Sierra Mountain Quilters Association

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Rev up your sewing machines, it’s the start of holiday season. You still have time to make heartfelt gifts for friends and family but also think about the love behind a cuddle quilt. Tuesday, I spent a few hours sorting donated cuddle quilt fabric at Tricia’s home studio above her garage. This huge space is nearly over flowing with fabric and with smiling good humor Tricia has devoted hours, possibly days, preparing it for us to sew. Do pick up a kit with pattern at Bear Paw or our next meeting. Also, donate a few hours to help Tricia sort and cut, it was fun. January we will have a cuddle quilt program but you don’t have to wait till then. Happy holiday sewing everyone. Betsy

I had a wonderful trip to Africa! It’s difficult to describe the impact of seeing so many animals, previously only glimpsed on TV or in a zoo, roaming around freely and ignoring us completely. People we met seemed content with their lives in spite of lacking most of the modern conveniences we take for granted. We also greatly enjoyed visiting an elementary school and interacting with the students.

“My” kids had a wonderful time looking at pictures and videos in my phone, especially a video of my 18- month-old great-grandson trying to feed himself. We visited a workshop where single mothers and survivors of domestic violence make the most beautiful hand-shaped, hand-painted beads which they make into jewelry (check out kobetough.com). The clay is harvested locally, soaked and cleaned, formed, painted, and fired – all by members of the collective. What a wonderful example of people taking something nearly useless, and turning it into objects of art and beauty! In a sense, isn’t that what we, as quilters, do with many of our projects – especially when we are using scraps and odd bits from our stash? Bev