Postcard from Sweden Tips for Success

I, along with Helen of Midget Gem Quilts, recently hosted a QAL for making the absolutely gorgeous Postcard from Sweden quilt, a pattern I downloaded from (affiliate link here) Craftsy (free!!) shortly after I became a member. It is designed by the talented Kelly of Jeli Quilts, and is still graciously offered as a free download. Here is my finished quilt back in April on the little stone bridge over Mill Creek which runs into Lake Erie:

Cat Mats Finish

This was one of my Q2FAL goals, to make four cat mats. My list is here. I'm happy to report that as of this week, I have completed that goal.

Here are two of them, modelled by the ever-cooperative Bella:

Seriously, she just loves to pose for the camera! She actually was a huge factor in the design process of these first two...

Plus Playtime QAL Flimsy Parade & Giveaway

Here we go! Lots of you got your row 3, ha, maybe even your rows 2 AND 3, all done right away, so feel free to link up an older post, no need to write up a new one. Instagram and Flickr posts work too; just use the URL in the toolbar in the linkup widget.

This week for a finished top (save the finished quilt for the grand prize drawing) I am giving away the second $25 gift certificate to Stitch Stash Diva, done once again by random draw. I'm so pleased with the variety and number of participants in the QAL! If you don't have a blog or your Instagram is private, email me a photo and I'll link it for you using my own Instagram account. It's wonderful to see all the quilts out there!

A Bit of Everything

I was dark almost all weekend, meaning I stayed off-line. Didn't read blogs, didn't post on Instagram, except for my yoga challenge and one quilt photo, didn't even look at gmail. So my apologies if you're wondering why I haven't read your TBT post or responded to a comment. However, I was pretty productive, despite not sewing at all on Saturday because of IRL commitments.

The first item on the catch-up list is the Fireburst mystery that Tish of Tish N Wonderland is hosting. This is my fabric pull...

Throwback Thursday #6 Fan Cushion

Welcome to TBT for June! This is where we bring out quilts we made before our blogging days, photograph them and tell their stories. There are always stories. Remember the Chicken Soup books that used to be so popular? I think a collection of these quilty stories would make an awesome book right? Well, it's like you're getting that for free, so meander through the links below and enjoy.

I mentioned earlier this week in my Playful Pillows post for Island Batik that I would be telling this cushion's story on TBT.

Playful Pillows

Our Island Batik Ambassador assignment for May was to create a pillow, aka cushion, cover, incorporating piecing or quilting. I had so many ideas! That can be not so good when trying to focus. So I thought I'll let things percolate on the back burner of my brain and work on one of my H2H quilts which were also due in May.

And then as you know life threw me a curve ball and before I even got the binding on the H2H quilt, I found myself 2000 miles away and lost nearly three weeks of May. On the way back to reality and home and routine, I knew exactly what I would make for my assignment: I'd recreate the pieced and quilted cushion I made for my mum many years ago.

Plus Playtime QAL: Row 3 Construction

Well I am finding lots to smile about this past week, amid the tears that come upon me when not always expected. I am so very grateful to those of you who have written to me to tell me how much you like my quilt! I am so touched by the time dear friends have taken to write to me personally, sharing their thoughts, and told me sweet things about my blog...your words have meant so much to me, have raised my spirits, and I thank you so very very much. Yoga teaches ahimsa: do no harm. I also like to add: do good works. And so please know that I will be paying these small yet priceless kindnesses forward.