Another Birthday Quilt

Yesterday was the Amazing Quilt Babes last "official" birthday stitch day. We helped Carol get this beauty together, and isn't it great in it's simplicity? Even though this is the last of the 2010 birthday quilts, it doesn't mean we won't be stitching more! We even had time to stitch some more blocks for our 2 charity quilts.

Shirlee, Ibby, Carol (seated) Vicky, Sharon

Last night when I took Mayo the Wonder Dog outside for the last walk of the night, this is what I found shining back at me from the front porch steps.

This is a common garden spider sitting in the center of it's web.  The rain had just stopped, so the web caught the little droplets and made it look like the pale spider was sitting in a ring of diamonds.  Just beautiful!  I took the pictures, then Mayo and I went back in the house and finally went out through the garage in order to let Mr. Spider do his work.  I hope your day is filled with hidden delights and jewels!

The Quilting Fairy?

If you're like me, when you get to a certain turning point in your project, you either want to walk away from it entirely (one turning point) or keep going on it until your eyes can't stay open anymore (the second turning point).  

Well, this particular project was finally at the at the second turning point a week or so ago. It's already been through the first turning point at least three times, so it's about time it finally got to the exciting part. I'm talking about the landscape piece that was due in June, but I just didn't make the dateline.  

I was too busy cutting holes in it because I didn't like it. Then I figured out how to do window panes with curling panels (don't ask!), and didn't like that either. A little more time was spent taking that apart, and some more holes were cut. I figured I didn't have anything to lose. Several trips to the Dollar Store for fiber parts (don't ask!), some free hand quilting, and some more ortwork. It was around this time, that my vision finally crystallized, and I started getting excited.

I made a special trip to Eudora, KS to pick up variegated Presencia #12 perle cotton at Quilting Bits and Pieces, and started seed stitching the heck out of it. My hand and fingers have just about seized up now, so I've put it aside to rest. Last night, I left it on the sofa, and I think the Quilting Fairy has finally arrived to help me finish it! Hooray! Shouldn't you get the Quilting Fairy on your schedule?

Where has the summer gone?

Gone to the cats and dogs, of course!

You might (or not) recognize this quilt.  It's this year's birthday quilt that my Amazing Quilt Babes and I started this last February.  Then I took it to Cambria, CA to finish and I had left one side of the inner border off.  Well, as you can see, all is well now, and it's on the bed.  I absolutely love it, and apparently so do the animals that I live with.

Here's a close-up of the beautiful feathers that my long arm quilter did for me.   We found this particular feather in a different size on a quilt we saw when we attended the Machine Quilter's Showcase in May.  She adapted it for size, and I think she's done a marvelous job.  Pumpkin seeds in the 4 patches just set it off.  I used Fairfield Cotton and Bamboo batting this time, and I think it is now my favorite batting of all time.  It quilts beautifully, drapes beautifully, and Hubby stays warm on his side, and I stay cooler on my side.  Enjoy!

Book Winners are......

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

Silly me, I put a name from Australia into the Stateside pot for drawing, and of course, it won the first time I drew out the names. Sorry to say that I can't send the book that direction, since Debbie in Israel had already been drawn for the overseas book from me.  I'm so sorry for my mistake!

But the good news is that there was another drawing, o.........

Janet has really won the book from the Book Network.  Hopefully, I'll have more drawings and the rest of you can try again!  Come back and see me sometime!

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!

This will be just a quick posting to let you know who the book winners are.  The stateside winner of the book from The Book Report Network:

 Christie!!!!  This is what she said: 

I would love to win a copy of Sandra's new book. I found out about your give away from Bonnie Hunters blog. Enjoyed reading your blog - now that I have found you. HUGS... and stitches Christie

Congratulations!  Christie, please send me an email with your contact information so the book can be sent to you.  

And the overseas book winner of my personal copy is:

 Debbie in Jerusalem!!!!  This is what she said:

I don't recall ever reading a Sandra Dallas book, but they all look good, so why not! Thanks for counting me in, Sharon.

Congratulations!  Debbie, please email the address you'd like the book sent to.

So, now I am off to enjoy the rest of today's activities which include a lot of sewing on my landscape piece ortwork and dinner with friends.  We'll be watching the fireworks from our front driveway (if it isn't raining) since we live in the country and the folks all around us entertain us with all the pretties!