FINISHES AND NEW IDEAS

This is the first UFO quilt from 2008, I finished the border yesterday. Yipee another UFO done. I had a lot of fun embroidering each block with different colored threads and going around various parts of the preprinted blocks. I then added sashing and it is finished. I only showed a small part of the quilt (it was laying like this and I just snapped the photo). Last year I did not show many, if any, of the charity quilts I made. This year, I plan on including more of these. It feels wonderful knowing I am giving a little something to someone who needs a tad bit of hope and comfort in their lives.

For some reason I could not get to sleep last night. After tossing and turning for over an hour, I got up and browsed around on the computer. I went to

http://www.quilterstv.com/?bcpid=1312399157&title=applique_projects

Quilters TV site, which I discovered a short time ago. I really enjoy watching the videos from the series and if you like watching videos about quilting, check out this site. It has many that are informative and interesting. Decided to click on the section Quilters Cafe and found a video featuring Brenda Henning demonstrating half square triangles and quarter square triangles. It was an interesting video and I decided to check out her personal site.
http://www.bearpawproductions.com/QuiltingBasics.htm



I was delighted to find this section with free patterns. I love patterns, can never have enough...LOL. Her free pattern page is where I chose to have the link. But I found the rest of her site very interesting, so do not hesitate and check it out. She makes some beautiful quilts. Plus offers all of her books on this site; now that my interest is sparked....eventually will have to buy some of her books.

Under TRIANGULATIONS, I found Godey's Table Runner and printed it out. I enjoy paper piecing, but have only done a few projects. On the other hand I have tried half square triangles only a couple of times also and these two combine in this block. I printed out the copy and even though I should work on finishing 2 of my 4 UFOs, I have got to give this one a try.

I also learned a trick (sorry, I honestly can not remember where I read it on the web....so can not give credit where it is due) on a site earlier today. Copying the pattern pages/pieces for paper piecing can become expensive and this suggestion was to use several blank pages of paper and use the sewing machine (without thread) and sew through the pages. I have not tried this yet, but plan on it as soon as I finish playing on the computer.

So now I have two new techniques to try quilting. Will let you know later how both worked.