Surprise!

Sometimes life can be so full of surprises that it just shakes you to your core.  I had a day like that last week that completely blew me away.  Let me give you a little history.  During the last doll swap, there was a quilt that was being made by an awesome quilter who I have always admired.  Her things are colorful and so precise that I know I'll never live long enough to get to her level.  So, as the weeks went along, and the doll swap continued, she would show her progress and I would be more and more marveled at her skills and the beauty of the quilt.  (And wondering why I never got a partner who was that good.  LOL)  And that is no lie!!!  I was so envious of her partner until we started corresponding and she mentioned to me that her partner hadn't commented once on any of her pictures.  I was shocked, to say the least!  I knew how she felt after spending so much time and love on that project.  Shame on me, but I talked her into making a different quilt and keeping that beauty for herself, or gifting it to someone who would appreciate it.

So guess what?  I bet you guessed, huh?  Yup!  I got a surprise last week and it was MY quilt!  The one I coveted all along!  Helen wrote me a wonderfully sweet note and told me that halfway through the sewing process, she knew the quilt should be mine.  Look at how gorgeous it is:



 

Isn't it amazing?  I can hardly wait to hang it.  I've gotten so many beautiful quilts lately, I think it's time to "make a wall" and I'm thinking my guest room would be the perfect place.  It would be great to have them all in one spot.  I'm still smiling over that package though!  I love it, Helen...thank you soo much!

I have been sewing, but again, there is not much I can show you yet.  I sort of cheated and made an angel quilt for the next doll swap already.  I know that they are going back to their "roots" with pieced, smaller quilts for DQS11, so I had to practice.  Call me crazy!  I have a ton of ideas and I'm anxious to start.  Besides, it might be time to take a break from applique for a change.



I actually cheated and matched the solids to the binding fabric I had.  Looks like I was brilliant and did it the opposite way, huh?  Whatever!  After it's done, what's the difference?

So, that's about the news....except this:



Yup, that's me!  DH took that picture.  I needed a shot of myself for something else, so I thought I should show everyone what I really look like.  My daughter told me to re-take it and put my head higher to get rid of the double chin and open my eyes.  Kids!  It is what it is!  If I hadn't gained 60 lbs when I quilt smoking 6 years ago, I'd look much better too, but that's life!  I'm trying, but when you sit and sew all the time, how do you lose weight?  Got any ideas?