Hello everyone,

I am a new quilter living in Beirut, Lebanon. I got started through an adult education course offered at the school where I work as the curriculum coordinator. We are a group of 5 new quilters and have been together for the last 2 years. We search the web, go to shops in the US when we get there and then bring what we learn back to Lebanon to teach each other.

I have made several quilts since starting and have enjoyed doing them thoroughly. Each one has taught me something new.

The message board is a great place to learn what others are doing and perhaps post some questions that I hope will be answered so I can tell the others about it.

Beirut is not an easy place to find fabric. We don't have fabric stores, chain stores selling fabrics or the ability to easily order any online. It takes too long to get fabric sent to here and is very expensive. In the meantime, we walk the streets, look for tiny shops that sell fabric and take what we can find. It is time consuming but fun when there is more than one person looking.

I'm looking forward to participating in this message board and learning a great deal from you.

Connie Hadba :lol:

Connie , so glad to have you. It is hard to imagine the rest of the world not having bolts of fabric to select quilt colors from, nor the chain stores, to get the other odds and ends.
We would love to see some of the quilts you and your friends create.
Feel free to ask questions, there is years of wisdom here, and once again welcome. :D

Hi Connie,

I am new to quilting too. I think you will love this site. People are so helpful and friendly and have good suggestions for help. How often do you come to the US? Sorry about the fabirc challenges. I would love to see some of your quilts too. I think we all would enjoy it.

Sandi

Hi Ruth and Sandi,

Thank you for the welcome. I would be happy to post some of my projects for you to see as soon as I figure out how to do so. Any suggestions on how? I'm really a newbie at this site and do not know all the ins and outs.

I've also a feeling that we will not be talking in real time since Beirut is 7 hours ahead of say - New York. Even though, it's really great talking to people who are as excited about quilting as I am.

Connie

Hi Connie,
I'm like everyone else, I can't imagine living anywhere there is no fabric to quilt. I just would be the most unbearable person around or I'd have to learn to weave my own fabric. Quilting becomes a passion, doesn't it?

Glad to meet you and some night when I'm unable to sleep maybe we CAN chat in real time. I'm a person that doesn't sleep much sometimes.

Sharon

Connie,
I can empathize with you as my husband and I were stationed twice in Germany while he was active duty. Fabric and craft supplies were limited since I didn't feel comfortable venturing out into the local community. Of course during the time we were there, the internet and phone service was not what it is now.
Here are a couple websites that might be of some help. I don't know what their policy is for mailing overseas.
www.keepsakequilting.com
www.ConnectingThreads.com

Good luck and if there is anything I can do to help you from this side of the "Big Pond" just let me know.


Sis

Hi Sis,

Thanks for the URLs. I recgonize one of them Connecting Threads. I think I have visited this site but am not sure. I just have not tried to ask them to ship anything here to Beirut. I think the final bill would give me a heart attack. LOL

We get by with asking friends and anyone else who is traveling to the States to bring us back sone things. Needless to say, we always have a wish list handy. Husbands who work in Cyprus are also a help since Cyprus is considered part of Europe.

I'll try the two sites and see what they offer.

Thanks for the help. :D

Connie

Hi Sharon,

It would be nice to talk in real time. I've done some of the maths (although that was not my best subject in school). I finish at school around 3:30 pm here. That means about 8:30 am in New York. I usually am able to get on the computer about 7pm Beirut time; that's about 12 noon New York time. So if we were to talk at night your time, I would be the one not sleeping much. :lol:

No problem with me, I don't sleep much at night either. Let's set a time. :D

Connie

Connie - they try to hold a chat here at the board on Sundays at 3pm Eastern time. if that isn't too late for you, it would be a chance to "meet" more of us.

I'm usually up pretty early even on weekends, so if you and Sharon make a "date", i'd be happy to join in. Don't tell her I said so, but Sharon is good people. You'll enjoy getting to know her.

Connie,
I'm often up late . would love to chat with you as well.
Sandi