Great Northeastern Quilt-a-thon

I'm inviting quilters from New York and New England (and anywhere else, for that matter) to make a difference. Let's celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Make a Difference Day by making at least 1,000 Quilts of Valor between today and October 23, 2010.

Do you like seahorses?

I do. And so do most people. Seahorses are right up there with dragonflies at the top of the list of "Very Cool Creatures". And seahorses are the subject of my friend Linda M. Poole's new line of fabrics (following close on the heels of her first line, "Iridescence", which features dragonflies). You've got to check these out- the seahorses are wonderful, the colors are simply stunning, and the whole line of fabrics is irresistible!

Coming out of hibernation...

Not really. This soon to be past winter has been a creative time for me, and I'm excited about all the things that had been going on in my life that are now coming to fruition.

Four new quilts have been born, and I'm "pregnant" with a fifth. Also on the quilting front, one of my quilts, "The Mystery of the Missing Root Children" (pictured) has been chosen for an exhibit at MQX next month. And there will be other news, but all in due time.

I have also had the immense pleasure (and time, and effort) of putting together a fund-raising cookbook that is almost ready for the printer. This will benefit Just a Touch Rescue. Please let me know if you would like to be notified when the book is out.

Historical cemetery of the day

The state of Rhode Island has nearly 3000 historical cemeteries. If I counted correctly, Westerly has 97 if those.  Even many natives don't know this one, in Watch Hill, exists. Yet it's just a block away from the center of the village, a couple hundred yards past this lovely old yacht. 

Here's RI Historical Cemetery #31, 

containing approximately 100 graves with stones dating from 1740 to 1830. You can see headstones, many barely peeking up from the ground.

 Sadly, this lovely stone broke off its base. The carving is barely visible, it appears to be a setting sun. The name and date of the person interred below is no longer legible.

A lovely autumn morning...

and a good time to take advantage of the sunshine before the rainy weekend arrives. This happy fellow greets visitors to Smith's Flower & Farm here in town.  

Quilting Spooky- A freebie for you

Now that your Halloween quilt top is completed and is ready to be quilted (you DO have a Halloween quilt, don't you?), you need a quick and easy quilting design. If you have basic free motion quilting skills, you can do "Loopy Bats." 

Upcoming Events

October 3 I will be teaching "Take Four", a set of four placemats designed by Cary Flanagan of Something Sew Fine. The class will be held at Quilts & More, Mill Pond Plaza, Westerly, RI.

October 14 I will be doing a trunk show for members of the Clamshell Quilters at the Waterford Community Center, Waterford, CT; the next day I will be teaching my pattern "Earth, Air, Fire, Water", pictured above.

Oct. 23, 24, and 25 I will be vending at the Ninigret Quilters show (this is my local guild), at the Westerly Armory, Westerly, RI