Blessings

I've been blessed recently with a wonderful core group of  quilting sisters in our little church's quilt ministry.  For the past couple weeks this little group of mostly new quilters has worked together to complete five hand-tied comforters to be shipped this week for victims of the disastrous wildfire that left thousands of Fort McMurray Alberta residents homeless.  Four additional quilts are in various stages of stitching and should be ready to ship soon!

A small, totally unexpected package arrived in our mailbox the other day, a sweet surprise from a wonderful blogging friend, Janet O. who blogs at Rogue Quilter, who thoughtfully sent along one of her fabulously detailed mini-ornaments bordered with the last tiny pieces of a fat quarter I'd sent a while back, along with this pack of mini-squares perfect for using in my Westering Women BOM.   Thanks so much Janet, I love them!

And, a couple recent quilty blog giveaways have found their way to our mailbox.  This lovely fat quarter bundle and book from a recent Quilters Newsletter Blog giveaway - so appropriate since there's a new grandbaby on the way whose mom has already given thumbs-up to this bright and cheerful fabric collection!

And in the past few days a I was lucky enough to win copy of what may be the hottest new publication in the quilting world this summer, Lara Bucella's  Crafted Applique ... New Possibilities book from Ruth at Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner!

A month-long blog hop introducing Lara's book and featuring a host of projects using her method of producing beautiful, fray-less machine applique has just concluded, and I have to say there have been some really spectacular intricately detailed applique projects featured.  I've ordered the couple small supplies needed to give Lara's technique a try and can't wait to get started!  My first project will be a set of toddlers' big alphabet letters that Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict featured recently on her blog.   You can see the many projects featuring Lara's applique technique during last month's blog hop by visiting her blog at BuzzinBumble and scrolling down to the calendar of participating bloggers.

Blessings abound!  Today I hope to complete the borders on another quilt top destined for Fort McMurray and get a good start on another just beginning to take shape.  Photos soon.  The weekend thunderstorms and sunny skies this morning should make for good garden-growing weather this week.  So glad to have the garden planting pretty much completed and more time in the sewing room for a few days.

Til next time ...