My lovely new sketchbook...

I got the nicest present today.  It wasn't unexpected but it was deeply appreciated. 

I've mentioned before that I'm in a group called 'The Twelve of Us' made up of 12 quilters all across the country.  Every 6 weeks we have a new challenge to complete.  The first time was to make a purse or tote bag that incorporated yoyos.  The purse I received from Penny is on the left and the purse I made Elizabeth is on the right.

'Twelve of Us' Purse Challenge

Today is the mailing deadline for our second challenge - a quilted and embellished sketchbook.  I've mailed mine to Charlyn and am waiting for her to receive it before I share pictures here.  But I'm fortunate to live close enough to the generous lady, Thearica, who had my name.  I met her for lunch today and came home, literally, with a basket full of goodies.  This is the sketchbook cover she made for me...

Sketchbook Cover

She appliqued my initial on it and then created a beautiful garden below it with hand-dyed lace, beads and charms.  My pictures really do not do it justice.  On the inside cover, she created a pocket with a list pad.  (I'm a consummate list maker.)

Inside cover

Please excuse the cat in my pictures.  I couldn't keep David off of it.  The inside of the back cover has a place for several pens and pencils...

Inside back cover

She really put a lot of thought into the function of this sketchbook cover.  But what really impressed me was all the embellishments on it.  Check out these details...

I just keep looking at because each time I see something new I hadn't noticed.  I just love everything about it.

But that wasn't all.  She also gave me a hand-made basket filled with goodies.  It felt like Christmas as I looked through everything...

Basket full of goodies

I believe she said the Mennonites made the basket.  Inside was a jar of her homemade pickles (I've heard tales of how good they are).

Homemade pickles

She said they taste best chilled so they're in the fridge right now.  Also in the basket was a ton of things to use for crazy quilting.  Our next challenge is to make a 12"x12" nature inspired crazy quilt and she knew I had never done anything like that.  Look at all these beads, lace and charms...

Beads, lace, and charms for crazy quilting

Here's a closeup of a few of the pieces of lace she gave me.  Won't they work perfectly for a nature art quilt?

Laces

She also included a bunch of pieces of fabric to use for crazy quilting.  Although I have a lot of cotton fabric for quilting, crazy quilting uses silk, velvet and other types of fabric I just don't have.  They're in all shades of green...

Fabrics for crazy quilting

I can't tell you what a blessing these are to me.  There's so many materials involved in making a crazy quilt that I just didn't have and her sharing from her stash is so very sweet and helpful of her.

I had so much fun opening everything she gave me and it's given me such a lift on a day when I really needed it.  I got my blood work back from the doctor today and everything came back normal.  You would think that would make me happy, but it just means that the reason I feel so bad is because of my fibromyalgia.  And there's really nothing I can do to improve it but patiently wait it out.  So thank you Thearica for making me smile and laugh today!

I managed to get a bunch of pictures of David today.  Mainly because he parked himself on my new sketchbook and refused to move!

David on my new sketchbook

Don't his eyes just glow?

Enjoying the sunshine

Until later...

Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. 

Job 1:20-21 (NIV)