Ruth Garner
@ruthgarner
Ruth Garner
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Jane Galley wrote a new post, Have you ever tried the 'Under Thimble'? 8 years, 3 months ago
One of the thrills of being asked to review a product is that you’re never quite sure what will be coming in the post. The last thought that went through my mind was that I hoped it wasn’t a thimble!
Now, don…

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Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Life, The Universe, Everything – Or, What I've Learned from being 42 8 years, 3 months ago
2016 was a significant year for me; I turned 42 and towards the end of the year, my mum died. Warning – here is a spoiler alert; according to Douglas Adams, the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything is 42, a…

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Love the post Christine. Your words are so poignant. I have saved things ‘for a rainy day, special handcreams (expensive!) for some obscure day in the future! Why do we do that? I sometimes look at all the stuff I have and think, Goodness my daughter is just going to chuck all this when I have gone! Your post has brought it home to me with a bump. Going to use up my lovely smellies and if i need more I will buy them! If I have used up that lovely fabric – then yes buy more. Yes, indeed, life is short, too short. LIVE IT!!!!!!!!
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Absolutely Sue! I’ve saved those lovely, special, expensive hand creams and body lotions previously, and now I’m on a mission to use it up! I’m just having a problem not buying more supplies…
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Well said…I overheard someone say ‘ we don’t keep anything for best anymore’…which hit home to me. So now nothing is for best, everything is for now.
We now use our best china dinner service, which only used to come out for xmas!
How silly is that…great blog Christine.-
Thank you!
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A great read…so true, thanks for the reminder
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Thank you! I’d love to say that I have decided to use up all my fabric before I buy more, but Doughty’s Roadshow last week and Craft4Crafters today tell a much different story!
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Great article and a poingnant reminder that life is for living and to enjoy those nice things while we can
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Thank you!
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A lovely post with which I completely empathise. It also took sadness for me to appreciate that here and now is the best place to be so enjoy every moment of it. I want somehow for my children to learn this before they lose someone important in their lives.
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Thank you. We care for a young person, so I hear “I can’t wait for…” lots of times, and I think that is quite sad, as it seems to be wishing your life away.
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Loved your post and so true. I lost my Dad in my thirties and made the same decision in life. Live, love and find joy in the small things.
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Thank you Helen – I think it really hit home for me with my mum, having seen her go from doing so much to being able to do very little, and not being able to knit, crochet, sew or make lace.
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What a great philosophy for quilting and life. I’m in the process of clearing my house for sale, so I’d add one more rule – if its useful but you aren’t going to use it, pass it on now to someone who will.
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Good idea! Now, if only I could hear to do it with crafting items…!
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As a fellow Douglas Adams fan as well as running very quickly up to 42 myself this blog really resonated with me. For me it was 40 when we took the brave step to up sticks and move from Milton Keynes to North wales (a long time dream). It’s been tough but worth it
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I’m glad you liked it! Making a life move can be very tough – I left teaching in 2011 and combined with that my dad was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and then died – the manner of my leaving teaching was not ideal, although I have done some supply teaching and maternity cover since then. It has all helped me to get to where I am now.
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Nina wrote a new post, Flying the flag – make your own UKQU logo 8 years, 3 months ago
Following the success with the enamel badges, which you can find in Juliet’s shop, we are now excited to share with you our latest UKQU merchandise – the patterns for you to make your own logo in two different tec…

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Christine Hutchins recommended the post The Sewing Geographer 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post P&Q Class…or is it P&Q Therapy? 8 years, 3 months ago
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Sue Burford recommended the post Just another love story? Triple love! 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Starters and Enders 8 years, 3 months ago
A friend of mine has been following advice from Pat Sloan (she is one of the ladies who is responsible for The Splendid Sampler), about using starters and enders. She starts with squares of 2.5 inches, and starts and…

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You can do so much with leaders and enders, and its a great way of organising and using your scraps. Thanks for posting about these. Bonnie Hunter (check out her Quiltville blog) has an annual leader and ender project that is great to join in with.
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Thank you!
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Great idea – I’m going to start doing this…
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I can see the sense of this. It would require discipline, I think, to get into a good habit, but well worth it!
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post Doughty’s Fabric Roadshows 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post Carol Munro – AKA The Quilting Procrastinator 8 years, 3 months ago
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Vendulka Battais recommended the post Journey of a New Long Arm Quilter 8 years, 3 months ago
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Vendulka Battais recommended the post Have you heard of QUILTING POLICE?? 8 years, 3 months ago
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Nina posted an update 8 years, 3 months ago
I am pleased to say that the foundation paper piecing (FPP) pattern for the UK Quilters United LOGO is now available to download for FREE in my shop. Two sizes are available, but do feel free to print at any scale and adjust seam allowances / sashing accordingly.
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Sue Burford recommended the post What size do I cut? 8 years, 4 months ago
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Sue Burford recommended the post Bead Broth 8 years, 4 months ago
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Sue Burford recommended the post Carol Munro AKA The Quilting Procrastinator 8 years, 4 months ago
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Sue Burford wrote a new post, Cafe con Leche…. 8 years, 4 months ago
Our life in Spain is just what we thought it would be – lots of food and drink in the local Bars and Restaurants. We especially enjoy having breakfast at our local Bar with a couple of coffees and tostada con to…

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Vendulka Battais wrote a new post, Have you heard of QUILTING POLICE?? 8 years, 4 months ago
Seven years of teaching, running my own patchwork shop and being daily surrounded by quilters of all abilities I have noticed many things about people’s attitude to sewing and one of them which is valid for most of u…

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I received your Cathedral Windows book this morning…it’s beautiful!! Can’t wait to make something xx
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Wonderful Pam, glad to hear it arrived well. Looking forward seeing your creations on the UKQU facebook page!
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The quilt police do exist, she came to our guild and told me my skills were seriously lacking for someone who had been quilting as long as i had and perhaps i should ask my husband to help more around the house and give me time to quilt more. She suggested at least 30 minutes every day and was shocked when i was not pleased with her statements. This definitely has taken some joy away from my quilting.
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NO! What a seriously awful thing for anyone to say, Deb Quilter. That might be (just about) OK in the context of learning for a formal qualification where high standards are required, but is not at all appropriate for anyone quilting for enjoyment. I’m with Vendulka all the way on this issue.
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Many people take their hobby very seriously. Thankfully the majority quilt for enjoyment, which is why the 20:20 rule should be practiced more
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Dear @debquilter. What an awful thing to say to someone, sorry to hear about your experience! What that person should do is spent less time behind a sewing machine and more time around people practising being nice and human! I hope my article made you feel a little bit better and please take no notice of people like that, they are only projecting their own insecurities and it has nothing to do with you. If you are happy with your creations who are they to judge that! Enjoy and keep sewing!
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Well said!
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Hear, hear!! It really is all about what you want to make as a quilter and how you want to make it.
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Cheered me up, thank you. Always worried about them police.
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Brilliant
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Marijke Van Welzen recommended the post Denim upcycle 8 years, 4 months ago
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Sue Burford recommended the post A Hearty Blog feb 8 years, 4 months ago
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8 years, 3 months ago
I’ve never thought about using an under thimble, but I might give it a try now after this review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it.
8 years, 3 months ago
You’re welcome, I’d never heard of them before I did this. I do like it