Back Again

Again, it's been almost a week since I last posted.  I didn't mean for that to happen.  During that time, I've finished up the Red White and Blue No Sew Swap, and I'm ready to start making my blocks. 
My husband is much improved from this time last week, and I'm so grateful.  He's still not 100%, but he's so much better.  I haven't done a lot of sewing during the last week, but I have made some progress in hand quilting the D9P quilt I put together last fall.  I hope I can get it finished this spring.
My green and cream quilt is back form the quilter, and just needs to be bound.  I have the binding ready, and hope to finish it by next week.  It's really pretty, and I know that all of you who participated in Pat's swap will like it. 

Caught Up

Although I signed up for it, and have had the Jelly Roll Quilt along button on my blog since it first started, I hadn't finished any of the blocks until today.  I got the center of the first one finished and couldn't decide what to use for the background fabric.  It took me weeks to settle on a very plain cream fabric.  I'm not using a jelly roll, but rather fabrics from my stash.  (I'm determined to whittle it down!)  Anyway, I finished the first four and now I'm caught up. 

As I said, I'm determined to whittle down my stash and have been looking for ways to do so.  Quite by chance I was checking out something on Nancy Zieman's site, and came across the Creative Kindness section which gives information about Little Dresses for Africa.  It's such a simple little pattern, takes very little time to make, and is such a worthy cause.  I've completed one, and have the fabric cut for 6 more.  This fabric has been sitting around for months and years, and to me, this seems like a wonderful way to use it up.  My plan is to make 5 or 6 at a time and send in a package once a month.  As another benefit, it will also give me OPAM completions!  Does anyone want to join me in this?

April OPAM Finish

Again, I didn't realize how many days it has been since I last posted, but life got in the way.  My husband has been quite ill, and we've spent a lot of time with doctor's appointments and travelling back and forth to Cleveland Clinic.  Hopefully, he's on the road to recovery and I can get back to normal activities.
Needless to say, I haven't done much sewing in the last couple of weeks.  In the back of my mind, though, I kept thinking of OPAM and the fact that I didn't have anything finished this month.  Nothing even really started.  Anyway, something reminded me that I have some PatchAbilities kits stored away, so I dug one out and finished it up.  They're quick and easy, and so cute when they're done.  I have at least 2 more kits so that will give me projects in other months that I don't anything else I can finish up.

Swap Stuff

I love the mail right now.  I'm getting squishy packages full of pretty things for the Red White and Blue swap. In the last 2 days, I've gotten these pretties.

As you can see, the end of my kitchen counter is covered with packages. 

Janet

Annette

Sharon B

Linda

Linda's block package wasn't really squishy, and I didn't know why until I opened it.  She sent me the cutest litte pincushion in addition to the blocks.  I've been looking at patterns for a new pincushion lately, because mine is in pretty sorry shape.  I've had it since 1968, and it's the only one I've ever had that was actually mine.  It lost its strawberry on top many years ago, and the leaves also wore off years ago.  It has holes in it, and the fuzzy velvet finish has been worn off in several spots.  It's really pretty sad looking.   So the pretty new pincushion will make a nice replacement for this one.  Thank you Linda!

More RWB

I received another group of blocks for the Red White and Blue No Sew Block Swap. (what a mouthful!)  I finally got a decent picture of all three of the groups I've received.  I know all the recipients are going to love them.  I can hardly wait to start sewing.

This one is from Kelly.  She's one of the three of us who is doing 2 stars.  She has them both posted, and they're gorgeous!

This one is from Mary.  As usual, I couldn't get a good picture, but the fabrics are just beautiful.

And the last group for now, is from Robin.  She has even sent a little drawing of the block to show color placement.  They're so pretty!

Catching Up

I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted.  This past week has been busy dealing with some unexpected health issues of my husband.  (Lots of hours in doctors' offices and a trip to Cleveland Clinic)  We still don't have the exact answer, but at least we know it isn't what they originally thought.  So we make another trip back to Cleveland as soon as they decide what tests they want to do.

And of course, besides the health issues, there was Easter waiting in the wings.  My children all came home, and it was the first time in several years that we were all here for Easter.  Lots of cooking and cleaning to do in preparation.  It was just wonderful to have everyone here, even if it was such a short time.  My daughter is staying until Friday, so I get to have lots of time with her!

I didn't have much time for sewing, so I haven't been doing much new, just trying to get the last blocks done for my DJ quilt.  I now have only 5 left to go.  I can't make more than 1 a day, but slow progress is better than no progress.  So far I haven't finished today's - I still have all the handwork to do on it.  Slow but steady...

I've gotten some neat stuff from the mailman in the last few days.  My package of blocks from Aunt Pitty Pat's Holly Jolly Swap arrived just before Easter.  So now I have 24 more blocks to sit and accuse me of neglecting them.  I'm not sure how I'm going to put them together yet.  In addition to those blocks accusing me of neglect, I also have the siggie blocks from the Civil War Repro Siggie swap, the Red and Aqua blocks, and all the other Christmas blocks I've collected during the fall.  There may be others that I can't think of (or don't want to admit to) right now, but, be that as it may, I've got way too many things waiting for me to take care of them for awhile.   I'll show you more detail when I get started putting them together.

Look at this beautiful array of blocks I got from individual swaps I'm in.  They're all so pretty.  I'm going to have quite an array for a sampler quilt.

This one is from Shelley in Texas, who is a relatively new quilter.  She did a wonderful job, though, and it will look great with others that I have in the purple family.

This one is from Cathleen here in my home state.  She said these were her only pastels (which I had requested in the swap), and it's a beautiful block.  The picture doesn't do it justice at all.

This is from Dara in Georgia.  We're in a monthly block swap, and we've been swaap buddies before.  She does beautiful work, as you can see from this beauty.

This second pretty pastel Dutchman's Puzzle block is from Tiffany, and I'm ashamed to say I can't find the envelope, so I don't know where she's from.  Aren't they all pretty?

Then the mailman brought me the first two packages for the Red White and Blue No Sew Swap.  Such  beautiful fabrics, all nicely cut and ready to finish up.  These two groups are from Robin and Mary, and we have10 more to go, including mine, to complete the swap.