Just sent off block to Jo in Australia

I sure hope you like my block Jo when you receive it, because it sure cost a lot to mail it from the states! Nothing against any of you lovely ladies in other countries as it has nothing to do with you, but the US post office sure charges a small fortune to mail a letter out of the country!!! I am curious if Jo and you other ladies living in another country find your postal rates high too? I was speechless when I was told I had to pay $6.65 to mail a small envelope because she asked what it was and I told her (should I have lied? would it have been cheaper??). Maybe if I had used a large envelope it would be cheaper? But then using a large envelope does cost more to mail because of it's size. I was charged  more because it was "merchandise", not documents or correspondence. Did others mailing to other countries have to pay this much? If I had to send all my blocks out of country I'd be broke doing this swap. Who knew?

I did just join a mug rug swap and I had the option to send only in the US, which I chose because I knew a mug rug would cost more to mail. Glad I did because I am sure it would have been double what I just paid.

Okay now that I am (somewhat) over my mailing shock, I would be curious to know how you feel about such high postal rates.
--Daryl

Block mailed to Tracy

I mailed out my block to Tracy today!   I love this swap!
Trudie

Cathy - Block Mailed

I totally forgot!

I put this in the mail to Linda yesterday!  :)  Enjoy!

Blocks in the mail

I posted the blocks to Lyn and Phyllis this morning. They are both in-state, so should receive them this week!

They are on their way from OZ

Marilyn and Susan your blocks are on their way. Hope they will be there super quick. Past history has shown about 3 weeks. Stay calm.....

Quilt Shop Block to Share

This is the quilt block I would like to swap, except I am going to make a new quilt for it.   The colors I used just don't pop. 

Trudie

January Swap Blocks - Quilt Shops

It is swap time again and here is the random generator list:

We had one late entry and Tracy wanted to swap with her so Trudie and Tracy will be swapping with each other even though their names are not on the list.

Here are the January swap blocks.  Please have them in the mail no later than Monday, February 9th and report here or to me by email.

Pin Cushion Block Instructions

Hello swappers!  I hope you had a wonderful January and got lots of sewing done.

I have emailed the pattern for the pin cushion blocks.  There are two attachments, one for the pattern and the other for the applique' cushion.  Please remember to measure the square and verify that it is 1" before you begin.  I think you will find that this month's pattern is very easy and makes up quickly.  

Please use a white on white background fabric for all of the background fabric.  Please hand or machine stitch the pins in and add beads to the ends to make them look real.  Please make one Pin Cushion Block AND one Between block.  Do not sew them together so the recipient can use them in the order they desire.  

You can make a maximum of 6 blocks to swap.

WE ARE NEARLY DONE!  In March we will make the final row of blocks and then I will release the border pattern for April.  We will be swapping border blocks in April to finish up.  I like a variety of fabrics in mine so the swap gives us that. We are finishing just in time because I just found out this week that my daughter is getting married in May.  

Two more shops to swap.

Denise and Linda Th each have a shop ready to swap.

Denise made this one.

Linda made this one.

Polka Dot Roof to Swap!

Here are my store blocks. I will trade the one with the polka dot roof. 
Marilyn

Cathy - Quilt Shops Done!

I'm finally done! All five shops are finished with a day to spare. :)  I'm having a hard time giving these up.  I'm going to keep this one...

And this one...

I'm going to swap this one...

And keep these...

Deana, thanks for such a fun project.  I've had a blast making these blocks.  :)

Moira - Jan update

No blocks to swap from me this time.   Life has been too busy, so I'll have to buy the next block.

Hopefully Feb. will cooperate better, and I'll start to finally feel better after heading to the ENT to get this 5 month old infection under control and gone.

A shop to swap from Edith.

Here is Edith's block to swap.

I have 2 blocks to swap this time. Lucy

Susan: One Block to Swap

I can only wish this were made on my hand crank Singer. It needs a bobbin cover that fits. This is The Quilted Horse, but there's no place for words, so the quilt works like the old Amish signs - a picture of what the store is.

Cheryl's Quilt Shop blocks finished

I made 2 quilt shop blocks, one to trade, one to keep.  Both blocks were made on my 1959 Singer Spartan hand crank.

1959 Singer Spartan hand crank

I've made all my other blocks on this same machine, but, I had been using the motor on the machine instead of the hand crank.  It's much more fun to sew with the hand crank instead of the motor.

block I'm trading

block I'm keeping

Notice the vintage sewing machines in the window quilt blocks.  If I ever have a quilt shop, it will have LOTS of my vintage sewing machines in the shop, too.

Cathy - Block Received

I got my last block in the mail yesterday from Jo....

 

Isn't it pretty?!?  Thank you Jo!  I love it!

 

Block Received

I received my block from Kathie.   It is so cute and so different.   I am not sure when it arrived as I have been out of town and it was in my stack of mail.  Thanks Kathie.
Trudie

Quilt Shop Block

Quilt shop block to swap

The quilt on my shop is no match for Cathy's quilts! They are lovely. Mine is a bit homespun!

Cathy - Quilts for the Shop Windows

I just had to share!  I absolutely love these little guys!

Today I start building the quilt shops that go with the quilts.  :)

three more blocks to show off

These are the pics that I will keep.  Once again the pics are distorted and cloudy. 
I have put the blocks that I have ready together and they look great. 

Shop block swap

This is the block that I will be exchanging.  I wanted to keep it but....I loved doing this row.  I think it has been my favorite.  Sorry the picture looks a little cloudy. 

Quilt Shops - Cathy

I got so excited when this month's pattern came from Deana because each shop pattern has a place for a tiny quilt to hang. I knew immediately that I wanted to play with my Dear Jane software and miniaturize some blocks to be the quilts in my blocks. Yesterday I printed up my patterns and last night I put together this little guy. This is D-10, Battlefield.

 

After I made it, I realized that I had made it to finish at 3-1/2" when it is supposed to finish at 3".  I trimmed it to 3-1/2" which is what you see above.  It looks like when I use it to make my quilt shop that the outside coral plaid will disappear.  Most likely this one will end up on a shop I keep because of that error.  I did reprint my other patterns this morning so they'll be the right size.  Don't you just love it???  I'm so excited about this.  Can't wait to get home tonight and start the next block.

Shop to swap - Lorri

Lorri has a darling shop to swap!  She also wants me to  report that she received Edith's beautiful block today.