The Home Biz Notes post, My Mother, The Country Grocer, won this round of the b5 Business Channel’s “Apprentice” type challenge, an ongoing 8-week contest, with a different version each week.  This week we were to tell the prototype business owner, Kay, a success story. 
I chose to relate the story of my mom, who influenced many people throughout her years as a country grocer, and hoped this would inspire Kay and others.  As I wrote about Mother, I realized (as I said in one of my comments at the post):
I think we all can find inspiring stories within our families. I …read more

Jennifer, in a comment on my fun post about baby turtles, Something Fun for Quilters, mentioned that her best friend likes and collects turtles.  In the post, I’d suggested the turtles might inspire quilters.  So Jennifer came up with the idea of a baby blanket or quilt with turtles for her friend’s baby.
I agree with Jennifer.  Why not incorporate turtles into a baby gift quilt?  She might look for some fabric printed with turtles.  (Does anyone know where there is any?)  Or she could design or find a pattern of turtles to applique on quilt blocks. 
I often made quilted blankets for …read more

Making quilts, lap or baby size, for worthy causes occupies many quilters, either singly or in groups.  Also school children often become involved in class projects that result in quilts for babies and youngsters in hospitals.  I’ve often helped the sixth graders in our school when they put their creations together.
Recently I read of a group of ladies who made quilts they donated to the birthing center of a local hospital.  The donation was made in memory of a past president of their guild who apparently suggested the idea.
One lady made lap quilts for elderly in nursing homes, “to help …read more

One of my readers mentioned she’s attempting to make a baby blanket for her niece from a pre-printed panel.  She wants to hand stitch the design.
Do I put the top, batting and back together, then do the hand stitching through all three layers.  Or do I just stitch the top layer, then put it together? 
Then she wonders, if she puts them together to stitch, how does she secure them.
ANSWER: You can quilt it either way…quilting just the top piece of fabric or quilting through all three, depending on the effect you want.
If you hand sticth just the top (the pre-printed …read more

The bedcoverings we refer to as quilts need not be solely patchwork or applique.  Some quilts are created from needlework panels or squares.  These are easy to tote projects you can work on away from home, while traveling, in a waiting room, in a car, at youngsters’ ball games.
You’ll find a multitude of designs…floral, pictorial, historical, Sunbonnet Sue, animals, state capitals and more…to embroider or do as cross stitch. I was browsing thorough a needlework catalog and came across so many interesting designs for quilts.
 When you’ve finished the desired number, sew them together with sashing, then select a batting and backing.  You …read more

Making a quilt for a grandchild or a new baby evolves into a tradition in many families.  My grandmother made patchwork quilts for the four children in my family when I was about eight years old.  I remember, because I helped her make mine.
I stitched quilts for my grandchildren when they were infants.  These, for some reason, became “comfort” quilts or blankies for both Kara and Alex.  They wanted Nanny’s quilts on their bed most nights while they slept or with them as they napped.
Kara outgrew hers fairly early.  Alex clung to his quilt for several years, desiring it each night …read more