Sentimental Stitches

Today is Paul's 27th birthday. It's hard to believe how fast those years have flown by. I was telling him yesterday that he was born when I was his age. I'd been married for three years, had five miscarriages and lots of fertility treatments not to mention weekly trips to the doctor getting a shot in my butt for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy.
His arrival was a greatly celebrated moment even if they did have to drag him out of my body after hours and hours of labor. I wouldn't let him out of my sight. When we got home I was so afraid I'd do something wrong that I broke out in hives for the first and only time in my life.
I'm so proud of the man Paul has become. I snitched a picture from his Flickr album that shows his gentle smile and the devilish twinkle in his eyes that keeps you wondering what's next.

I have several new patterns I'm releasing this fall and in planning their presentation I've come across a few questions I'd really like your opinion on. I'm hoping you'll be able to copy and paste the questions in an email to me, adding your answers before hitting the send button.

1. Do you prefer embroidery designs you trace on the fabric yourself or would you like a multiple use iron-on transfer?

2. Do you like to stitch your embroidery with floss or pearl cotton?

3. If using floss, how many strands do you usually use?

4. If using pearl cotton, what's your favorite weight?

5. What's your most used stitch; backstitch, outline or stem stitch?

6. Do you prefer project based patterns or design collections you can use any way you want?

7. How important would an iron on transfer be to you when using the Back Basting method of hand applique?

8. Do you like online swaps?

9. Do you like online weekend or day retreats?

10. Do you prefer to make patchwork or applique quilts?

11. Do you prefer Books or patterns?

12. Do you like patterns you purchase and download instantly?

I told myself I'd only ask a dozen questions and I got to twelve very quickly. I know the two about swaps and retreats don't have a great deal to do with pattern publication but you never know, I might do a retreat using a pattern available only to the retreaters.

I'll let you know next week how the answers tally up.

Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!

So many of us are touched in one way or another by the terrible disease called Alzheimer's. For me, it's my mother, Violet Raterink. We continue to watch as her mind slowly slips away. I want to honor her today with a badge made possible by the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initative.

Ami Simms started the organization as a way for quilters to would have an avenue of their own to make a contribution toward the fight. Thank you, Ami.

If you have never visited the web site, I encourage you to pop over there. Ami is doing great things to support the quest for treatments and a cure. The next Quilt Auction begins on Oct. 1