ECLECTIC FRIENDSHIPS

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I just read the second in a series of books written by Debbie Macomber. This one begins with a the directions to knit the perfect pair of socks. I have never learned to knit, but reading this book made me immediately want to learn. There are knitting websites at the beginning of several chapters and they are all beautiful stores to buy the tools necessary to knit, learn to knit, or to knit anything or everything you could want. What an amazing way to write a book. It reminds me of the idea I had when I began the cookbook I wrote with my family; it was to be the first of a series of cookbooks where after you purchase the book, you try the recipes and change them to make them heart healthy, or adapt them to your family's particular taste.
Attached to the craft of knitting in "A Good Yarn," is a genuinely sweet story about women forming friendships with women of all ages, which has been my experience most of my life. Age has never been a factor when choosing friends. I have an eclectic mix of friends, and I believe that is how it should be to get the full experience of friendships and relationships in ones life. One has so many needs; and to expect one person to fill all of those needs is impossible, and eventually lonely.
If you get a chance pick up a book by Debbie Macomber and begin a wonderful journey of relationships, friendships, crafts, cooking and life.

Are You Ready for a New Tiny Quilt Idea

Image by riptheskull via Flickr

Greetings Quilter,

We have been talking about fabric postcards and transferring
photos onto fabric, so why not transfer your favorite photo
onto fabric and create a tiny quilt - a fabric postcard?


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It's always fun to come up with some original way to send
your Holiday greetings.

My dad always wrote a poem for Christmas. Every year, a
new poem. Then one year, my parents moved around Christmas
and the poem was delayed.

The next year, he created an un-Christmas poem that was
sent to the "Christmas Card List" in July. And a new
tradition began.

For a few years, the card was decorated with pictures of
the family, each doing something that related to their
verse in the poem.

My mom and dad always got comments on their cards. They
were personal and easy and fun to read, everybody got to
hear about what went on during the year.

But to my dad, it was kind of a chore. My mom had to give
him weeks of notice and nag him to get it done.

Why not make something that is fun, and something that you
can make during the year in your spare time.

This will be a standout among your Holiday card friends,
and they will be anxious to see what you come up with
every year.

You can easily create a photo fabric postcard from the
scraps in your stash in a short time - while watching TV,
watching it snow, or listening to some great music.

Here is a resource to help:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/quilt-postcard.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

www.How-to-Quilt.com
www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

7925 Pasadena Ave.
La Mesa, CA  91941


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How-To-Quilt.com

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Greetings Quilters,

Whether you are just thinking about learning how to quilt,
are an experienced quilter, or are somewhere in between,
this site is jam-packed with great information to make your
quilting journey fun and inspiring.

Start with Patterns.

Click on the "Free Quilt Patterns" Link on the sidebar and
discover an extensive list of the most popular quilt block
and quilt patterns.

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/patterns/free-quilt-patterns.php

Sign up for the monthly newsletter.
Your monthly newsletter subscription comes with a link to
10 new traditional quilt block patterns each month.  Some
of them are fairly easy, white others are a little more
difficult.

These monthly quilt block patterns come with templates,
layouts and rotary cutting instructions making it easy for
you to get started.

Create a block and add it to a sampler quilt.  Or sew many
blocks with the same design and create a quilt for a friend,
family member, or yourself!

Most of all Have Fun with your Quilting :-)

Watch your email Inbox for frequent notices about updates to
the site, and information to make your quilting life easier
and more fun.

Generally, the emails will come marked from
"Penny@How-to-Quilt.com."  Add that email address to your
Approved e-mail List so it will fly by the Spam Filters.
You don't want to miss even one notice from How to Quilt.

And speaking of Spam Filters, we have switched to an online
version of the monthly How to Quilt Newsletter, to ensure
delivery.  Click on the link in the email, and go directly
to the monthly newsletter - in full color!

Enjoy, and Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

www.How-to-Quilt.com
www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

7925 Pasadena Ave.
La Mesa, CA  91941

THE "MUNNY" IS IN THE LIST

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I was watching The Bonnie Hunt Show yesterday and she had Rosie O'Donnell on promoting her new movie "America" that is on Lifetime tonight (02-28-09) and tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m.EST. Bonnie talked about "The Teen Creed" that her mother gave them as children, so they understood what to do when they were away from home, and their mother could not be with them. It is really a great idea for parents of teens. They were given the creed at age 12 and had to memorize it and they carried a laminated copy of it with them whenever they left home. It's a great idea, especially for teens today. Rosie was also on "The Craig Ferguson Show" with pretty much the same repertoire. Not that it mattered, I still laughed till I cried. She is always funny and he just cracks me up, there is something about him that is just contagious. No matter what he says about anything, is truly, hysterically funny. Anyway...Rosie was introducing a new craft product. I guess she is big on crafts,and this new craft she is promoting is really big. It is from Kid Robot (Kidrobot is planet Earth's premier creator & retailer of limited edition toys, clothing, artwork & books.)She is promoting the Munny Dolls, which come in many colors, and you paint them to make them your own design. It's really very creative. Rosie's family does not watch television and she spends a lot of time with them, and crafts is one of the things they all do together.
When Rosie knew she was going to be on these shows promoting her movie, she went to the owner of Munny and asked him to donate enough to give to all the audience members on the shows she was going on...and they did. They are really cute and kids can be so creative with them, I think it's a great way for kids to spend time with their parents. A lot of parents these days leave their kids in the (not so capable) hands of television, as if it were a babysitter, I know because I did that with my youngest,(I was in the middle of a divorce, and I have said many times that he missed a great deal of nurturing and focused attention on him) and you know what...he is the one that has the hardest time dealing with life in general. I give Rosie a lot of credit for what she is doing, and this new craft is really amazing, check it all out.
For some reason, she and Craig Ferguson kept referring to TODAY as February 20th and talked about the Super Bowl. I don't know why they kept saying that and winking. Does anyone know why they were doing that? I feel like I have just missed a big event and the world knows about it and is leaving me out, poor me...boo hoo. If you know what they are talking about leave a comment below so I can catch up with the rest of the world.

GREAT HOLIDAY IDEAS

Image by Paulo Brandão via Flickr

RETURN TO THE CRAFTS OF YOUR MEMORY

Annie's Attic - Search Results
In Annie's Attic, find the things you remember your mother and grandmother doing. Add some new dimension to their craft, by adding your own version. Check out these creative projects.

GREAT FOR HOLIDAY CARDS

Autism Society of America: art_exhibit
Here is a practical and most generous way to send your holiday cards this year. ASA has art designed by children with Autism available for sale and donation. Check out the site today and order your holiday cards.

EVERYTHING HAS A BLESSING IN IT!

JUNKMARKET Style
This is so wonderful, the way these people are able to see the beauty in, what some of us, would call junk or trash. I had an uncle that used to bring home more from the dump than he dropped of. I never saw him create anything from what he brought home, but what a treasure that would have been. Think about that the next time your husband brings home a piece of junk. Find the blessing in it...Turn it into BEAUTY!

FLOSS ANGEL

Every Year I make an Angel as part of my Holiday Crafts for friends and family. This year is the Embroidery Floss Angel.

Someone gave me one a couple of years ago but that particular one looked kind of tacky to me, but this is a much nicer version.
ALL FREE CRAFTS is a wonderful site make sure you check it out.