As I feared, this wasn't a very productive month for me, but I did accomplish a few of my goals. 1. Label bear paw quilt. (Such a small task, but not done.) 2. Bind and label larger penguin top. (Bound, not labeled.) 3. Work toward finishing the older Lover's Knot tops. (Not even touched!) 4. Continue working on DS#1's tee shirt quilt. (Have all of the shirts cut apart.) 5. Make at least one crumb block a day. (YES) 6. Finish table toppers for DS#2 and DIL's nightstands. (No) 7. Make and send three May lotto blocks. (YES) I joined a once-a-month sewing group at my LQS this month. We sew from 10:00 to 4:00, with lots of chatting and snacks along the way. To have something different to work on, I pulled out a Thangles buck-a-block sampler, purchased at least two years ago and never started. It will become part of my June list. I made quite a bit of progress on it, prepping the pieces Monday and Tuesday and starting to assemble the blocks when the group met on Wednesday. My late April/early May wintersowing was very successful, so I've been tending hundreds of seedlings for several weeks. We have a freeze warning tonight, so I've tucked old blankets around the containers. They should be tough enough to handle the cold, but I don't have the nerve to gamble on the tender annuals when they're almost large enough to transplant. It's fun to follow everyone's monthly progress. Keep up the good work!! Bonnie

This year at school, I had a 4th grader (aged 10)who's family did not allow to go on field trips. Since she earned the privilege, but could not attend; I asked her if she would like to tac her own quilt in place of the field trip. She was so excited!. I took my frames to school, and she helped me to set the frames and sandwich the backing, batting and top. Then I showed her how to tac the quilt. It was crib sized: @45 x 65. (I call them lap quilts or travel quilts when I work with older children.) We set the frames on the stage, although I could have set them up in the library. The other children were fascinated! They begged to make their own, and to help her with her quilt. She would come in to school early, tac as soon as she finished breakfast and lunch, and while waiting for pick up in the afternoons. I pinned the edges for her and showed her how to hem it with a blind stich. As soon as she finished, she wanted to do another. Next year we are planning a quilting club after school. We may have time to move on to pieced quilts, etc.; but the most important part is planting the seed! Kudos to you for your desire to inspire! Meima (Debbie) Principal, Tilden Hogge Elementary School Morehead, KY

Donna, that is certainly better than I would do! It looks great and your hand sewing looks like it was done on a machine from the finished side.... I know that doesn't sound like a compliment, but it really is! When I hand sew, you can tell! Stitches are crooked ans uneven and there are huge gaps between the stitches... not good.... Just thinking about hand sewing makes me want to hug my machines! How do you interact with the teacher and other students in a QU class? I've never done one.... is it a live web cam type of thing? The machine embroidery is awesome!!

Beverly, If the dryer sheets are the right size I think you could use them just fine - on the other hand....with this block, size doesn't matter so much, you could make the block 7", 6" or 5" just as long as you trim all the blocks to the same size. Start your block with your foundation 1" larger than what size you want it to end up being. I do not know whether the color catcher sheets would work as a foundation or not. Sorry. Teresa