sunday, October 8th. I'll keep you posted regarding this. Now, along the same lines, I've had a project in mind for the forum, but I've not announced it because I didn't want it to distract anyone from participation in the national Quilt Pink Day. But, you're hearing it here first! Well, you will if you read this before I post it to the forum. ;) I am hosting a block donation for the forum to benefit the same Komen Foundation. Details of this will be posted on the forum. I hope to collect enough blocks through the forum and through my local quilters to make several quilts. What will they do with these quilts? Auction them online on eBay! For those of you that are fairly new to the forum, let me introduce you to the administration staff. I am the Head Administrator, Kimberly is our Assistant Administrator, Peggy is the RRCD Coordinator, Sheryl is the RRCD Assistant Coordinator and Myra is the Block/Fabric Swap Coordinator. These ladies do a fantastic job on the forum, and I'll be honest with you... while I've been ill for the past 19 months, they have taken very good care of everything! They deserve a big pat on the back because this is hard work and it also takes time! For those of you that are members of this very special forum (which is my home on the Internet!), thank you. For those of you that haven't visited yet, please do so by clicking here. Remember, basic membership is still free!
There are currently two classes slated. The beginning HTML class started today and the Hand Dyed Workshop starts next weekend. You can find details of these two classes on the forum or at QPU.
Hopefully, MQ 16, and the completion of the series of mini-blocks I began in January 2005. I'd also like to squeeze in at least one more class through QPU, and perhaps design a few free patterns. You will also notice that every time you visit this Web site, you notice changes. Well, stay tuned... I have plans of revamping the entire thing once I have all of the dead links and other maintenance issues resolved! I need at least 36 hours in a day. Quilting is such a passion of mine and I have missed it so much. I can hardly wait to get back at my sewing machine.
Any new ideas roaming around in your head that you'd like to share with me? Ideas for mysteries, swaps, new patterns, anything?
So much to do, so very little time! I hope that this month is happy and healthy for all of you. I know it's a big month for me. My son, my grandson, and my mother all have birthdays within 7 days of one another. It's almost like Christmas in October! And speaking of Christmas... Halloween is around the corner, then before you know it, Thanksgiving will be hear and we'll be chowing down on good eats (I watch too much Food TV), then we'll be tossing tinsel on the Christmas trees! And before we know what hits us, we'll be ringing in the new year. This seems to be the busiest time of the year for me and I imagine for all of you, too. I have several plans for Christmas gifts this year, but haven't made up my mind as to what yet. I'd definitely like to mail all of my close friends and relatives the quilted postcards. Those are so cool! Then I have another idea or two for Christmas gifts, but I'm not telling, because I'd like to begin them on the forum, either as projects or mysteries or something! I may be getting a little older, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve! Happy
quilting, |
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