Finally, the sun is shining and the birds are chirping - but it still is chilly out in the morning! Spring in the Northwest - at it's best. I want to take advantage of the sun and work in the garden a bit, even though I will be bundled up as if for winter!

Last year I traveled to the East Coast to visit with family and teach. While I was there I noticed that many people had cinder block raised garden beds. I had never seen anything like this before, but... when I got home, guess what I did! Yep, I have a small cinder block garden - and I love it! It was relatively inexpensive to make, it will last almost forever, and it didn't take any construction skill to make. (I just put them on top of my grass, put some weed block down and put the dirt in!) I planted PURPLE POTATO'S - who knew such a thing existed - and sunflowers and beans in my cinder block garden.  It was so much fun!! And eating purple potatoes at Thanksgiving was really fun, too!

Just last week my daughter called and asked if I would help her make a garden. We wound up a Lowe's, bought cinder blocks and in just about an hour (and less than $50) we had a garden started!

Here are some resources for Cinder Block Gardens
 
For an excellent E-book (which I purchased last year) on how to design, make and what to plant in a Cinder Block Garden
Click Here

For a blog with photos and comments Click Here

If you have a cinder block garden, send a photo and I'll post it here. Send photos as an email attachment to longarmu@aol.com. 

FREE ONLINE CLASS
For the past few years I have had the privilege of being a contributor to the Fresh Ideas articles in the OnTrack! Magazine. OnTrack! Magazine is a quarterly publication from the International Machine Quilters Association (IMQA). For each issue, a quilt (pieced) pattern is sent to me and I then show how I would quilt it. The pattern for the Spring 2010 issue is a variation of the Burgoyne Surrounded pattern. This pattern was a challenge to "quilt." But.. I did it! (To view a photo of the finished quilt Click Here) With the permission of the IMQA I made a video of how I quilted this quilt and I have the instructions as a FREE CLASS on the Longarm Classroom website. For more details and to view this Free Class Click Here

Wide Backing Fabrics
There are new Wide Backing Fabrics available. To see these great fabrics Click Here

Thread and Pattern Grab Bags
I have been cleaning - yes, I do know how to do this - and I have a bunch of patterns and threads that are looking for new homes. You can take advantage of this and get some great bargains!  For details Click Here

Online Classes
There are several online video classes on the Innovations Online website and the Longarm Classroom website.

Online classes are a great way to increase your quilting skills from the comfort of your own home! 

For a list of Innovations Online classes Click Here

For a list of Longarm Classroom Online classes Click Here