I joined a Round Robin. It looks like so much fun. The basics are that you send out a 6.5 inch block to the first person in your group…then it makes it’s way through your group (but not in the same order as the ones you are getting to work on.) so, you never know who has yours (unless you start stalking other players, which we all know I am capable of…LOL)!

I have never done a round robin, or anything like it before…

This is my starting block. Assuming all goes well it should be home in October and be a bit larger…LOL

I had planned a pink floral type of thing that I really love and it is a great block. However, given the turn our life is likely to take in the near future this one seemed more appropriate.

I really like this block and apparently I thought it would be great to show it in several places in out front yard…LOL

I also want to note that I recently won some fabric (ok, it was in February, whatever!) from SewLux Fabric. I was very happy with the win (obviously, lol, who doesn’t want more fabric?) but I am also happy to say I did order more from them recently (I do not want to hear about my fabric diet at this point, but thank you…LOL). I know it is petty and silly to note this, but in each case (a win and a buy) the package arrived beautifully wrapped with a very nice personal note. All of the fabrics were also enclosed in plastic to protect them. One other note…my computer was having issues and not wanting me to buy fabric (no, I didn’t get rid of it…LOL) and Chrissy went above and beyond to help me out. Really great customer service

OK, so now I need your help (this idea is just kind of forming in my pea brain) I want to randomly surprise a newbie quilter. I have a ton (yeah, when I weigh them that could be a true statement!) of magazines I am going to get rid of…I have thought of trading or selling or donating and yeah, sounds fun…but how fun would it be for a new quilter to get a surprise box of inspiration? So, here is what I would like to do…if you know a new quilter let me know and maybe we can work something out (like I send them a box, or if they are local to you I could send the box to you…)! Oh, or maybe someone who teaches quilting to young girls? I would like that too…LOL…I don’t know, but I am certainly open to suggestions….

Long story, short(er)…I debated going to a local quilt and craft show. I had been to the show before and really, it is a marketplace to purchase things, there is no real “quilt show” involved (and I am on a fabric diet, so I had no business there!).

So, really, the question would have been did I want to go buy things? LOL, well, the answer was YES. Debate was over when Hubby had to work and kid still living at home had to go do something. I had a bit of unexpected free time (yes, I could have sewn…)

Without further adieu I present my new quilty friend….

I am still getting to know “her”, but so far she is amazing….really amazing!!! Do you see that space? Serious love.

Patty, thank you so much for the award! I am working on to pass it on to and will post when I do!

One other note, I was going to do a little post on my “babies” (those of the fur or feather kind…) but, well, yeah, look at the dates. I am definitely not being very regular about blogging. So I thought maybe I would start adding a picture of one or two of them every once in a while…

So, today we have Draco, the bunny (and yes, he is litter box trained!)

Oh, one last little comment…If I have not responded to your comment on a post, it is NOT because I don’t appreciate it (I really, really do!) it is because I am a little (HA!) blog challenged and didn’t realize that I don’t get an email for every comment. I will be responding very soon.

Hugs,

Rachel

Wow, we all (including myself) liked the checker look. But, hey, we knew this wasn’t going to go smoothly. Right? I could not achieve checkers without putting like dinos together and I did not want the same ones next to each other so no checkers.

So, I was well on my way to a finished quilt (remember that?). NOT so fast. I had researched quilting as you go. Watched many videos, narrowed it down to a choice of three ways (I know y’all would have a had a plan from the start..but, nope, not me!). Got out some trusty stuff to play with, made a bunch of mini sandwiches and started trying all 3 ways, narrowed it down to ONE.  Well, the one did not translate well for me. I tried many (many) times to make it work. Even tried the discarded methods. Time for a backup plan (I didn’t have a path to follow, do you really think I had a backup plan? seriously?)

I will not bore you with the immense number of details of what didn’t work and why. I will just say it was beyond challenging for me…I will also say it was time to get inventive, and fast. So, in the end, what worked (stop laughing!) was ribbon. Yes, 1.5 inch ribbon is the “sashing” (I said stop laughing!). Please note that I did the math late one night, wrote it down and went off to Hobby Lobby to get the ribbon. Returned home got half way through and realized the math was VERY wrong (note two different ribbon sashing on the back, uh huh.). Fortunately I THINK my girl will like it like that. I hope.

I planned (HA!) to bind it in a dark blue or green or something batik. As I was auditioning fabric (via text messages) for the binding, my Sister In Law (who doesn’t have a craft blog yet or I would add a proper link) said what about a coral or peach? HA! Why didn’t *I* think of that? Off to the stash, first choice was lovely!

Now, I know this quilt is not perfect. It has flaws. If I waited to finish it till it was perfect it would never become the gift it is meant to be.Despite it’s flaws, I absolutely 100% love this quilt and in the end I did have fun making it!! One more note I actually remembered to make and add a label. Shocker for me!!

I am also posting this before she (who does read this blog) receives it. Mainly because I know she wants to see it too and the surprise factor has (more than) left the building…LOL