Mail Art Happy Dance!!

I was lucky enough to have Barbara as my exchange partner for the SBEBB Valentine's exchange and she stitched me a fantastic piece of mail art - my first ever! It arrived in my post box like this. I think when it arrived in the states, the post office was worried it would be damaged so it came to me in this envelope!

I couldn't wait to get the envelope opened as I've never receive a piece of mail art before - it is sooooo cool! The verse on the back is "Heart and hand will ne're part my friend" along with a heart, hand and a cute dog paw and rabbit design. Inside Barbara included some wonderful red heart buttons, some Stranded By the Sea floss, a skein of Six Strand Sweets thread in Black Cherry, a skein of DMC linen thread which I'm looking forward to trying out, a skein of Old Willow Floss in English Quaker Rose and a yummy piece of 32 ct. linen in mulberry. I especially love the lining fabric which is a yummy pink paisely design. I've been very into paisley lately so Barbara really chose well! Thank you dear friend!

Stitching to show!

Joanie asked for some stitching and I actually have three things to be able to share this evening.

The first is my fabulous SBEBB House Exchange piece from Judith in the Netherlands. She stitched me an adorable piece - Patti's Sweet Shop - from last years market neighborhood. She did a fantastic job finishing it into a flat fold that's sitting on top of my computer monitor. I think I may take to work and set it on my monitor there. Thank you Judith!

Next up is an update picture of my CHS Dainty House Wren piece. The last time I stitched on this was October and I took it with me last Thursday night to my stitching group. I worked the top half of the tree. I'm more than 1/2 way done with this piece so I really need to keep the momentum going on it.

And finally, I picked up my CHS Alphabet UFO to stitch on the first Sunday of every month with my yahoo group. I didn't get too much done because a friend came over for some knitting help with a pair of socks but at least I have some further progress to show. I'm working on H is for Horse. I hope to have more progress on both pieces to share very soon! I also started a birthday present but I won't be able to show that for a bit longer.

Quilting University

A friend at work talked me into signing up for "Quilt University" at my local quilt shop. There are four classes, Quilting 101, through 104. Quilting 101 was getting to know your machine including how to take it apart and clean it and was worth the price of all four classes together. Quilting 102 was how to use your rotary cutter and rulers and cut straight - something I needed very much. Quilting 103 was starting to put together the medallion design that you see here. I have to say I'm really impressed with myself even though I did mix up two of my fabrics which resulted in a design not exactly as I planned - par for the course for me when quilting! I had Donna at Kathie's Quilt Shoppe pick the fabrics for me. Quilting 104 will be next Sunday and I will sew on the border you see (it's just laid on for effect) and do the binding. While I don't know that I'll ever be a true quilter, these classes have greatly improved my confidence and skills. I plan to donate the final product to our United Way campaign raffle in October.