Opportunity for Quilters

Hello! I just checked my email and found a great invitation for quilters out there. Want to participate in an online quilting bee? Have others make quilting blocks for you and make quilting blocks for others?

Check it out!

ABOUT.... A quilting bee is a group of people who sew blocks for each other. Each person is assigned to a month. On your month, you choose fabrics and a pattern or an idea for quilt blocks. You send out instructions and fabric to the group. And everyone else in the group sews blocks for your quilt on your month. Usually there are 12 people in a quilting bee, and the commitment lasts for a year.

RESPONSIBILITIES... Every month you would make 2 blocks for another group member and mail those blocks to that person. One month in the year you would purchase fabric and send it and instructions to all group members. Since it is a year-long commitment, please think carefully about whether or not you can make 2 blocks each month for a year.

POSTING.... I'll be creating a flickr group for this quilting bee. I'll ask each member to post their inspiration quilts, their fabrics, and their completed blocks on the flickr group.

TO SIGN UP... please send me an e-mail to wendyleep {at} gmail {dot} com with the following information: your name, your physical address, your e-mail address, and your blog address. 12 people can sign up to participate. I'll also take a couple of alternates in case someone drops out during the year.

Movin' on Up....

Being the incredibly technological savvy people that we are (yeah, right) we decided to offer our sewing group online.
We don't want those who can't make it to the actual meetings to be excluded for having all the fun! In addition, this means having a great online resource for anyone who would like to join---regardless of where you are. Isn't technology great?

So to start off, here is a list of some wonderful websites:

www.craftstylish.com
Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting, Quilting---oh my! Anything "crafty" you can think of you will find projects and articles here to help. There are many different levels, so regardless if you are a beginner or a more seasoned seamstress you'll find help here.

www.sewmamasew.com
A shop with beautiful fabrics, a blog with wonderful projects, and a forum with a smorgasbord of links and advice. Seriously, what more could you need? Did I mention the free fabric giveaways every friday?!

www.softiemaking.com
Love those adorable little softies? Who doesn't. They are usually fairly simple to make and so cute. Now, what is this? A website full of links to free softie patterns? Sign me up!


Chances are that if you've read a great crafty book latley, the author also has a great crafty blog(usually with lot and lots of freebies). Some wonderful examples are:

http://dreamfollow.com/
Aimee Ray of Doodle Stitching

http://www.soulemama.com/
Amanda Blake Soule of The Creative Family and Handmade Home

http://www.sublimestitching.com/blog.html
Jenny Hart from Sublime Stitching and Embroidered Effects

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/
Amy Karol from Bend the Rules Sewing and Bend the Rules with Fabric

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/main.php?fl=0
Amy Butler from In Stitches and Little Stitches for Little Ones

I am sure that there are much, much more out there that I just have not named or come across. If there is one especially great blog I've missed, leave me a comment and let me know.

Introductory Meeting

One Word: Fantastic! Met such a great group of ladies. All with different levels of abilities and interests. Exactly what I had in mind when I was thinking about this group.

I am very thankful to the HCMPL (Hopkins County Madisonville Public Library) for allowing us the use of their meeting room. I hope we didn't make too much noise. Also, thank you to Amanda B. for providing us with wonderful cupcakes (pictured). Thanks to Holly, although you had to work we know you were there in spirit!

To everyone else---We will be meeting again Tuesday March 23rd at 5:30pm. If you were unable to meet tonight we would love to see you then. If you have any questions please, contact us: seamstome.hopkinsco@gmail.com

If you plan on attending, be sure to bring a) some projects you have completed in the past to show off b)something you are currently working on (or) c) something you would like to work on if you are new. I am excited to see everyone there!

-C. Michele

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!

Hello! We are glad you stopped by to check us out. "We" are a group of individuals who have a passion for the sewing needle. While this does not necessarily make us professionals (by any stretch of the imagination) it does make us very interested and willing to learn. Right now we are a very small group, but we have dreams that someday our numbers will grow! In order to make this happen, we have decided to offer two types of meetings:

First a "traditional" group, who meet in person one day a week to chit-chat and swap sewing stories, suggestions, and patterns. This group will meet at the Hopkins County Public Library (located in the Parkway Plaza Mall). If you are interested in stopping by please yell at us for more information (or you can email us at seamstome.hopkinsco@gmail.com)

Second, a online "virtual" group (which we are very excited about). This group is for those who are too far away to come to the traditional meetings or just do not have the time to meet (we all understand that). Here we will recap what goes on at the traditional meetings, share pointers, websites and links to fun interesting things. To join this group, just become a "follower" and we will keep you updated.

How exciting!