Hello Reader!,

Hard to believe we are well into December! Here in the Southern Hemisphere, it is hot, hot, hot. For our fellow summer dwellers, we hope that you're keeping cool and enjoying all the parties and festivities in the lead up to Christmas.

For our lucky Winter Christmas lovers, allow us to paint a picture of an Aussie Christmas. It's already hot, bright and early, so many of us head to the beach or river to keep cool. While some go the traditional hot meal for lunch, many of us choose salads and cold meats (those also require less work and clean up!).

There's never any snow in sight, yet all our images of Santa still have him in the traditional red suit. Take a moment to feel for those poor Santas visiting the kids at schools and at Christmas parties in a red wool suit and itchy beard in the middle of summer!

We still decorate with winter themes (thanks to many of us having English and European heritage), and you'll see plenty of snowflake, penguins, and snowy decor. We do however often draw the line at snuggling up a quilt and hot cocoa on Christmas Eve and settle instead for some cute cushions (pillows) and a nice cold drink!

But that doesn't stop us Aussies from sewing. We crank up the air conditioning and pretend that we're not melting. I mean how else will we get our Christmas sewing done!

So while we're dreaming of cooler weather, we're still plotting and planning our next sewing project. And perhaps you're feeling the same way - in which case, might I mention Issue 67 is chock full of projects awaiting your attention?

You've seen our beautiful cover quilt, Cracked by Rita Geyermann, but let's dive into some of the other projects. Starting with this sweet festive 3D English paper pieced wreath by Cass of Cake and Ale. You can add a unique touch to your holiday decor with this clever wreath which can be left plain or embellished. The perfect way to let everyone know ... a quilter lives here!

And of course we gotta talk about the quilts!

Noughts and Crosses (left) is designed by Debi Schmitz Noriega. Alternating blocks give the impression of the classic game of Noughts and Crosses (which you might call Tic Tac Toe). The simple green colour scheme exudes serenity and calm - this quilt would look amazing in any colour!

Cross Purposes (right) by Leanne Parsons works on a similar premise - alternating two simple blocks in a grid to create an interesting pattern. Leanne chose soothing teals and purples for this design, with a pop of yellow for contrast.

The last of our projects to showcase are just as fun and inspiring!

Serpentina (left) by Alyssa Kolski uses English Paper Piecing (EPP) to make the shapes and geometry the star of the quilt. It uses standard 2" paper piecing shapes to create an interesting design.

Pendle Plaid (right) by Tiffany Horn features a beautiful design that never goes out of style. The careful selection of fabrics creates a blend where two different colours cross each other, giving this quilt classic charm.

If you're looking for a little sewing to beat the heat (or hide from the cold!), you'd best grab a copy of Issue 67 and get sewing!

Or ... perhaps we can tempt you with this! A little free taster of Make Modern!

If you've been wondering what's included in an issue of Make Modern, now is your chance to get our FREE mini mag! Like the title says, it's mini, but it's jampacked with goodness. It includes three projects from the Make Modern archives, a sample of our articles, and a feature on Karen Brown from Just Get it Done quilts.

Click on the image above to get the mini mag sent your way, no strings attached. This is your opportunity to see what we're all about! Oh and make sure to read to the end to nab a special offer!

Wishing you a week full of inspiration, creativity and a whole bunch of fabric fun!

Happy making!

Kristy, Lara and Jane