Rita, your two little quilts from the reel blocks are so cute! I love them.

It is good to hear that everyone is starting to receive their packages. I loved seeing all of them and sorting them and it was a little sad to package them up and send them on their way. But I know they all went to good homes and now the excitement will be to see all of the creative projects that will be done with them. I had such a wonderful time helping Rosemary with this exchange.

My parents arrived last Monday. My DH has been entertaining them this week while I worked, but we've had fun this weekend and now we are off to The Netherlands for the next few days.

Lorna

I made a spool block this afternoon - another AAQI quilt. This time I used one of the fancy stitches on my machine and in my over-enthusiastic way I just have to show anybody who is interested. The spool is one of Maureen's (scottishquilter).


It has been such an awful day here today - wind rain, mist, cold - DH sat by the fire and watched Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee water pageant. The whole thing was almost ruined by the weather and commentators who know nothing about boats! I spent the time making this little quilt instead.

Maureen and Rita--thanks for sharing pictures of your reels. Mine came in the mail on Friday and I have enjoyed looking at each one. I do want to make a spool quilt with them but haven't decided exactly what that will look like yet. Rita--your AAQI quilt is wonderful.

I loved all the show & tell so far. Now my visitors are gone I have put mine up on my design wall. I have only a small one (even smaller than Rita's) so I had to put each group separately.

Thank you to all of my quilting sisters!

I just received my package Saturday and I love every single block. I was very exciting to check the forum and see the beautiful little wall quilt Rita had made with one of my blocks! It really made my day. Thank you to everyone for this fun exchange.

Happy quilting,
Barb from Colorado

Thanks Lynn. I think it was you who first suggested the idea of a birdhouse instead of a spool? That idea stayed in my head and I thought I would give it a try. I would be delighted to inspire anybody. It has been so lovely to have the spools and match them to faces on this thread. Michelle I immediately thought of the cocktail when I saw yours - was it Aqua Velva or something like that?

Renata, your fabric looks like one that I would choose, lovely, you have great taste!

Rita, a smile immediately bloomed on my face when I saw your birdhouse! I love how you handled the branches and leaves! I might have to borrow that idea on parts of my birdhouse quilt, if that's okay?

All the show and tell here is building the anticipation and excitement, my package will hopefully arrive soon!

Have fun everyone!

Rita, your reels look so lovely all together on the design wall. I am so happy to tell you that I see mine on your wall too!! (Third row down from top, third in on the right - turquoise reel). I know that your quilt will be wonderful with all these beauties in it!

I love your little birdhouse AAQI quilt! I have a bunch of left over reels, and you have inspired me to make an AAQI quilt with them!

Renata, your batik background fabric is so pretty! On my computer it looks like sky, and I think it would look great with your reels. Can't wait to see all the quilts about to be made!

Renata, The fabric is lovely. And Rita, the birdhouse is so special. Nice work! Lois

Thanks Doreen! Renata, be careful at QU today. Remember it will be gone tomorrow so spend, spend, spend

Rita, Your little bird house is so pretty.

Renata, I love the fabrice you bought........Doreen

I still cannot make up my mind about a pattern, Rita. However, this weekend I've been going to our local Quilters Unlimited annual show and while there, on a whim, I decided on 3 plus yards of background fabric from SewBatik (but still don't have a pattern ). The colors I bought were in a quilt on their wall juxtaposed with several bright and dark colors and I could imagine some pretty quilting in the light spaces. The color is called Spray Olivine and this is what it looks like:



It was so beautiful that I figured, even if I can't use it with the reels, I would find a quilt to work it in with. Today is day three of the QU Quilt Show and it is only 15 minutes from my house. In addition to the guild member displays, there's a boatload of VENDORS! So you all know where I'm headed off to... again!

I haven't decided on a pattern yet Renata. It's not that I am indecisive, I just can't make up my mind. I think that I will make another AAQI one today and this time I will make a spool one and see how that feels. I am not sure I have enough background fabric for the whole quilt either. Maybe when I go to Galway at the end of this week there might be a fabric stall where I can get something that will work.

Aren't they lovely, Rita! It's amazing to see the cacophony of color on your design wall and to think what a beautiful quilt it's going to turn into... Have you decided on a design yet? How great to make the organization of these little beauties by color a family affair! I am so happy to have participated in this exchange! Your AAQI quilt is precious--it inspires me to set a little time aside and make another AAQI quilt that I haven't done since my first one...