Ringing in the New Year

Time to say good bye to 2012 and welcome in 2013. 

Wishing everyone a peaceful celebration tonight. 

The quilt pictured was made with bright jewels set in black. I quilted the swirls in a purple variegated thread for an explosion of color to ring in the new year... Happy New Year!

Mail today!

Look what came in the mail today! 

When the mail man rang the bell I had a feeling it was something wonderful! It was, there was the return address label from Barbara Brackman! Yipee!!!! I couldn't get it open fast enough :0) It's her new book Civil War Sampler all about the Block of the Week Barbara posted on a the blog she set up for this quilt. Lots of quilters participated from all over the world. Search with Barbara's name and you will find lots of my posts about the project we did last year for the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Barbara included some of the blocks made by participants in her new book, including three of mine! Can you feel me grinning from ear to ear! Also included are blocks from Ellen of American Homestead, here is her post yesterday. More blocks made by fellow bloggers ~ Liesbeth Wessels in Holland, Donna of Quilting Bear Gal in Texas, Ann Champion, plus Becky Brown who made all the sample blocks for Barbara, and from Dustin, our wonderful friend and fellow quilter who set up the Flickr site. The civil War quilt pictured on the cover and inside is made by Becky.

Link here to Barbara's Civil War Blog. There are also pics of completed tops made by quilters that followed along. The book is wonderful and contains all the blocks that we made and more new blocks as well as how the blocks represent the history of the Civil War. 
These are my blocks in the book

Louisiana pg 28

Barbara Frietchie Star pg 12

Grapes of Wrath pg 84

Also pictured in the book is the Civil War quilt presented to Barbara at Christmas last year as a thank you from blocks made by the Circle of Friends. It's a wonderful project and allot of us are participating again for the Grandmother's Choice quilt started this year by Barbara. Lots to catch up on as I have not posted for more than a month now... just way too much on my plate these daze.

I am off to order another copy so I can keep this autographed book in good condition. It's already gone with me to see Beckie and Donna today to get new glasses for my mom :0)