New coupon, new quilt project. . .

I am having so much fun with a new project - a custom quilt order I'm working on. I am using all hand-dyed flannels - can you imagine? - for a big courthouse steps quilt. It's a queen size. Now, the steps blocks are different colors, but the outer border is wide and black. Then the gal asked if I could wind a sunflower vine (applique'd) around the border, just overlapping onto the blocks here and there. I just can't wait to see it all done!

The best part is, I thought we would hand-quilt it using Pearl coton and big stitches - have you seen that done where you are living? The Pearl coton is usually in a contrasting color, and that with the big stitches, makes for a really country look and feel.

This is going to be a really special quilt - I will post pictures when I have it done.

I want to invite the readers to send me some pictures too of quilts you are working on, or particularly proud of . . . just send along a photo in .jpg (.jpeg) form to my email and tell me a little about the project. Please let us have your first name and location too. We will post the picture right up here on the blog!

Finally, take advantage of the specials we have going on right now at Homemade Stitches - some great discount coupons! Just click on the small coupon here to go to a printable version.

I hope you're all having a great weekend. I need some REST! Thank goodness tomorrow is Sunday. . .

Piecefully,
Ruby

New Article on Homemade Stitches!

Well, this is going to be fun! The online magazine, Small Town Living, will be doing an article on us for their April/May issue, coming very soon. Thanks much to editor, Tina Michelle, for thinking of us . . . it's a great little magazine featuring small town and rural life.

Meanwhile, I have two doctors' visits today. Ewwww. Getting old is no fun.

I would like to encourage you all to visit the links listed to your left for photographers. . .what a beautiful line-up of photographs of the Amish country and people! (See Randall Persing, Cindy Seigle, Bill Coleman.) Notice that a few of these artists offer photos for sale, even framed. Give yourself a real treat and check out their websites. You must appreciate how difficult it is to photograph the Old Order Amish up close. They don't like having their faces photographed, believing that it goes against their belief in remaining humble, renouncing prideful things, being "Plain People" as they call themselves. Notice also that Randall Persing's gallery includes photos of an Amish wedding procession. Really beautiful.

Welcome to Patches and Pieces!

I am so excited about the new blog! It will allow me to stay in closer touch with my quilting friends and my customers at Homemade Stitches, and make new friends here. I hope I can bring you lots of good information too.

It will also let me share with you the day-to-day goings on - some are pretty funny! - at Homemade Stitches. This isn't funny: Lately I am flat on my back after some necessary but rather painful and annoying surgery (you don't want to know!). Time at home lets me work on quilting though, and that is always good for the soul, right?

It also gives me time to read. . .and something really exciting is up here - HS appears in the new book by Meg Cox, The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource GuideI have received my copy and WOW, what a great book! It is so well-researched and written, and contains so much really useful information, tips and patterns. I am so honored to be a part of it. Thanks, Meg, and congrats on your great work!