TAST

Well over at Stitchin Fingers I have just started a group to hopefully work through Sharon's Take a Stitch on Tuesday challenge from last year.  Great challenge for the beginning embroiderer as she introduced a new stitch each week and provided step by step directions.  Stitchin Fingers is a new group for anyone interested in textile activites.  There are groups for cards, beading, crazy piecing, felting and lots more.  Go and check it out.

Crazy Quilt Blocks

Sharon  has created some wonderful crazy quilting blocks which are a great source of what to do when you have no idea.

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler is a collection of 140 six inch public domain blocks which have been put together into a quilt by Jenny Chiaverini.                   The quilt is based on an Elm Creek novel which she wrote about a group of women who make the quilt for a woman who is soon to be married.      There is a link to FAQ as well as a block of the week group and a gallery of many completed quilts and WIPs.

Nifty Nine Patch

Rachel Greco has made this amazing quilt and worked out a quick and easy way to construct nine patch blocks .. better than the old one where you simply sewed long strips together and then cross cut. There are step by step instructions as well as a printable page.

Stitching Fingers

Stitching Fingers is a forum for embroiderers created by Sharon B. It has only been created quite recently and so is still establishing itself. Seems a friendly group so far.

Pretty Impressive Stuff

Rissa has collated an impressive array of embroidery stitches  and information plus patterns and everything you might want related to embroidery.  

Her site Pretty Impressive Things has links to punch needle, shadow work, silk ribbon, crazy quilting, redwork, tassels, needle arts, needle felting and lots more things 

Fantastic site worth checking out more than once.

Homeberries

Jennie Baer of Homeberries the author of Modern Primitive Embroidery has created a range of simple stitcheries to fit every season. 

There are also links to videos showing how to form many embroidery stitches.

This pattern is available on her site for only $3.50 and all proceeds go to charity.

Diane Gaudynski

Diane Gaudynski has won many awards for her fantastic quilts.

 On her site are many hints particularly for machine quilting. Don't you just love this quilt?

Take a Stitch Tuesday

TAST is a great site.  This was a weekly challenge organised by Sharon B last year.  Each week she uploaded a new stitch with instructions and samples. Lots of photos and a wonderful way to learn new embroidery stitches.

The whole blog is still accessible if you want to work through it.

Needle 'N Thread

For a blog that has resources galore related to embroidery you can't miss Mary Corbett's Needle 'N Thread
From this site you are able to link to an online video of many stitches, a huge number of online embroidery books, discussions of relevant tools and accessories, review of books, some free designs and a whole lot more as well as more links.

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith teaches postcards and machine quilting.

The variety of quilts is quite extensive and well worth looking at for ideas.

Quilt News

Quilt Newsis a blog for quilt designers who wish to advertise their recent releases. There is a short paragraph or two about their latest projects and then a link that takes you directly to the new blog.
Marguerita who owns the blog has also put together a large number of interesting and/or useful links for both the avid quilter but more importantly for designers.
There is also a list of distributors and wholesalers as well as fabric companies.

Positive Moments

What a coincidence. Paul has been reading about ways to alleviate anxiety and one of the methods he has been suggesting I try is to focus on the positive things around us.

Well being unable to sleep I decided to do a little surfing and what should appear on a blog I often check out. Interested? Check out Erica's blog. As she says focus on the positive moments in life. We'll all be the richer for it.

Plus she has some pretty interesting quilting ideas that she is trying out if you are into creative things.

Today's positives - a girl I work with has been practicing a saying "If I can say it, I can write it.  I can do it".  

She has difficulty saying words and so is reluctant particularly to say new words in case people think she is silly.  Have you ever tried to spell a new word without saying it .. even if it is only in your head?  Today she tried it and happily spelt most of the words correctly and more importantly confidently.