FMQ Sampler Completed! (sort of)

First off I want to say "thanks" to Belinda of Brown Dirt Cottage blog, for this package of "coal" she sent me. She had a contest on her blog recently to see who could guess the number of QUIPS (quilts in progress) she has. I was the first to comment and I guessed 22. I was right! Belinda had said there may even be something for the winner and after telling me I won she told me it would be a lump or two of coal. We used to have a coal burning heating system and coal was a precious commodity. I told her I'd take it for the long winter ahead. It arrived on Saturday and I have already cut some of it up for a small project I am throwing together to use in practicing my FMQ. Hopefully I will like it as much as I think I will.  Anyway--thanks, Belinda, for the package of coal scraps. Nothing says you care like sharing your  hard earned scraps with other quilters. There is something in this package for most anything I might choose to make--from an "I SPY" quilt, to a 30s projects and everything in between--including lots of my favorite "dark and dirty" fabrics!

I was all excited about the fact that I had completed the sampler for my FMQ class, but as I was posting the photo I realized I had somehow missed a row in the cross-hatching. So it is finished, almost, but I am through sewing for the night! It isn't perfect--very far from it--but it is so much better than I ever imagined I could do when I first attempted FMQ last month. I have saved all of my practice sandwiches and this evening I placed my first one, found here, next to this completed sampler. What a difference. I have had two great teachers and have learned different things from each one. I think I can actually say I am enjoying it.

I dropped in on the newest of our LQSs today. The week of your birthday you get half your age in percentage off your purchase. One time it is nice to be old! I treated myself to another CW inspired pattern and the big pieces of fabric needed for borders and sashing. Who knows when I will make it, but I love it.

Hopefully now that the soap is all made and my FMQ class is over I can get back to actually piecing something and share the progress. I also have to bind the secret quilt, but I can't share that progress.
Until next time, from the little mountain valley where we may have a white Thanksgiving,
Janet O.