SWAP BLOCKS ARRIVE

Friendship Stars arrived in my mail today. Everyone did such a super job! I love the background color we chose to all use, along with Civil War prints. I think it will make a super cuddle quilt, full of hugs from my on-line swap friends.

NOVELTY FOOD SWAP BLOCKS ARRIVE

I received the blocks back from the Novelty Food Swap a week or so ago, but forgot to post about them. Aren't they fun?!? So many delicous centers -- makes me hungry! There's everything from fruits, vegetables, pasta, and even desert. Yum!

Some have the maker's label on the front, so I folded them back as best I could. I'm not ready to remove the labels until I use the blocks.

So now, to make placemats, a border for a table cloth, cute aprons for gifts, etc.........???? Any suggestions? My kitchen doesn't have room for a wall quilt, so I'm open to all other ideas.

BAG UPDATE

This is the lovely tote bag that my DJ SS made for me for my birthday. You may have seen it on my blog last month. Secret Sisters being secret, I couldn't just ask her how she made it, since I don't know who she is. But in her note with my August gift, she explained that it is a Sashiko pattern, which looks a lot like Cathedrals Windows, which I called it -- Cathedral Windows Gone Modern, or something like that.

Well, I had to find out about the Sashiko pattern. I know Sashiko has large decorative stitches, but I've never seen it looking like jumbo cathedral windows before. Sure enough I was able to Google around and see pictures of this technique.

You start with a circle, not a square as in CW. And each little block is complete of itself, not when you join four as in CW. So interesting!

There are so many things to try, and life is so short, but I really do think I must have a go at this one in the future!

DJ SS AUG. GIFT

I'm feeling very pampered by my Dear Jane Secret Sister. For my August gift she sent me another very chatty letter with pictures of her current projects, including her setting for her Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks. She again made another DJ block for me, as well as including some 'Pat' notecards, 2 lovely coordinating FQs, a brochure from a rotatry cutting class she recently took (so I could have the tips too), and some tea. Wow! Am I lucky or what? Thank you, thank you, if you are reading, SS.

I MADE THE PROCESS PLEDGE

I added a new button to my side bar a couple days ago. Did you notice this?


Here's a quote from Rossie's blog. I so agree with her.

"I have made a process pledge. The goal of the process pledge is to create a new sensibility in quilting blogs where we don’t just show finishes or occasionally confess about our moments of indecision, but chat openly and often about our works in progress, our inspirations, and our moments of decision. I know that many of us are already posting about our thinking on quilts and the processes involved from start to finish, let's do more! And let's post about quilts as we work on them. I want to see more half-done quilts, not just the finished thing with a journal entry about the process."

So............I, Pat, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them in the in words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there.

Will you join me?