A new swap

I've signed up for another swap through Quilting Gallery. This one is winter-themed. Should be fun! Click on the graphic on the right for more information.

New swap!

There's a new fall-themed mini quilt swap and I can't wait to start working on my new mini quilt! http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/fall-2009/

I just LOVE these mini quilt swaps that Quilting Gallery has been hosting. It is so much fun to make these connections with quilters around the world. Since doing the spring and the summer swap, I've been reading the blogs of the ladies that made me a quilt - and also the blogs of the ladies that I was quilting for. (bad grammar, I know!) I feel like I've made new friends.

So go to the link above and register for the fall-themed swap and join the fun.

Bits & Pieces

I'm pretty excited because my summer swap mini quilt arrived on Thursday afternoon all the way from North Carolina. The colors are so pretty and most of the fabrics are batiks - one of my favorite things! The quilting stitches are done with a soft greenish thread and are different in the different strips. Some are wavey lines, some are echo lines, some are decorative stitches. Thanks so much, Sandra! Check out her blog at http://adventuresofsillywoman.blogspot.com/ .

The other reason I'm excited is that I finally had a day that I could spend sewing. I blogged awhile back about the "someday" file of project ideas that I have. And I showed a photo of a blue and white signature quilt that I saw at the Quilts & Vines in August that was done with a pattern I had in my "someday" file. Well . . . here is my version of the signature quilt, done in the bride's colors. I finished the top this afternoon and it's ready for signatures at my daughter's bridal shower next Saturday. Hope she likes it.

In The Good Ole Summertime Quilt Swap

It's done and went in the mail on Monday. The flip flops are hand appliqued, with little duck buttons holding the ribbons down that make up the straps. I hand quilted the blue border.

I have a larger version of this pattern, with 4 sets of flip flops done in a wall hanging. One of the bathrooms in my house is done in a beach theme and has the big flip flop quilt hanging in there.

Ironically - they are just my size!!

The label on the back is a footprint. And the fabric on the back was such fun. I thought about adding a second border on the quilt with this sandpail fabric . . .

Isn't it pretty?

I guess this proves the old cliche about a "watched pot never boils". After anxiously checking our mail every day for the past 2 weeks, we took an overnight trip and when we got home last night - there was a soft little package in the mailbox. All the way from Kent, England - Karen Stephens. Isn't it pretty? My picture doesn't do it justice because the light wasn't the best, but the colors are so cool and clean. Very spring-like. I think it is going to look great on the center of my kitchen pub table - until I find a better (more permanent) location. Thank you so much, Karen!

I checked out Karen's blog. http://breezybree123.blogspot.com/ and found her posting about the mini quilt. The pattern is called a "Disappearing Nine Patch". She has a link to a tutorial on how to make the block. It is so simple to do and can have pretty dramatic results. What a great way to showcase some beautiful fabrics. Since I'm currently working on a 9 patch project of my own, I was particularly intrigued. I think I'm going to have to try this pattern on a future project.

Thank you Karen.

This swap was so much fun. Just knowing that someone, somewhere in the world, was creating something just for me - that was fun. I've already signed up for the summer swap and am looking forward to getting my partner info. I've been running some ideas around in my head, but don't want to start until I know if my partner has any preferences.

Mini Quilt Swap

On Monday morning my swap quilt will be in the mail and on its way to my swap partner. I do hope that she enjoys it. I had such fun designing and completing the piece. My partner indicated that she liked flowers and bright colors like pink.

The flower is machine appliqued and the whole piece is hand quilted. I've done a tiny bit of crystal beading on the flower.

The colors are exactly what I picture when I think SPRING.