25 April, 2007

I Get By With A Little Help...

...from my friends! Especially my friend Quiltkeemosabe! She's the absolute best!! She made this wallhanging for me and surprised me with it today in the parking lot outside our LQS. Can you even imagine my delight? Did you hear my happy squeals of appreciation? I'm hanging it right beside my design wall here in the Studio where I can see it every day. (Doesn't it just make you smile?) She gave me some other perfectly wonderful treasures, too. No, it's not my birthday. These are Christmas gifts. We don't exchange Christmas gifts at the conventional time, (duh!) but we typically do this at Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival at the end of February. This year I wasn't ready, (I'm still not!) but dear, kind Quiltkeemosabe said "that's OK... we'll do it later". Yesterday she cleaned up her sewing room and wanted to clean some things out, too. Namely, my Christmas gifts! Lucky, lucky me. She also had wrapped up some fun strawberry collectibles and two linen dishtowels, plus a great-smelling Spring-scented votive candle; all this-- and a Shari Lewis and Lambchop DVD. (I just love that lamb!!) THANK YOU, Quiltkeemosabe!

On the quilt front I've been really busy cutting my scraps and busting the stash. I'm employing Bonnie's Scrap User's System and cutting strings, squares and bricks so that they'll be ready to sew when I am. It's really such a great idea to cut and store pre-cut pieces that will combine and fit together... like building blocks! I'm inspired to store my fabrics this way and actually get some sewn together into quilts! I sew 'multi-fabric', 'scrappy'-type quilts more often than not anyway, so this system works for me! I've designated 2007 as a no-buy year (fabric-wise) and with the exception of a few fat quarters here and there I've kept to my resolution so far. I have my bins ready and labled, I've got to get some more cutting done and stashed before next weekend's Black Mountain quilt retreat! I hope to piece a Sandman 'Stack and Whack' quilt while there, and work on my BOM's...
...oh, and I have a few Christmas gifts to finish up, too!
Life is Good!

9 comments:

Little Penpen said...

What a great friend you have! I think I did hear you squealing over that quilt today!!!

Little Penpen said...

Oh yeah, I forgot to say thank you for the advice with wedding planning. The planner is a great idea. I will definitely try to be organized! A big thank you for that!

Tanya said...

I've been "using" Bonnie's system too, cutting up squares and strips. I have to make something from them before I can really say I've successfully used the system, but I do have my boxes and baskets ready and waiting!

Shelina said...

What a beautiful set of gifts! The quilt is awesome. I think it is good to exchange gifts at odd times rather than specific ritualistic times, so that the joy is distributed throughout the year.

Carole said...

What a lovely little quilt! Thanks for sharing!

Quilting Memories said...

The wall hanging was (is) just the cutest, I know you will think of QuiltKemosabee each time you see it. She really is a nice lady, I like her a lot. She has been very helpful to me,and for that I thank her. Hope you have fun at your retreat, think of me, I will be working ( outside again). Oh well, thats what we do!!!!!!
The other gifts were heavenly also. Take care and have a fun weekend!!!!!!!!!

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

That there wall hanging is SO you! I love it.

Beemoosie said...

What a wonderful gift!!! I received a gift today too...must be blessings day!! I love Shari and Lambchop. At Passover time I caught her "Passover Special", I cried through most of it!! :) It was just so sweet!

CONNIE W said...

The quilt is wonderful! While in Paducah I saw articles for sale (caps, socks, etc.) in a boutique that read "Life Is Good" on them and, of course, immediately you came to mind. I was wondering if you have seen them someplace, if they are common...this was my first time to run across them. I also read your blog about the shopping/stuffing things into the car...made me smile as I was thinking how often I have to do that because I'm so short. Have a good day, after all...life IS good for sure. :)