Project 51 Revealed!

At last I can tell you all about the elusive Project 51!!

I'm in a group of 12 ladies called the Brit Bee.  We were born out of the flickr group Brit Quilt, and were the first 12 people to sign up in April.  Starting out as a group of strangers we have got to know each other well and have lots of giggles and laughs each month as we try to make blocks for each other.

Sadly, a few months ago, one of our members experienced a very stressful time in her life, culminating in a diagnosis which no-one ever wants to hear.

Being the scheming, conniving group that we are (!!), the rest of us decided to make our friend (let's call her 'T') a secret quilt, in some of her favourite colours, to let her know how much we are thinking of her at this time.

After months of planning, piecing, sniggering and quilting, yesterday T received her quilt!  I don't think there was a dry eye anywhere near where the 12 of us are!  

That is a king-size bed!  The design is based on Moda's Starry Eyed Quilt.

T has been through the mill. She came home yesterday from a hospital appointment to find our parcel waiting for her to open!  Talk about perfect timing!  

The flickr discussion threads have been full of 'virtual' tears, laughter and more than one rude 'cupcake' joke!  But the most important thing is that T loved her quilt and it brought her a wee bit of comfort and some quilty hugs from far away friends.

I am in awe of T's strength, courage and humour in what has been a hellish few months for her & her family.  She has an amazing outlook on life and gutsy determination to take on this illness and fight it.  It has been a privilege to be part of this Project and indeed the Brit Bee group - what an amazing group of caring & talented people.

A special thank-you goes to Laura-Jane (our Brit Bee mama) for organising us so well, for piecing all our Project 51 blocks together, and to Trudi, for the amazing quilt back she pieced, quilting on her long-arm, and binding and posting this huge quilt off to T.  You are 2 in a million!!

The back, with all our individual messages & well wishes to T.

Close up of Trudi's wonderful quilting.

I love being part of this virtual quilting community!

Finally, the lovely Laura is hosting a blogiversary giveaway today.  Hop on over for your chance to win some beautiful fabrics.

And I'll have my v.own giveaway here v.soon!

The New Calendar Gals!

I thought it was time I talked about a new swap I've signed up to.

It's called the Brit Bee and came out of a new Flickr group called Brit Quilt, which seeks to connect quilters in the UK.

There are 12 of us, and as each member has an allocated month to send out material and instructions for the other members to make their block, I've affectionately called us the Calendar Girls!

Well there be none of that, of course!

Let me introduce you to The New Calendar Gals!

Miss May - Trudi from Quilting Prolifically

 Miss June - Fiona from fionapoppy

Miss July - Judith from Needles & Lemons

Miss August - Sarah from Narcoleptic in a Cupboard

Miss September - Susan from Canadian Abroad

Miss October - Laura from Needles, Pins & Baking Tins

Miss November - Hadley from Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle

(There is no Miss December as we are doubling up in February)

Miss January - MOI!

Miss February - Terri from Mish Mash Mama

Miss February - Jennie from Just a Little Stitch

Miss March - Ceri from Inspired by Felix

and finally ....
 

Miss April - Jo from A Life in Lists 

Aren't we a great bunch?

Not all of the gals have blogs, but do have fab flickr pages.  Click on the links to view some amazing pics and blogs.

We will be blogging each month about what we've made, as soon as all blocks are posted back to the recipient. 

Watch this space!

There's always Johnny Depp!

I haven't blogged since Monday and you would be forgiven for thinking I've been doing dang all!

Not true!

I taught 3 classes.

Took my daughter to hospital to have her big toe nail removed (ouch!).

Gave a talk and presentation at my local MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) about Oasis & R2B quilting classes.

Made the first block for Ms May in the Brit Quilt Bee (not allowed to show pics yet until Ms May receives all blocks from all other calendar gals!)

Cut out the bricks for my nephew's birthday quilt:

Thinking of pale grey sashing?

Okay so not much happening in the sewing front, but tonight I'm consoling myself with some of this ...

and some of this ......

Purrr!