Chinese Whispers

[Lotti D.]

Hello Jane, we've been talking about spiral eye needles, don't know where, could actually have been on another topic. The problem for us Europeans is that added on to the already expensive needle, shipping and in most cases extra customs handling charges make them extremely expensive for us. I'm therefore brining a supply back with me for myself and my European TQS sisters, when I visit my parents in Canada in may/June... The advantage with needles is that though rather pricey, they are virtually weightless and take practically no suitcase space what I need is a Mary Poppings carpet bag, anyone know where to find one?

[Margo C.]

Spiral Eye discussion: forum/two-of-us-2013/6257-self-threading-needles

[Jane R.]

Thanks, Margo. Interesting. Just ordering some of the spiral eye needles to try although the web site says that they do not recommend the quilting needles for those that use the rocking motion which is how I hand-quilt. Will give them a try anyway since eyes are aging faster than the rest of me :x

[Lois B.]

Have any of you been using these needles to hand quilt. I thought people were getting them to use to bury loose threads when we machine quilt. Hadn't thought of using them to hand quilt.

[Margo C.]

I'm not sure that they will work for quilting because the hook part of the spiral sometimes gets caught in the fibers of the batting, but they are great for burying thread tails!

[Lotti D.]

I've ordered a variety of sizes. Thought they would be great for my on-the-go project. At the moment I'm doing hexes, and with the lighting conditions in airplanes, lounges, restaurants, hotel rooms, etc., I would be very grateful for an easy to thread needle. I generally use my favorite John James gold eye needles, but the threading can be an awful pain in bad light conditions...

[Lotti D.]

Limbania I want to thank you for posting the link to Geta Grama's blog and her amazing hexagon quilt. As I was looking through her blog I noticed that she is from Brasov in Romania. Let me tell you a little story.....

DH and I have worked in Romania a few times in the past few years - particularly in Sibiu which is not very far from Brasov. We were working with two Romanian choirs one of which was an all male trainee priests choir. The leader of the choir is a priest who lives and works in Brasov - Fr. Dobre. He and his wife (Roxana) set up a school for orphaned and impoverished children in Brasov and my DH and I have contributed in a small way to the restoration of the building that houses the children and provides a lunch for them each day.

I had suggested to Roxana that my quilting group could make quilts for the children if that was of interest. But Roxana came back with a better idea - how about I teach the children how to make quilts for themselves. I thought this was a great idea and we talked about how we could do this with me in Ireland and her in the middle of Romania. We discussed the idea of me doing youtube tutorials but I was not convinced that this would be enough to teach the children. So I ground to a halt because I didn't have the time to go to Brasov to teach the children.

When I saw this link Limbania I emailed Geta to see if there would be any way that she would be willing to give a little time to show the children how to make a quilt if I supply all the materials. I got an email from her this morning to say that she would be interested and she will get in touch with Roxana to see what they can do together. Geta is busy until September but maybe they will be able to do something after then. Could the children have a better teacher? I don't think so.

So, hopefully a small group of disadvantaged children in Transylvania will learn to quilt because of a connection made from Arizona to Ireland and then Romania. Isn't this forum just wonderful!

What a great story Rita! Thank you for sharing. I'm so happy that you found a possible way to continue with this marvelous project. You are a very generous lady and I'll be honored to help in any way to make it happen. Please keep us posted and let me know how can I contribute. I definitely agree with you, this kids will have a wonderful teacher!

Sorry it took me this long to respond. Dealing with "chemo issues" and another cold last weekend, courtesy of my DS. No matter how hard we tried not to get the bug I ended up with it. Doing better now, which is good since DH had to go back to work a day early and I'm working on gettin ready for chemo # 4. Thank God I have an awesome DMIL. She's coming back from Alaska to help out during next treatment.

[wendy w.]

Give MIL a hug from us for looking after you.

Nancy, Nancy, Nancy how you doing?

[Norma H.]

Rita, what a great story about the project in Romania. The children will not only have a great teacher. They will see a person who could be a fantastic roll model for them.

Limbania, I hope your treatments will be easier to get through. Good that you have help from your MIL. No one should face this alone.

[Rita C.]

I reckoned you were a little busy dealing with chemo issues Limbania - glad to see you back on the forum. Your MIL is fantastic to come all the way from Alaska - that's one heck of a trek. Definitely give her a big hug from all of us here for helping you out. Good luck with No. 4. Let us know if we need to come over to keep you company again.

[Maureen A.]

Sorry it took me this long to respond. Dealing with "chemo issues" and another cold last weekend, courtesy of my DS. No matter how hard we tried not to get the bug I ended up with it. Doing better now, which is good since DH had to go back to work a day early and I'm working on gettin ready for chemo # 4. Thank God I have an awesome DMIL. She's coming back from Alaska to help out during next treatment.

Limbania, you don't need to apologise for not being on the forum, we all understand you have a lot going on. Sorry, you got a bug but I am glad you are doing better now and it won't affect your treatment. Good luck with chemo 4. How many sessions are you having?

Your DMIL sounds like an Angel and a very thoughtful person, especially coming from so far away. How long does she usually stay? Like everyone else, give her a hug from me as well.

[Nancy R.]

Nancy, Nancy, Nancy how you doing?

I am making progress, but it's slow. I apologize! This has turned into a tough time for me, too. My mother was diagnosed with stage IV renal cancer a couple of days before I received Limbania's quilt. I'm staying at her house in Kansas City providing 24 hour care for as long as I can. So, I'm helping her and telecommuting and working on the quilt when my sisters are able to watch her for me. I brought my machine and supplies with me so I could work on it. The quilt is assembled and I'm about half way through with the quilting. I'm hoping to make some more big progress this weekend. It's getting there!

Nancy

[Maureen A.]

Oh Nancy, I am so sorry about your mother. You spend as much time with her as you can, the quilt is not important as your time with her. My prayers are with you and your family.

Lots of love and hugs

[Maureen A.]

I do hope this isn't going to be a theme through the whispers :shock: Positive thoughts everyone.

[Maureen A.]

I do hope this isn't going to be a theme through the whispers :shock: Positive thoughts everyone.

That was my thoughts exactly Rosemary, but I didn't like to express them in case it was bad luck :!: :!: :!: :!: