Bobbin Along

The first day of summer, June 21, is also the first day of the Row by Row Experience 2015.  It is an exciting shop hop event where you can visit participating shops and receive a free pattern for a quilt row.  Collect at least 8 row patterns, make a quilt and show-and-tell at a participating shop and you could win prizes!  There are over 2700 participating shops from all 50 states and Canada with 107 shops in my home state of Pennsylvania.  Just amazing!

This year is the third year that our local quilt shop, The Round Bobbin is participating in this event.  Every year, I have had the privilege of designing the row for The Round Bobbin.  So, with an event theme of H2O (water!),  our row for the The Round Bobbin is the Storm At Sea!

It is a paper-pieced pattern as the pieces do get a bit small.  Susan S., the shop owner, put the row together and Susan A. machine quilted fish on it!  So wonderful!  It looks great even as a stand-alone row (think table runner!).  You just have to come and see it!!!

Our Fabric plate this year is - Bobbin Along!  I accidentally came up with it during a group discussion.

So, if you're in Ambler, Pennsylvania this summer (June 21-Sept 8), drop by the Round Bobbin, pick up your free row pattern and maybe throw in a kit and a fabric plate!

Gifts for Giving

The Holiday season is here - and so is all that Shopping!  So, this is just a reminder to consider alternative gifts this year.  For instance, November 24 is Small Business Saturday.  Why not visit a small business near you and spend your money there?  You would be supporting not only that small business but also your local community.

Actually, why not visit a small business throughout the year?  As quilters, we already do this everytime we go into a local quilt shop and buy something.  Why not take it a step farther and visit locally-owned restaurants and one-of-a-kind stores?  I have tasted some of the best food from these local restaurants and found some of the best gifts at local stores.

And, gifts can be in form of services.  Maybe pay for someone's newspaper subscription or maybe get a gift card to the hairdresser.  These sentiments are exactly those expressed in an  editorial letter by a Mr. Psalmond that appeared in the Moultrie (GA) Observer a year ago.  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Thanks to American Patchwork and Quilting for the following: