A group effort and a reminder to get your mammogram

As I mentioned some time ago, I have joined several online quilt groups since there are no quilt guilds nearby.    One of the members of one of the quilt groups recently posted that her boss has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  It's a horrible thing, and I think many of us know at least one person who has been affected by it.

Plans were quickly made to create a comfort quilt for this sweet lady, and everybody got busy stitching.  Within two weeks the blocks were made, mailed to an assembly person who added sashing and borders, and the top was sent back to me for a quick quilting job. 

This is the final result. I used the Cosmos board from Circle Lord and quilted on my APQS Lenni .   For batting I used one layer of washable wool and one layer of Warm and Natural.  The top thread is a pale pink and the bottom thread is lavender.

This is the block I made. It is called Rays of Hope.  Here is a link to the paper pieced pattern.

I really hope this little quilt gives the lady some comfort as she recovers from surgery and begins her radiation and chemotherapy treatments.  
Lastly,  here are a couple of funny things to think about as you call to schedule that test.
                                     

Fat Quarter Bundle Winner-UPDATE

I still have not heard from Michelle Johnston.  If I do not hear from her by February 15th, I will put all the names back into the random winner program and have the computer pick a new winner.

I recently posted a contest on my Facebook page asking for comments about the projects everybody is working on.  That contest ended on February 1st and one lucky lady will receive this bundle of Batik fat quarters.  The lucky winner is:  Michelle Johnston.  If you know Michelle, congratulate her for her win.  For a chance to win more of my giveaways, be sure to enter comments here and on Facebook.

My thoughts about swaps

I love block swaps, fabric swaps, round robins, etc.  I think it is a great way to have fellowship with other quilters and get the makings of an awesome new quilt, at the same time.  I have recently signed up for three block swaps and one table runner swap. 

Here are some of the things I like, and some of the things that I think need to be addressed.

Likes:

-blocks from all over the world
-patterns that I would not normally make because they are too hard or too tedious
-a wide variety of patterns and colors in the fabrics
- personal notes and little gifties that are stuck in the packages with the blocks
- making new friends through technology
-checking the mail and finding a squishie package in there (it's like receiving a birthday present)


My concerns:
- using quality, quilt shop material and getting back blocks made of thin, cheap fabric
-getting blocks that smell like cigarette smoke (UGH!)
-getting blocks that are not the right size, even though the rules clearly state 12.5", or 10.5"
-getting two blocks, made by different people, that use the same fabric AND pattern
-sending my blocks on time and not getting blocks in return
- when am I ever going to have time to set all these blocks into quilts

Have you ever participated in any block swaps or fabric swaps?  If so, I'd love to hear your likes and/or concerns. Post a comment below.

Until next time,
Teresa