Happy Holiday

A Special Thank You Note

We have always known that quilters are some of the most loving, caring people on the face of Planet Earth.  Just the fact that an individual will take so much time, effort, expense, etc to make something very special for someone else, even total strangers, is an act of love at the highest level.  When a complete stranger does a selfless act for others, it deserves great recognition.  Stephanie, a woman in Texas, had some beautiful fabric from her mother and grandmother.  She was compelled to share it with our quilting group.  She E-mailed me and told me of the fabric and in an act of kindness, shipped the fabric to us, at her own expense.  I am overwhelmed at this act of generosity from a total stranger but I realized “this is a quilter” -- confirming what I said above.   Our group plans to use this gift to make quilts for charity.  We at the Quilting Corner can’t thank Stephanie enough but know that this is what G-d wants from all his children and has made note of her kindness.  Thank you so much and may the coming year bring you and your family happiness, good health, prosperity and, above all, wonderful quilting.

Love from the Quilting Corner.

Paper Crafting

If you are into Paper Crafting you will really enjoy seeing this.  Renee S has a very talented daughter Bryna.  She has many adorable crafts posted, but this is really special.  Bryna has her own blog and you can see more of her talent at

http://bryna-crafts.blogspot.com/

This project is called picnic basket.  I'm just going to show you a little so be sure to go to her blog to see it all.  When you open the top you have a place for your recipes and a very big surprise.

More Bags

Sara made a new shopping bag in colors that she enjoys.  Although she was happy with it, Sara decided to make another larger one.  We are all trying not to use plastic bags so this is just terrific.  Sara, you did a great job and now I hope more ladies will do the same.

Naomi had a baby just 3 months ago and she is just getting back into the swing of things.  She is our youngest member of our group and extremely talented.  She made this black bag for when she goes to weddings and special events.

Naomi also likes to work with felt so she made this little chick.  Inside is the egg and inside that there is a new little chick.

Fabric, Fabric, Fabric

Some of the ladies have received their fabric orders from the States.  It's always fun for everyone to see what has arrived.

Rina has fabulous Batiks and wants to make a quilt for her husband.

Renee S has two new panels for baby quilts along with some other fabrics.

Renee S also brought in these 2 wine bottle covers to see.  They have lots of embroidery and beads.  We all took a close look to figure out how they were made.

I received my new EDGE ruler.  I'll let you know if it sharpens my blades.

I also have some new fabrics from Budrutz. It's always pleasant to shop there.

Hand Painted Challah Covers

When I was shopping last week in Jerusalem I was in the Bernina store.  I met a lady that makes beautiful Challah Covers and I told her I would post her business card on our blog.

 Anyone interested can contact her using the information below.

Etty's 1973 Quilt

Although I always liked quilts, it never crossed my mind to make one.  When my son was a baby my dear sister Sandy bought me a quilt kit for the baby.  I thought I would never be able to make it without help. I hardly even used a sewing machine.  So my sister patiently sat down with me, read the instructions (because she didn't quilt either) and together we sat at the machine and made my first quilt.  My son used it, my daughter used it and now when their children come for sleep overs, they use it.  It's not in great shape after all these years.  I've replaced the binding and it's faded. This was the beginning of something great for me and I will always be grateful to my sister for showing that I too, can make meaningful things.

Shopping For Fabric In Jerusalem

Sara and I went to the Yafo and King George area of Jerusalem looking for fabric.  Now let me tell you it isn't anything like going to a quilt shop.  Fabric is displayed even before you enter the stores.  Of course there is almost no cotton fabric.  Nothing is marked so there is no way to know what any of these large bolts of fabrics are.  You have to touch everything and just guess what it is.  This is what the area looks like.

This is where we stopped for a cup of coffee and sat to enjoy the beautiful winter sun, cafe style. 

Notice the painting on the side of this large building.  There are several places in Jerusalem where you can see something like this.  It really is amazing.

 Notice the ceiling in this store.  Of course it's a very old building and the fabric touches the ceiling in many places.

 Notice the mezzuzah on the side of the entry way. In Israel you see them everywhere.

Although it was fun hunting for fabric, I'm happy to shop for quilting fabric at Pissott and Budrutz where I can get good quality quilting fabrics.

Work, Work, Work

The ladies have been working on their projects.

Sara is binding 2 matching quilts by hand.

When traveling, Sara works on her Grandmother's Flower Garden.

Shoshana L has added a few lines to her hand pieced Baby Blocks.

Renee B is hand quilting her wall hanging for her latest great grandchild.

Shifra has been looking through our quilting library to find ideas for her next quilt.  Everyone enjoys looking through our books and magazines.

I'm continuing to put my red border on my Apple Core quilt.

Susan is quilting her basket quilt that was made with reproduction Civil War fabrics.  Since it is small and she is hand quilting it, Susan can take it with her everywhere.

Totebags

I already made a bag for my granddaughter Esther Rivka, so I decided to make another small bag for my granddaughter Miriam too.  It's about 6" across.

My next endeavor was to enlarge the pattern and make a bigger bag.

 

I am pleased with the results for the first try.  I thought of variations in design that I could make as I was experimenting with this bag.  Quilters always try to be imaginative.  Since this bag was made for someone very special, I tried to design it with her in mind.  I'll be anxious to see what I do on the next one. 

A Special Chanukah Menorah

In 1975 our family was stationed with the US Army in Germany.  My hubby and I were in an antique shop and came across this Chanukah menorah (candelabra).  Being thirty years after the war and knowing that there hadn’t been a Jewish population in that area for the three decades, made us look in amazement and curiosity about the origin of the menorah.  We purchased it with the hopes of honoring and memorializing the family that may have once used it every year.  Since then we have continued to light this menorah on the eighth night of Chanukah.  Hopefully this will bring merit to that family and every Jewish family that through persecution and hatred are not able to light Chanukah candles.  Since Chanukah commemorates a victory over such persecution, it seams very appropriate to light our menorah, especially in Israel, in memory and honor of those Jews in more recent times, even up to this day, that are not able to serve our Creator as they would like to.  May the coming year see peace throughout the world.  

Megan's Tutorial For Green Shopping Bags

 I came across this wonderful tutorial for making shopping bags on Canoe Ridge Creations.

I have believed for a long time that these plastic bags we use are very bad for our environment. I try to use cloth bags when I go shopping.  Recycled jeans are great because the fabric is very strong, but any fabric will do.  It's fun to use all the lovely quilting fabrics that are available today.  Please check out Megan's tutorial and I'm sure you will enjoy making and using them.

http://canoeridgecreations.blogspot.com/2010/11/go-green-shopping-bags-tutorial.html

Exhibit by Maxine Forman

It was a wonderful day today.

We had rain!

After so many months without rain (since April), it was a pleasure to see.

Several of us went to the AACI office in Talpiot, Jerusalem for the Winter Craft Exposition. The information was posted here several days ago so just scan down for more details.  The pictures can not show all the details of these quilts.  It is worth going to see if you are in the Jerusalem area.  Maxine is a talented artist and it was an enriching experience.

 This is a closer look at the above quilt.  Notice the interesting beads.