Welcomed back!

After one of my longest summer vacations ever, I arrived home in Florida yesterday. Being my birthday (and I'm sure he would have done it anyway) my husband had picked some wild flowers from our garden and displayed them in one of my pitchers, part of an oil and vinegar set that I never use but leave it out on the counter.

And I opened only two pieces of mail even though I have STACKS of it, but the rest can wait, these two were special, being the gifts I had won at two blog give-aways. Lisa from Upstatelisa had a giveaway for one of her sun-print fabrics and I was the lucky winner!

My other package was from Candy's giveaway at Candied Fabrics.  She had a giveaway for one of Quilting Arts Gift Magazine, in which she had two projects, one for an ipad sleeve and another for her journal covers both featuring her really cool machine sketching which I am determined to try out this winter, probably on a journal cover. Candy also included a gorgeous piece of one of her Candied fabrics!

I am certainly going to enjoy some tea breaks as I browse through Quilting Arts gifts, trying to decide what projects I'll use these beautiful pieces of fabrics in! Thank You Ladies!

Reading and Games

 I finally broke down and bought an e-reader. With summer vacation approaching I wanted to be able to load up a few books onto a single device rather than fill my suitcase with books. I also wanted something in color so the Color Nook is now my new toy. Of course I needed a little carrying case so this is what I made .....

 I can slide my reader in one side and keep paper notes in the additional pocket on the same side. On the other side I have a notepad and a spot for a pen and a stylus. The outside is in the batik fabric and it has a velcro close. I'm ready for summer reading!

Over at Tangled Textiles the clues to our chosen game quilt are being posted so I thought I'd share my first attempts at some fabrics for my quilt. I have lots of sketches including some done on my new reader! But I can't share those for awhile yet. I have to respect the reveal date of June 15th.


My friend Jackie invited me to her place earlier this week and four of us experimented with Dyna-flow paints. Jackie had the supplies and knowledge and generously shared it all with us. I created a few pieces of fabric that may make into my games quilt.