Today's mail

Did you think you were at the wrong blog? Sorry, I just got tired of pink.

There were two really lovely postcards in today's mail. Both were for the Arts in the Mail Metallic Swap. The first one is from Kate. It is smashing as always.

The second card is from Jan in Arizona. She used some really nice colors and all the beads are in tact.

These cards really brightened my day, thanks ladies.

Nothing much

I read a lot of quilting blogs. I am envious of those ladies who complete so much in a day. They seem to be constantly getting things in the mail. They spend hundreds of dollars on fabric, patterns and notions. I takes me a bit to get a quilt top completed and I don't have much to spend on fabric.

Believe it or not, I have never bought anything on eBay before. With the price of nice fabric being high, even at Joann's (sorry I still don't like the fabric at WalMart), I decided to see if I could find a bargain at eBay. I needed some larger pieces to use for Heartstring quilts. I bid on several lots, put was always outbid. I finally won and this is what I got, 17 yards in all for $20 including the shipping. I think I got a good deal.

So, I started to make one of Mary's quilts called Roman Strips. I am using the pink fabric along with lots of the strings that Deb in AZ sent me. I have not idea how long it will take me to complete this top.

A blog giveaway

Check it out...................

http://quiltnutcreations.blogspot.com/2008/01/did-you-know.html

The Last Postcards

I have decided to not sign up for any more swaps, at least for a while. The postcard swaps are getting out of hand. There are so many cards due to me and not very many swappers have acknowledged receipt of the ones I have sent. I know I am not alone, and not the only one who is getting frustrated by this. There has been a bunch of posts in the last few days with complaints of late cards. Of course the ones who are late are calling the complainers "postcard police" and can't understand why folks are so upset. Well, ladies, what's the point of a deadline if you're going to make the card "whenever"?

So these are the last cards I am obligated to make. I will start finishing up the last 10 Romantic F8 blocks tomorrow. Then I will be able to concentrate on charity tops and quilts I can sell.


O is for Orange....................................



Hearts........................................

Glitter...................remind me not to do this again. There is more glitter all over my sewing machine cabinet then there is on the cards.

WOW

And I don't mean white on white. This "Star" card is from Monica in Texas. I thought I was pretty good at paper piecing but I would never attempt something this small. Her work is so precise, notice how perfectly the points all match in the center. I am almost speechless, I said almost. Thank you Monica, this one really knocks my socks off.

Heartstrings

Remember this quilt top? It was sent to Mary of the Heartstrings project. She has finished quilting it and has done a fantastic job don't you think? I am so happy to have finally found someone who will finish my quilt tops for charity. Thank you Mary.

R.A.K.

Random acts of Kindness, I have heard of them but never got one. That is until yesterday. It seems that there was some sort of unswap challenge over at HGTV. I was not a participant and I did not even read any of the posts. At the beginning of the Romantic F8 swap, I asked if it would be OK to keep the leftover so I could use them for the Heartstrings (and some local) charity projects. To my surprise, at least 7 out of 19 gals said I could keep their leftovers. But more surprising is the fat quarter I received in the mail. Shelbydayle won the unswap challenge but requested that Talia send the prize to me to use in my charity quilts. I am just blown away.

What a cool fat quarter, what a nice thing to do.

BTW, I don't know what button I hit but I did not mean to turn off the comments button. I meant to keep anonymous from posting but I guess I didn't do it just right. So the comments are back on and please feel free to leave me a note.

Heartstrings

Do you remember the package of string blocks I received? It turns out that they were from Kate. I had won one of her Monday giveaways and forgot all about it. Here is what I did with her blocks. This top along with the backing and binding will be donated to the Heartstrings Project.

I also completed this string quilt top. I used the hot pink that Deb AZ sent me for the centers.





This top, back and binding will also go to Heartstrings.

I made another top with some of the strings Deb AZ sent me but it is screaming for a border. I'll post a picture of that one when the border is on.

The perfect block

OK, so there's no such thing as the perfect block but this one is by far the best block I have ever received. It is from Marjorie in St Paul who says she is new at this. Hey Marjorie, how about given some of those old timers some lessons.


What is is about this block that makes me so happy, after all it is a simple block, not too hard to construct. For one thing, it actually measures 12 1/2", not 12, not 12 1/4, not and eighth too big or small but exactly what it should be. All the seams on the backside are flat and not twisted in one direction then the other. All the points meet in the middle and there isn't a big lump, nor does it look like a tent, it lies flat. She has followed my instructions and used a white background and a perfect coordinating fabric, keeping the colors soft and feminine. Here is a lady who knows her skill level and has executed a wonderful block. I really don't think it is the right to experiment with blocks that are being swapped. I have received many that I have had to fix to make them usable.


Thanks Marjorie.



On another note, I would like to mention that the purpose of this blog is stated at the top. It is a place for me to keep a record of things I have made and received. I am writing it for me and sharing it with you. If you do not like what I have to say, then go read some other blog. I have attempted to stay away from message boards and the like because I really don't need anyone telling me what I can post or not post or how I should go about my daily business.
I will not be posting any more pictures of the HGTV Romantic F8 swap as it seems to bother them that I post pictures here and not on the HGTV site. I have tried to explain one of the multitude of reasons why I do that, but that did not seem to suffice. They are still trying to tell me how I should go about doing things their way. I really don't think I should have to explain myself.
Sorry to rant but I should have known better.

Zizzy-Dot Swap #5

Potato Stamping



Dotti's...........................................

Mine................................

It's getting worse

Yesterday I arrived home from work to find this monster in front of my house. They had dug a hole the size of Montana and were in the process of filling it back up. The house shook and the noise was LOUD. They had started at 7 AM just before I left for work and weren't finished until after 8PM. I'm not sure if you can tell but my swale is completely gone and is now where all my neighbors have to drive. My sidewalk is totally smashed. I have no where to park (my husband has a big SUV and uses the driveway) so I have to park on the lawn (that's the end of that) I am told not to worry, the construction company will fix and replace everything to the way it was before they started.

Outgoing - Romatic F8 #4

This block is for Claire in New Hampshire. She has used a pretty pansy floral in purple, pink, blue, yellow and flecks of gold.

Unlike the Christmas F8 swap, I like almost all of the fabrics that have been sent so far (I've received almost all of them). There are no large prints or directional fabrics to work with. Most of the fabrics have many colors in them making them easy to match up coordinating fabrics. What a fun swap this is turning into.

Incoming

"Stars" Country Style by Marion in the UK.

Christmas F8 from Thearica in North Carolina.

Another Christmas F8 , this one from Linda in Mississippi. There is only one Christmas F8 left that is due to me. I don't think anyone has heard from this lady so the odds of me seeing that block is slim.

And the first of the Romantic F8, this one from Penny in Virginia.

If it isn't one thing...........

Roseanne Rosanadana used to say "It just goes to show, if it isn't one thing it's another". You know how I was complaining about the weather, well it is finally tourist weather. The temps are perfect and the windows are open. But there is always something isn't there.

Some rocket scientist has decided that septic tanks are bad for the environment so all of Ft Lauderdale needs to be on a sewer system. Mind you I am perfectly happy with my septic tank. Only once since I have owned this house (1969) have I had a problem. That was because the drain field had collapsed and needed replacing. Gee whiz, the house was built in 1956 and things do go bad now and then.

Yes, the powers that be have decided that pumping sewage to a treatment plant then pumping it out two miles into the Atlantic Ocean is a far better idea then my backyard. Let's not get me started on that rant, I have made enough enemies in this neighborhood with that kind of talk. Mostly with the folks who want to put in swimming pools but can't because of the septic tank in their yard.

So back to the weather.....yes the windows are open. They have started working on my street to put in the sewer pipes. It is really noisy when they are here working, I know because I stayed home from work on Friday due to illness. But worst of all is the pump. The dreaded pump works night and day, pumping water into the storm drain. My house sits high at 7 feet above sea level. If you dig anywhere around here you hit water. So they have to pump it out so they can work below sea level. The pump keeps going, droaning on and on 24-7. And where did they put this pump you ask? Did you really have to ask? Of course, right in front of my house, and no, the plywood box does not muffle the sound. Here is a view taken from my front door.

Romantic F8 blocks 1,2 & 3

The F8 Romantic swap fabrics seem to be rolling in rather steadily. There are some really pretty fabrics being sent out that I just couldn't help starting to make some of these. I am not going to show a picture of the fabric before I cut them up as I think you can figure out for yourselves which one is the focus fabric. Several of the ladies have agreed to let me keep the leftovers to use in the Heartstring projects. I do not have much of an imagination, so you will most likely see the same or variations of the same block.

Block 1 goes to Kathy. She has used a Hoffman fabric (one of my favorites) which has several colors and a bit of gold.

Block 2 is for Mikol. She has used a chocolate and pink paisley. Seems to me that chocolate must be the in color this year. I have been seeing it everywhere teamed up with pink, aqua, lime green and orange.

Block 3 is for Penny Sue. I am not a fru fru kind of gal, put I do love this type of floral.

Brrrrrrrr

I am always cold, even in the dog days of summer when it's so hot you could suffocate, the a/c makes me cold. I suppose it could be the heart meds I take or it could just be old age but I am always cold. I just can't wait for it to cool off so I can shut down the a/c and open the windows. I really love, what I call, tourist weather. But it has been hot and the a/c has been going and going and going. It was Christmas and the a/c was still on. I complained about it, wondered why it was so hot for so long, and saw all the snow on the blogs. When will it cool off so I can turn off the a/c?
They say be careful what you ask for because you just might get it. This morning, here in sunny South Florida (yes I did say South Florida) it is 39. I am cold, I am always cold.

WIP

Just in case you think I haven't been doing any sewing lately, I thought I would show you my current work in process. This top will be donated to the Heartstrings project. I wish someone would tell me how to get those center strips to match up properly. I think my next string project will have to incorporate sashings.

Speaking of my next string project, someone sent me these 24 lovely string blocks. I could not read the name on the package but the address is Laurel, Maryland. Wow, they are so bright and cheerful, I can't wait to put them together. Any suggestions on what color I should use for the sashing?

Say Goodbye

Starting tomorrow, I start to take down all the Christmas decorations. I really dislike taking them down as it is way more work than putting them up. So say goodbye to 2007 and my decorations.