Bindings and a Basket

This week,  I read some beautiful and thought- provoking blogs about quilting , as an art form and as a way of life. 

Amanda, The Patchsmith, opened up about herself and thoughts on quilting.  She says she is a  " strong supporter of the make-do-and-mend philosophy."  This post is titled, " Fabric of Life." 

Amanda's first mug rug... made from scraps

I especially  loved this eloquent phrase by Amanda ....
. " Quilting and using scraps is not about getting back to basics either as basics have never left the quilter or home sewist – basics are woven with every stitch we make, every weft we follow and every needle we thread."   

  * note...  "weft"  - an article of woven fabric, or  the horizontal threads interlaced through the warp in a woven fabric.

Amanda  then goes on to talk about the connections quilters have through the generations.
How we are bound to each other.

The word "bound" made me think of a song that I learned a long time ago.   It is called, Blest Be The Tie That Binds.  (by John Fawcett  1782)

Blest  be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

I like the image of hearts being held together by a tie... a binding.

And then I read the latest post by Amy,  of Amy Made That! 
She gives a thank you to Jodie  ,of Pleasant Home, whom she  greatly admires and  and has learned so much from.

Amy's heart mug rug     tutorial by Pleasant Home

Amy's post is an excellent example of how much we learn from our fellow quilters, sewists and designers.  And how much we  encourage and mentor each other in our networks....our blogworld.  This is so special and heart warming, and heart-binding.

There's that binding again!   This leads me up to pointing out an excellent binding tutorial,  posted by Alie of Alie Makes !  Alie has a  feature - Tutorial Tuesdays.  This week she shows us how to make the Fold-Over Binding.  The tutorial has  precise directions and pictures.  

Alie Makes   a Fold Over Binding Tutorial

I really do LOVE Alie's style , in the  projects she makes ,and in her color and fabric choices!  

Pixelated  Heart  wall hanging   by Alie

And this week, until  Friday, May 17th at 11:59 pm, Alie is having a GIVEAWAY! 
 Her giveaway is for a $25 gift certificate from Sew Me A Song. (with free shipping!)
Hop on over to see Alie's blog.... Alie Makes  , to enter for the giveaway and see  just how talented Alie is.       

A last thought on binding  ....   sewing bees and sew alongs.  Isn't that a fun way to share patterns and ideas,  to learn from each other ,  and to  get inspiration and cheer each other on ?! 

That's why I love our Across The Pond Sew Along!  

May's Theme is :  baskets

Honey bee fabrics     The Divided Basket  pattern by  Noodlehead

These are super roomy inside!

If you make ANY kind of basket, take a picture and upload it into our Flickr Group!
We love seeing what you make!     The friends that have already joined in with us are just Bee-utiful!  

I'm off to my sewing room!