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Happy June! Time is certainly going by quickly, and here we are in June already! If you are a parent with school-age children, the academic year is at an end or nearing the end, and summer holiday plans are being finalised--either a stay-at-home holiday or an away holiday. Whichever you do, I think that most people look forward to summer with its long days, warmer temperatures, BBQ's and trips to the beach or swimming pool (unless you live in the southern hemisphere!).
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I've been keeping busy with quilting as well as working in the garden, just trying to catch up on both fronts. I do have some lovely new finishes to show you this month, and I hope you will like them.
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If you are a Netflix subscriber and a quilter, or someone who loves quilting, I highly recommend the short documentary, "The Quilters". It's a true story based on a small group of male prisoners in a maximum security prison in Missouri (USA). These prisoners, led by a man who is serving a life sentence for murder, learn how to quilt. This activity is part of the Restorative Justice Organization. It benefits the foster children who receive these quilts and acts as a restorative therapy for the prisoners who make them. For more information about this documentary film and its filmmaker, be sure to read the first post below.
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The News & More page of my website is still not working as it should, but I am in the process of listing the links to my most recent posts there. Thank you for your patience.
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As a reminder, Red Bridge Quilts offers free standard postage to anywhere within the island of Ireland. So those of you lucky enough to live on this beautiful Emerald Isle always have this advantage should you choose to order anything. All other destinations will incur the normal postage charge unless the total reaches the 'free postage' amount. We also offer a free local pick-up service for everyone.
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FEATURED CONTENT THIS MONTH
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Quilting news and tips
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New this month
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Following are the new posts up on the website this month. They are a gathering of various topics and articles from the world of quilting. I hope you find them of interest.
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The documentary film, "The Quilters", now on Netflix, is not only making waves within the quilting community but also around the globe. It's a powerful story about a group of incarcerated men at a correctional facility in the US who make quilts for children in foster care. The filmmaker, Jenifer McShane, has a gift for finding compassion in unexpected places. Click the tab below to find out more about Jenifer.
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June is Pride Month in most countries around the world. Pride Month is an entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ+ voices, a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and the support of LGBTQ+ rights. Did you know that the celebration of this culture has reached the quilting world as well? There are many patterns and tutorials for making Gay Pride quilts and other items. Click the tab below to discover some of them.
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Some of you may have or had a grandmother who quilted. You might have wonderful memories of watching her at her craft. Perhaps she even passed this skill on to you. What a special and lasting connection this is! Click on the tab below to read one woman's memory of her grandmother and the care she took and the preparations she made when it was her turn to have a quilting party at her house.
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As promised in my last newsletter, this very colourful Floral Throw Quilt is finished! It is beautiful and will look good with any décor. It’s perfect for tossing over a chair or the back of a sofa. It consists of five different 100% cotton quilting fabrics, all with very busy floral designs.. However, they blend together beautifully. In addition, the Rail Fence pattern shows off the fabrics as it forms a running zig-zag down the quilt. Additionally, the 80% cotton/20% polyester wadding gives this quilt a soft touch. The Floral Throw Quilt measures 124 cm wide x 148 cm long. Machine washable and tumble dryer safe. Take a closer look in the Shop where more info/photos are available.
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Back in stock! "The Kiss" Wall Hanging is a beautifully quilted rendition of the famous painting by Gustav Klimt which hangs in the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria. The main fabric in this hanging perfectly reflects the painting's gold leaf, silver and platinum. In fact, the hanging appears so realistic that one could be forgiven for thinking that he is looking at the actual painting. Furthermore, the blue patterned border fabric ties in with the flower meadow in the lower half of the hanging. Read more about this wall hanging in the Shop
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"Heron On Watch" is another new wall hanging in the Shop. It depicts a heron on the lookout for his next catch. There is a river that runs alongside our house, and the riverbank there is a favourite spot for herons. They are so interesting to watch. One must be just as patient and quiet as they are in order to see them spring into action. They stand very still while quietly eyeing a fish under the water. When the perfect moment comes, they move very quickly. In one swift motion, they dive towards the fish, pick it out of the water with their sharp beaks, and fly off to enjoy the meal elsewhere. Head over to the Shop to find out more about "Heron On Watch".
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The "Pink Rosebud Baby Rag Quilt" is a new addition to the Baby Quilt category. The rag quilts have proven very popular, and I'm sure this one will be no exception. Three different 100% cotton flannel fabrics come together to make this quilt--white with small pink rosebuds, mint green, and a soft white on pink print. The added border gives it a finished look. This rag quilt is so soft and warm and is perfect for baby's skin. It will definitely keep baby warm on a cold day. Look for it in the Shop.
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Ironing or Pressing?
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Do you know the difference between ironing and pressing? Many times we use these words interchangeably. However, if you are a quilter, you will definitely need to know the fine difference between these two techniques. Otherwise, you might wonder why the beautiful quilt top you've put so much careful work into is not looking perfect. See this article from "Quilting Daily" to find out if you can iron out this pressing matter.
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Under my needle
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Under my needle this month is another rail fence baby quilt. The baby quilt category on the website always needs topping up, and the rail fence with its zig-zag design is a very popular pattern. I currently have it laid out on my kitchen floor. Next step is to sew it all together and then quilt and bind it. Look for it in the Shop soon.
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Looking for a Gift?
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Do you know someone who loves quilts? Or someone who appreciates a handmade item for the home? A Gift Card from Red Bridge Quilts takes away the hassle of trying to choose just the right gift. You won't have to worry if they will like what you choose or will want to return it or exchange it. Let them decide what they'd really like!! See RBQ's Gift Card options.
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Did you know?
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With every online order from Red Bridge Quilts you will receive a free quilted glasses case. These sturdy 100% cotton cases will protect reading glasses as well as sunglasses. The photo shows a few of the cases from the current selection.
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Red Bridge Quilts offers a Longarm Quilting Service. This means that if you are a quilter, and either don't have the time, are afraid of doing the quilting yourself, or you would like to have a professionally finished look to your quilt, then you might have a "longarmer" do the job for you. Here is a photo of a recent longarm job for a customer. This customer's quilt tops are always very carefully and beautifully pieced. She chose a quilt design of "loopy diamonds", and it looks fantastic!
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I hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to anyone you think might like to read it. As always, thank you very much for being here.
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Vectors designed by Freepik and Vecteezy
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