A GOOD DAY AT THE LIBRARY

What a treat I found at my local library today.  I had stopped in to check out a couple books on cd to listen to while quilting, which I did get.  But, bonus, at the entry, in the bin with freebies, throw aways, and swap magazines, was a treasure trove of American Quilter magazines from 1991 to 1993, as well as a few other magazines and a couple pattern books, and the cute cabin quilt pattern in the front.  These weren't library cast offs; someone had placed them there, as often people do with magazines instead of recycling them.  Usually it's a hodgepodge of issues about travel, dogs and cats, etc.  One person's trash is an other's treasure!  I have lots of treasure to page though now.  Yippie!

LIBERATED CHECKER BOARDS

I haven't sewn in a couple weeks due to eye issues, so I decided to ease back into it, with blocks that are intentional wonky. These Liberated Checker Board blocks are for the July Block Lotto. It feels so good to be up in my loft working on patchwork again!

HEALING HEART

This is a healing heart block that I made for Pamela. We both are experiencing eye problems, and sewing is one of the things we hope to continue to do for a long time. So, after making the heart block, I added the needle, thread and spool.

PRIZE FROM MALAYSIA

Barbara Jack, over at The Sanguine Stitcher, had a blog give-away, and I won! This lovely bag and pin cushion are truly even more lovely in person. The cross-stitch on the cushion is just tiny, really tiny! And perfect! Amazing work.
Front:

Back:

She also included this post card from Kuala Lampur, in Malaysia, where she lives. On it she wrote a lovely note, and I feel like I have a new friend!

Quilters are so very generous. My DH said, "So you don't know this person, yet she sent this to you?" Well, yes, I know her in blog land, and there are some wonderful quilters out there!

Thanks again Barbara.

BLACK/WHITE/TOUCH OF RED BLOCKS

Here are the lovely blocks I received in the Black/White/Touch of Red swap. Aren't they fun? These are all 6" Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks. I have fabric selected for sashing, but they are not up next on my list.

DJSS QUILT FINISHED

I finished up my little quilt that I made using the little Dear Jane blocks that Marianne, my 2010 DJSS, sent me each month.

This was my first experience using big stitch quilting with perle cotton. I only quilted on the center of the sashing (1/2" wide strips) and around the outside of the quilt. It was easy to do and I love how it turned out. I used a thicker batting than I normally do, and I'm very happy with how each DJ block puffs up a bit.

Here's a close up of the quilt stitching.

Thanks again, Marianne, for being such a super secret sister.

IT'S THE BIG 6-0!!!

Happy Birthday to me, and yes, it's the big 6-0 today!!!

For several years I've been in a BD FQ swap, but this year, I'm in a birthday cupcake swap. I should be getting 49 in all. They are all ready to fuse onto the recipient's background, and sew into something yummy. How fun!

BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM A QUILTY FRIEND.

My dear friend, Carol, sent me this fun pillow case for my birthday. She made it from some of my very favorite quilting fabric from LoraLea. I'm not sure if I'm the one wearing the blue spools, or the one with the tomato pin cushion ta-tas, but either way, it's all good! She said it's to use for our quilting retreats. Can't wait!

She also included a basket block. We are both in a basket swap, and will need a couple extra's to fill in our quilts. I do love her broderie-perse idea!

OPAM WINNER? ME????

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Indeed, in years of doing OPAM, I have never won. But now I have! Yeah!

What is OPAM you ask? Well it's on the side of my blog, where we keep track of finished projects, truly finished, not flimsies, etc., with the goal of finishing at least one a month. Just that encouragement is enough, as well as the kind words when we actually finish something. But each finish does go into a drawing for the month.

My terrific gift prize arrived from Australia today. Yes, the organizers, Kris from Tag Along Teddies, and Peg from Happy In Quilting, are from down under, but the challenge is blogland wide.

My prize came beautifully wrapped in the fabric you see in the background, and tied with the bow. I received a lovely pattern, Candy Girl, three skeins of floss, and a cotton picker. How nice! Thanks Kris and Peg, both for the gifties, and for the challenge

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Proud to be an American; Land of the Free; Because of the Brave.

FAIRY QUILT GODMOTHER

Does this look like fun or insanity? It's my paper piecing pattern for my Fairy Quilt Godmother. Yes, many of those piecies are soooo tiny!

If you choose to make one, yours will be different. You take a quiz to generate your very own Fairy Quilt Godmother. Hop here to get yours.

My Friendship Swap group challenged us to make them and see how unique we all are. Carol has already posted hers. She's so speedy!

Well, I have my fabrics pulled, and my paper piecing ready.

DEAR JANE SECRET SISTER GIFT ARRIVES

This wonderful gift arrived yesterday from my DJSS. She sent a kit with all these wonderful fall fabrics, a bookmark, a really sweet "Pin Your Hopes on God" plaque -- not sure if you can read it, but the little item hanging from the pin says 'hopes' -- and a really nice handmade card.

It was surely a real day brightener!