Attention!!!!

Since I do not yet know how to reverse the order of these posts, please bear with me...Start reading at the post entitled "What is a Siggy" and work your way back up. Maybe i will figure this out.

Friendship

In a few days I hope to post the completed quilt, quilted and bound. Just as the block says friendship held together, warm, and comforting, humbling and treasured.

Thank you ladies.

My excitement was growing with the quilt. Each neighborhood added to a beautiful mosaic of friends from around the globe. I felt the strength of two joining with two more and then four and eight and on and on until 120 friends were gathered together to celebrate my birthday. When I gazed upon the finished top I felt like someone had just opened the door to my surprise party. I was thrilled and humbled.

Trimming the blocks

As I sewed these little jewels into groups of four I trimmed them to the same size. I felt all of my worry and apprehension fall way just like the little slivers of fabric. They were coming together, my little blocks were becoming neighborhoods.

While I was busy...

sewing, my embroidery machine was too. He is such a talented little brother;)

I began choosing the siggys totally at random and sewing them two by two. I had the opportunity to think about the hands that made each of these blocks for me. A very warm feeling.

What is a Siggy?

A few years ago, I joined some online quilt groups. The first one I joined was Dear Jane in honor of the Jane Stickle quilt. I then joined numerous others I was introduced to through the original. Quickly I began reading the chatter about siggies...I though what the heck, I gave up sigs 20 years ago. Why would would I want to sign up to exchange them?

Live and Learn...siggies are signature blocks swappped all around the globe. Little squares of friendship. I decided to join the fun. Well, just like the old cigs these were addictive but unlike the others, these are very health enriching. I joined a birthday swap along with 120 other quilters and we swapped these little treasures. We received a list from our "swap mommy" then near each of the recipient's birthday we sent them a block. In your birthday month you were scheduled to receive 120 blocks from your invisible friends. Great fun!

I decided to put my blocks together with embroidered blocks that signified each month, ending with a beautiful block entitled "Friendship". Here follows the gathering of these friends into a very warm, cheerful, birthday hug.

Bonus baskets

I belong to a group of quilters online called

"BasketCases". Thus far we have been making basket blocks and I am behind. Can you believe that? last week I began playing catch up and I decided to let my embroidery machine make a few baskets for me while I worked on the others by hand. Here are my embroidered blocks. I purchased the files from embroidery library. They take a while to stitch out but they are beautiful.

Completed Projects

I just took a peek at my Works in Progress list and Yippee!! I had to remove 4 items from the list. I finished Laney's hearts, titled "all My Hearts"...Tyler's quilt from the featherweight....3 Baby quilts for Harlie...and Lauren's USAF thank you quilt. Now mind you I need to add others but I did indeed finish some.

Gator Nation

Gator nation quilt is completed and delivered. I appliqued the center and of course pieced the rest. It is quilted with grid work and football shapes, aka ovals. The quilt turned out fabulous and I think Robby is very happy. I hope he will cuddle up with his little wife under this quilt and enjoy the evenings. Both of them remembering all the reasons they have to give thanks.

Remember the DIL who was a Southern Miss? Here is a link to her new dance studio. RiverPointe Dance Academy.This little sweetie is taking Mommy and Me class, she is a prima ballerina.

Take a look and come in to dance, it is really fun as you can see. You don't even realize you are exercising too!!

riverpointedance.com