In yesterday's mail I got an Austrailian Patchwork & Quilting magazine from a gal in Austrailia. I've heard quite a bit about this magazine - seems like it's hard to get outside of Austrailia and I just had to see what it was all about!
It's certainly inspiring! I already have a few ideas popping into my head. I fell in love with this 9-patch/snowball flowers quilt. A little too pinky for me, but otherwise I could have so much fun with it!
Have I ever mentioned that I have never done applique yet? But lately I've been getting over my mental fear of it and been thinking about what I can try with. I think I'll just use the blanket stitch on my machine and see what happens. :)
Today's goodies brought a card with a little cross-stitch bookmarker - a small prize I won. The mail also brought a letter from my grandfather - Pops - today. Enclosed was some $$ so I can make quilts for Project Linus. I was only asking for enough money to cover the supplies - the pattern, thinking and time are all on me. :) I will also include his name in the label - something like "Donated by Pops, Pieced and Quilted by Leah".
Pops also replied to my inquiries of some antique quilts his Grandmother made. The two quilts are scrappy Double Wedding Rings - all handsewn I believe. I only caught a glimpse of them in 2004. I'm pretty sure they're also made out of original 1930s fabric. This is what he wrote:
I'm very pleased that you want those 2 quilts, Leah. I may be able to think up a good story to go with them. They've been in the family a long time. I can remember as a little squirt that Minnie (grandmother) and all the other farm ladies would gather on one of their porches and quilt. And quilt. And talk. And talk some more.
The last part had me laughing - it's so true, even today! :) But I'm thrilled at the prospect of owning some 70+ years old quilts and family history.
I'll have to write Pops back - probably either tonight or tomorrow. Snail mail can be so much fun! :)
Leah
4 comments:
I love getting the mail too. There was a time, long long ago, when friends would send snail mail. Now the mail box is filled with just two kinds of mail "please give me some money" (donation requests), "you better give me some money" (bills), "here's some money, you can pay us back later" (credit card applications) etc. Almost all mail is about the money! But even then, it is such a thrill to get the mail every day. My husband loves it too, so we have a competition thing going on - we've just not fought over it - yet! :)
I wish more folks would send snail mail. Though email is faster, it does not have the same connection. Last year, I decided to send a letter to one of my friends each month, but I was discouraged because they seemed to think it was a waste of my time when I could have just sent an email or spoken to them on the phone. Oh well!
Oh, I also meant to say that it is awesome that you have the opportunity to own such a treasure, made by your great-great grandmother. I am looking forward to seeing photos when you get them.
I"m not sure I should tell you this.... but I have a friend who lives in Australia and every year for my birthday she gets me a gift subscription to the Australian P&Q magazine! I in turn get her a subscription to the American P&Q! So I often get the issues way in advance of the stores around here. I've gotten them for about 5 years now - it is a fun magazine!
And what a great story about pops! I can't wait to see the quilts! Hmmm talking and quilting - sounds like me!
The Australian mags always tend to have good inspiration in them. The snowball and 9patch you showed is really nice - because of the colouring of the 9patches you don't realise how it is constructed right away :)
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