A doctor just couldn't prescribe a better medicine
As a child, who can forget the healing magic that seemed to radiate from mom's or grandma's favorite old blanket or quilt.

It was the special one, the one that lay folded in the trunk, year after year, just waiting for the next victim of cold and flu season. Everyone knew that curling up on the couch with that old blanket was better medicine than any doctor could ever prescribe.

And from this ritual came yet another - the 'ceremonial' passing of that special blanket. With only one special blanket to go around - family feuds were inevitable.

So, if you plan to start your own tradition, we suggest simply creating a personalized 'comfort' zone for each of your loved ones.

We'll help you get started with some great new upcoming patterns in the March/April issue (on newsstands Feb. 24), you'll need to get busy though, you never know when someone is going to need a little healing magic.

Don't forget to stop by www.ShopFonsandPorter.com and check out some great newsletter subscriber-only bargains.

	Colorful Flowers - Hand-stamped flowers add a special touch to this quilt. Stitch your own quilt of many colors to brighten up even the gloomiest day! Regularly $175.00 on sale now for $122.00 with coupon code FP01271.
	Venetian Reflections - Swirls of paisleys blend with the bold blue and green coordinates of Venetia. Regularly $49.00 on sale now for $39.00 with coupon code FP01272.

"Quilted Fashions": 400 Years of Quilting
February 22-25, 2009
Williamsburg, Virginia

This symposium brings together nationwide experts for two days of illustrated lectures on quilts and quilted clothing from 1600 to the present. Optional workshops and special behind-the-scenes tours give participants the opportunity to learn a new technique or see museum artifacts close up.

Keynote presentation Sunday, February 22 cosponsored by Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. "Why We Quilt." Marianne Fons, cohost of the popular public television series, Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting and co-executive editor of Love of Quilting magazine, Winterset, Iowa. Hennage Auditorium, DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.

Sunday February 22-Tuesday February 24

For more information about conferences, forums, and workshops, call 1-800-603-0948 or visit www.history.org/conted

My Mother's favorite warning was, "If you quilt or sew on Sunday, then when you get to heaven you'll have to pick out the stitches with your nose."
                                                                                                        submitted by Anne Barton

Happy 90th birthday by Kae Andry, Ft. McCoy, FL

"My daughter gave me a subscription to your magazine after I mentioned how much I enjoyed your television shows. When it came time to think about a 90th birthday quilt for my mother, Frances Haskett, I knew that the 'Tea Time' quilt featured in the May/June 2006 issue would be perfect for one of the blocks for my for my quilt. I also used the 'Country Barn' shown in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue as my inspiration for the 'Farm' block.

The quilt has the word 'Faith' at the center because this is the center of my mother's life. The other blocks are: Family; Love (my father always gave flowers to my mother); Tea Time because Mother has a cup of tea with a hard peppermint candy every morning and an assortment of teas throughout the day; then the last block was Farm because Mother and Daddy farmed and raised horses. Claudia Schumacher of Orange Springs, Florida did the beautiful quilting.

Frances at left, and daughter Kae at right.

Mother's 90th birthday was November 20, 2008 and she had family from Minnesota to Florida and Virginia to Arkansas come to Indiana to help her celebrate. She is an avid reader with a sharp mind and beloved by all who know her. And yes, that is her natural hair color!

Again, I enjoy your show and magazine and wish you all the best for many more years."

I finished it anyway by Katherine Peebles, Cupertino, CA

"This is a picture of a small wallhanging that I started making years ago after seeing it demonstrated on your program on PBS. I copied the instructions and began looking through my fabric stash for green fabrics. There just weren't any! Then I remembered a beautiful blue spruce tree that grew in the neighbor's yard near my former home in Edmonton, Alberta. I had lots of blue scraps, so I began work. I thought silver stars would be nice. I didn't have the right background fabric, but went ahead with what I had. As I began to piece the fabrics together, I found that the silver, being a knit fabric, was hard to get accurate and the background fabric was too thin. I was disappointed with the quality of my work so I laid it aside.

Recently, I found the partially finished quilt and decided to finish it even if it wasn't perfect. This was the result. I like it, even if it isn't perfect. I decided to name it Blue Spruce at Midnight. My children and I saw the blue spruce on a visit to Edmonton, and they agreed that they were beautiful and complemented a house nearby (the house was gray with blue trim). The house was not for sale. We joked that we should call dad in California and tell him that we were buying a house. This quilt helped make a fun, family memory, one that makes us all laugh, I'm glad I finished it. I even typed up this story and placed it in a pocket that I made on the back of this little quilt."

Happy Quilting!
    Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting

Give a Gift Subscription to Love of Quilting Magazine
A great gift that quilters love is a gift subscription to Love of Quilting magazine. Did you know that when you give a gift subscription, you are actually giving three different gifts?

#1. Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting
Each issue is filled with must-do projects, helpful tips, and the newest techniques from America's favorite quilting experts.

#2. Sew Your Style
The sewing professionals at Bernina® with Marianne Fons and Liz Porter, along with their daughters bring you this exclusive booklet of easy-to-learn techniques for stunning quilts, bags, home décor items, and wearables! With tips from the pros to guide you every step of the way it will be easy to create projects that match your own style. You don't have to work on these projects alone, they can be made with your daughter or a friend. Learn embellishing techniques to enhance any project and to take them from ordinary to extraordinary! Remember, we'll send this booklet FREE with your Love of Quilting subscription!

#3. Quilts for the Whole Family
This fun-filled booklet contains 15 SUPER quick-and-easy gift ideas you can stitch in no time. The experts at Paintbrush Studio™ teamed up with Marianne Fons and Liz Porter to bring you some of their favorite patterns for any occasion. Each project contains color photos, diagrams, and easy-to-follow instructions to make assembly a snap. Each design has alternate fabric options to suit your tastes. We'll give you tips and easy techniques to help you achieve success. Best of all—this booklet is FREE with your subscription!

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