Sunday, May 4, 2014

Christmas?

So lately it has felt like Christmas! First this book arrived via UPS the other day. Elin Hilderbrand is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw the contest on Goodreads a few weeks ago of course I entered. And I WON!!! Now I need to finish it by 5/19, so my mom can take it with her on their upcoming motor home trip. Oh darn, I will just have to spend some time outside enjoying the weather and reading it.
 My basket from one of the Flickr swaps I am participating in arrived in the mail yesterday. My partner, Cindy, absolutely nailed my color preferences.
 The basket is too cute and spacious.
 She made me this long pin cushion too.
 
 She included one of my favorites, Reese's peanut butter cups, a great aqua perle cotton, scraps, buttons, lace, and a Scrumptious charm pack. I totally scored!
Then last night, I ran down to the grocery store for the second time in one day. I ran out of oil to make fried chicken. Of course I had to dash by the magazine rack and look what they had!
The Quilt Sampler magazine is my favorite...I savor it and only read about one shop each day to make it last! I love the quilt on the cover. I have been locking for a quilt to make for our bed and this might be just what I need to make. I can use up some scraps and not make it too feminine to appease my hubby.
Also in the mail were a dozen copies of this book that my book club won! I love Amy Hatvany and am looking forward to reading this after I am done with The Matchmaker. See what I mean about Christmas!
I am also celebrating that Fort Worth Fabric Studio is featuring my plus tote bag on their blog. What an honor!
 
Furthermore, it feels like Christmas because I have been making gifts for Mother's Day and for the swaps I am in. I can't share my Mother's Day creations yet, but I will share the swap projects I finished yesterday.
 My partner likes aquas and strawberry fabrics. I finally came up with an idea yesterday morning. I used wool felt and perle cotton embroidery for the strawberry block.
 Here is the interior.
I made another wool felt and embroidery block and made it into a pouch. It is 7 inches square and matches the basket. She embroiders, so I put some embroidery goodies in it. I also picked up strawberry fabric fat quarters at my LQS for $1.25 each, so I am filling it with those and some other trinkets. I just love swaps!
 
Today, I am cleaning my sewing room and working on my mother-in-law's gifts and embroidering my Let It Snow blocks as part of Slow Sunday Stitching. Plus, I need to sneak outside and read some of that book! I am loving our spring weather!

23 comments:

  1. Wow, what a haul!! Lucky you! I'll be looking for some book reviews. Those strawberry swap projects are cute.

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  2. Lots of eye candy in this post! Love the swap totes... such happy fabrics! You are really packing a lot in a day!!!

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  3. lots of fun mail, swaps, and prjects for you! i love your strawberry basket and zip pouch; i love strawberry fabric too. congrats on your tote bag feature!

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  4. Your mail man must love delivering to your house :)

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  5. so much fun mail! All I ever get are ads and bills - although this is my month for stash bee, so those should be coming my way. Thanks for linking up while I hosted Anything Goes Mondays!

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  6. You've been very busy... and lucky too! Enjoy! :)

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  7. Wow, you have been busy! Congratulations on having your plus tote featured on a blog! I really like the looks of the plus pattern.

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  8. Oh, the cuteness of everything! The strawberry is adorable!

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  9. What great swaps- both received and going out :-)

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  10. Great eye candy today. Thanks. I love the strawberries.........

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  11. Wow, you really got some good stuff there! and as someone who loves strawberries....those are both cute cute cute! Love it.

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  12. Wow, you got some great stuff.

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  13. that's so awesome! what a ton a great goodies!

    Thanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  14. Beautiful, love the strawberry.

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  15. What a beautiful tote bag and strawberry bowl!

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  16. What a great collection of goodies. I love that plus tote bag.

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  17. Goodness! You've been busy! and Christmas indeed! enjoy!

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  18. What great reads you picked up! And that pretty fabric basket? What a score! Love your strawberry bowl and pouch. And that Plus bag!!! So much eye candy in this post!

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  19. So much quilty goodness! Great job with those strawberry items -- I'm sure your partner will love them!

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  20. Pretty eye candy - looks like you've been busy AND lucky! Whoop whoop!

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  21. Wow you made a lot of beautiful items and received many goodies too. You've been having a good week! I'm going to have to get a copy of Quilt Sampler magazine. I've seen the cover a few places and love that quilt on it.

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  22. Lovely items! What fun. Thanks for linking up to Inspire Us Thursday!

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