Blessings...

**Warning:  This post is very wordy and has a lot of photos!

When I started my blog on May 30, 2007, I did so with the idea that it would be a great way to keep my family and friends informed of what was going on in my life.  You know...they could come to my blog to read about what was going on.  I was in the process of moving from the city to the country...into a house on a huge property, so there was a lot that I wanted them to see.  Plus, I could show what I was working on (rug hooking was my passion back then).  You know.  It seemed like it would be a much better...and certainly more fun...way of keeping everyone up to date.

Little did I know where this blog would take me...the impact it would have...the doors it would open...the changes in my life that I would keep everyone up to date with...what it would lead me to...who I would meet...what I would receive in return.  

I have a much better idea of all of that, now.  This blog has become a creative outlet...to share what I have learned, to show what I have done, and to talk about subjects that mean something to me (though I have been lacking in that area of late).  I have made many blogging friends...women I will probably never meet in person, but who I care about...women who cheer me on, who get me involved in swaps and projects that I otherwise might not have done...women who have become important to me in many ways.  Women who have become my supporters, my cheerleaders...who have offered sympathy when sadness has entered my life, who offer joy when happiness reigns...who inspire and motivate me.  

One of these women...a new friend...sent me a thank you gift.  Actually, gifts.  Yes, gifts in the mail today!  You all know how much I love those, right?  I thought about inserting links to some of the posts I've written about gifts in the mail, but let's just say I did that and you get the point.  That point being that I LOVE getting gifts in the mail.  ~grin~   ANYWAY.  Remember the strawberry pincushion swap?  I wrote all about what I sent to my swap partner, Donna, here.   Well, she was absolutely thrilled (read what she wrote on her blog here). 
  
It really was fun to have Donna for 'my person to send to'...it seems that we have some things in common: 

  We both like Crabapple Hill Studio designs.  She made the

'Over The River' quilt, and I'm working on 'Snow Days'.

  She and I have both had Herding group dogs.  She with Corgis

and me with Collies.  We've both had Labrador Retrievers.

  Her dog's name is Taggart (akaTag) and my

  dog's name is Tag (aka TagEButt).

I live in Madison, Wisconsin.  She lives in Florida, but 

grew up in Wisconsin,  At one point, she commuted to work in Madison.

 

A great basis for a friendship, don't you think?  

Anyway.  It's always good to know that you hit the nail on the head when you try to get to know the person you were assigned to send to...so that what you send is appropriate, appreciated and approved of!  So.  Did you read what she wrote on her blog?  The part she wrote about how she was really overwhelmed by my generosity and how she thought I read her well...and then she went on to say how she wanted to create a few things with me in mind. 

I tried to convince her that nothing was needed...that she should not send me anything.   But, she ignored all of that.  

So.  The package arrived in today's mail.  

Here come the photos...

See the card?  That's her first Corgi, Fezzik.  She wrote a beautiful note inside.

This is so sparkly and fun...see the jewel?  So pretty!!

When you open the flap, you find a tablet.

How fun is that!

A local treat...honey from Sarasota, FL

A fat quarter of the prettiest strawberry fabric I've ever seen!

And, the pièce de résistance!  A wool applique pincushion!  It is simply wonderful!

A closeup of some of the stitching!

Everything together.

A wool pincushion.  Besides cotton, wool is my fabric of choice!  Donna tells me that the pincushion is filled with crushed  walnut shells, which are great for keeping pins and needles sharp!  

I know to truly appreciate a gift, one should use it.  I am loath to do so...just because it's so beautiful.  BUT, I will.  Because I am appreciative.  I will place it on my side table and use it for my handstitching needles and pins.  That way, I will look upon it every day and be reminded of and thankful for the blessings I have received.  (And, too, this way it won't get covered with stray threads and all that my pincushion by my sewing machine is covered with.)  

I am completely overwhelmed by Donna's 'thank-you' gift(s).  Talk about generosity!  I have no words to express what I am feeling.  I'm going to have to find some, though...to write a thank you note without words would be...well, just wrong!  ~grin~ Thank you so very much, Donna.  

This blog has brought me many blessings...thank you, Jesus! 


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Swapping...

Remember this little quiltie?  I posted about it here...

Well, Erin loved it.  Absolutely loved it!  You all know Erin, right?  Her blog is why not sew? .  She and I did a swap 2 years ago...the 'we double rock swap' (click here and here).  Because she loved this little sunshine star quilt so much, I sent it to her and told her we could do another swap.  So, we did.  Just the 2 of us.  That's the name of it...'just the two of us'.  Cuz it was.  Just the 2 of us.  Nobody else.  Two.  Us. 

Today was my lucky day...I received the quilt that she made for me!  And, you know what?  I love it!  I absolutely love it!  It is perfect!!!  Totally me!

I snagged the photos off Erin's blog...her photos are gorgeous and show off this precious quilt so well...

The fabric is Sonnet by April Cornell for Moda.  It measures 16.5 inches square.  My colors.  Exactly!  Perfect in every way.  Thank you so very much, Erin!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday

April is my month for the Bee Addicted 3 block swap.  Here's how it works...there are 12 of us in the swap...each one has a specific month.  When it's time for your month, you send out fabric and notes on what type of blocks you'd like everyone to make.  So far, we've had circles on squares, wonky quarter log cabins, improv blocks (twice) and wonky houses.  I am going for something traditional.  I'll be sending enough fabric for the 11 gals to make 2 blocks each...one Shoo Fly and one Monkey Wrench block.  The piecing together of this quilt will  be quite far from traditional, though.  Just wait...I think you'll love it...it'll be awesome.  Promise.

Here is the fabric...I showed these last fall when I purchased them from the prim quilt shop that I love, JJ Stitches.  (Kelley...you can look...and I'm thinkin' you'll be smiling.)

Here are the packets all ready to send out.  Need to write out notes and they'll be ready to go. 

It's a fun group to belong to...9 of us live in the U.S., 1 is in Australia, 1 is in England, and 1 is in Canada.  Belonging to a swap is giving me experience making different kinds of blocks and I'm having a great time with them!  Can't wait to see the quilts made from all the blocks we've been putting together!

There's not much sewing going on around here these days.  My house is in complete chaos...there is more painting to be done.  By the landlords.  

My son will be coming this week to pick up several pieces of furniture from me...things I no longer need.  I'm trying to declutter/simplify in preparation for my move.  Once he's  got those pieces out of here, I'll be able to move things around a bit and get everything back together.

I have "The Bone Collector" movie here.  I saw the movie years ago when it first came out - and read the book - but I just felt the need to see Denzel again.  I want to sit in my big easy chair with my feet up on the ottoman and eat popcorn while I enjoy watching Denzel.  I really hope to do this later today.  

Have a good Sunday!

Blogger Blues and Other News.

I'm not sure it's fixed completely, yet...

but there have been problems on some of the blogger blogs.

Operation aborted.

huh?

ohman, that is scarey to me.

I haven't been able to get on here to post for 2 days.

Can you say 'withdrawal'????

But, have ye faith.

The computer geeks at Blogger are

aware of it and are working on it.

Seems to be working okay now.

Hopefully, it will continue that way.

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It's the end of my week...YAY!

I have 4 days off!

And, do I have plans!!!

Yes, indeedy.

We shall see, though, how much I actually get accomplished.

Not gonna make a list this time,

but most of it has to do with sewing and

I will definitely post photos for you all to see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I belong to a very special group, An American Primitive Gathering. About 4 times a year, we do a swap...and for May, we did a Green Swap...all things green (the color). Green wool (for rug hooking), green embroidery floss, a card of 4 buttons, a cheery card and one other item that does not have to be green.
Here's what was in the package I received...a rooster 'cheery' card, a notepad (never have enough of these), 3 skeins of floss, the cutest little fabric-covered round box with an old key and antique buttons. The top...that blue with the word 'buttons' is punch needle...she did such an awesome job! It's all sitting on a piece of primitive green hand-dyed wool. Thank you so very much, Ginger!

I haven't sent my package out, yet.

ohyeah.

I am very late.

Tomorrow.

I promise.

Have a great holiday weekend!