Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Zipper video tutorial

O how I do love people in blog land who seem to manage their time perfectly and have or find time to make not only ordinary tutorials but video tutorials.

Tonya from Tonya’s Sewing room realized many of her quilting friends are able to make lovely quilted bags but are scared of inserting a zipper.  I wonder if she knows I’m one of them.  Therefore I was really excited to find her video tutorial and I am sure I am not the only one with this little problem.

So do check this video tutorial out and yes, I’d love a little zipper bag too should you happen to make more than one.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Meet Madeleine Coetzee


Madeleine started quilting in 2006 and says it keeps her positive.  She quilts with the rest of the ‘Sterkwilter’ group and when not quilting she likes to work in her garden

Q:   In short tell us a little about your family:
A:  My husband, Willem, is a farmer and we have 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Q:  Are you a morning or night person?
A:  Morning

Q:  Which do you prefer – sweet or salty snacks?
A:  Sweet

Q:  Do you collect anything and what?
A:  Teaspoons

Q:  If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A:  Cat

Q:  What is your favorite color?
A:  Blue

Q:  Do you believe in ghosts?
A:  No

Q:  Do you have any other hobbies apart from quilting?
A:  Knitting

Q:  Have you even been addicted to a computer/video game and which one?
A:  No

Q:  Name ONE bad habit you have and are aware of.
A:  I don’t like being lonely

Q:  What do you regard as your best personality trait?
A:  I like to talk

Q  Are you mostly a messy or clean person?
A:  Clean

Q:  If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A:  I would like to travel through South Africa

Q:  What is your favorite drink?
A:   Coffee

Q:  What is your favorite gift to receive?
A:  Anything perfumed for personal use

Q:  Which type of gift do you like the least?
A:  Something for my house

Q:  If you could change your name, what would it be?
A:  Skattie

Q:  Name one thing not many people know about you
A:  I get upset easily

She still smiled when I left, so hopefully my interview didn't upset her.



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Star flake lap quilt pattern

I know we have quilters done with all their UFO’s and ready to start a brand new quilt – sad to say but I am not one of them.  So for all you diligent quilters out here, Jackie from Animas Quilts shared this free lap quilt pattern.
You can find the pattern by clicking HERE.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Today we talk to animal lover Karen van Graan

Karen claims she too wanted to make pretty things and therefore started quilting in 2008.  Now a member of the ‘Sterkwilters’ group when not quilting she is involved with rehabilitation of animals for Nature Conservation, breeds Yorkshire Terriers and exotic monkeys.


Q:   In short tell us a little about your family:
A:  Married to Hennie and they have a 14 years old son, Oostewald and a 13 year old daughter, Mincke

Q:  Are you a morning or night person?
A:  Night

Q:  Which do you prefer – sweet or salty snacks?
A:  Salty

Q:  Do you collect anything and what?
A:  No

Q:  If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A:  Dolphin

Q:  What is your favorite color?
A:  Blue

Q:  Do you believe in ghosts?
A:  No / Yes  (can’t make up your mind Karen?)

Q:  Do you have any other hobbies apart from quilting?
A:  Cycling, entertaining and gardening

Q:  Have you even been addicted to a computer/video game and which one?
A:  No

Q:  Name ONE bad habit you have and are aware of.
A:  Cannot say ‘no’ easily

Q:  What do you regard as your best personality trait?
A:  I am always friendly and always try to help others

Q  Are you mostly a messy or clean person?
A:  Clean

Q:  If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A:  Australia, Ireland and the USA

Q:  What is your favorite drink?
A:   Ice Tea

Q:  What is your favorite gift to receive?
A:  Love, friendship and something pretty such as flowers

Q:  Which type of gift do you like the least?
A:  I would like anything that came from the heart

Q:  If you could change your name, what would it be?
A:  I don’t want my name changed

Q:  Name one thing not many people know about you
A:  (No answer to this one)


Thanks Karen and as soon as I get my family convinced I’m going to get myself one of your itsy bitsy Yorkies!!



Friday, March 25, 2011

Crayon roll by Cindy from Skip to my Lou

Fortunately my kids are grown but I know we have a younger, braver bunch of quilters out there, still finding time to quilt while taking care of the little ones.  Cindy form Skip to my Lou has posted a lovely tutorial for a crayon roll and you can find the instructions by clicking HERE.


Come to think of it, my bigger kids are talking about babies, so maybe I should join in and get a head start on things to come.  Suppose there are more important things to make for a newborn but what the heck as long as things get done, who gives about the order in which it happened?

I would like to see photos if anyone in our blog land make one of these.

Have fun! 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

We talk to hairstylist, Magda Venter


Magda has been quilting for 3 years and is ‘n member of the ‘Sterkwilters’ group who wanted to enrich herself and therefore started quilting.

Q:   In short tell us a little about your family:
A:  I have 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and a grandchild

Q:  Are you a morning or night person?
A:  Morning – it’s a brand new day!

Q:  Which do you prefer – sweet or salty snacks?
A:  Sweet like me

Q:  Do you collect anything and what?
A:  Yes because I might just need it later

Q:  If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A:  A wild bird

Q:  What is your favorite color?
A:  Any bright color

Q:  Do you believe in ghosts?
A:  No

Q:  Do you have any other hobbies apart from quilting?
A:  Arranging flowers

Q:  Have you even been addicted to a computer/video game and which one?
A:  No

Q:  Name ONE bad habit you have and are aware of.
A:  Shopping (I presume not for food and important stuff)

Q:  What do you regard as your best personality trait?
A:  I am friendly

Q  Are you mostly a messy or clean person?
A:  Clean

Q:  If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A:  Cape Town – so can we go now?

Q:  What is your favorite drink?
A:   Tea

Q:  What is your favorite gift to receive?
A:  Flowers

Q:  Which type of gift do you like the least?
A:  Ground (care to explain Magda?)

Q:  If you could change your name, what would it be?
A:  Maggie

Q:  Name one thing not many people know about you
A:  (She didn’t answer this, so we still don’t know)

I got the interview but not the hairdo.  Thanks Magda.



Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Man gift


I’ve somewhat neglected the men in our lives and if you feel about yours as I felt about mine this weekend you wouldn’t even have noticed.  Anyway….. not going to jail for murder ………. yet!  Seeing that we featured a man on our blog yesterday, I thought this would be appropriate as our next post.

Thimbelina from down under (Australia) shared this man gift with us.  Being Afrikaans speaking I would never think a word like ‘man gift’ would be acceptable but her words, not mine.

So to those who still like their husbands, click HERE to find the free pattern and make him something useful.

Make no mistake I DO love my husband, I just don’t always like him very much.

Patchjol 2026