Secret Cupid Swap

I don't know if I mentioned it before oor not, but my SillyGal's group had a Secret Cupid Swap this month. We have had al sorts of swaps in this group but this year we are doing things different. Most of the swaps this year are already planned and listed in the files section to allow people to work on things ahead of time. I liked this idea mainly because there are so many things going on that the extra time to be able to think things over in my head and prepare is great.

The group has done things several ways but this year the swaps are a little more structured. There is a list of 5 or 6 things that you have to send and then extras are not required but alot of us send them.

So here were this swaps inclusions:

1. Valentine Fat Quarter
2. Candy Treat
3. Hand sewn tea towel (you may purchase the towel to embellish)
4. Heart Project (hand sewn project……pink/red/purple or valentine print, your choice – use your imagination
5. a surprise from the $ store, flea market, small hand sewn item, a sewing notion or whatever…..anything goes

I tend to send 1/2 yards instead of Fat Quarters. The Candy treats we have a "Getting to know your gal pals database on group that gives us some hints on what they like.. chocolate is usually a
winner. The tea Towel I actually sent a kitchen towel that I embelished because it is not always easy to find a tea towel with out having to order them. The heart project was anything that we wanted.. mine I sent coasters but I have more to mail as a RAQ (random act of Quiltiness) later because I forgot somethings and didn't have time for others. Last a suprise from the store.. that is anything that you want to send some times I re-gift books or buy magazines.. little kits you pick up at the quilt shop.. any thing fun.

Here is a picture of the goodies that I sent to my secret cupid...

Fabric, hand towel w/ hand sewn strip, Cheesecake Hershey Kisses, chocolate hearts and a little Russell Stover box, Valentines coffee cup, hot chocolate (swiss miss special flavors), Vallentines socks, fons and porter quilt tags, coasters, and a heart sandwich cutter (that was so cool I found it at walmart). I think that was all I sent some times I forget and its just as big a suprise to me as it is to them.. LOL

Challenge Block Completed!!

I don't know if I ever mentioned my group that periodically does challenge quilt blocks? But we had a challenge this last month and I completed my block and actually took a picture to share this time before mailing it in. I had to use our camera at work because mine the battery died and I couldn't find my spare and didn't have time to wait for it to charge.

So here is the challenge concept. A central person chooses a fabric depending on how many people join/ sign up will depend on how much fabric you'll need (or if your using from your stash will determine how big a piece each person gets to work with). Everyone gets their square in the mail and you use that fabric to make a quilt block. Usually its any block you want but the last few challenges we have done different one it was any block that was considered to be 9- patch, another it was anything that was a star, and the last one the background fabric was white on white and we had to choose 2 other fabrics to go with the challenge fabric that was sent. Let me tell you the challenge fabric was very pretty. Once you have made your block you send it back (With a few stamps to offset the cost of the swap moderator mailing the squares to you and the winner) to the central person and they have a NON-quilty person/ friend choose from the blocks participating which one is their favorite. The person that made the favorite block gets all the blocks and any remaining fabric to put together for a quilt. Pretty neat huh? I won one last year I was so excited.

Here is my block. I thought I picked a pretty neat one. I even had enough fabric to make 2 so the lucky winner of these blocks will get another one from me to add to the mix. The yellow fabric with the flowers was the challenge. The picture really doesn't do the fabric justice the flowers are pink, purple and blue and of course the greenery.

Snowman

So I always talk about my kitties being little helpers. We all know that some times that can be fun and other times well its questionable. Lillybeth (most often refered to as Lilly) seems to be my biggest helper. It doesn't matter what she was doing before I started but usually with in a few minutes or seconds of starting to cut shes there. Here is Lilly helping

Lilly's Thoughts? Here mom let me help you with this.. she backs up and pulls it around in front of here until one of the other 2 start chasing here with it.

Back to my snomen really quick. MY online group did a snowman quilt block swap. We were all required (the ones signed up) to make 6 snowmen blocks per set (max 2 sets) I only got a chance to make 1 set of snowmen and got a total of 6 snowmen back. I will get pictures taken of those soon but here is a pic of my snowman block


And like always here is my helper



She is a cutie.. is very talkitive and cuddly. I will try to get some more things posted for you to see later I have to get ready to head out to work. Yesterday I left work about 4 am or so so I'm crossing my fingers for an early day

Heather

Comments:

Thursday, December 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Your kitty is soooo cute! I love your snowman block! I really like the idea, I may have to use it for a wallhanging or something for next year! Kristie

Thursday, December 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cowgirl4ever
I really got lucky with my kitties. There was just something that called to me when I went to get them. The other 2 (Thelma and Louise are a little over a year) are sisters from the same litter. I got them at the pound at first I only reserved one and then Dad said to go get her sister. We debated and debated about names had they been siamese they would have been ying and yang. Lilly I got from the San Diego Cat Adoption Agency I saw her advertised online and saw that her brother and sister had already been adopted but she was left there so I just had to take her home.. Mom says she needed me and that she chose me. They are all good girls and don't scratch the furniture which is amazing to me. Heather

Thursday, December 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I think all fur kids love to quilt!! Those snowmen blocks that you made are adorable!! I wouldn't have thought to throw a face on a block like that!!!

Thursday, December 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
Lily is such a beautiful kitty! They do wind their way into your heart, don't they? That snowman block is just too cute. What fun. Rhoda

Friday, December 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Vesuviusmama
Your snowman block is so cute! I think I say this every year, but I really want to make something seasonal. That looks easy enough that I could do it but fun enough that I will want to do it. Thanks for sharing!

Secret Sister Swap

Our Secret Sister swap (for the same group as the round robin) is a year long swap. We have to send out a gift once a quarter. Doesn't matter what it is (with in reason of course.. along the likes of your sister) could be anything. I missed second quarter due to moving apartments so I have alot of things that are set aside to send to her.. a couple rulers, a note pad, picture frame (she lost her kitty and I found the perfect frame for that special picture) and then I found some other things.. FQ's and some sewn projects. I love asking for ideas from people.. its fun to see what other people will think of..

Comments:

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I think that is very neat. All of those sound like nice gifts... Kristie

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by scissorhandscps
Sounds like a fun project! :0)

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
That sounds like so much fun!! She's going to love whatever you send her.

Round Robin

The round robin is for an online group of quilters that I made friends with when I first started quilting. We did a row robin last year so this year we decided to do a round robin. Just the basic one everyone makes a center and we send them around to add a round. The one that I was working on was a carpenter star for the center.. the lady before me added a round of prarie points and then I added a round that had pinwheels in the corner stones and stripes down the middle sections. I'll be sure to look for my memory card for my camera when I get home from work. (It along with goodness knows what else got mis-placed when I moved).

I wish I had had more time to sew this weekend but between work obligations and a migraine all I got was the round done.. Maybe next weekend.. although next weekend is fathers day and I'm headed to my parents to show dad my new car.


Comments:
Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Your round robin sounds fun. Can't wait to see some photos. It always seems like there is never enough time to quilt. Kristie

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Ugghh, Migraines are awful! I'm sorry you had one this weekend. Your round robin sounds like a lot of fun. I really like the Carpenters star. I have a "Sew One And You're Done" book that has a carpenters star in it. I'm thinking of using it for a few baby quilts.

The Weekend flew by

Well my weekend is already over again.. Working Sunday through thursday really messes things up most days I don't even know what day of the week it is.
Accomplishments this weekend? Well I finally finished the round on the round robin that I have been promising to get out. That was the big goal... Now to get things put together for my secret sister.. Any ideas? I have a few things that I have put aside but would really love to send her a super great box.

Comments:
Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
What kind of a round robin did you do? What kind of secret sister swap is it? Are you filling it up with notions or? Let me know, I'll be happy to throw some ideas out there!

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by bobbinhead
Welcome aboard! Feel free to ask any questions. Pictures can be tricky to upload but let us know and we will help. What kind of round robin are you doing? Again, welcome.

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Sounds like you have been busy. Can't wait to see some of your photos... Kristie

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
Thank you so much for serving our country!! There are a couple of us who have children in the military, and we appreciate your sacrifice. Not that my son sacrifices too much - He's a Navy JAG stationed at Pearl Harbor. We're hoping to visit him next winter. Welcome to the group, it sounds like you are involved with some neat and active groups. Rhoda

Sunday, June 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by scissorhandscps
Welcome to the group :0) Alot of nice people here! i'm doing a round robin right now too. I think it's about my sixth or seventh. I was also lucky enough to get in the Frienships in Bloom book. That was a fun project. Happy quilting.