Quilter’s Connection Magazine can now be found at the following quilt shop:
Country Patchwork Fabrics & Quilts 515533 11th Line RR#3 Woodstock ON Tel: 519-537-8753 www.countrypatchworks.ca
As I drove home from a meeting last evening, I noticed several homes in my neighborhood that already have Christmas lights on! And today, as I walked back form the Post Office, in the front window of a house was a very large, very live Christmas tree, already decorated.
Isn’t it a bit early? I mean, it’s not even December yet. American Thanksgiving dinner isn’t even on the table yet in the Western states.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a humbug by any means.
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
But when Costco is selling Christmas trees and lights and wrapping paper and cards before Halloween, and all the malls are decorated by early November, I feel that’s all just pushing it a little.
Christmas has become so commercialized. Do people even know what Christmas is any more?
What ever happened to the true meaning of Christmas? It’s been lost in the mass of shoppers rushing to purchase gifts for friends and family, because they ’should’ or they ‘have to’, not because they want to. It’s been lost in the barrage of television commercials that pitch the latest ‘must have’ gadget for your loved one. It’s been lost in the rush of people caught up in their lives, just trying to ignore the millions of Christmas messages they are faced with every day – buy this, do that, go there…
Stop. Take a breath. Relax. Slow down.
Yes, I’m getting ready for Christmas. I’ve already begun my shopping, I’m making Christmas cards for friends. Trying to figure out how to secure our Christmas tree this year so our 13-month old cat (a recent addition to the family) doesn’t knock it down during dinner, when all the guests are seated at the table.
But, I’m also taking time – for family, for friends, for me. I’m taking time to think of what Christmas really means to me and why it’s so important to mankind. And no, it’s not because of the great day – after – Christmas sales at the electronics stores.
Christmas to me is a time for giving. Giving gifts, giving love, giving time. This year, we are spending time with the entire family. We are sponsoring a family that is less fortunate than our own. I am making a quilt for them too. A quilt is blanket of love that you can wrap around yourself and feel warm inside and out.
Christmas is a time to show love to everyone – your friends, your enemies, neighbors, strangers.
Isn’t that what Christmas is all about – love? It started with God’s love for us.
Instead of rushing about selfishly in our own little worlds this Christmas, let’s pass it on. Love, that is.
What does Christmas mean to you?
Now, I had better go – I have to get into the kitchen and get some Christmas baking done.
The Winter issue of Quilter’s Connection Magazine will be mailed out to subscribers and shops next week!
I noticed an error in the quilt shop listings on the last page. We have an online shop that carries the magazine – Rush’s Dry Goods. It is in the directory as Rush Dry Goods, and the website address should be www.rushsdrygoods.ca
We also have a new shop that didn’t make it on the list!
Thimbles & Things 1282 Brodie Dr Orillia ON Tel: 705-326-9357 www.thimblesandthings.comThe Quilter’s Connection website has the most up-to-date information on shops that carry the magazine. Please visit for the complete list.
Well, I wondered how long this would take! I know this is not Canadian, but it does affect Canadian quilters….
C&T Publishing Launches their first iPhone App:
Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool
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CONCORD, CA, November 12, 2009—C&T Publishing is pleased to announce the launch of the first ever Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool iPhone/iPod Touch application for quilters.
Being the first publisher to offer a complete quiltmaking application for the iPhone reaffirms C&T’s mission to be an industry leader by providing exceptional content in as many consumable formats as possible.
“The world is going the way of hand-held devices, so we thought what could be more convenient than a complete quilt block iPhone app? It’s the perfect way to plan your quilt on the go—this app gives quilters everything they need to design quilts from the palm of their hands,” said C&T Publisher, Amy Marson.
Editor-in-Chief of CraftCritique.com, Sarah Moore, says this app sets the bar high for craft-related iPhone apps. “The C&T Publishing Quilt Block Tool iPhone Application is an amazing new innovation for quilters! With over 100 quilt blocks built in, quilters now have fingertip access to patterns in multiple sizes…making quick work of calculating fabric yardage while actually standing at the cutting counter!”
Available for $3.99 on the iTunes App Store, the Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool is a not-to-be-missed innovation for crafters everywhere. Not only is it a convenience for seasoned quilters, but it’s also an exciting new way for non-quilters to get started.
If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, and would like to review the Quick & Easy Quilt Block Tool application, please email meganw@ctpub.com with your request for a free download.
About C&T Publishing
For over 25 years, C&T Publishing has been the industry leader, providing exceptional books and products to the quilting, fiber arts and papercrafting markets worldwide.
C&T Publishing’s books and products are available in bookstores, quilt, fabric and papercraft stores, or fromwww.ctpub.com and 800/284-1114.
The Winter issue of Quilter’s Connection Magazine is at the printers, and Laurraine and I had the opportunity to view the proofs earlier this week. It looks fabulous! We are so excited to bring readers the latest issue. It’s bigger than the last, with 16 more pages – more projects and more articles for quilters to enjoy!
Here’s a peak at the cover. Check out that great project! Yes, the pattern is in this issue!
If you don’t already receive Quilter’s Connection Magazine, make sure to visit our website to order your subscription today! You won’t want to miss out on the great projects and patterns, tips and techniques and wonderful articles about quilters – all in each and every issue of Quilter’s Connection Magazine, the magazine for Canadian quilters!
It seems so long since I have had an opportunity to sit in front of my sewing machine to create. Create anything, just create. Just for me. And so today I made up my mind to forego all other activities (which wasn’t difficult – it’s raining here, and who really wants to go outside in the rain?) to just sew.
And sew I did! What a great day! My DH was out of the house, doing manly things, and I was alone with Nero the cat, who thoroughly enjoyed helping me out.
Just me, and Nero, and my lovely sewing machine.
Here is what I accomplished today. It’s based on the traditional log cabin pattern. I’m calling it “Christmas at the Cabin”…
I’m quite pleased with the results. No new fabrics were purchased to create this. None. This quilt is made entirely from red and green fabric scraps found in my heap. Ah, yes – my heap. You see, I am not nearly as neat as so many other quilters out there. I do not have a stash, I have a heap. It began innocently. A way to contain my fabric scraps in a neat and orderly way. A great idea come to life as a Rubbermaid bin complete with a lid, however - despite the fact that I have not purchased new fabrics recently, and even with the scrap-busting event I had today – has overflowed and taken over a corner spot in my sewing room. It has become a big, scary, scrap fabric monster.
The lid no longer fits. I’ve had to purchase a second bin just to fit the smaller scraps of fabric. But it really is exciting when you are searching for that one piece that will make your quilt complete, and you find it. In your scrap bin! Hooray! Rejoice! Celebrate!
Today was one of those days. A perfect day for a quilter. A perfect day.
Quilter’s Connection Magazine is going GREEN, and we’re having a contest to celebrate! Our Spring issue will be a ‘Green Issue’, full of great projects and patterns that use up those scraps in your sewing room, articles about what quilters are doing to save the environment, reviews on eco-friendly products, and …
Tips on the 3-R’s for quilting from you!
We are looking for your tips on how to Re-use, Re-cycle, and Re-duce (among other things) when you quilt. For example, a really popular way to recycle right now, is to save all your little scraps of fabric and threads that you would normally toss into the garbage, and use them to stuff quilted pillows to give to charity!
Please post your tips here, on our Facebook page (search Quilter’s Connection Magazine), or send us an email by January 15th 2010, and ALL the tips will be published in the Spring issue of Quilter’s Connection Magazine. One lucky person will win a fabulous prize – it’s still so early we still have to determine what the prize is!
Sorry, contest open to Canadian readers only.
Laurraine and I just received our first photo of a project made from the Fall issue of the magazine by one of our readers. I thought I’d share it with all of you. Alejandra in Mexico created this…
Partridge in a Pear Tree
Didn’t it turn out great? Alejandra wrote this about her version of the project:
I made this beautiful project which came out on the first Quilter’s Connection Magazine from Canada. It was designed by Laurraine Yuyama of Patchwork Pottery who is also the Creative Director for the magazine. I love every single detail, especially the quilted leaves which go on each end of the tree branch. I embroidered part of the piano score for the song instead of embroidering the name of it.
I love the idea for using the music score instead of the words! Thanks for sharing, Alejandra! (here is a link to her blog, if you are interested in seeing more photos)
If you’ve made one of our projects, we’d love to see it! Please send us your photos, and a brief description, and we’ll post it on the blog to share with everyone!
info@quiltersconnection.ca
Many thanks, and Happy Quilting! ~ Heather
Michele over at Quilting Gallery is creating a cookbook, just in time for Christmas, and she is looking for submissions of recipes, stories and photos. It will be a downloadable PDF cookbook, available for purchase on December 5th. Deadline for submissions is November 28th. I’ve already passed on my favorite recipe, and it’s a really good one! But you’ll just have to purchase the book to find out what it is!
Visit Michele’s site for more details – www.quiltinggallery.com
This is so exciting! We now have 34 quilt shops across Canada and the US that carry Quilter’s Connection Magazine. The latest one to join this great group is:
Quilter’s Haven 20 River St East Moose Jaw, SK Tel: 306-693-8523 www.quiltershaven.caWelcome Arlyce and Heather, and thanks for supporting Quilter’s Connection Magazine!
Please visit our website at www.quiltersconnection.ca to locate a shop near you!
