Last Thursday was my birthday and DH took the day off work so that we could go on a little jaunt together. He asked me where would I like to go...I said - the quilting shop please! Quilting shops are few and far between around here the best one that I've found - Patchwork Chicks in Barrowford, is about 30-40 mins away depending on the traffic. Barrowford is a lovely little village as well, very picturesque and so perfect for a little trip out. We spent a lovely time in the shop choosing some fat quarters, had a walk in the lovely Autumny park and then a nice hot cup of coffee before returning home in time to collect the children from school (and play with the new fabric!)
While we were out...the postman had been and left me a card to collect a parcel but it was Monday before I was able to collect it. So frustrating to know there's a parcel waiting and not be able to go and get it! Anyway, it was the most lovely surprise. I joined in the Stitcher's Angel swap this year...my first time swapping anything in the sewing community actually. The parcel was the gifts from my own Stitcher's Angel who turned out to be May Britt from Norway. Goodness me what an absolute treat awaited me in the parcel...here's a picture.
Aren't those little bags absolutely fabulous? I already know what I'm going to be putting in them and it will be stitching related, lol! May Britt also sent me a beautiful pincushion - I love pincushions and am always admiring them and never making them for myself! Also included were a lovely little stitchery that I shall complete and hang in my sewing room and some fabulous applique pins...I have wanted some of these for simply ages and not been able to find them in the shops near here. I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to May Britt for such beautifully made gifts. They could not have arrived on a better day than my birthday!
Although I have plenty of things that I should have been finishing off I was eager to have a little play with my latest Inklingo download that DH had kindly bought as part of my birthday present....this was the reason I wanted to go to the quilting shop so that I could buy some fabric to fussy cut. I was able to have a quick play on Thursday night and I'm totally hooked on these little shapes - even DH is impressed and likes them. Yesterday the postman brought the rest of my Inklingo order which was the Patchwork of the Crosses book and the Quilted Diamonds DVD. The book is lovely and it's really helpful to have all of the info in one place. The DVD is fantastic...originally, I only bought it in order to watch the hand piecing lessons so that I could make sure I was constructing the POTC blocks properly. Of course now, having watched and seen the diamonds...I am wanting to make some of those too and without doubt Linda's Quilted Diamonds 1 and 2 will be winging their way to me as soon as I've finished a few more projects.
This is my partially completed first POTC block - the fabric is just gorgeous, I bought a few fat quarters from the same range because I loved the colours and designs so much. One of the patterns had different patterned stripes on it which will be great as I can get lots of different fussy cut shapes from that one.
The rest of my birthday present has also arrived - yesterday a lovely book by Sue Daley, the next Bluebirds of Hope quilt block and a gorgeous Don't Look Now pattern and today my biscornu finally arrived.
What a fabulous post week! I'll certainly be rather busy for the forseeable future - wonderful :D
Now if only there were more hours in the day and I didn't need sleep and it wasn't half term I could be extremely productive, lol!
Oh my word, you are going to be seriously busy! Very nice projects to be getting on with eh? :D
Posted by: Natty | 28 October 2009 at 01:36 PM
Very happy belated birthday.
Lots of lovely goodies there for you to work your way through.
Toni :o)
Posted by: Toni | 28 October 2009 at 07:15 PM
Wow! You struck gold having May Britt as your swap partner. Her work is so inspiring and the gifts she sent to you are just lovely.
You have some lovely projects lined up.
Posted by: Margaret | 02 December 2009 at 10:55 AM