A Sister Thing ... Big Reveal

This post is really 2 parts ... What I received and what I sent. This is the second time I've participated in this swap, and I've love both times.  Many thanks to Michele over at Quilts from My Crayon Box for hosting this.  I love following new blogs and meeting new people this way!

Julianne was my wonderful secret sister this summer and she is amazing!

It's a Sister Thing!

Today is all about the swap I participated in this summer.  I got back from my cross-country trip last Monday and am finally getting my bearings.  The first thing I grabbed from my stack of mail waiting on my sewing table was a squishy package that had some really cool treats!

Despite my lack of posting, I think she figured me out.  Right now red/aqua is a favorite combo and I absolutely LOVE the plus mug rug.  Of course, since I got a mug rug, she also included some goodies to go IN that mug.  Yummy!

She also included two little pincushions that look like chickens.  Aren't they the cutest!  Thanks so much to Laurel at Drowning in Fabric.  You hit a home-run--Thanks!

Before I left for MD, I also sent off my goodie bag to my secret sister.  I haven't received word that she got it yet, but I'll post it anyway.  I got to stalk Janet at Caribou Crossings.  She posted even less than I did this summer, so I went way back on her blog; its a good thing she's been posting for more years than I have :)  I also had the great fortune to have worked with her round robin quilt in the few months previous, so I had an idea to work with.

I learned that Janet loves hexies and the great outdoors, so I went with many of the same blues and greens I used in my round robin border and added pops of yellow and orange to add some sunshine.  I used the pattern in Sherri McConnell's A Quilting Life (book.)

Janet also does a lot of handwork, so I included some cute labels, some amazing Clover Clips, and some sticky thimbles.  Hope you enjoy, Janet!

Thanks again to Michele at Quilts from My Crayon Box.  I'm so glad I stumbled on your sweet blog last year!

Some August Sewing

I really can't believe it's half-way through August!  Maybe its because I bought plane tickets this week and I know I'm leaving that I suddenly don't feel like I have enough time to get anything done ...

My 10 Things This Summer

My First Block for the Flower Patch QA
Formal Gardens String Block
One of my gardens
Tetris Quilt
One of Dad's Gardens

I'm going to jump on this bandwagon and perhaps have a more productive summer as a result.  I love this idea, but I can't limit it to just my sewing ...  There is always so much to do and it seems like the struggle to stay balanced is never ending.  My HS history teacher always said she wanted us to be well-rounded people and she threw little extras into her lessons that I will always remember.  I chose my college major--Humanities--thanks to her.  ANYWAY, here are my top ten things to work on this summer (in no particular order) :

It's a Sister Thing!

Heath Girls--Circa 1980??

Last month I signed up for my first swap and today I got my new sister.  SSssshhhh!  I was stoked to try this because I grew up in a family of all girls--there were five of us.  I love all my sisters and always look forward to spending time with them and their kids.  Even though we're spread all across the country, we're still close and try to keep up with each other.