F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Swap

I got my swap package from Marcel (Aunt Pitty Pat) in Kansas, but she hasn't received hers yet, so I can't show you what I sent her! The challenge was to select a small gift for each of the letters in the word "Friends". She sent me a terrific selection of goodies... the tiny pink radio really does work, too! Swaps are lots of fun, I got to meet some really interesting people and make friends with crafters and quilters around the world. Now the challenge will be to remain in contact with these wonderful ladies.

I'm BAAAACK...

I'm back from California... and ready to GET QUILTING! No sewing machine at my Dad's house, so I did a lot of knitting (and a LOT of ripping out... I've knitted enough to have finished the blue cable pullover, but I'm not quite finished with the back... does that make sense? I think I ripped 6" at least four times - but I like what I've got now, and it actually follows the pattern!)

While I was away, Nova finally got her Swap package, so I can show you the "Funky Chicken" potholders I made for Leah and Nova in the Kitchen Swap.

This one is Nova's ... She wanted some bright colors... so the lime green was my color choice for her! You can't see the "Useful Bowl" very well - it is dark brown - at the top center of the picture, but I sent her one of my handmade pots, too. I just love the chicken pattern that I got from Kerstin!

And this one is Leah's. Her kitchen is black and white and blue. I sent her a sturdy tea mug as well, hoping it would survive family use. We were both surprised that the packet of tea survived Customs. The popsicle molds will probably have to wait to be used until Australia' Summer rolls around in October/November.

Marjory's Quilt

I have been working on several projects at once... two of them I can't show yet, as they are for Terri's "Kitchen Swap" and since I just sent the boxes out on Friday (and my Partners live in Australia), I don't want to show you what I made until they get their packages! You'll just have to wait... dum, da, dum-dum; dum da, dum-dum... dup, ta da da, dum, dum, dum! (Yeah, VERY few would recognize that as the "Jepoardy" music... but it was.)


I've also been working on the Friday Block Party pieces, the Norcal BOM, finishing the QA BOM from several years ago,on working on the pillows for the kids... and on Marjory's Quilt. Marjory lives in Scotland, and I'm making her a quilt to go in her "new" bedroom. She lives in a wonderful flat quite near Arthur's Seat in Edinburg. I can show you a picture of the block that makes up the quilt. There are 12 blocks in the quilt and the soft pink is repeated in the sashing between the blocks. I'm thinking of green cornerstones for the sashing... making it a bit like a "journey" quilt as well. I really like the pale greens in this quilt and I think the lavender center block really ties it all together.

The block is called "Bradford's Beauty", it is a straightforward, traditional block, and I used Bonnie Hunter's excellent scrappy tutorial to help with the construction. Bonnie gave her quilt three borders with 4Patch cornerstones, and I think I'll do the same. Of course, I'll send Bonnie a picture of my variation when I'm finished.

I really like the Fuschia patterned fabric that Sheila picked out. I added the lavender print to the centers beacuse that is Marjory's favorite color. I was actually a bit surprised that Marjory had chosen a dark pinky-red and pale green for her window seats instead of her favorite blues and purples, but it made it easy for me to find lots of good greens from my stash to use in her quilt! I'll show more pictures later... I have to go mow some more of my yard! Spring really does make the grass grow, doesn't it?

Swap Package Arrived!

I have two swap partners for Terri's "Kitchen Swap". This is my first swap, so I was a little unsure of how things were to play out. My partner Nova, from Queensland, Australia, helped me out with the logistics of swapping.

And look at what she sent me! All sorts of wonderful little packages wrapped up in bright "Sunshiney" paper! I was really happy to receive one of her wonderful tiny bags... mine is in teal and brick floral prints. She repeated the prints on the tea towel she embellished and the potholder as well! There was a book of biscuit and tea-treats, and she included a yummy looking Lemon Cake receipe as well. Henry has already requested that one for his Sunday Dinner treat. My treat was a wonderful ginger-Lemon tea and some wonderful smelling lemon soap! (Not sharing either one of those, sorry, H.) THANK YOU, NOVA... you are the best.

I sent my boxes off to both my swap partners this morning, but Dave at the package store said it takes five days to Australia, then customs has to do their look-see... so Leah and Nova won't get their presents for a while. :( I want the packages there NOW, Dave... right now!

Who am I ???

These were/are growing in what might loosely be termed "the front lawn". I mowed around them, thinking they were really pretty. I have no idea what they are, though - so I decided to ask my "Quilty-Blogfriends". So many of you seem to know so much about flowers! There is a longish crocus-like leaf, then a bouquet of five-petaled white flowers on a stem... very short (maybe stunted? lack of care???) about 4-5" tall overall. Are they a wildflower, or just feral? They are not growing in any of the semi-cultivated flowerbeds, just in the lawn.

Ideas, anyone? (probably a really common weed, and I'll be really red-faced for asking you all! tee hee)

Baby Steps...

It seems like everybody but me knits! I have knitted, I've made scarves for my tribe, and I made a cozy sweater to wear in my office (loosely termed 'the Refrigerator') at school. However, I was always told that I was "doing it wrong"... obviously by people who didn't know any better - and whose shops I didn't end up patronizing, because I DID knit! I had the sweater to prove it, complete with an interesting twist in the knitting.

I joined a group of women who meet at a church in Roseburg to learn to "knit RIGHT" (sorry, using a book only works if you already know how, or are far more focused than I am) and actually learn to follow a pattern in a book like everybody else can do. I always wanted to make a sweater with a pattern in it, and I love cables... so after I did a sampler and felt comfortable with the basic knit and purl stitches, Lorna suggested I try a simple cable pullover.

Hah! Easy for her to say, she's a knitter! I got started, though, and I'm coming along fine... the cable is starting to turn, and it actually does look sort of like a sweater.

MIA ? Not Exactly...

I just haven't been blogging, but I have been quilting. I did these two blocks for the Friday Block Party group... Sorry ladies, I'm not caught up again (story of my life - a friend used to say I'd be late to my own funeral... I told him I sincerely hoped so!).

Anyway, I did a variation of "Cross and Crown" for week 16, and my own very flowery version of "FlyFoot" for week 17 - at least I think those are the proper weeks.

I really like this Victorian flower print, and the plain boring beige works quite nicely with it, I think. Is it my imagination, or does this one sort of look like a Chinese Fortune Cookie? I added a 2" strip to all the sides, so it could go in the 12" block pile.

This one looks like a Stone Henge, or a quasi-Japanese Temple.That's probably because I switched the placement of the long side strips (I didn't like the more choppy look of the goldy squares and then the blue stripes and THEN the goldy stripes). My ironing job made the block a bit wonky, but I straightened it out after I took the picture. I added 2" strips to the outside so it would finish at 12" (not sure why, now that I think of it... the blue is overpowering).

I'm making two "Quick Nine-Patches" as presents for friends (one moved, and the other is getting married); I'm involved in two "Swaps"- I've been assigned really nice ladies for both swaps; making Pillows for the kids from Spud's Hawaiian shirts; and working on Marjory's quilt. I'll try to be a bit more consistent with Blogging - I love to read everyone else's posts, and it seems like I should be sharing what I'm doing as well.