Yay! I have finally finished a CQ block! Remember that thing about nicest of the nice? One of the ladies on the CQ list (Lori) has gotten an unexpected kidney transplant, and our first "Hearts and Flowers Showers" goes to her. All those who sign up will send a block to Lori with the theme of "Hearts and Flowers." Hope she likes it!

I made the center heart motif using a pre-programmed heart already in my Bernina. I thought about what I would feel like if I had received a new kidney, and the most profound feeling was gratitude. In addition to hearts and flowers, I wanted to shower her with blessings and joy! Congratulations, Lori! And if you want to know about Lori, check out her blog over at http://love2quilt22002.blogspot.com/. Lori does amazing cross-stitch work!

The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild has an annual tea. You must wear a hat (What? No Gloves?) and there is a challenge. Last year, the challenge was to make a pincushion, and this year, the challenge was to do something related to tea. Postcard, wallhanging, anything...so my original idea was to make a beaded tea pot wallhanging, but I could see I wasn't going to finish in time. Lesa on the CQ list posted a Crazy Quilt teapot a while back, and I decided I could do that quickly, using the clip art pattern I already had and a block I had already started. It turned out smaller than I anticipated, and the teapot lid looks like a beret, but...it's done! Here's the inspiration teapot: http://www.sharonmanndesigns.com/craztquiltpot.html

How do you like that real tea bag? Too clever!

More goodies, just for being the 400th member to join the Crazy Quilting for Newbies group! I think I'm set for life! I still can't get over the generosity from these ladies. And notice all the brights and HONKIN ORANGE! It would take me a lifetime to accumulate the variety of fabrics, trims, and threads they have shared. My heart is touched and I am grateful from the bottom of my heart!

All caught up now on swaps! I got a little overconfident and started signing up for more than one swap. My thought for the alphabet series was that I would work on the catch up group, as well as join the in-progress group, and meet somewhere in the middle of the alphabet. I guess I'm not organized enough, but that ain't working for me, so I'm going back to just working through the alphabet in order. This is "S is for Swirls", and I just found out I'm not past due on it, but early! It's not due until July 15th! A mind is a terrible thing to waste. And in the words of Dan Quayle, what a waste it is to lose one's mind.