I beg your pardon,

but I do know how to crop a picture. But I thought it might be a tad bit deceitful in this instance. Yes, my work space is a complete mess, but we have already discussed the fact that I work best in disaster zones. Now ain't that lucky I live in one? Oh, not really. At least not all of the time... I have made three major trips in the last three months and it is just so hard to... well, find a place for all of the wonderful new things coming into my already filled-to-the-brim old space... and the water bottle is a reminder of my son, Paul. Do any of you have a child like that? I swan, you could follow his trail through the house like he was Hansel and Gretel dropping bread crumbs! Ever leavin' a trail. He had used the iron and was thoughtful enough to put water in it for me. Thoughtful and yet, thoughtlessly forgetful. I just say he's a genius and figure all of them are absent-minded. What's a mom to do?

So, how do you like the blocks for the sampler? It is a lot of fun to actually make something from the dyed fabric. I tried Darcie's trip around the world... well, that's another story, but lets just say I'm not well-traveled. These blocks really are a little more interesting in person- you can see the variation in the fabrics more. I like these 6, best. I've made 2 others and I like them, but I just don't particularly like them with the other 6. But I might when I get a few more blocks done. I tried contrasting fabrics, but found I preferred a little less contrast. Left to right the names of the blocks are, Aircraft (My DB builds them. I like this simple block more than I thought I would,) Swamp Angel, Fair and Square, Four Square(there were 4 kids in my family,) Big T (Maiden name starts with a T,) and the blue one is Windmill Square. You guys would get a kick out of watching me put these little blocks together. (They are 9".) But I am actually pinning, on occasion. Pressing, oh, so carefully. I usually like to sew quilts using one block- repeating it so that there is an interesting overall pattern. If I mess up- and I often do- it won't make that big of an impact in the whole scheme of things. But with this sampler thing... gotta get it as right as I can, 'cause it's the only chance I've got. Oh, not that I'm losing any sleep over it, but I am applying myself a little bit more than I would, normally. And the Kona fabric is very nice to work with. Lots of body to it. Not much give. Well, think I'll sneak into the quilting room and see if I can do one more...

** As a little aside... You'll notice that I am getting enough blocks done that I am actually beginning to cover my Post-it notes of all the things I should be doing... hmmm...