September is interNational Sewing Month! An ideal time to sew up back to school items like lunch bags, colorful fabric totes or for the cooler days ahead, a cozy throw or quilt. Holidays are right around the corner so sewing projects abound! Fun Halloween costumes, home decor harvest items or gifts for Kwanza, Christmas or Hanukkah.

With a new home pillows are my biggest sewing project this month. I love pillows and making them, my favorite style has been the flower pillow but for this Victorian home I am sewing up large floral and rich elegant velvet pillows. At present the fabric is just cut and wrapped around the forms but with a big event next weekend I am on a deadline to finish them up later this week.

The good thing about deadlines is they spur you on to finish projects that might drag on. Now that I have made a space for my sewing machine it is making my creative life much easier. My new studio at the back of this beautiful house will be under renovation for a while yet.

Looking forward to being completely settled in with all renovations finished in about three months. Here is to sewing projects, patterns and fabric stashes! Happy Sewing Month!

We all remember where we were on September 11, when our world, our lives changed forever. I remember coming home from a trip to Phoenix early that morning and my daughter's frantic call to me to make sure I was home safely. Our group did eventually all make it home safely. The New York bound members some lost those very close to them, one member her husband a firefighter who would have been a first responder had come with her on the trip as a vacation.

How we live is what we can offer in remembrance, we are a gift to and of this world, this life. To offer our best to live in a way that is compassionate, loving and joyful. To make the world a better place happens in the everyday living, the smallest of actions, of connections makes a difference, impacts lives and the circle grows wider and wider.

Live with love for I have always believed "Life is simply a Love story."

Finally Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! Debra has been apparently too busy to remember what day of the week it is lately. Freda is quite upset and even her own room with flat screen has not appeased her feeling neglected! Today Debra was out again at the local artisan's shop doing something with the windows, perhaps cleaning them? (these chicken lips are chuckling)

It is officially fall and time for the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, the shop needed the windows done so Debra decked them out with a pumpkin band called "The Artful Persuaders" with an appropriate musical theme. The downtown streets come alive with music everywhere and most of the store fronts create musical themes. There is a contest involved so keeping our feathers crossed for Artful Persuasion, a collective of twenty six local artists and artisans.

I have been neglecting my blog since I moved, upsizing and embarking on new ventures in a historic home has been a delgihtful hectic adventure so far. I love the place more each day.

However now the fall begins and new resolve to get back into my virtual routine. Last week I travelled to Cleveland to film a segment of Quilting Arts with host Pokey Bolton. It was a wonderful experience and everyone was so nice. Pokey is amazing shooting segment after segment with different guests with only a quick run through. Her knowledge of techniques and products was very impressive!

I admit to being more nervous with this taping as I had to handle everything not with "kid gloves" but rubber ones! I had practiced but it was slightly clumsy still and slightly messy.

The segment will air sometime in winter 2013.With being away again on the weekend I missed the Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop, the theme was crafting with vintage items. With sewing close to my heart and a love of pin cushions Michelle Frae Cummings vintage pin cushion with trim was a favorite. She shares a tutorial, quick and easy to make! http://faeriedustdreams-michelle.blogspot.ca/2012/09/designer-crafts-challenge-creating-with.html

With pins being so highly valued and precious, places to keep them were equally important. Many a creative seamstress sewed up a pin book or the iconic tomato pin cushion to keep the needle safe, sharp and rust free. I like dress forms almost as much as pin cushions so I created a dress form  pin cushion!

How do you llike to keep your pins and needles safe or off the floor!

This week is full of creativity! Can't spill it all yet but lots happening! I can share about this Friday I am the featured guest blogger with the talented Lisa Rojas." Give The Queen A Call!"
Designer, Artist, Teacher. Blog- http://www.stampinqueencreations.blogspot.com CHA Designer Council Member and CHA Designer Discussion List Moderator.

Lisa is one of the sweetest people and amazing designer. Her designs are delightful and she turns manufacturer's products into unique projects.

I am very honored to be one of her guest bloggers! Thanks Lisa!

I love dresses, anyone who knows me usually sees me in a dress. The little black dress was an inspiration for my room. Red is the color so roses are sprinkled across the bed. The dress form wears one of my favorite dresses. The dress form was a special surprise Christmas gift from my youngest daughter Kate, I love it and it is perfect in the bow window!

                                                      

I did not paint the gorgeous dresser but I did redo the lamp and make the wall hanging above the bed. The other three bedrooms are more Victorian in keeping with the 1840's home but I went slightly more modern and decidedly feminine!

Once the new ensuite is finished it will be a very romantic retreat! We should love our spaces, our homes to be a reflection of who we are. Everytime I walk into my room it makes me smile!

Have a delightful creative day!

Life is very full these days, so many good things happening plus loving my new place. Am deeply grateful!

I am flying to Cleveland to film a segment of Quilting Arts. I am very excited, a great opportunity! I love their magazine too so many great ideas for not only quilters but sewers as well!

Have a wonderful colorful creative week!

Coming up this Monday at noon EST the talented, delightful Marisa Pawelko of Westcott will be demoing live on Cool2Craft. Westcott Scissors on Cool2Craft TV - T-Shirt Remix by Debra Quartermain Monday August 13, 2012 - cra www.cool2craft.com She is demoing my Tsihirt curup technique from winter CHA's designer challenge where in twenty minutes using Westcott's Etreme Edge scissors and a T-shirt I created a full length dress!

(photo courtesy of Westcott Brand)

Today is the first Monday of the month which means the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! Today this talented designer group is featuring crafty designs made with school supplies. I always look forward to participating but having recently moved I am still unpacking my craft supplies and getting organized. I am out of the loop for this round but hop over to Julie McGuffee's blog to get hopping! We always have a great give away too!

Speaking of school :) as I smoothly segue here! I just moved into the most beautiful house, a heritage landmark overlooking the river in downtown Fredericton. It is a classic Gothic Revival Style built around 1840 and was purchased in 1870 by the first province born University of New Brunswick president Thomas Harrison. Later Premier McNair who held four terms and was appointed Lt. Govenor lived in the home for forty years. Premier McNair held three degrees from UNB. The home has a rich heritage and is beautiful. I feel like I have lived here forever! I love the Victorian era so I now have an excuse to dress in period outfits! :) More exciting plans are in the works for the place!

(photo courtesy of Bill Jarvis)

In between packing I had the pleasure of working with Rit Dye. The colors are gorgeous and the liquid beautifully shaped bottles are so easy to use. I transformed a white T-shirt into a fun vibrant beach cover up with a fun cut up design using my very favorite scissors from Westcott Brand! Full tutorial on the Rit Dye blog along with several other beachy designs from talented designer friends!

(photo courtesy of Rit Dye)

Here's to summer, certainly been one to spend at the beach for sure!
Hope you are all staying cool!