Changes and down time

I have been a little quiet this week and last week on my blog.  I haven't finished sharing the goodies from two weekends ago and I had at least three other topics I wanted to blog on but sometime in the last two weeks I hit a wall.  I have blogged a minimum and have not felt motivated to blog more.  Actually I think flickr and the DQS10 is mostly to blame.  I have been trying to be chatty as I figure out my design plan.  I hope to catch up this weekend. 

Meanwhile I wanted to share something on the personal front.  I have made it known how five years ago I was diagnosed with cancer, went through chemo and lost all of my hair.  Before I started chemo I donated about 14 inches of hair to Locks for Love.    I have spent the last 5 years letting my hair grow back out.  It came in really dark and curly, though has straightened out and lightened up a bit.  It took a while to get used to it as I used to have dark blond hair.  I freaked in my shower for the first 2 years when I found the dark hair.  LOL!  So last night I went with my sister to her hair dresser and ... prepared for another donation.

This time I decided to send my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.  The wigs they make are donated to people who need them through the American Cancer Society.   My sister also talked me into a not too drastic color which actually is very close to my original natural blonde. 

It is like traveling through a time warp to my hair this color again.  And isn't it funny how we always look a little demented when we take a picture of ourselves in the mirror.

I have been packing up my mug rugs to send for the swap, of course I again sealed the package before I took a picture of all the goodies I am sending.  I added a fat eighth of an adorable birdcage fabric with 2 coordinating fat quarters.  I also added a small roll of ribbon with little birds on it, three matching skeins of embroidery floss, and a scrappy pin cushion I made from the mug rug scraps.

Keep dreaming...Colleen



$.75 fat quarters!  $.50 vintage glass ware! 
More goodies from the Quilting and Needle Art Extravaganza.

Here is shop info.



And it came with fabric, buttons, and...

Check out this giveaway at p.s.I quilt...

This is the pile of quilting goodies I found under the tree for me on Christmas.

Mom , Dad, and Kelly really got it this Christmas! 

Starting with gifts from mom...

 Ric Rac!

Thread!

Fabric!  Including 3 coordinated fat quarter bundles,
 two fat quarters, and three yards of Kona solids!

and a thread box.

This nifty little suction cup is a tool I saw my Dad use to lift marble tiles,

 and I thought how great it would be for holding rulers! 

It was under the tree!  Thanks Dad!

Now Kelly proved she was indeed 2 quilt and one bag worthy,

 with these lovely finds on Etsy

handmade buttons from wollybuttbears!!!

But this by far was my FAVORITE Christmas present! 

 I have wanted one of these since I started quilting more than 15 years ago!  My father has a beautiful cast iron base one, I have lusted for since he bought it at the giant Labor Day fleamarket in Hillsville, Va.

Not sure what it is yet? 

 Dad said when he bought it at an antique mall it was painted ugly green all over.  So with his usual thoroughness he repainted and refinished it.  The red and black he repainted the base with seemed to be the original colors under the ugly paint.

Mom and Dad said they have been looking for one for me for years.

Still not sure what it is?

It's a antique Victorian clothes dryer!  It hangs on the wall open or closed.  Open it is great for hanging fabric strips, quilt block rows, etc to keep things organized.  I have some red and white ribbon hanging on it(package left overs for embellishment!).  I'll post a picture when it gets hung up.  I found a website where you can buy a reproduction one,  but I like the old ones best.

I really have wondeful family!

(of course it helped to prepare a quilters gift guide before hand, he he he)

Keep dreaming…Colleen