Surprise parcels….

I so enjoyed our Name Game Swap that Anorina over at Samelia’s Mum organised earlier this year and I had to wear my ‘Patience’ hat, as my mini quilt was coming from far across the waters……Canada…..which is a lot of swim strokes in my books!!!!  But it was well worth the wait…. ……how could I have anticipated such a swap????….It is just magnificent….with hand painted sky, and specially dyed fabric for the water from a very special friend, threadpainted sugarcane (and yes, Janet….I could definitely tell it was sugarcane….very professional!!!), … along with texture magic-ed palm leaves….I feel very lucky!  Thank you so much Janet….I just want to ask….how did you know my dear husband has black curly hair and ALWAYS wears a cap!!??   LOL  I couldn’t have wished for a better quilt…it’s so very beautiful and will be treasured always and will take pride of place in my sewing room!   And if you head on over to visit Janet in the next day or so, she has a special giveaway going on…but be quick, it closes Friday 13th…..her time!!!! Another swap I love being part of is our Fat Quarter Swap.  We get to swap with a different partner each month, and each month has a different theme.   Last month was our 1st birthday so I got to swap with Naomi (Nomes)  who sent me these regal red and white fabrics, along with some special ‘extras’, some threads (just lurve red threads) and gorgeous  charms….. …and don’t you just love that card????  Those ‘Matryoshka Owls’ are too cute,don’t you think??? Nome's requested some ‘manly’ colours suitable for some ‘Aussie Hero’ quilts she was making so, with my thinking cap on (and a fair bit of brain strain, let me tell you!!!!)…here’s what I sent…. To me, Aussie spells ‘green and gold’ and as this month’s swap theme was ‘one colour’….. manly + one colour =  GREEN!!!!! …..plus some sweet little birthday cake buttons…..well, you really can’t send REAL birthday cakes in the mail, can you???!!!!! LOL Tomorrow I must post these pillowcases I made as part of a challenge proposed by Heidi and Bobbi over at the FNSI to help kids with cancer. I just love the little sneaky pockets that are hidden in the seam of the binding, don’t you? Such an easy pattern but so effective and no seams showing makes it even better.  I got my pattern from here, one of my favourite places! I think I’m going to have to make some more of these at the FNSI on April 20 (next Friday!)….they’re quick and fun and perfect for my Christmas Through the Year box! Plenty more to share with you of the goings on in the past week or so but I think I’ll leave that for tomorrow! Sugary Hugs :O)