A Homecoming & Charmed Online!

I know I've been quiet for almost a week, but that's what happens when dust storms, a sneaky warm-weather cold bug and asthma gang up on a person! SIGH! Nothing has been achieved here this week, as I bundled myself up warm, drank lots of fluids, kept my nose in a book and prayed for rain to alleviate the dry, dusty conditions that are making my asthma unhappy. I don't usually have too much of a problem, but add the cold bug that someone shared with me (and when I find out who it was, I just might thank them with a punch on the nose!!) and my body rebelled. However, I'm starting to feel a bit more human today, not coughing quite so much and my nose is no longer doing a tap impersonation, so next week should be better.

Having said all that ... this week wasn't without a couple of bright spots. The first came when there was a knock at my door on Wednesday. I opened it to find Miss Mary from Fresh Hope Patterns on my doorstep with a little blanket-wrapped bundle. Hmmm ... what could it be? Well ... a couple of years ago, I donated one of my pattern designs to Fresh Hope Patterns, a pattern for a little girly bear in her jammies and holding her dolly and called her Taylah Bear, after one of our nieces. Now Taylah Bear has been on a Grand Tour, visiting a number of patchwork and quilting stores that support Fresh Hope and it seems she'd become a little homesick and asked Miss Mary to bring her home. Here she is ...

Isn't she a sweetie! Here she is clutching her dolly, ready for bed. Hmmm ... wait a minute ... what's in her OTHER paw??? THAT wasn't there when she left home!


Apparently, Miss Mary made Taylah Bear her very own special blankie to help her feel at home as she travelled around to promote Fresh Hope Patterns! Hasn't she done a lovely job! The variegated thread she's used for the blanket-stitched edging is so pretty, not to mention that cute little bear and the garden he's sitting in! Thank you Miss Mary! It's lovely to have Taylah Bear Home, and her sister, Nara, was especially glad to see her again. In fact, they were SOOOOOOOOO excited to be reunited, that it was VERY hard to get them to go to bed that first night! Here they are sitting on the bed in the spare room, chatting and exchanging stories of their adventures ...


Don't they look snuggly?!?! One in her pretty nighty and lacy bloomers and the other in her lace-trimmed jammies - both with their very own blankie! :0)

The second bright spot came today when the postie made a parcel delivery with his usual charm and finesse of an Olympic hammer thrower!! (he stands at the gate and hurls packages onto the front verandah! Good thing I don't usually receive breakables in the mail!!) OOOOOOOHHHHH!!! How EXCITING!! I'd been waiting for this package all week!! You see, I was enjoying a little read of my blogging buddy Peg's blog a week or two ago when she mentioned Sarah's tempting on-line fabric shop Patchwork Plus. So ... I thought I REALLY SHOULD have a little LOOK! Uh oh!!! Can you see where this story is heading?!?! Shhhhhhh!! Don't tell my mother that I blew the budget! Tee! Hee! Hee! Yes ... I found myself thoroughly "Charmed" by Sarah's goodies and just had to order a couple of things - that arrived today!

Aren't they YUMMY!! You can see why I was "CHARMED"!! Tee! Hee! Hee! These are from two ranges I hadn't come across before, "Northern Solitude" and "Spring Magic". I have NO idea what I'm going to do with them yet, they may become new quilt designs, they may be used for bags, they may become Christmas gifties for lucky people ... the possibilities are endless!!! But for now ... I'm just going to fondle and enjoy them for a bit!! Thanks Sarah for wonderful prompt service - and do you see the cute little rosette thingy she popped on the invoice? How sweet!! And thanks to Super Stitcher Peg for leading me astray ... I mean ... pointing me in the direction of Patchwork Plus! :0)

And now ... I'm off to make a cup of Cinnamon tea and contemplate what to make for dinner ... or maybe I'll just go play with my new charm squares for a little while first! :0) Hope you have a fun weekend planned with some stitching and time with friends and family scheduled! Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS