Playing catchup!

Cape Breton

Lots to cover!

First up is a huge thanks to Ankie in Sweden who is my Stitcher's Angel swap angel.  She sent the following package of goodies - two beautiful bags, a sweet needle keeper, a heart pincushion and a package of Glogg spices with instructions (I love Glogg in the wintertime!)  Not sure if you can see them or not, but on the larger bag the ends of the zipper pull are covered with heart yoyos - so cute!  I know I'm going to get lots of use out of these. Thanks Ankie!

My package for my partner is in the mail today - hope she likes it!  I wish I could hand deliver it as it is off to New Zealand!

Speaking of "down under", go check out Kellie's blog at Don't Look Now! She's got a fabulous giveaway going on - her patterns are incredible, and her work gorgeous.  You could win both of these patterns!  There are several ways to enter, and there's a  possibility of also receiving a pillow.

 

Kellie's an incredible inspiration!  She also has a quilt along starting the beginning of November.  Check here for all the details.  I'm going to give it a try, how about you?  This one will make me practice my hand applique, and get a gorgeous quilt to boot.  Kellie promises that it is an easy technique, but I still maynot be able to make as big a quilt as she is making - maybe a wall hanging or table topper, hmmmm?

And, because I just seem to have SO much spare time (haha), I've also signed up to do a quilt along with Victoria at Bumble Beans.  Check here for the details on it.  This one will let me play with curved piecing some more.  So much fun!

This past weekend I was at a machine embroidery retreat - there were lots of fabulous things happening, but this is what I was working on:

Eventually, I'll have 9 of these and I'll make a quilt.  The design is from Embroidery Library and is called Art Nouveau Floral Squares.  I'm staying pretty true to their colours, and am stitching out on dupionni silk.  Very pleased thus far, but it'll be awhile before I'm finished!

Yesterday was a great mail day - I received my Stitcher's Angel package AND I also received a wonderful little package in the mail from Dawn Hay - a beautiful piece of Christmas fabric and a skein of varigated blue embroidery floss.  Thank you Dawn!

Dawn is one of the "Among the Gum Trees" designers - if you haven't yet, you really should check out their blog - fabulous projects on the go for Christmas, and they're free!

Are you looking for a quick gift for someone, and also want to support a very worthwhile cause? Check out Danoda - Linda's Gift Ideas.  Linda makes a variety of gift items - coffee sleeves, potholders, and flat iron holders for now, with 10% of all proceeds going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. How cool is that?

Happy quilting!

p.s. I had a fabulous time in NS - lots of friends, family, food and fun - what could be better???