By Guest Blogger Kathy Zengolewicz
If you’re anything like me, then you need to have a small gift to give your host/hostess when you are invited to visit. Whenever I go to a friend’s home, whether it’s a planned visit or if I know that I’ll be in the neighborhood and plan to call and see if I can pop in, I always like to take a little something with me to give to that person. It doesn’t have to be something big, or expensive. I like to spend time working with my crafts. It helps to …read more

It’s a good idea to take photos of all your quilting and fabric art projects.  It’s even easier today, with digital cameras, than when I had to get photos developed from negatives.  Sometimes you’re pressed for time and don’t bother.  Then eventually you wish you had documented that particular piece of fabric art.
Why take photos?  Here are 10 of the reasons:
 

To have a record
To remember specific patterns and designs
To document your techniques
To build a portfolio or album
To put on your blog
To show customers
To use for making your own fabric
To play with in photo programs
To enter contests and shows
To have for …read more

As I was writing an article for my Country Kitchen blog, Food Memories in Community Cookbooks, I was swamped with memories of Mother in her pre-Alzheimer’s years. Actually I have two cookbooks published by the church we attended when I was a child, one from my mother-in-law’s church, and another published by the nursing home where Mother resided.
These cookbooks represent different eras in my life and those of my family. They bring back memories of neighbors, Sunday school teachers, family members and several at the nursing home. I recall occasions when many of the recipes were served.
If you have any …read more

 
We’ve often discussed tea drinking and tea parties here at Quilting and Patchwork.  Often quilters like a cup of tea while working or gathering with others.  Tea and tea parties was popular in my family when we visited one another.  My grandmother, with whom I made my first quilt, always had a cup of tea at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
The word’s out that Obama drinks tea, particularly organic berry tea, rather than coffee.  So, the possibility that tea becomes an even more popular beverage looms before us.  What about tea parties?  More of these, too?
(Amazon image)

Even though the snow is still deep here in New Hampshire, the air is warmer, ice is melting and days are getting longer. Spring is on it’s way so thoughts of gardening become frequent. In fact, you can’t find snow shovels and ice melt in most of the stores. They’re stocking their garden supplies.
Gardening is a stress reliever for many people and quilters are no exception.  Some find this a creative outlet for their energies as well as quilting and fabric art.  I know my daughter does.  Also, gardens often serve as inspiration for quilters and play a role in …read more

Quilts have many uses…to inspire, to please, to tell a story, to reveal history, to cover our beds and keep us warm, to decorate.  I had not heard before about quilts illustrating poetry, although there probably are some. 
A quilter in Elgin, Ontario, Canada has illustrated through quilts some of Robert Burns’ poetry. Displayed at the Elgin County Museum, the quilts were made by Marion Tews, a descendant of the poet’s best friend.  The quilts depict verses from Burns’ poetry.
Have you ever tried illustrating a story or poem? 
(Blackstone image at Amazon)

The Food Bloggers have come up with some more recipes that may help you create interesting meals. 
Alphabet Cake Pan
Personalize your birthday cake with an alphabet cake pan. Make their initials, or their age in cake! 
Busy Family Meals
Vindaloo sauce can be used to flavor meats, but we like it best as a vegetarian delight!
Chocolate Covered Buttercrunch Bars                                                                                                       Chocolate and buttercrunch treats made with a surprise ingredient.
Cooking Gadgets
Space saving genius: collapsible colanders!
Horehound Drops
A herbal home remedy for a sore throat or cough.
Old Woodenware Stirs Memories
Mary Emma, at Country Kitchen, finds that old kitchen woodenware brings back memories …read more

The Arts Bloggers are putting together their creative ideas for 2009.  See what you’d like to try.
 Drawer Pull & Pants Hanger Project
Turn these items into a unique photo display via Craftynest.
Gravestone Rubbings for Fabric Art
Mary Emma, at Quilting and Patchwork, discovered instructions for turning gravestone rubbings into fabric art and family history.
How to Make Soap Petals
Soap petals are simply silk flower and leaf petals dipped in melted soap. They are single use and look pretty sitting beside the sink. Let Eileen show you how to make them. 
Layers Upon Layers
Cyndi is hosting an educational blitz this month, and she’s …read more

Thank you
Since the season of gifts and giving recently passed,
I guess I’m more aware that “thank you” and thank you notes (even e-mails) have become a lost art or lost courtesy. When we received gifts, or even were shown acts of kindness and consideration, my mom had us children write thank you notes.
Each year, the day after Christmas, the four of us sat at the dining table and wrote notes to Grandma, Auntie, Uncle Charles and Aunt Freda. If there was anyone else, like Cousin Ina or a neighbor, who gave us gifts, that went on our list, too. This …read more

Are you a collector of odds and ends related to sewing?  Not fabric nor embellishments, but the tiny tools of the trade?  Many of these items bring back memories of my early days of sewing and quilting with my grandmother.
These Items include:

Pin cushions
Thimbles
Needle threaders
Old sewing machine accessories
Bobbins
Spools with thread
Empty spools with identification marks
Pin boxes
Advertising cards
Travel sewing kits
Tape measures

The Crazy Haberdasher is one of the blogs that will provide information and pictures about these items and collecting them. 
What do you have in your collection?
(Bell Hop image at Amazon)