For Missouri Girls Town

Have been making pillow cases and small ditty bags to donate to Girls Town. Pam Oliver-owner of Miss Millie's Quilt Shop-was always a big supporter. Each year the Thimbleberries Club members would make a particular item to donate. After Pam's death from cancer in 2008 we decided to carry on this project in her memory, at our new Thimbleberries Club. There have been more pillowcases made than ditty bags so I have taken it upon myself to make as many bags as I can.

I haven't spoken much about Pam since we found out last year that she was terminally ill. After she passed and the shop was gone so many of the Thimbleberries members wanted to continue with the club and carry forward the wonderful camaraderie that Pam started. Luckily we found another quilt shop owner who was willing to take on the task. A major one, as she had not carried the Thimbleberries fabric line at all. Linda at Specialty Quilts in Jefferson City stepped up and I think she was well rewarded. So many of the existing members came back (so far, about 60) and Thimbleberries 2009 is going strong.

We will all never forget Pam and the legacy of kindness and helpfulness she left with us. Her shop was like home. You can't say that about many of the quilt shops out there. Through past experience I have met some of those shop owners. Needless to say I don't patronise those shops. Pam had a way of making you feel welcome whether you were there to buy or not. Her sit and sews were great fun. She was a friend to everyone. Linda is much like Pam. She is kind, friendly and helpful. The perfect fit to follow in Pam's footsteps.

Words to live by from Bonnie Hunter

Found this posted at "Quiltville's Quips & Snips." What a wonderful thought. This is courtesy of Bonnie Hunter at the above blog. I always enjoy visiting to see what she has been up to. Also she has a wonderful book out called "Scraps and Shirttails" which I did purchase. It's full of great scrap quilt patterns.

Thimbleberries monthly bonus project

This is one of the bonus projects given to thimbleberries members at the month club meeting.

The big flower fabric is border fabric from 2007 club quilt. I don't have a true quilting machine , but I can do medium size items on my sewing machine. I'm going to quilt more in the cream fabric and find a continuous line pattern that I can just go from top to bottom without having to move it around in different directions. All I'll have to do is roll it in from the sides and work on one strip at a time. I think it will turn out and make a nice lap quilt.

Thimbleberries "Hearth and Home" Quilt

I finally finished the 2007 Club Quilt. I liked the quilt but did cheat a little and didn't add all of the borders which would have made it a full size quilt. There is a brick wall in my front hall that makes a wonderful place for hanging wall quilts from large to small. All the blocks were done but I just stalled big time and never got them assembled--working on too many other projects. Anyhow, one of the monthly bonus patterns seemed perfect for that big flower print in the outer border. So I had two incentives-- (1) have a new quilt for summer in my hallway and (2) make it just the right size to fit the wall and have lots of fabric leftover for another project. So both are done. I'll post a pic of number two another day.

Thimbleberries "3s Company BOM

First 3 monthly block sets finished. I chose the brites color way and I just love them. Totally different from Thimbleberries colors I have been used to working with.