Laurie's Chicago Quilt

 Laurie's quilt...sent all the way to Chicago. Made with box stars, bordered with forest green, purple batik and yellow floral. Took about two weeks to make. Didn't  hand quilt this one....much easier to do with machine. Came up very nice and flat and the fabric just took over...love the border. Added applique leaves hand stitched with a blanket stitch in the cross beams of the stars.

 Love this square...."pure grace"....."pure love"........"pure excitement"......pure friendship.

                   Hand cross stitched label on back of quilt.  "I Exist as I Am" ( Walt Whitman)

                                                    Handmade roses and leaves for corner, with pearls as well.

For my friend, Laurie, who lives back east in Chicago...met her in Digby, Nova Scotia, about sixteen years ago. Across the miles seems very close......

Silk Velvet Jacket Find

Sometimes, when you are rooting around online you come up with some pretty cool clothes that are a real find. I discovered this silk velvet frock jacket, lined with silk, on an online store called Coldwater Creek ( one of my favourite places to browse). Check their Outlet section. I picked up this jacket for $19, regularly $105.  I love velvet and silk together. Feels wonderful. But just could not see buying  a pattern, then getting the fabric, at possibly about $20 a metre ( minimum). Yikes. 
     (Plus, I think it goes pretty good with my messenger bag.)
     Shipping was about $20 at the time, they were having a special. So, for about $40 got a great piece in silk velvet.   have a  look at http://www.coldwatercreek.com/
you would be surprised at what you will find......