Boy, was I behind. So much fun reading, and I still got a bunch of work done. LOL That's my story. Anyway, I have my RWB quilt pieced, sandwiched quilted, and the binding sewn on. Just need to do the hand work to finish it up. Hope to mail tomorrow. I am still shooting for a delivery before the fourth!! Even with the trip and all, I am almost caught up. So hot in the house I can't work in there very well during the day. New motor for the air conditioning unit will be in tomorrow. If I don't melt before that. Who am I kidding? I wish I could melt a little!! LOL
You guys have really made my day with all the rantings on here. OOmpa Loompa? Does that mean Blue? And circles. I watched a sewing with Nancy episode yesterday that showed how to do circles easily. Whoop! Hooop! I cannot wait to try that one out. I need a bigger bucket.

Received a beautiful string quilt today from Grandma Di, with a nice FQ and card, wrapped with red and white ribbon.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420889[/ATTACH]

Thank you so much for my DQ.

BEFORE I show you the MOST FANTABULOUS quilt in the world ... let me catch up on the thread ...

Ms Grace, that is a wonderful little quilt! I love the bonnet! Happy Birthday to your mum-in-law, Lyn!

Cogito, I love seeing the backs of quilts too, unless, of course it is one that I made that is chock full of eyelashes!

Luvstoquilt, I think the Irish equivalent is Mother of Pearl!

GrandmaDi, what a wonderful strip quilt. I just love the star!

OK, now to show you what the incredibly talented BuzzinBumble sent me!

So ... hubby went out to the pharmacy and I don't know why but he decided to go to the post office to see if I had a package ... and I'm so glad he did!

The first thing I saw when I opened the box were two GINORMOUS bags of labels! I think Lara must have gone cruising the mall with scissors. Mama mia! I'm ready to stitch! I honestly got teary eyed over them. It was overwhelming!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420915[/ATTACH]

THEN I saw that she sent along a marvelous book Small Quilts ... which I will dive into later tonight ... more waterworks ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]420916[/ATTACH]

I saw a package at the bottom wrapped in the most delightful flowered wrapping paper and when I opened it, well, I can't even describe how I felt. There is a little Gypsy trailer and in front of it are the exact replicas of my pups, Feeney and Daisy! How did she do it. I am amazed and so touched. Look!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420917[/ATTACH]

And they're in a little red wagon, which is something I saved from the flood

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420918[/ATTACH]

I opened Lara's card and then was completely overwhelmed. I had mentioned to her that I missed the crystal door knobs that had been in my house. What a beautiful, kind and thoughtful woman she is. Look at the little knob on the camper!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420919[/ATTACH]

And here's the back ...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420923[/ATTACH]

By the way, the quilt is perfectly square. My photo doesn't show it as I had it on the grass.

And if that wasn't enough ... she sent an adorable, funny postcard and matching earrings!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420921[/ATTACH]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Lara, you are one in a million!

Ooooohhhh that is just......I am speechless. So beautiful! So thoughtful and I am so happy for you Krystyna. Lara you did an awesome job on the whole package.

I KNOW!!! Look ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]420931[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]420933[/ATTACH]

Oh Krystyna, what a fabulous package of goodies Lara sent you! Lara everything you sent is just beautiful, I don't know how you did the camper doll quilt but it is just fantastic. Love, love, love it all!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jan

Krystyna, your enthusiastic thanks is better than the best birthday party! A gift in and of itself! I am so glad you liked it all!
Thank you for the nice comments Anna & Jan. I always wanted to do a quilt in all 30's style fabrics. I'd like to say that I never in the world thought I would be able to do any kind of appliqué, but this swap has made me stretch my wings. This is the simplest kind of appliqué: raw edge shapes, heavily starched and fused with heat and bond before cutting out the shape (you can use a washable glue stick too) and then slowly and carefully stitched down. If you can cut out shapes and sew real slow, you can do it. Where I fall apart skill wise is in the actual quilting, so I try to keep it basic.
My friend sewbeadit found that perfect fabric I used for the backing, which even had a matching trailer!


Krystyna, no worries, I wasn't hiding in the clothing racks at the mall, busily ripping out labels. Not long after I read you were collecting labels I raided our closets and only came up with a very meager handful. So I kept my eye out and by sheer luck ran across a lady who was getting rid of her label collection. It was just meant to be.

Grandma Di - I adore scrappy strip quilts and the one you made for Cindy is the bee's knees!

Buzzin Bumble, what an awsome little DQ you did for Krystyna.

What a cute fabrics and appliqued star. I am also a strip scrappy lover.
A California poppies post card, are you in my state grandma Di?

Createfourpaws, what a gorgeous little quilt you received from Grandma Di, watch out I am eyeing that piece of fabric :)

BuzzinBumble, what a package you sent to Krystyna - love the little trailer but how cute are those doggies in the wagon, exact replicas of the real puppies.

K what a wonderful package and little quilt. you are so loved!

BuzzinBumble, that is a fabulous little quilt! I make a point of avoiding applique--just isn't my thing--but you almost tempt me!

Krystyna, that was the gift that went on and on and on and each phase more wonderful than the last! You deserve it. FANTASTIC job, BuzzinBumble! I'm just crackin' up when I first saw the camper -- thought Elisabrat made a quilt after all. But then I saw your name. That was really a themed lil RWB gift! Love the earrings to match and awesome fabric for the backing. Crystal doorknob even. Way to go!

Guess I'm getting forgetful -- thought I wrote a post to BuzzinBumble asking how she did the zigzag trees behind the camper. Pieced or just cut from one piece of fabric. Perfect! Also, how did you make the label for that little quilt?

Keep them coming, ladies! These little quilts are soooo wonderful!

What a great quilt Krystyna...know you will cherish it forever. Super job Buzzin!

Good morning all ... I need another angel please. Dabbler312 never received her April quilt. :thumbdown:

What adorable mini quilts! You ladies are soooo clever! :)

Yes! And you need to come back! :p

[QUOTE=Krystyna;6141558]So ...

The first thing I saw when I opened the box were two GINORMOUS bags of labels! I think Lara must have gone cruising the mall with scissors. Mama mia! I'm ready to stitch! I honestly got teary eyed over them. It was overwhelming!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]420915[/ATTACH]

THEN I saw that she sent along a marvelous book Small Quilts ... which I will dive into later tonight ... more waterworks ...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]420916[/ATTACH]

Krystyna, I have this book and I love it! Lara, your package to K is fantabulous! Love the camper and the postcard, etc. are way too cool. Such a hoot! Crystal doorknob on the camper? Now you are "really uptown"! Wonder where that saying came from...anyone know?

Uptown Girl Cogito - I don't know, but Billy Joel used it so it is good enough for us. LOL
I found that book at a garage sale and snapped it up knowing it would make a great add on for somebody here.
That is neat that you got your ID from Cogito ergo sum. My hubby used to have a t-shirt that said "Cogito ergo spud... I think, therefore I yam"

Chasezzz I avoided applique like crazy until my first time here on the swap. When Kris B told me what I had made for her was broderie perse, i thought "Well I'll be. I did applique." (I had to look up what broderie perse was. LOL)
I am sure needle turned in another matter entirely. My hand sewing is not a thing of beauty.

Confession: I am a little scared about next month's quilt theme, but game to give it a try. I Love house quilts... hmmm. Maybe that can be "where I live"?

Bertie the zigzag trees were cut from one piece of zigzaggy fabric. Whenever you can, let the fabric do the work!
And I guess it does look like the package went on and on - but the labels were not part of the swap stuff. It just took me a long time to mail Krystyna's earlier request for labels since she lost all hers in the flood.
Krystyna I am so curious about what you plan to do with clothing labels.

Ronda - I second what Krystyna just said! I hope you come back! You are a wonderful swap member :thumbup:

Lara, I love your husband's shirt. He sounds like a lot of fun. Nothing like "intellectual" chuckles IMHO.
I had to look up broderie perse, too, so you're in good company.
Re: house quilts - EQBoutique is a free program and one of their free downloadable sets are houses!
But, my darling quilty friend ... you can applique quite well ... and yarn makes lovely hair ... OR ... just a weird idea, if you underlay a good hair colored fabric below your background fabric you can do the stitch and slash technique for hair. Facial features, too, now that I think of it.

Wonderful quilts! I love, love the backing fabric on the camper quilt. Of course, the front is super, too! :thumbup: The little doorknob is amazing.

So much detail on the little camper quilt. Had to chuckle since when I was young we would go camping over the 4th in a little trailer similar to that one, only turquoise and white. Even had the little silver wings on the back. Good memories ... so you see? Your gift is still giving!

Look what I just recieved from createfourpaws, It is so pretty. Cindy you do such beautiful work. [ATTACH=CONFIG]421059[/ATTACH]

Cindy, so nice! Love your fabric choices.
Nancy, I never got to camp in a camper. I think I'd love it ... if it had air conditioning!!!

Arghhh!!! Back to work. Bad, Krystyna! My son stopped over for a surprise visit and somehow got me off track looking at videos of Bob Ross feeding a baby squirrel. Now we are having a bark fest since the complex is painting the halls and Miss Daisy Mae does not think they should be there!!!

Cindy, Love the swirly design and colors of the fabrics on the mini you made!

Nancy in L - we had a Shasta camper too. Always loved them. They should make all cars and campers with wings or tail fins...LOL

Now if you'd like to see my inspiration from way back last September when jillnjo was my partner, click this link. Ever since I saw it I wanted to make a camper quilt too. Nancy, as I said last year, I love the quilts on the line and all the wonderful details:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/members...21-311057.html

Oh! Jilnjo's little quilt! Wonderful!

The camper quilt is just awesome. Love, love love it!!!
I sent my little quilt in the mail today. Wow and not even the last day of the month.

Well, that was my rendition of "where I live", but I'd have to really think about "who I am"! Besides crazy for quilting! :p.

It has been so hot and our air conditioner is broken. fixed today though. Last night I sat outside where there was a small breeze and some neighbors to visit with. Finished the mini, but when I grabbed my stuff this morning, some way or another, I missed it. So, will mail tomorrow. Excuses, excuses!!

Looky what I got today. Wanda I am putting yours in mail today then.

How cool - A Fourth of July crazy quilt! Way to go Wanda!

Buslady, I sure hope you are enjoying air conditioning now! It has been in the 90's here and I sure can't imagine "roughing it".

WOW! Love the quilt and all the stuff Lara sent you Krystyna!

Love your quilt Grandma Di...

Wanda Lou! What an amazing quilt! It looks 3D! There is so much going on in that little beauty. Wow! Buttons, lace pompons, yarn, a bell (is that the Liberty Bell?) and the placement of the ribbon at the top makes it look like the flags are unfurling in the breeze. Great work!

Another hot and humid day today. And it's only a bit past 7 am. Hubby worked from midnight to 8 and is now doing his day shift. Awful. Even though I'm inside, the heat (or something) is making my legs swell - one much more than the other. So ... off to the doctor this morning to get water pills.

Quiltermomma, love the wonderful little piece of Americana you received. That back fabric is your own fireworks show!

Love the string quilt and the Celebration of Freedom/Liberty crazy quilt. Glamping (glamour plus camping) quilt for krystyna is the cat's meow as the saying goes - what a special gift. Love the car with camper postcard - actually I would love to have a car like that - Brian is on vacation next week, guess we'll have to get our gear out and go camping for a couple days. Stitching binding on tonight and shipping tomorrow - happy dance; waiting for partner to send me her address.

Good morning ladies! Hope you're all enjoying the day before it melts you!
I have a zillion PMs in my inbox and promise to answer them all ... but need to go to the doctor this morning. See ya soon!