DONNA POSTER NEWSLETTER
JUNE ‘07
Mr. Donna here: I have a few administrative things to do and then Donna will get on with the newsletter.
First) We are all set up to take credit cards on the website---quiltwithdonna.com---. You can email, telephone, or use the order form. I am also working on putting up a shopping cart using Paypal. What with gardening this time of the year, and following the triple crown races, I could really use a 40 hour day!
Second) The most notable change on the site is in the “Your Projects” section. We now have projects from: Judy Klein, Sandra Renne, Joann Teska, Marty Post, Sally Rickerman and Jody Beitzel. Keep the projects coming and I will put them on the site at once. On second thought, better make that, asap. Send images of your projects as photos, as attachments to an email, or on a disk. Be sure to save them as jpg files. I believe we are the first to do this and we want to make this section a major attraction.
Third) Tomato season is fast approaching so chili will soon be in the pot. My famous chili recipe is in the Aug/Sept ‘06 newsletter. Click onto the “newsletter” button anyplace you find it. There is only one change: the final simmer is for no less than 4 hours. Cool the pot’s content , overnight it in the fridge and reheat the next day. It’s awesome!! It always takes hours to cool enough to put in the fridge so I use some ice which also has the advantage of replacing much of the water lost during simmering. After cooking for all that time the whole house is going to smell just great, so, go ahead and have a bowl or two, I won’t tell.
And now, HEEERE’S DONNA!!
I’m sitting here trying to think of how to start this letter to all of you, my quilting friends. You see, I have so many good things happening right now, but I’m in a really nasty frame of mind --- and just because I’m trying to write this with my right hand in a cast!! The one good thing about this is that I know all you folks, being quilters, are very sympathetic!!
Nine days ago I had two finger joints in my right hand fused to relieve the pain of arthritis. They’re healing nicely and I should get the cast off next week so I have a lot to be thankful for, but, boy, do I have a new respect for people with any kind of disability!! Also for little tots learning to write and feed themselves! I am no left hander and even writing on the computor is not fun using your left hand and right thumb!
OK --- enough bellyaching --- here’s the good stuff. Eliad is toilet trained!!! He’s so proud of himself --- I couldn’t stop laughing when he brought his “production” to show his Pop Pop --- at the dinner table!! Mr. Donna has a rather weak stomach while eating but he managed to pass the test with lots of oohing and aahing!!!
And --- Mickey is finally house broken!! Between these two events, I’m looking forward to a “poop-free” household again!! Yay!!
And --- Mr. Donna is my hero these frustrating days!! He shops, cooks, opens jars, irons, drives me around --- just takes good care of me!! He’s a real sweetie!
I thought this might be an ideal time to include some snippets from emails received recently from some of you folks about a variety of subjects. So, here goes.
From Chris Berry about a design wall: Since I took over the dining room for my sewing room, I can’t take over a wall, so I have a portable design wall. I bought two 40 by 60 inch foam core boards at my local office supply store and used good ol’ duct tape to join them (on the 60 inch side). Then I attached the grid flannel with pins. I can fold it in half and tuck it away easily. I also pinned a pin cushion toward one corner and I am good to go.
From Jo Fifield from JoQuilter Fabrics about binding: Years ago I read in a magazine that if quilting is done allover the quilt, that quilting should also be done to the very edge to make it the same size. So I always quilt 1/8 inch from the outside edge. I also make sure that when attaching the binding that there is “no” tension on the quilt but a small amount of tension on the binding. That also helps draw up the edge just a bit. When I turn the binding to the back to hand stitch I also slip in a ½” of batting to give the binding a nice full feel. Judges always give me good marks for my binding. Hope these tricks help others.
From Karen Downer about her Brooklyn Revolver: I purchased my Brooklyn Reviolver at the show in Nashville where I took a class from you. It is a 14 inch diameter lazy Susan affair designed with one side being a cutting surface and one side being an insulated pressing surface.
I have discovered that it serves many purposes. On a low table beside me---it serves its intended purpose for secondary cutting and seam pressing. On the sewing table itself I can put a small DVD player on the Brooklyn Revolver and swivel that movie all around as I cut and piece. I use the cutting surface to allow hot air to escape from under the player or laptop---we do not want spontaneous combustion going on near our stash or projects.
It is a great accessory. I have also been known to put it on my kitchen table to enable service of hot dishes….not sure those New Yorkers would appreciate that southern service use …so, let’s not tell them.
Well Karen, I guess I just did---Donna.
From Judy Brill about left over baby cloths: I am very happy to hear you are so involved with your grandson. I have been accused by my friends as to being too involved and actually was made fun of today because I showed them the crazy quilt I am making from the left over baby clothes which were left over from a crazy quilt I made for my daughter. My friend wanted to know what I was going to make when they became teenagers.
A crazy quilt made from your grandson’s baby cloths is a great idea. My daughter is saving Eliad’s to make one, too. And what to use to make for a teenager? Easy----their favorite T shirts.
Donna: Two weeks ago I decided it was time to clean out my stash of scrap fabric---something I haven’t done for eight years!!! One of my problems has been that I couldn’t bear to throw away even one little piece of my “babies.” But, when I found a group of ladies making quilts for charity I figured they would take good care of my treasures. I sent them three huge stuffed garbage bags of fabric and it didn’t even make a dent in my stash!!
One pile of scraps I couldn’t part with was a hugh basket of two inch wide strips. Besides having lots of plans for them (I love scrap quilts) that basket of fabric is one of Eliad’s favorite playthings. He sits on the floor and laughs like crazy as I pile the strips on top of him. Check out the attachment.
That’s it for now----my thumb’s about worn out! Hope you are having a great summer.
Your quilting buddy,
Donna
quiltwithdonna.com <http://quiltwithdonna.com>