The Cardinals Are Home Again...

 

While I was at Primitive Gatherings yesterday for Sewcial Sisters, I collected my Winter Song quilt to bring home. In the package along with my cardinals and First Place ribbon, were two surprises...prizes I earned for first place in my category.

I earned a fat eighths full assortment of Red and White Gatherings from Primitive Gatherings, along with a $300 gift card for the shop!! When I realized what I'd received, my first words to Kathy D and the ladies were "I'm gobsmacked!" When Lisa Bongean joined our group after her live YouTube video earlier in the afternoon, I thanked her for her generosity. I'll be sending out a thank you card today. 

I've made and competed more than a few quilts (and my quilted elephant) in the past. They've been shown from SW Florida to southern Wisconsin - and even at the World Quilt Show - and I've earned beautiful ribbons, but this is the first time I received prizes, too. Generous prizes. I'm so very grateful.

I'll be hanging my ribbon with the others, and Winter Song will join Song of Spring in my studio. Every time I glance at them, I'll remember that 2022 was a quilting year to remember. Thanks again, Lisa!

A Pair of 'Possum Pouches...

 

I managed to make a couple new zippered pouches today...'Possum Pouches! I purchased these fabrics as samples from Spoonflower a few years ago and knew I had to pair them with the new opossum zipper pulls I just got.

One of these (of course) is mine, and my sister has already claimed the second. (She feeds opossums around her property, too.)

 

While I know that only baby opossums hang from their tails (adults are too large to use their tails this way), I think they're perfect for this fabric combination.

 

I paired the opossum fabric with a grey cork fabric. 

I went through my fabric bolts and decided on this fox print (yes, I have others) to use with my fox zipper pulls. The fabric behind this is going to be used for the lining. Same sister said I need to make more than just a zippered pouch with this combination. I guess I may need to make another handbag, or perhaps a Bryn wallet? What do you think?

My finger still hurts, so I'm going to avoid cutting with my rotary cutter for a while. (Not the best ask for me when the quilt show is breathing down my neck!) The down pressure while cutting fabric is almost unbearable. Instead, I'm heading up to Larsen today for this month's Sewcial Sisters. I think a little needlework will be just what the doctor ordered. 

Our twin nieces celebrated their 7th Birthday yesterday, and they'd like me to make bears for them, too. I'll be taking fabric and fibers to stitch the apron/tummy embroideries while I'm at Primitive Gatherings. I'll sew the bears another day. I found patterns for unicorn stuffies, too, so I may change my mind on what they'll receive. Either way, I'm doing needlework today!

New Hardware...

 

I received my newest hardware order yesterday, and I'm anxious to use them in upcoming bags and other creations. I just love them! They're really high quality and heavy weight, and I love the detail.

Looking at them from top left to right: opossum, fox, mushrooms, Tree of Life, cat, treble clef. Front row:

White owl and Harry Potter's Deathly Hallows symbol. I've already got so many ideas in mind for these. I think you're going to love them!

I sewed today, but stopped before dinner time. My right index finger knuckle is killing me. It feels like a red hot poker in the joint, and even wakes me up at night. I've been taking ibuprofen, but it doesn't always help. I only tell you this so you know why you haven't seen any new finished bags yet. I have an appointment first thing this morning, but I'm hoping to actually finish the bags I started last week.

In the meantime, I'm going to plan what I'll be doing with these just as soon as those bags are finished. I promise the finished products are definitely going to be fun!