Don't forget Mom!
Remember how your mother loved your grade school artwork, and how she used the refrigerator door to showcase her favorite pieces? Imagine her delight if you present her with a beautiful handmade quilt—it's a guaranteed treasure that promises warm smiles and memories for many years to come.

For some fresh new pattern ideas, watch for our summer issue of Easy Quilts to hit the stands in a couple weeks, and then pick out your mother's favorite colors and start sewing. You'll be sure to earn the title of 'Mom's favorite' come this Mother's Day.

My favorite quote, submitted by Lanette Phillips
‘When life falls to pieces, Make a Quilt!’

Some handy how-tos.
Did you know that we post many of our Love of Quilting Sew Easy lessons online? You can find step by step instructions any time here.

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

	Tracks Along the Trail Kit - Make a cozy flannel quilt for the outdoor enthusiast. Regularly $80.00 on sale now for $60.00 with coupon code FP04081.
	Magnetic Pin Reacher - Easily retrieve dropped needles and pins from the floor! Regularly $9.99 on sale now for $7.99 with coupon code FP04082.

From our readers submitted by Sandy Joch, Neenah High School in Neenah, WI

Hi! I'm a teacher's aide at Neenah High School in Neenah, WI. I have been sewing since I was five-years-old. I am now 60, and have significant experience and interest in this area, so to see this craft ever fall into oblivion concerned me. I convinced the FACS (Family and Consumers Sciences) teachers that the best/most successful way to teach sewing is by making a quilt block. Nothing better teaches one to sew straight and measure carefully than to piece a quilt block.

Each trimester I cut quilt blocks (usually a strip thingy) from my "stash" (my husband says it's a warehouse) and have the "Clothing Class" (what we call Home Ec) piece them into blocks. The "Sewing Fairy" then swoops in and turns these blocks into a quilt for the department to raffle off as a fundraiser. Since all school districts are pinched for dollars, it has been quite successful. This is the fifth one we have done.

This first quilt started with eight 2" strips for the kids to stitch together. I sorted them by color and printed an 11"x17" color-directions poster and included a finished strip set. When these blocks were returned, I had no idea what I was going to do with them. Then I was passing the magazine rack and saw your Winter 2008 Cosmos Quilt and BINGO! I cut the blocks on a 45° angle and spun and pieced them into squares and did the 3-D thing with them. The students and teachers were amazed.

Please pass this idea along to others, it's our duty to share our time, talents and teaching abilities.......and scraps, lotsa scraps.
                                                              -   Thanks, Sandy Joch

Guilds on the Go…

• I wanted to share with you the creativity of 41 members of the Quilters of South Carolina - the statewide quilt guild here in SC. We were challenged to artfully decorate a size 36C padded underwire bra to help raise awareness of breast cancer. And raise awareness we did! Please check our web site, www.quiltersofsc.org to see the results of our work. Since we posted the pictures on our site, we have heard from quilters across the world as well as breast cancer survivors. The bras will be auctioned off this October after they have toured the state for this year.
  Thanks so much for checking us out!
  - Anita Bowen




• I'm a member of a quilt guild here in the East Tennessee area and today at our guild meeting we had a local quilt shop in for our program. This shop is in Maryville, Tennessee and the name of it is "Pappys." The shop is family owned and 'Pappy' is the Father of the owner and he is a retired welder who is now the Longarm quilter for the shop. He makes quilts also but spends most of his days now quilting the quilts of their customers, and he also teaches people to use the longarm machine. I found their story to be really cute - they are a great family and are doing well in their quilt shop business.
  - Jolie Fischer

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 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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