Bits and Pieces

One of the online quilting groups I belong to had an ATC swap with the aim of raising a few dollars for Cancer research and the fun of swapping with other group members. Basically you made a series of 6 ATCs, kept one and sent the others to a central person who then sorted them all out and sent you back 5 different ATCs. You had to include $2 for every set of 5 cards you sent. I must say here that the girl who organised this swap deserves much more than a pat on the back - she did a marvellous job. Thanks Cecile!

Anyway, all my lovely ATCs arrived yesterday and I had fun studying all the different themes and techniques on them.

I had sent three sets so I got 15 ATCs back (including one of my own...lol) - everyone had interpreted things so differently and there were some great ideas in them all. A big thank you to all the members who participated.

In another online quilting group while some members were on a retreat a thread was started asking 5 questions :

What are you working on now?

2 quilts with 42 machined embroidered blocks on each for my sisters for Christmas

Rowena Charlton's Elizabethan Splendour machine embroidered quilt for me

Jinny Beyer's - Around the World quilt

How much did you finish last year?

3 bags

2 Round Robin tops

3 lap quilts

A quilt donated to an Oncology Unit

assorted small gifts for Christmas

Is there a project you are dying to make?

OOh - bit hard to pick just one but I guess I would like to make an machine embroidered jacobean pattern quilt on black fabric

Biggest frustration?

An Amish styled ohio star quilt top that I finished & then promised myself I would hand quilt it - I have never handquilted & have now after just a couple of blocks I discovered I suck at it!! It's back in the cupboard of UFOs.

What is the most interesting item in your handbag?

Apart from the screwdriver?

As you can see from my answers I didn't finish that much last year although I did start a lot; sadly I think I am heading in the same direction this year. The trouble is I have so many ideas and want to start them all so consequently I don't have time to finish everything. I have also completed a couple of other items that I forgot to add like my bag for the wedding and some lacework table runners.

I would like to think I will at least get my sisters' quilts finished and hopefully at least either the Rowena Charlton or Jinny Beyer quilt.

Since that least I have found two more quilt tops I want to start (like yesterday) - both are using Janet Sansom machine embroidery - one is the Jacobean quilt on black I mention using Fantasy Garden designs and the other is her Anna Bella designs which have a similar Jacobean feel to them but I don't think they would look as good on black.

left - one of the Anna Bella designs and (R) one of the Fantasy Garden

Oh dear so many ideas and only 24 hours in a day.................

What about you? If you had to answer those 5 questions would they please or dismay you?