E-Zine and Other Stuff

Do you read e-zines published by fabric companies? I recently discovered Modern by the Yard e-zine published by Benartex.

Issue #14 of Modern by the Yard, the free Benartex publication was released today. Inside are a couple of free patterns, and a closer look at several Benartex fabric collections. 

Along with two other quilters (Cheryl Brickey @meadowmistdesigns,and Laura Piland @sliceofpi), last month I was invited to peruse the Benartex online fabric collections to put together, and name, a fabric bundle for a section of the e-zine called "Mix & Match." 

On page 7 of the e-zine, you'll see the fabric bundle I put together and named "Tropical State of Mind." No surprise there, I'm sure. I was attracted to the palm frond print, and aquas, and sunny yellow... basically, beach colors. 

This is the screen shot I created to see what the fabrics look like together. That palm print! 😍 I think I need it for a face mask. 

I hope you'll enjoy looking through the e-zine, and past publications too! You'll find quite a few lovely, free quilt patterns. 

Last week I had the opportunity to join a Zoom presentation hosted by the Broward Quilt Expo (Boca Raton, Florida). About 80 of us attended to see and hear a program about Hobbs Batting, led by Stephanie. She sure knows her stuff! Being a Quilter's Dream fan myself, and assuming I knew everything about batting there is to know (Ha!) I learned how much I didn't know! Stephanie definitely knows her wadding, and provided information about different types (poly, cotton, wool, blends), uses (kids, charity, heirloom, quilt show entries), and how to work with them.

Since I often choose wool batting for a quilt I will enter in a show, I was interested to learn about Hobb's Tuscany 80/20 cotton/wool blend - a nice fiber combination with the stability of cotton and the loft of wool. Thinking I needed to try a batt, you can imagine my delight when the next morning I discovered that the daily batting sale (emailed to me) by www.battingsupersale.com was for Hobbs' Tuscany Cotton/Wool blend! This is the king-sized batt I'm looking forward to trying. Apparently it's a favorite of Edyta Sitar. 

In any case, should you know of a quilt guild that's looking for a educational program, and a free one at that, I suggest you get in touch with Stephanie at Hobbs Bonded Fibers. 

I've continued to work on the quilt I'm making for the upcoming release of Kristy Lea's @quietplay new "Create" fabric collection by Riley Blake. My design uses foundation paper-piecing. 

This week I tried the tutorial to make a 7" X 7" Nine Patch Wonder Block Potholder. It's easy to put together! Basically, start with a three-color nine-patch block using 4" X 4" patches; sew the block to itself along the sides; insert a double layer of Insul-Brite; hand-sew to close the opening; and run a few lines of walking foot quilting across it. I'm definitely making more of these. 

 

Mask-making was once again in my purview as my hair-stylist admired mine and asked me to make her a black one. I made her two, several for family, and more for us. Wanting to keep ours handy, I hung two 3M hooks on the laundry room wall: His and Hers. We'll be able to grab and go out through the garage, and then toss them in the washer when we return home. 

It certainly looks liking we'll be wearing masks for months to come! Florida COVID-19 cases are exponentially increasing - 8,900 new cases on Thursday alone!

Though the majority of new cases are in the Miami and Orlando areas, on Thursday, nine more people in The Villages tested positive.

This chart, from the Florida Department of Health, provides excellent information about cases, hospitalizations, and deaths reported until June 26. Note how each increases as age increases. 

Florida is heading the wrong direction! Re-opening our rec centers July 6? Reopening Disney World July 11? Starting school on August 6? Can these things safely happen? If they do, I'm pretty sure I'll be staying home. Yay me - and you! - for having a healthy hobby that keeps us contentedly occupied!

And yay for reading a very satisfying book!

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger undeniably transported me to another time and place - New Bremen, Minnesota. Perhaps because that state has many similarities to Iowa, the author managed to evoked all the sensations of summer in the Midwest - the feeling of dirt under my feet; the oppression of hot, humid air; and the smell of creosote on railroad ties. The story belongs to 13 year-old Frank who, in the summer of 1961 is thrust into the world of adulthood, and looks at deaths. Frankie's 9 year-old brother stutters; his sister is a gifted musician and composer; dad is the Methodist church minister, and mother is an accomplished choir director and vocalist. The is the summer that will shape and change all their lives forever.

Linda's score: 4.7/5.0

Linda