My swap pincushion didn't arrive, but Friday, when I went to the office there was a soft, squishy package that was sent interoffice for me. Look what was in it!!

Doesn't this remind you of a pumpkin? I have a friend/co-worker who I've worked with for about 10-15 years that gets out and about to fun places where she is always picking up sewing items for me. Sue has given me many little surprises over the years here are just a few.She finally found my blog a few weeks ago and went about to start her own. I haven't seen it yet.I would give you the link, but she hasn't shared that with me I think she is shy. Oh SUUUUUE where are yOUUUUUUU? Thank you! xoxmar

I think the ride home tonite was even smokier. I noticed that the traffic on the other side of the freeway all had their lights on. They may have them on all of the time, but I never noticed it before. The smoke gives everything a weird kind of feeling. Spooky.

Today was my Friday. I'm off to pet sit in Benicia for the weekend and I still need to go to the office tomorrow to finish some business. Shouldn't take too long. I love to surprise my staff. This weekend I will be mostly be back and forth between home and Benicia. Taking my socks with me and the PIF's also.

So hope you all have a good weekend. Here is the pincushion surprise that I sent off. Sure hope the recipient likes it. I shouldn't get into swaps, I always stress too much about it. I think I bought the fabric/wool and patterns/books to make about 6 different pincushions and ended up using this pattern that I had at home. I just let Mary lead me...

Wow, I've been in a haze this past week, I think most of California is on fire. Blessed be the firemen who work those hot blazes for countless hours, where would we be without their bravery. It's been so smoky here that we haven't seen blue skies all week. They have been broadcasting advisories not to exercise outside if you have allergies or asthma. When you go out sideyou can smell it and there is ash on the cars. I'm not even that close to a fire, but it's been windy too, which makes it much more dangerous. I've been busy working on my PIF's so I can't show what I'm working on. But I was surfing around and I'm not naming names or anything but another pincushion swapper posted a picture of what they made. I would love to have that! So I hope I don't upset our gracious hostess but I don't have anything else to share with you. I don't think I will spoil the surprise if I just don't tell you where it's traveling to... right? So... are you in the swap? Is this for you?Did you really think I was going to post a picture of the pincushion that I took to the post office on Monday? Maybe tomorrow. xoxomar

A few weeks ago Sharon led us over to The Willow Valley Store where Cath was giving away stitchery transfers. I was lucky enough to be one of her twenty commenters and she sent me a little leaflet with a pretty little basket transfer. I was so excited to get that little envelope with the Kangaroo stamp! Cath is so generous to do this, she's done it several times. AND NOW she is having a big give away for lovely transfer set that I hope to win (hmm, maybe I should keep this a secret... nah). So hop on over and comment, you have until June 24th and she will pick 20 random winners!!! Tell her Mar sent you and thank her for her generousity will ya?

In honor of her 300th post Sweet P. is having a little give away. She put out a call for all to show our unique containers. The containers that I have chosen to share are very special to me, using them keeps them in my sight and at hand.

The only longaberger basket I own is this little one, I love how my rick-rack looks in it and keep it out to view, it was sent to me by my friend Julie in Wisconson, she is an old pal from AAQ message board days. I never got to meet her and haven't heard from her in a long time, but I think of her everytime I glance at this little basket full of color. Thank you Julie. The little wooden carry all is also from a good friend I meet on AAQ message board. At Alex's quilting retreat I was admiring it. When Vicky got ready to leave she asked me if I wanted it! She didn't want to take it back on the plane. It's small and easy to carry around to classes or sew days and sits by my machince holding extra needles, threads, cutters, lotion, you name it, even Tums!! Thank you Vicky, ILY!! The little quilted zipper bag holds all of the feet for my machine, I have to hide them from the cats, this is perfect! And guess what?? It was gift from another friend made on the AAQ message board. Gail, I love this little bag and it is always at hand. Thank you sweetie!! Now the big white basket was a great garage sale find, all of my rulers fit in there and it's nice to look at too! I collect tins and have had the big round one for about 30 years, it's one of my favorites and holds all of my buttons. The little one is a Jack Daniels tin and holds my basting pins, it was given to me by my uncle. So there you have it.

ALSO.... Another little contest, with a very generous prize! Jackie over at Canton Village Quilt Works is giving away free quilting to one lucky person. Hope I get lucky!

AND.... I've finished my pincushion for the swap, Happy Dancin in California!!

Now where was I ..... OH YEAH...the last post told you all about my sew day at Alex's. After that things got out of control. When I last posted I was working on a baby quilt for a shower on May 31st. Well I almost got it done.... It's still on my board. This pattern is from Alex Anderson's Baby Quilts with Love.

There was a family episode happening while I was trying to make this and I just didn't have the umph to finish it. I ended up going to Baby's R Us and shopping for a gift. It was just as well, she recieved two hand made quilts at the shower. To finish this I need to either make some corner stones, trim the top & bottom border to fit the width of my fabric for the sides or piece the sides to fit, I haven't decided yet. What would you do? I know most of you would have finished and taken to the shower already!!! So anywho... I ended up working the Friday that I should have been off, going to the shower on Saturday and then working Sunday and working Monday through Friday and house sitting the following weekend and and and... hmmm oh! I've been working on my pincushion swap surprise, I wish I could give you a peek, I'd love to hear what you think of it, but that won't work because it's a SURPRISE! I'm using Mary Englebriet fabrics, love her stuff! I'll show you after it's received. Also I'm getting near done with the socks for my sock swap.

Other than that I've been working on my office at work. I've finally moved in to my final resting spot (lol sounds like a cemetery eh?) I took some before pics so that you could see what I'm dealing with. It's a mess I tell ya, one big mess. In fact the whole unit is a mess, this move involved 15 of my staff, plus myself. One more move to go at the end of June and we will all be able to settle in. I'm still not done with my office, I've moved it around some since these pics were taken and I still have about 6 boxes to unpack. Now I would like to find a nice little black stand up shelf. Maybe I'll hit some garage sales this weekend. Oh and my door, this funky door, I need some curtains for it or something. (Like my sign?) Anyway, I'm told by the facilities manager that the *&%*^ door was $7500 or so. They didn't plan to put a door on that wall because it is a load bearing wall. For some reason the architects felt that the reception supervisor's door should open up to another unit, not reception (duh) and had it on the opposite wall. Well, they had to move to the costly plan B and this is the result. Too funny, they tell me if there is an earthquake I've got the safest spot in the office :-) Tomorrow is my Friday off and I'm takin it!! I'm soooo ready for a long weekend. It's good to have that bloggy feeling again!xoxomar Post Script: Big bloggy hugs to those of you who emailed me with concern. It means so much to me that you care.