One good turn

At the retreat last month, the mystery project was a sewing machine mat/caddy. Apparently, I in my arm cast was an object of pity to some of my fellow retreaters, so they made a mat for me. I was completely taken off guard by such thoughtfulness. I wasn't even feeling sorry for myself!

The mat was given to me with four tall pockets and four short pockets. To personalize it a tad, I added a couple rows of buttons to create four skinny pockets in the short tier. (Ideally, the pockets would be hanging freely off the edge of the table and not against a drop leaf, but bad lighting and a lack of table space is just my lot in life right now.)

By the way, I don't know where to find the pattern for the mat. If you do, please post the source (like the designer's name/website) in the comments. I have tucked this mat/caddy in with my Featherweight so it's ready to be unfurled the next time I take a class.

Now, if you have read this far, congratulations. You may be very close to receiving something in my first-ever blog giveaway. This week, Lauren at my aunt june announced she is taking part in a blog wave called Pay It Forward. I didn't watch the entire movie of the same name, but from what I gathered, both the movie and the blog movement advocate the practice of one good turn deserves another. Or, in this case, three others.

It goes just like this: The first three people who post a comment to this entry will receive a handmade goody from me sometime this year, probably sooner than later, but *only* if they announce on their own blogs that they will do likewise for three of their readers.

And on and on it goes.

Now, to be clear, I am not a recipient of any blog giveaway. Whether or not I am, of course, doesn't make any difference. I'm doing this because of a handful of thoughtful ladies I met for the first time last month. And because I think it's a cool idea. And because Lord knows I've got enough materials piled around the walls of my studio that three gifts aren't going to make much of a dent in them.

Once the three make their comments, I'll contact them for their addresses.

Oh, and finally, here was the last of this year's farmers' market tomatoes. I snacked on them earlier tonight and now there are no more.