DOUBLE DELIGHT

Today I spent time cleaning my sewing room, sorting UFOs, etc. I also selected fabric from stash for Bonnie Hunter's New Year's Eve Mystery Quilt, Double Delight. This is the first Mystery Quilt I've done, and it has the added benefit of using stash rather than buying. Bonnie is using tradition double pinks and indigos in hers. Many of these are from Urban Indigo, a softer, more modern (but still traditional) line.

HEARTS FOR JENNIFER

My favorite author, Jennifer Chiaverini, recently lost her editor, due to lay-offs. Our small Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Quilt swap group decided to send her heart blocks in lilac, in time for her Feb. 14 birthday. This is my block for her.

ORNAMENTS

I've been making friends Cathedral Window Christmas Ornaments this year. They are fairly quick and make a nice hand-made gift.

CHRISTMAS WITH JANE

My Christmas Siggies are all trimmed, and now in their final arrangement. They are put away in order for now, awaiting their sashing and borders. This has been a very fun swap.

PATCHWORK DOG

This is my very first patchwork project. I made it while living with my Grandmother when I was a young teenager. It must be about 45 years old at least, and it is still holding up ok. Some of the stitching could use repair, but I think I'll leave it just as is. I remember some of the fabrics from my sewing projects, and some are from her scrapbag. She was always so encouraging of my sewing and other creative endeavors.

SECRET SANTA ORNAMENT SWAP ARRIVES!

This beautiful ornament arrived in my mail today. It is for a secret ornament swap, from my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Friendship Swap Group. My on-line friend Karen from Canada made it for me. She used 120 2" squares, 370 tiny pins, a styrofoam ball, and ribbon. She didn't tell me how many hours went into it!

This if the first swap I've ever hostessed. She also sent me some fabric charms and a yummy chocolate mint candy, all wonderful!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.................

CHRISTMAS WITH JANE SIGGIES

I've had fun today playing with my Dear Jane Christmas siggies. We each made signature blocks with the outer fabric being any Christmas print.

I received 149 back, so I'll be making a Christmas with Jane block to go in the bottom right, to make it 10 x 15 siggies.

They aren't trimmed yet, and I noticed that a couple are upside down in the picture, but I was working on color placement more than the script.

I'll probably use a sashing around each block.

This was a very fun exchange and I thank everyone who participated!

IN COCOA, FLORIDA

Today I had the privelege of meeting my on-line quilting friend, Carolyn, from France. She was visiting Florida. We went on our own shop-hop to three stores, and then had a lovely lunch at an outdoor cafe. What fun! She is so sweet, and just the sort of person you'd want for a friend, both in person and cyber.

HEART TO HEART SWAP BLOCKS

These are my swap blocks for the DJ Alternate list H2H Swap, which I worked on at the DJ Retreat in Shipshe last week. I made them using Fairy Frost, which I thought would be so appropriate for a heart swap. We are each using any heart pattern, applique, pieced, whatever, embellished or Plain Janes, in 6" blocks. It should make into a wonderful quilt.

AMISH BUGGY

This horse & buggy is hitched up to the hitching post awaiting its passengers, who are doing errands in town. I took this picture for the contrast and blend of cultures. Notice the very modern electric wires in the background, the Wells Fargo stage coach on the sign, and the transportation for a traditional Amish family. This is a very common site in Shipshewana. I loved the clip-clop of the horses.

Now it's back home to reality. But, the Dear Jane retreat was wonderful.

VAL & I MEET IN SHIPSHE

I met Val, from my SBS swap group, today at the DJ Shipshe retreat. It was so fun to finally meet in person!

DEAR JANE RETREAT IN SHIPSHEWANA

The 10th DJ Retreat in Shipshewana, IN, has been in full-motion for over 24 hours now. I have met so many wonderful quilters, and am having so much fun (yes, and doing a little quilting too). It is super to be able to put faces with the names of these on-line quilting friends. What a treat!

SNOW!!!

SNOW hit southwest Michigan today! My little Maxwell Webster is very curious about it, since he mainly lives in Florida. Murphy May had the good sense to stay indoors as much as possible.

The snow storm is beautiful. We have about double the amount in the photos now, and it is expected to continue on into the night.

As long as I can get out for my Dear Jane Retreat in Shipshewana on Wednesday, I'm fine with it. So pretty, and so Dr. Zhiavago'ish.

THE GIRLS ON THEIR WAY OUT OF PARADISE

The Girls stopped to pose for one last photo in Paradise, before jumping into their cozy envelope and heading off to Susan's for the holidays.

THE GIRLS HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW

The Girls enjoyed their first real snowstorm in Paradise, MI.

THE GIRLS AT LAKE SUPERIOR

In the UP, The Girls saw Lake Superior, the largest fresh-water lake in the world, from Whitefish Point in Paradise. Notice the freighter in the background, and Canada is in the very back.

THE GIRLS AT THE MACKINAC BRIDGE

The Girls headed to the UP with us, but paused to take this photo at the Mackinac Bridge. Lake Michigan is to left of the bridge, and Lake Huron is to the right.

THE GIRLS ENJOY HANGING OUT

Today The Girls enjoyed some fresh air and autumn color while 'hanging out' in Michigan.

GLAD TIDINGS

Glad Tidings is my final block for the SBS Christmas Quilt swap. All 12 blocks will go in the mail tomorrow. While it feels good to have this project done, I will miss working on them (not the 16 y-seams needed to make 4 Glad Tidings blocks, though!)

PINE TREE

The Pine Tree block for the exchange went together quite nicely. The biggest problem was making all those 2" half-square triangles -- 18 per block, so 72 total for a set of 4 blocks.

MANGER

Today I finished four Manger blocks for a Christmas block swap on the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler website. I love the colors we are using for the exchange. Rather than white or off-white, our background fabric is to be Golden Beige. Other colors for the blocks are dark, medium, and light green, dark red, and gold. I'm really excited about this exchange and think it will make a lovely quilt. I'm also sewing 4 each of two other blocks for this swap.

THE GIRLS IN DUBLIN

Here I am with The Girls in Dublin, Ohio. This limestone fence is an icon of the area. The original fence, which looked just like this, was built by area stone masons in the 1800's. During the Civil War captives were put to work on a large section than ran along the river. So many of the historic buildings in this small town used this type of fence, that it has become a trademark for the town. New developments must incorporate it somewhere. Stone fences just like this are everywhere in Dublin.

TYPE 1 DIABETES WALK

Here I am with my oldest son, my daughter-in-law, and two of my grandsons. Yes, little Charlie is in the back seat of the double stroller, and doesn't show much. We visited them in Dublin, Ohio last weekend, and Eric had signed us all up for their local walk for Type 1 Diabetes, which I have. My DH walked too, but he was the photographer. It was a balmy fall day and lots of fun.

BOOKS, BOOKS!!!

These are part of the books for that section of my bookcase blocks for the swap. Personally, it makes me want to open that cupcake cookbook, and find a yummy recipe!

MRS. CLAUSE SENDS ME A BLOCK

This sparkling Christmas Star arrived in my mail from Mrs. Claus! Really! I have no idea who sent it, but it does go with the Christmas Stars swap I'm in. The return address said North Pole, but the post mark was St. Petersburg, FL. Do you think Mr. & Mrs. Claus have been vacationing in Florida?

NEW SOUNDS

Recently I added a playlist to my blog. Hope you enjoy listening.

THE GIRLS HAVE ARRIVED

Krista's famous girls for the row swap made it safely to my house today. They are just so cute! We are all set for a nice visit and some sewing.

NEW LOOK

Today I've been working on my blog layout. I think it represents me better now:) Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Jelly Beans, Jelly Beans!

I'm up to my eyeballs in jelly beans today. After working on all these blocks for the bookscase swap, I can smell and taste them! General consensus was that when it comes to jelly beans, more is better, so the jars will stay large. Can you see the one block that has the jar made shorter?

Bookcase blocks

Today I worked on my first block for a bookcase swap. Each of us is making a 6" x 12" block of books and other things that are found on bookshelves. I think I'll do some experimenting with the jar of jelly beans to make it a bit shorter.