The next hand-quilted project: The Naked Forest

This "Naked Forest" quilt already has a story.

I used a great tutorial from Film in the Fridge. Her work is always fresh & modern - it was a perfect choice for all of the green print fabrics I'd collected.

Once I completed this quilt top, I knew I wanted to hand-quilt it.

I sent it to Melear Fabrics to baste on their longarm quilting machine.

They shipped it back to me, but the address was read incorrectly by the postal service. It ended up three states away, sitting in a holding area. Fortunately, the folks at my local post office were able to track it down.

There were a few very uncertain weeks.... Luckily, it arrived 27 days after it was shipped, unharmed.

Here, you can see the black basting thread up-close.

I started quilting it on Sunday, December 18, 2011. Today, I have 4 of 169 blocks quilted.

Let's see how long it takes for this to finish!

(If anyone wants to help the hand-stitching....)

details: 104x104, backing: Kona Tarragon, expected binding: Kona Basil Green, Batting: White Quilters Dream Request Loft W3K

Jasmine's Playplace

I used this great Cardtable Playhouse pattern from Empty Bobbin's blog.

The pattern was easy to follow and fun to customize.

Jasmine's colors are pink and purple. I think she'll love playing in her own playplace!

Now, she needs some mail for her mailbox.

[hidden french seams on the corners]

This is by far the pinkest thing I've ever made.

Packages, Packages, Packages

If you know me, you know I do not like to shop. In stores.

I do most of my shopping on the internet - or, "ordernet" as my friend calls it.

The ordernet has really changed the way I think about the retail process.

It's been fabulous, really. The comparison shopping without driving around town or without driving from town to town.

My postal carrier, however, is not so excited by my retail needs.

Below you'll see how I get my packages delivered.

So, of course, the obvious joke would entail a variation on the theme of"going postal..." but I can't joke about it.

Not while my precious, precious, fabrics, books, and whatnots suffer the fate of the delivery process!