Most of you thought our first Awkshun was really fun - especially the winner. Did receive some suggestions tho. Alot of you would like it to last for at least a few days or more. Also some would like to see the highest bid posted at the end of each day and be able to bid again the next day. Others who just happened upon the awkshun and were not on the mailing list or have not ordered from us, said they wanted to bid but the rules excluded them. We'll work on these before the next awkshun and in the meantime you can continue to send your suggestions.

Because many have asked, here is my opinion on the Ebay thing: First of all, it's great if you sell finished items from my patterns on Ebay - hooray! If you want to mention it is from one of my patterns that's even better. "Why don't you want your patterns resold on eBay?" I really think that just the fact that a person asks that you not sell their patterns on Ebay is reason enough to comply...and for most, it is. To that majority of customers - thank you very much. Now most folks is honest...but a few ain't. Most say they don't make copies of the pattern before reselling it and they don't. Others say the same thing...but they do. (And making templates of the patterns or tracing them is the same as making a copy.) Plain and simple, the whole thing is just too open to fraud and copyright infringement and even tho right now, only a minority are noncompliant, those numbers are bound to increase. What is worse is that some sellers make more than one copy of the pattern and resell all of them....i know this for a fact - this is breaking the law. Pattern design, if you are concerned about originality and uniqueness, is a very time consuming job and involves an enormous amount of work but i love what I do and I would truly like to stay in business. I know those of you who craft for a living understand "time consuming". Really...there are just tons of other things that can be sold on ebay that don't invade copyright - with a little understanding, I think we can all be happy.

I appreciate those of you that disagreed with this request but have taken the time to write for an explanation, and have replied to me congenially. Let's all just be fair to each other, enjoy and respect creativity and have fun.

.....not to undermine it's importance, but official stuff is just so boring isn't it? Hope you're still with me.

Have you seen the new Suzanna Oroyan book, Finishing the Figure - awwwwwsome as expected. I was so honored to learn that two of my dolls had been chosen for the book - Spooky Tooth, the witch, and Melody Angel of Song. What a thrill.

Here's a list of "things".

• Trick 'R Treat pennyrug pattern is hoppin. Order the pattern to get in on the "treat".
• The nearby quilt show in Eureka, CA. was fun this past weekend. LOTS of great quilts, nice vendors, good crowd, easy set up and can you believe we were completely torn down in about 40 minutes---EVERYTHING ---off the floor and packed. Except me that is - - I passed out in disbelief!!
• Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Sat. and Sun. is the Marin Quilt and Needleart Show. It is at the Civic Center (Exhibit Hall), Avenue of the Flags, in San Rafael California. $8 to get in i think. I'll have a booth there and would just love to meet you or see you again if you can come.
• October 4 -7: Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA. This is a very large show and growing. This year is slated to fill two halls at the Center. For more information on their classes etc. go to: www.quiltfest.com
• At least one new, maybe more, rug hooking pattern coming soon. Involves a certain santa.
• The new book "Oh My Stars" is now available. After much struggling with the color cover, it is finally printed, brighter than i had hoped, but none the less, done.
• Next newsletter we'll discuss a subject that came up on the doll list that i am on: "How to handle creative slumps." SEND US some input and we'll include it in our discussion.
• Your questions about E Patterns (pattern downloading) - i'll try to answer in the next NSL. I can briefly say that I believe that folks that are jumping to be the first to offer these on web sites, are not really giving much thought to where this is eventually going to lead. I'm truly hoping however, my thoughts on this will turn out to be as flakey and dried up as cow pies in the desert.

Summer is nearly over, can you believe!! I have made very little progress on that time machine that adds hours to our day - just not enough hours in the day to work on it. Will likely have to consult with Wise Woman Speaks concerning this one. Do you know Wise Woman Speaks. She's such a lurker really but i suppose one day she'll pop in on us.

As always, send us your newsletter input. Put "Ramblin Rag" in the subject line. We enjoy your participation. Snail mail contributions are also accepted.

I must get back to work on the new stitchery now - That Annabelle has drawn herself on the cloth. She's just so persistant. Below are pics. First, Nita Butler's version of my Hocus Pocus pattern floored me - I think she's fabulous! Thanks Nita! Second, here is our friend Don's version of pattern Amarina. She's looking a bit Indian isn't she...and incredible as well. Thanks Don! Third is a picture of our sewing club in front of local quilt store "In Stitches". We are showing off the various renditions of our "Angie Had A Garden" block challenge.

Nita's Hocus	Don's Amarina
Our Club Challenge