Cute, cute, cute! and Carla

 Cute, indeed!  I got a couple of packages in the mail yesterday.  One was a check from my sister, the second was a card and cash from another sister, and the third was a fat quarter from my bloggy friend, Carla.   

Since Angie's check and Laura's cash look like a regular check and regular cash (which I don't get to keep anyway) I'll just move on to the fun stuff: Laura's handmade card.  Laura is so very crafty (card-making) and talented (photography) to boot. 

I'm sorry that my photography skills pale in comparison, but you get the idea that her "delight in life" card is just adorable, right?  I wonder if she's aware that chevrons are all the rage right now.  I wonder if she knows that zigzags are chevrons.  I only know cause I quilt and she doesn't quilt, although she knew what fat quarters were about the same time that I discovered them, so perhaps she does.  Either way, she's right on the money with this cute card, don't you think?

Now that little package from Carla--well, let me tell you it was a wonderful, happy surprise.

First there was a sweet friends card, which I happen to love, even if I don't knit.  Then, there was a chocolate bar, which didn't make it in the house since Lane and I were on the porch when Rich came in with the mail.  I discovered the candy and it was inhaled in about two seconds. 

Oh, no, not just me!  Richard opened and broke it into thirds before I could consider a share...which I fully intended to do, if I'd had time to intend anything.  Anyway, tucked inside the package was a fat quarter of this bike fabric. 

Last week Carla wrote about a zippered bag that she had just finished.  I read her blog fairly regularly (and recommend it with high marks) so I saw the bag, which is very cute.  But the fabric she used really did it for me.  I fell in love with the bicycle on the front of her bag, so I asked her about it in the hopes that I could find it a local shop. 

She answered with an offer to send a fat quarter!  Now that is too sweet.  Of course, I took her up on it, silly.  And now here it is.  Not just the cutest?  Of course it is!  I've got a plan for it, but it has to wait it's turn, otherwise the QuiltCon fabrics may get upset.   I can't have fabrics fighting; that just won't do.  No, we play nicely around here.

I've chosen a favorite bike--this blue with the flowers.   However, the yellow with the plaid fenders is pretty darn cute, too, all bright and sunny!

 

I am so grateful to Carla for sending this fabric all the way from Canada.  We certainly have some sweet neighbors just a little to the north.  I'm praying that she's not too cold up there.  I have a feeling that tonight's late freeze rode in on a pretty little bicycle, while nibbling on chocolate!  And it worries me that Carla might be chilly, since there aren't many cold fronts that can pedal all the way from Canada this late in the winter.  They do tend to get lazy once March comes around.  That means they are all hanging out with Carla, partying up a storm and building strength for the winter.  Do go by and visit her, it'll warm her greatly to have visitors!

 

Thank you, dear Carla!

Happy Quilting,

Mary

Fabric Addiction

That's what I'm calling my illness....a fabric addiction.  I can't seem to stop myself, although I must say I did a great job yesterday.   After all, imagine that you have the opportunity to go to a fabric shop and purchase the entire shop for one set price.  

Would you not go take a look? And, after taking a look, you see that you're getting WAY more fabric for the asking price than you'd get if you paid regular price.  The only problem is that you don't have enough for the asking price.  And the other problem is that there's lots of fabric that's, well, not usable for quilts.  What would you do then?

If you sew, you would do your very best to get as much of the "good" fabric as possible, that's exactly what you'd do.  And since I sew more than just quilts, I can use more than just quilting fabric.  I also use home dec fabrics, children's fabrics, good quality linens and silks and, well, I won't name every fabric type.  But I will say I use just about anything except the old double knit that my Ma-ma used to make her pants with.  

Remember that old heavy, hot knit that stretched in any direction and stuck to the skin not matter the season?  If your answer is "no" then you did not live during the 60's and 70's when "double de-knit" was the "in" fabric.  It was popular because it lasted forever, didn't shrink, and didn't wrinkle and came in "mod" colors.  And in the 60's and 70's every old lady who walked the earth also sewed and had a PILE of "double de-knit."  

Some of them smelled like moth balls, some like cedar and some of it just smelled like old people.  That would be the fabric but the old people smelled like their clothes.   Or their clothes smelled like them.  Either way, the smells were strong.....no, pungent....that's the word, pungent.  Whew!  I can still smell my grandmothers and aunts and every old lady I ever met as a child.  I loved those old ladies, still do in fact. But I'm not fond of "double de-knit" and I'm especially not fond of the double de-knit smells, so when I had an opportunity to buy all the knit I could ever want, I passed it up.  Yes, I did.  Perhaps I do not have a fabric addiction.  Perhaps I just simply have a passion for beautiful, natural fabrics, especially cottons.  Perhaps this story explains that truth in a simple, straightforward manner.  Perhaps not.  

However, I did walk away with three boxes of not knit and managed to pay for it, too.  The next time I have an opportunity to buy the store, I may not need to bother.  I do have lots of fabrics, after all. Yards of linen.  Piles of cottons, a full box of zippers (70+ still in the packages), thread, patterns, and my personal favorite:  this beautiful blue and gold brocade with matching buttons and thread.  Just perfect for a dressy suit!  And some people think I have an illness.....HA!

Of course, I still have fabric to sort through and put away somewhere.  That would be because I spent the rest of my day canning tomatoes--six pints and four quarts.  With onions, peppers, celery and salt in the jars, they're ready for spaghetti sauce, soups, gravy, chili, okra gumbo and anything else that could use just a little flavoring.  Already I have more put up than I had last year, so we should be good if this rain finishes off the tomato plants.  But, if we manage to squeeze a few more tomatoes into jars I'll be happy.  It turns out we like these tomatoes like salsa although it's not as flavorful.

And I almost wrapped up a quilt yesterday, as well.  I have to sew on the label, but I don't have a name for the quilt.  Here's a photo.  I could use some ideas if you have any to share.  It's my version of D9P with a quirky twist, quite modern, and quilted in a square motif.  See why I'm stuck?