Eco-Friendly Snack Bags

Nancy's daughter, Laura, shared her pattern to make eco-friendly snack bags with us. These are pretty darn cute little bags--about the size of a self-sealing sandwich bag--that are lined with a waterproof fabric called PUL. Think of how many self-sealing sandwich bags you can save by making a few of these eco-friendly bags and tossing them into the washer to clean.

We have made them up in sooooooo many different fabrics, from fruit and veggie fabrics, to cupcake fabric, to florals, and we are even making some kits up with the new Monopoly fabric from Quilting Treasures. The bags were featured this month in Quick Quilts magazine. Check them out on our website--kits and pattern or already made by Mamamade.

Happy stitching,

Lynda and Nancy

Beautiful Pineapple quilt top by Marcia Koester

Marcia Koester was in my Pineapple class in late January and came in a couple of weeks ago with this beautiful Pineapple top. She made 56 blocks following the Barn Dance pattern from our book Positively Pineapple using the Pineapple Rule. The top is made entirely from scraps-florals, conversation prints, calicoes, and pretty much anything that she had.


It is what I call a "controlled scrap" quilt, because in this case, each row (or round) is made with the same fabric. When you look at the blocks upclose, you see this easily, but from further back it is hard to notice.

It is truly a lovely quilt and she did a wonderful job. I can't wait to see it quilted. Thank you for sharing the top with us Marcia!

To see more information about our book Positively Pineapple and the Pineapple Rule, check out our webite http://www.greatamericanquilt.com/.

Happy Stitching,

Lynda

"The Help"--a wonderful listen!

I live almost 25 miles away from work and have to drive from one side of Denver to the other-35 minutes at best and 1 1/2 to 2 hours at worst-not fun! So my favorite driving pasttime (since I shouldn't be stitching) is listening to audio books. My favorite book in the last couple of months is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett (her debut book). The story is about African-American women working in white households in Mississippi in the early 60's. I enjoyed it so much that when I got to my destination I had to make myself get out of the car and stop listening. When it was over, I didn't have another book downloaded, so I started listening again and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. I have recommended it to several friends and have yet to hear of anyone that was not facinated by this story. The audio version is narrated by 4 gifted women, including Jenna Lamia who reads for Skeeter, the main character. Bahni Turpin, Octavia Spencer, and Cassandra Campbell are the other narrators. I highly recommend that you listen to this book, but if you can't listen to it, find a copy to read.

I'm now listening to another great book, "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" by Beth Hoffman. It is another Southern debut novel narrated by the same Jenna Lamia. I'm enjoying Jenna's interpretation so much in both of these novels that I will search her out in the future. (She also narrated "The Secret Life of Bees".)

I'll continue to let you know what I am reading and I'd appreciate any recommendations from you to add to my wish list.

Happy reading or listening,

Lynda

When I grow up I want to be...

One of the services that we provide at Great American Quilt Factory is making photo transfers-usually from photos, but this time from drawings. Lenora Chavez made this quilt from her daughter's and classmates drawings at St. John's Lutheran School, in Denver. The kids are 7 and 8 years old and they had to illustrate what they would like to be when they grow up.

Some of their answers depicted doctor, veterinarian, paleontologist, spy, detective, dentist, and pet store owner. Lenora pieced the quilt together (her very first quilt). Doesn't she look happy?

The quilt will be auctioned off for a school fundraiser. I hope it brings in lots of money and I hope it goes home with one of the lucky artists. Thank you for sharing your first quilt with us, Lenora!

Happy stitching,

Lynda and Nancy