Gifts

It's not even my birthday.



A surprise from a talented potter. Cobalt is my favorite color.



Another friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer recently. As someone in her quilting group, I made a few blocks for her comfort quilt.



It's a raw-edge applique quilt. I don't remember the quilt pattern's name, but the loose edges will ravel once the quilt is washed. Each block was quilted before it was sewn into the quilt.



Even the seams between the blocks will be left exposed to ravel up some. My favorite blocks to make were the squares. The circles kept cupping as I sewed them down, even when starched...though not as much. The quilt is a great stash buster, and the cutting and sewing laughs at perfectionism. I like laughing at perfectionism.



Another surprise came to me this week: thank you cards from a third grade class in Kansas.



Have you ever heard of DonorsChoose.org? Please go visit the site if you get the chance. It's "an online charity connecting you to classrooms in need." The donor gets to chose which project proposal to support, in full or in part, and DonorsChoose will purchase and ship the requested supplies to the classroom. It's awesome.


Finally, my next thank-you blanket.



It's based on the "Look Ma - No Seams!" throw on the blog Things Soo Likes. I'm using Marble Chunky yarn and size US 11 needles. I was worried all the garter stitch would drive me batty by now, but I'm holding steady. Progress happens more quickly with fatter needles.

At least something moves quickly when more girth is involved.